Shanghai points travel guide

Shanghai

East Asia · China

Best Months

Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov

Rec. Nights

5 nights

Airports

PVG (Shanghai Pudong International), SHA (Shanghai Hongqiao)

Avg. Cash

$32 - $379/night

Best Value

3.2¢via Hyatt

Overview

Shanghai is China's most cosmopolitan city — colonial-era Bund architecture faces a Pudong skyline that looks borrowed from science fiction. The city of 25 million inhabitants makes room for serene classical gardens, lane houses, and some of the finest dining in Asia.

The Park Hyatt Shanghai routinely delivers superb CPP. Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and IHG all have flagship properties. China's relatively affordable cash rates mean award values frequently exceed 2.0 CPP for premium properties.

The Former French Concession's tree-lined streets hide exceptional restaurants and art galleries. Day trips to Suzhou and water towns like Zhouzhuang offer rewarding contrast to Shanghai's urban intensity.

Cash vs Points

Hotels in Shanghai range from $32 to $379 per night. Points redemptions offer 3.16+ cents per point value.

Points Hotel Recommendations

12 properties in Shanghai bookable with points, sorted by value

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Transfer Points Strategy

Find the best transfer path for your credit card points

Best Value

If you have Points:

UrCove Shanghai on the Bund

HyattHyatt (1:1)UrCove Shanghai on the Bund
Cost5,000 pts/night × 5n = 25,000 Hyatt
Value$789.7 ÷ 25,000 pts= 3.2¢
Transfer time: Instant

If you have ALL Points:

Angsana Suzhou Shishan

AccorAccor (1:1)Angsana Suzhou Shishan
Cost3,596 pts/night × 5n = 17,980 Accor
Value$413.55 ÷ 17,980 pts= 2.3¢
Transfer time: Instant

If you have Points:

Howard Johnson by Wyndham Leonora Plaza Shanghai

WyndhamWyndham (1:1)Howard Johnson by Wyndham Leonora Plaza Shanghai
Cost7,500 pts/night × 5n = 37,500 Wyndham
Value$690.3 ÷ 37,500 pts= 1.8¢
Transfer time: Instant

If you have Marriott Bonvoy Points:

Sheraton Shanghai Fengxian

MarriottMarriott (1:1)Sheraton Shanghai Fengxian
Cost8,000 pts/night × 5n = 40,000 Marriott
Value$499.35 ÷ 40,000 pts= 1.3¢
Transfer time: Instant

If you have IHG One Rewards Points:

Vignette Collection THE ONE Shanghai Downtown

IHGIHG (1:1)Vignette Collection THE ONE Shanghai Downtown
Cost28,900 pts/night × 5n = 144,500 IHG
Value$1,035 ÷ 144,500 pts= 0.7¢
Transfer time: Instant

If you have Hilton Honors Points:

Hampton by Hilton Shanghai Jiuting Hongqiao NECC

HiltonHilton (1:1)Hampton by Hilton Shanghai Jiuting Hongqiao NECC
Cost20,000 pts/night × 5n = 100,000 Hilton
Value$617.15 ÷ 100,000 pts= 0.6¢
Transfer time: Instant

How to Earn Points for This Trip

The best hotels in Shanghai use World of Hyatt, Accor Live Limitless (ALL), Wyndham Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards, and Hilton Honors points. Here’s how to earn them:

Best Option

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

IHG

$99

Annual Fee

140,000 IHG One Rewards points — transfers earns IHG One Rewards points directly

  • 140K bonus points — enough for 3-5 free nights at many IHG properties
  • Earn 26x total at IHG properties and 5x on travel, dining, and gas
  • 4th night free on IHG award stays (saves 25% on 4-night bookings)
IHG One Rewards
Learn More

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Hilton

$150

Annual Fee

130,000 Hilton Honors points — transfers earns Hilton Honors points directly

  • Automatic Hilton Honors Gold status
  • Earn 12x at Hilton properties, 6x at restaurants and supermarkets
  • Free weekend night reward after $15K in calendar year spending
Hilton Honors
Learn More

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Hilton

$550

Annual Fee

175,000 Hilton Honors points — transfers earns Hilton Honors points directly

  • Automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status (top tier)
  • Earn 14x at Hilton properties, 7x on travel and dining
  • Free weekend night reward annually + one after $60K spend
Hilton Honors
Learn More

Bilt Mastercard®

Bilt

$0

Annual Fee

earns World of Hyatt points directly, earns Marriott Bonvoy points directly — only card that earns points on rent — transfers 1:1 to all major hotels

  • Earn 1x points on rent with no transaction fees (up to 100,000 pts/yr)
  • Earn 3x on dining and 2x on travel
  • Transfer 1:1 to Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, and Hilton
World of Hyatt
Marriott Bonvoy
IHG One Rewards
Hilton Honors
Learn More

World of Hyatt Credit Card

Hyatt

$95

Annual Fee

60,000 Hyatt points + free night (Cat 1-4) — transfers earns World of Hyatt points directly

  • Earn 4x at Hyatt hotels and 2x on dining, travel, and gym memberships
  • Free night certificate annually (Cat 1-4) worth up to $300+
  • Automatic Discoverist elite status
World of Hyatt
Learn More

Chase Sapphire Preferred®

Chase UR

$95

Annual Fee

75,000 Ultimate Rewards points — transfers earns World of Hyatt points directly, earns Marriott Bonvoy points directly

  • Earn 5x on travel through Chase Travel℠
  • Earn 3x on dining, select streaming, and online groceries
  • 1:1 transfer to Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG
World of Hyatt
Marriott Bonvoy
IHG One Rewards
Learn More

Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you apply through our links. This does not affect our recommendations or the price you pay. We independently evaluate every card based on transfer value and earning potential.

Travel Tips

Best Time to Visit

Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov

Getting There

PVG (Shanghai Pudong International), SHA (Shanghai Hongqiao)

Visa & Entry

Check your country's requirements

Budget

From $32/night

Packing Essentials

Pack for the climate

Cultural Tips

Respect local customs

Ask AI About Shanghai

Have questions about traveling to Shanghai with points? Our AI advisor can help you plan the perfect trip, compare hotels, and find the best value redemptions.

Ask Travy