There are plenty of ‘historic’ hotels in Shanghai but the Astor House, the city’s oldest hotel, retains the charm and feel of old Shanghai better than any others. Built in 1846, past guests include Ulysses S. Grant, Albert Einstein, Charlie Chaplin and Zhou Enlai. It’s actually best to stay on a lower floor here, where the corridors still feature bare, creaking wooden planks, large communal areas between rooms and mini-atriums. The rooms on these floors are also very large and decorated with an eclectic mix of faux-antiques. The upper floors have smaller rooms which are more modern in appearance, but do have decent river views. Book the deluxe twin rooms (rack rate ¥1280 - $187), executive rooms (rack rate ¥1680 - $245) or any of the suites to secure the more interesting rooms and expect to pay 40-50% of the aforementioned rack rates when booking online. In-room internet access and breakfast are free for those who book executive rooms or otherwise cost ¥60 per day and ¥180 respectively. Some of the staff speak good English and are quite friendly if not entirely professional – putting on hand cream is apparently a priority over dealing with guests. Due to its age, the Astor House Hotel is a little low on facilities with the charming ‘Old Bund Bar’ and the restaurants being the highlights. A good choice for tourists looking for a taste of Shanghai’s fascinating past.