Cheap but charming: Hotels for JUE Festival

If your coming into Shanghai for the JUE Festival but your budget’s a bit thin, these cool Shanghai finds can keep you well rested between gigs without adding a limb to the final bill.

With JUE events scattered citywide, moving from east to west, these budget locations guarantee minimal damage to your wallet/bank account:

Shanghai hotel muse: H Hotel, Pudong

A convenient option for those hailing from the east, H Hotel gets an ‘A’ for effort in both attitude and decor. A bit off the artistic path, this fun and affordable theme boutique includes rooms with themes like Chanel, Hello Kitty and Audrey Hepburn. Staff are friendly but English can be an issue at times (you are in China after all) -- ask for Oscar at the front desk though and everything should be okay.

Best rates can be found via its local website with theme rooms starting around RMB 598 and basic rooms much cheaper. In-between JUE bits, check out the nearby Shanghai Financial Center, Jin Mao and Pearl Tower -- all just one or two metro stops away.
The H Hotel, No. 88 Weifang Xi Lu, 潍坊西路88号, +86 21 5882 8882, www.the-h-hotel.com

Shanghai hotel muse: Astor House Hotel (Pujiang Hotel, 上海浦江饭店), Northern Bund

Dating back to 1846 with old gothic charm, this is a great choice for history buffs with traditional decor and antiques galore. The hotel whose celebrity guest list once included Albert Einstein, Charlie Chaplin and U.S. President Grant also lays claim to the city’s first electric lights and telephone calls. Rooms are clean and spacious with some basic rooms refurbished.

Once a haven for the ritzy, now even shoestring travelers can brag about sleeping in China’s oldest hotel with online rates as low as RMB 400. Check out the hotel's website for some of the best rates around (including breakfast).

Note: close to the Old Jewish Quarter and some northern JUE venues. With construction still on-going, walking to the main Bund area can be tricky but is just a quick taxi ride away.
The Astor House (Pujiang Hotel), 15 Huagpu Lu 黄浦路15号, +86 21 6324 6388 (ask for Simon Ye), www.astorhousehotel.com

Shanghai hotel muse: Mingtown Etour International Youth Hostel, People’s Square

You couldn’t have a more central location -- just minutes from People’s Square and a short walk to the Bund, this traditionally decked hostel offers both bunks and standard rooms (great bathrooms too for those who care) with an awesome common area for meeting new friends. For a youth hostel, there were a surprising number of folks of all ages staying there. But it had a good vibe overall.

Standard hostel amenities included plus DIY laundry, reading and billiards room, full-service restaurant, business services and tour bookings. Online bunks as low as RMB 45 with twin rooms from RMB 130. Some of the best rates available on Hostel World. 
Mingtown Etour International Youth Hostel, 55 Jiangyin Lu, near Chongqing Bei Lu 江阴路55号, 近重庆北路, +86 21 6327 7766, mingtown@foxmail.com

Shanghai hotel muse: Old House Inn, French Concession

Just twelve rooms make up this peaceful and cozy lane home, complete with local neighbors and the French Concession right at your doorstep. With classic 1930s decor from the very entrance (barring modern bathrooms), the staff are friendly (English on and off) with free Internet, restaurant and laundry/dry-cleaning service.

With basic rooms starting around RMB 5-600 (a bit small but nicely decorated), it may stretch the budget but you can’t beat the ambiance. And if those taste buds get a bit homesick, fusion eatery Future Perfect is just next door.
Old House Inn, No. 16, Lane 351 Huashan Lu, near Changshu Lu 华山路351弄16号, 近常熟路, +86 21 6248 6118, www.oldhouse.cn

Shanghai hotel muse: Ling Long Hotel, Changning District

Located in one of the few remaining private residences off Yan'an Lu, this property is a best kept budget gem with just 15 rooms and an inner courtyard. Towered by its neighbors and hugging a very busy yet convenient throughway, the inside is surprisingly quiet with gorgeous common areas and some of the nicest staff you’ll ever meet (non-English speaking but their charm goes a long way).

All rooms include breakfast, free Internet and laundry service. Basic rates online go as low as RMB 200 with classic rooms available for a few hundred more. See Hostel World for some of the best rates on this venue.
Ling Long Hotel, 939 Yan'an Xi Lu, near Jiangsu Lu 延安西路939号, 近江苏路, +86 21 6252 4797 ext. 700