What are your experiences, is it worth a visit?

How about budget flights from Bangkok, who to go with?

Nice hotel but not too over the top expensive, have suggestions?

Thanks, HB

Direct flights to Shanghai were expensive.

I went Air Asia to KL and then Air Asia X to Hangzhou then bus to Shanghai.

Stopped a couple of nights in Hangzhou and KL on the way back to do some sighseeing there also.

Definitely worth the effort if you haven't been to those places before.

I believe the only direct flights are Air China and, as someone else noted, they are expensive. Shanghai will host a the 2010 World Exposition, starting May 1st. Lots to see and do, and the mass transit system is incredible.

THAI AIR has a very cheap promotion to Shanghai RIGHT NOW. incl. taxes around 12.000 THB or so.

but only valid until end of May 2009. it's on their website under PROMOTIONS.

as Shanghai prepares for the WORLD EXPO 2010, unpleasant construction sites are everywhere now (the famous BUND looks particularly nasty at the moment). Shanghai is not really a beautiful city, its a business city. A few sights can be found of course, and the Shanghai museum is EXCELLENT (particularly the numismatic section is very impressive). nightlife does exist too, though the "Sanook" is quite limited, particularly for someone who is used to the dimension of SANOOK in Thailand.

walking the large pedestrian areas is a HASSLE if you are a single male traveller, as street-hookers and vendors will approach you more than once within 60 seconds...... (but such annoying thing does exist in Guangzhou and other Chinese cities as well.....)

you didnt mention WHEN you actually plan to travel, but MAY is not too bad, as the temperature and humidity is still bearable. do not travel June - August though, its sooooo hot and humid then.

as for accomodation and location, you need to be more specific so I can recommend something.

If in Shanghai, don't forget to visit neighboring HANGZHOU for a night or too, but at least for a daytrip (very convenient speed-train will take you there). this big city is actually BEAUTIFUL by Chinese standards, and it's huge WEST LAKE is famous and a pleasure to stroll around.....