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Hitting the Easy Button: Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai International Tourism and Resort Zone

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This is a continuation of my Japan/China trip report. See also Back from China and Japan Trip! 5 Takeaways, Worth it: JAL Premium Economy Award Seats, Better Than Expected: AA Premium Economy Shanghai PVG to DFW, Hits and Misses from our day at Tokyo DisneySea, Take this Line and Shove It (Literally): Shanghai Disneyland Hits and Misses, Dormy Inn Shibuya Jingumae Hot Spring in Tokyo, Highlights of our Tokyo Shenanigans, Surprise Upgrade at Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay, Our Machiya Rental in Kyoto, The Deer Really Do Bow! Day Trip to Nara, Japan, Highlights of our time in Kyoto, Japaan, Was Universal Studios Japan Worth the Time and Money?, Two Nights on Miyajama Island, Highlights from Our Whirlwind Day in Osaka, Japan, Beijing, China: Airport Confusion, No Photos, and We Don’t Speak Russian, Grand Hyatt Beijing Review, Goodness Gracious Great Wall of China, Visiting Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven, Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai International Tourism and Resort Zone (this post)

After a few days in Beijing, my daughter and I took a bullet train to Shanghai for the remainder of our trip. We stayed at Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai International Tourism and Resort Zone.

Booking and Arrival

I booked a room with two double beds at a cash rate of around $90/night, including taxes. From the train station, we took a Didi (Uber) to the hotel.

The image shows the exterior of a Courtyard by Marriott hotel located in the Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone. The building has a modern design with a light blue and white facade. In the foreground, there is a sign with the hotel's name and location details, surrounded by neatly trimmed bushes and a grassy area. The sky is overcast, suggesting a cloudy day.

The image shows the entrance area of a building with a sign that reads "Courtyard Marriott" and "Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone" in both English and Chinese. The area is well-lit, with several short bollards with blue lights lining the pathway. The ground is paved with large tiles, and there is a glass railing in the background.

The lobby was open and spacious:

The image shows a modern indoor space with a polished, reflective floor. In the center, there is a decorative water feature with vertical streams of water and a geometric design on the wall behind it. On the left, there are digital screens displaying information. On the right, there is a display with panda-themed decorations, including a bicycle and a large stamp design on the wall. The ceiling has recessed lighting.

The image shows a modern hotel lobby with a sleek, polished floor and contemporary design elements. There are two reception desks on either side, each staffed by people. The lighting is soft and warm, with ceiling lights providing illumination. In the center, there is a display of various items, possibly promotional or decorative. The overall atmosphere is clean and professional.

The floors had directional signs projected on them, so it was easy to find our way around the hotel:

The image shows a marble floor with illuminated directional signs in both Chinese and English. The signs point to various facilities: "Restrooms," "Business Center," "Laundromat," "Reception," "Concierge," "The Lounge," "Guest Lifts," and "Pavilion." The text is glowing in blue, and arrows indicate the directions to each location.

But don’t wear slippers!

The image shows a sign with text in both Chinese and English. The sign states that proper dress is required and slippers are not allowed. It also mentions that the hotel will not be responsible for any consequences if someone falls due to wearing slippers. The sign includes illustrations: a person slipping, a pair of slippers with a prohibition symbol, and a person in a bathrobe with a prohibition symbol. There is also a caution sign depicted. The background of the sign is green.

At check-in, the desk agent recommended we add the breakfast buffet to our room. I don’t recall the exact price, but I remember it was much more reasonable than the cost of breakfast at the Grand Hyatt Beijing. I decided to add the buffet since there didn’t seem to be many restaurants near the hotel.

Our Room

Our room started with an open closet inside:

The image shows a small, narrow closet space with a carpeted floor. On the left side, there is an ironing board with an iron on top. A horizontal rod is mounted above, holding several wooden hangers. Below the ironing board, there is a bench with a pair of white slippers placed on it. The walls are plain, and there is a shelf above the rod. The lighting is soft and ambient.

The bathroom was open to the bedroom (but we could close it off with rolling doors):

The image shows a modern hotel room with a view from the bathroom area. The bathroom features a large mirror and a countertop with a sink, towels, and bottled water. Beyond the bathroom, there is a bedroom with a neatly made bed, a round mirror, and a television mounted on the wall. The room has a contemporary design with soft lighting and neutral colors.

The beds were comfy:

The image shows a modern hotel room with two neatly made single beds. The room features a neutral color palette with beige walls and carpet. There is a nightstand between the beds, a desk with a chair near the window, and a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. The window is covered with sheer curtains, and the room is well-lit with ceiling lights.

The room had plenty of outlets and lights. The hotel provided bottled water.

The bathroom was large:

The image shows a hotel room with a modern design. In the foreground, there is a marble countertop with a built-in sink, towels, and bottled water. A large mirror is mounted above the countertop. In the background, there are two neatly made beds with white linens. The room has soft lighting and a neutral color palette, creating a cozy and elegant atmosphere.

The image shows a modern shower area with dark brown tiles. There are three wall-mounted dispensers for toiletries and a handheld showerhead attached to the wall. The floor is tiled with a slightly raised edge around the perimeter. The lighting is dim, creating a cozy atmosphere.

The hotel also has rooms that are geared for families and kids, with tents and play areas in the rooms.

Dining

I’m so glad we added the breakfast buffet. It was absolutely huge!

The image shows a modern buffet setup in a restaurant. There are stacks of white plates on a counter, with several chafing dishes containing food. Decorative elements, including a sculpture and a gramophone-like object, are placed on the counter. The ceiling features contemporary lighting fixtures, and the floor has a herringbone pattern. In the background, a few people are seen near the buffet area.

The image shows a modern buffet restaurant with a sleek, contemporary design. The interior features a long counter with various food items displayed, including plates of vegetables and sauces. The ceiling has stylish lighting fixtures, and there are decorative elements on the counter. Several people are visible in the background, serving or selecting food. The overall ambiance is upscale and well-lit.

The buffet had a large selection of Chinese and Western food. We found so many tasty options! And look at these adorable kid stations:

The image shows a whimsical display featuring large, colorful mushroom sculptures in red, purple, and green with white spots. In front of the mushrooms, there are wooden shelves holding small, round pastries decorated to look like cute animal faces, including pandas and other creatures. A small rabbit figurine is also part of the display, which is set on a green, grass-like surface. A circular mirror is mounted on the wall behind the setup.

The restaurant was open until 11:30 p.m. with an a la carte menu. We ate there for dinner on our last night and were very pleased with the wide selection.

There was also a small lounge in the lobby with snacks:

The image shows a digital display board in a hotel lobby, featuring a menu for take-out dishes. The menu includes various items such as mousse cakes, Swiss rolls, yogurt, berry lemon tea, pineapple buns, mango pudding, and more. The display is titled "Take-out Dishes In The Lobby Bar" and includes both English and Chinese text. The date on the screen is June 9, 2025, and the location is indicated as Shanghai.

And an ice cream bar:

The image shows an ice cream display counter in a modern indoor setting. The counter has a glass top showcasing various ice cream flavors in cups, with colorful toppings. There is a large decorative ice cream cone figure on top of the counter, and a cute cartoon ice cream cone illustration on the front. The counter is labeled "T' oBeray New Zealand Ice Cream." The surrounding area has a polished marble floor and contemporary decor.

Downtown Disney was just down the street, which provided more great dining options.

Hotel Amenities

Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai International Tourism and Resort Zone had so many amenities that made our stay really easy. There is a free shuttle to Disneyland:

A parking lot with several cars parked in a row next to a large bus. The bus is gold and blue with some text on its side. There are trees in the background and a sidewalk with neatly trimmed bushes and flowers in the foreground. The sky is overcast.

The hotel also has a shuttle to/from the airport, train station and the Bund waterfront area:

The image shows an information display screen in a hotel, likely a Courtyard by Marriott in Shanghai. The screen provides details about shuttle bus schedules to Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 and Pudong Airport Terminals 1 & 2. It includes departure times, routes, and pricing information. There is also a map showing the shuttle route and additional text in both Chinese and English. The date displayed is June 8, 2025.

There is an indoor play area:

The image shows an indoor children's play area with colorful padded flooring and structures. There is a red slide attached to a multi-level play structure with yellow, blue, and red elements. The area is enclosed with netting for safety. The walls are decorated with playful murals featuring pandas and nature themes. The ceiling has cloud-shaped decorations and hanging lights. There are scattered plastic balls on the floor, and a small red chair is visible in the corner.

Games:

The image shows a spacious, modern lounge area with a foosball table in the foreground. The foosball table is red and has a sign related to the FIFA World Cup. In the background, there are several seating areas with armchairs and tables, set on a wooden floor. Large windows allow natural light to enter, and the ceiling has a grid pattern with recessed lighting.

A gym and an indoor pickleball court (which I didn’t see but I asked about it):

The image shows a colorful photo booth setup with two large cutouts. The left cutout is a rectangular frame with playful designs and the words "Come on" at the bottom. The right cutout features abstract shapes and figures, with text in a different language. The floor is shiny and reflective, and the background consists of dark walls.

The first floor also had a large laundry room with shoe dryers (important, since it rains so much there).

Final Thoughts

After spending a few weeks in Japan and China, it was nice to stay at a hotel that made everything easy. The free shuttle buses were so convenient, and the food selection was decently price and varied enough that we didn’t have to leave the hotel unless we really wanted to. We had no issues using Didi to get to other places in Shanghai. If you’re coming to Shanghai primarily to visit Disneyland, this hotel is a great choice.

Author: Nancy

Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.

Comments

  1. bc says

    This has been such a great trip report so far! Any plans to write a blog about your experiences on the Chinese bullet trains? Also, did you consider visiting Universal Studios Beijing?

    Reply

  2. Aleks says

    Looks nice and modern, with good transfer option. The price seems high for China, but it geared toward foreigners.

    Reply

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