Marriott Moxy Shanghai Xuhui review
Bring your USB-C charger and request a room not facing the highway. It's redundant to request a high floor since the rooms are already high. This is not a review with countless pictures to scroll through. I cover only what the hotel or many other sites don't cover, which is stuff that would be good to know before booking and packing for travel. As a Titanium Elite member staying at a Moxy, perhaps you may also find this helpful.
Read on to find out what I think of other things:
Location
Let's be super clear this is not downtown or even what I consider - as a local - to being edge of downtown (Xujiahui). Shanghai however, is a convenient city using public/private transportation with a large inner ring or downtown core - whatever you want to call it - measuring what is about 40km2 (10km x 4km) based on where I would actually want to go.
The closest subway station (Caobao Road) is over 500m away and the bus stop to Xujiahui is 250m away. 2 subway stations from Xujiahui is convenient enough. In the summer even if it hits 40 degrees the subway may still be acceptable as much of the walk to the subway station is in the shade of an elevated highway.
The bus to Xujiahui or many other places downtown will cost you 2 RMB and the subway about 4 RMB, so a total of 6 RMB, which is less than US$1. $2 round-trip from your hotel to many places in Shanghai. You can even get to Pudong airport using subway for 7 RMB but that would take you 1hr 45m. A 50 minute Didi car hailing ride at $20 to $30 - depending on car type - is what I'd expect for most readers of this blog to save time and to avoid breaking your back hauling luggage in and out of the subway.
The hotel entrance is at the back of a shopping mall, so don't expect your car driver to see it from the road.
Hotel experience
The hotel occupies the 14th to 21st floors, so don't bother requesting a room on a high floor since you're already on one.
The lobby is on the 21st floor, so you do have a cool place to chill or work from 24/7.
As a Titanium Elite member I was offered the following during check-in:
- Welcome drink (coke, juice, coffee)
- Choice of 500 points, breakfast or $10 F&B credit.
Moxy hotels in the US don't offer breakfast, so this is a nice touch. While $10 F&B doesn't sound like much in the US or even Europe, it goes a long way in China. At the current exchange rate I get about 69 RMB, which is enough for a soup + salad or covers most of a burger if you want a light dinner.
If you only need a coffee for breakfast, there's a Luckin Coffee on the ground floor of the building. Luckin is larger than Starbucks, tastes as good as Starbucks, and is only 20 RMB ($3) - or even 10 RMB with a coupon - for an Americano, as opposed to 30 RMB+ for Starbucks. If you need a full breakfast, take the breakfast gift.
or I can even get 3 beers (3 x 18 RMB). Not that Moxy has an executive lounge, but drinks are better than mediocre lounge food anyway right?
In case you were wondering I chose the points instead to stay healthier.
Electronic key cards are available at this hotel and each room has a card already slotted in the power slot next to the door, so you don't need a key card just for power.
Power outlets
You don't need to worry about a travel adapter. You may want to bring your USB-C quick charger though as there is only USB-A.
In addition to the bedside plug, there is another outlet near where you would put the foldable table in front of the chair so you can work on your laptop fairly comfortably for hours.
Noise level
There is freeway noise next to the hotel. While I can't quantify the amount, it sounds like someone left the window open downtown to me. It's fairly constant at 4pm and mostly tire noise due to the volume of mostly electric cars in Shanghai and car honking being rare. I do wish the window was a bit more soundproof. My best guess is it won't be a perfect sleep night for me. My tip to you is to request a room not facing the highway.
Price
While you'd be forgiven into thinking cheaper hotels may smell of smoke in many parts of China, many Moxy hotels are pretty spacious and relatively new in Shanghai. The room I had was in great shape and didn't smell of any cigarette smoke at all.
The price I paid was 420 RMB inclusive of taxes and fees (~$62), which is a great deal if you ask me. I get about 1000 points ($60 x 10 points/$) + 75% bonus as Titanium Elite. Then I also get the 500 points welcome gift, plus the 2500 points/stay/brand Marriott promo that's going on right now. In addition to another elite night.
Total haul is 420 RMB for 4000 points and 2 elite nights. Amazing.
The hotel does take all major credit cards, so Alipay / Wechat not required for tourists.
I'd honestly also be just as happy with 3500 points + 3 beers (F&B credit) instead of 500 welcome points. LOL.