OK. i have been here before. when i walked into the lobby the memory of the last room came back. the only good thing about this hotel is the pool which has a veranda around it which is large and comfortable to sit and work with robust wifi. The service is miserable. it is an older hotel with the potential to be something special - it must have been once before. but the luster has gone the same way with the care for the meaning of hospitality.

there is a Westin across the street. that is the place to go if at the convention centre. otherwise one of the dozens of small hotels would be a better bet. The Cullinan is off my list.

https://www.southernsun.com:443/SSH/VHB/25383cf8de46a010VgnVCM100000650114acRCRD/43/47

eery once in a while i get a room that takes my breath away. OK. it hardly ever happens so that when it does, wow! I am on the 55th floor of the Tomorrow Centre in central Shanghai. my room is sort of a corner and it has a view that is phenomenal. it is really a perfect room. this is do not often find. i look out over the national museum to the river and the central business district beyond. the city spreads endlessly out around me. thousands of high rises merging into one massive carpet of thin square tops. my desk is against the large window.

5561. i would defiantly stay here again.

great location. internet connectivity equaled the speed of a tortoise. unbearably slow in the room. wireless ripped in the lobby. told that it was due to an in-room TV upgrade coming in February. other than that, the room was great. great desk. comfortable bed. bathroom just the right size. staff super friendly and service orientated. i would definitely go back.

wow. let me say again. WOW. this is a hotel that i ignore the mould in the corner of the bath tub. a wonderful moorish rectangular edifice parallels the beach. the Westin Excelsior is one i would pay to go back to. there is something magical about arriving at a place by water. a short tunnel under the road brings you to the large entry. first, you need to check in at the desk. then you take a little card across the hall to the concierge to get the digital room 'key'. the hallways are broad. the lifts tucked away from any room. my room faced the beach. it was large, but not too large. green, but not too green. desk of a good size to work. I arrived quite late so had no idea of the view that i had. pity i only had one night.

room 234.

This place was tired. I was going to be there for five days so i really was looking forward to a nice room in the centre of downtown. the first room 700 something was across from the elevator. i went in to check it out anyway so i could see it. then went down and asked for another room saying i would happily pay for an upgrade if i needed to. So, i was promptly sold a new class of room on the 12th floor. two doors down from the elevator. went in. all the same furniture as the 'normal' room. the only advantage of the extra $70/per night were fancy soaps and 'free internet'. AND, black mildewed caulking in the shower/bath. i did not last long in the room. went back down for another try. this time, they called over the customer service manager who apologized, offered to buy me a drink at the bar later and gave me a new room next to the old one. and took off the extra charge. the entire place really needs a refit. there must be much better places to stay in such a lovely city. would suggest i would find a different one next time.

the only thing Grand about the Grand was the size of the bathroom. it was really big. even had a built-in TV for those who like to sit in a tub. shower stall with room for three, easy. separate WC as well. the bed was just fine. the desk a joke. the only electric outlet hidden under the back skirting of the fake Louis IVX spindle legged thing. probably was fine when one only wrote post cards. not sufficient at all for todays world. I only had time for a short dinner in the bar/lounge. food was prompt and just fine. crabcakes and a 'wedge' with blue cheese dressing. plenty. actually one portion would have been fine for two. or a family of six in Chad. the ubiquitous large screen TV was showing the monday night gridiron match. reception staff need to learn about the valuable pleasures of a smile. would have made a lot of difference. there are better places to stay in the city. 2008.09

travel in russia is a challenge. you cant read a thing and most folks simply do not speak english. result of many years of deep animosity, i suppose. the hotel is fine. the neighborhood seems tired. but then again, most of the city that we saw on the ride in seemed tired. i am on the third floor. there is an interior atrium that begins on the third floor. when checking in i was told very nicely that i had been upgraded to a 'family room'. i smiled and said thanks with visions of a room in which a family of four could hang out. the room is simply the 'wheelchair accessible' room. As with so many others of similar ilk that i have stayed in, it is so poorply deisgned that i get really annoyed. there are no surfaces to put anything in the bathroom. if one is in a wheelchair, or similar disability, does this then mean that you no longer need to put a toothbrush or kit anywhere? no light at the desk and the electric outlets are all a crawl away. and this is a new hotel. hmmm. Room 301.