Serviced apartments are a popular option for relocating singles and families who need something temporary while they get settled, providing most of the comforts of home while being flexible and convenient. Extended stays in hotels can be stale and tiring, and it’s difficult to negotiate a short-term lease in Shanghai as lease agents are encouraged by landlords to sign minimum one-year leases. Serviced apartments are available daily, weekly or monthly, and the rate will average out to be cheaper than a hotel. They normally come fully furnished – down to dishtowels – with adequate kitchens and extensive facilities, including swimming pools, gyms and restaurants. The best options are in downtown Puxi and Lujiazui in Pudong.
Prices vary greatly, from RMB20,000 a month for a 1-bedroom to RMB100,000 for a 4-bedroom penthouse. The rents are higher than you’ll find by signing a one-year lease; however, serviced apartments are an excellent temporary option. As with any housing in Shanghai, prices are negotiable depending on season and length of stay. Be sure to phone ahead or book online for the best deal. All of the listings below come recommended by travelers, have English-speaking staff and offer all of the services of a four-star hotel.
PUXI
SHANGHAI CENTRE
This is a very comprehensive serviced apartment. The 472 Shanghai Centre apartment units are located within the conveniently located Shanghai Centre complex, which includes a supermarket, department stores, the Shanghai Centre Theatre and the Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai. The complex also conveniently houses several foreign consulates, including those of Australia, Canada and Ireland. The apartments are large with Western-style kitchens, wireless Internet and satellite TV. Shanghai Centre guests have access to the five-star amenities offered by the Ritz-Carlton, which include a huge gym, squash and racquetball courts and an indoor/outdoor pool. For families, Shanghai Centre provides an on-site preschool, a summer camp and elaborate children’s play areas.
1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, by Xikang Lu
南京西路1376号, 近西康路
PUDONG
FRASER SUITES TOP GLORY
Fraser Suites Top Glory is a family- friendly sanctuary nestled in the heart of Shanghai's world-famous skyline. Breathtaking views of Shanghai's iconic Bund combined with luxuriously appointed spacious suites, a welcoming community and more amenities than you can imagine give the property status as perhaps the most sought-after executive address in the city. Step out your front door at the center of the city's financial district into a dizzying array of some of the city's finest dining and shopping options or make the short journey across to the Bund to dine alfresco as you take in the view of your home and reflect on the fact that if you are living in Fraser Suites, you can safely say you've made it.
No. 1, Lane 600 Yincheng Zhong Lu, Lujiazui, Pudong
银城中路600弄1号
