Shanghai Pudong Airport Transfer Review & Booking Guide

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Before you jet off to Shanghai, there's one crucial logistical detail you need to figure out:

How are you getting from the airport to your hotel

with all your luggage in tow?

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While there are plenty of options from Pudong International Airport (PVG) to the city center,

including the Maglev train, buses, and local taxis,

I can tell you from personal experience that nothing beats the comfort

of a pre-booked airport transfer.

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The cost of living and transportation in Shanghai is incredibly reasonable.

If you're traveling with two or more people,

booking a private car is often a much better deal than taking the train!

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The biggest advantage?

Zero language barriers. You don't need to speak a word of Mandarin.

Your driver picks you up right at the arrivals hall and drops you off directly at your hotel door.

No dragging heavy suitcases through crowded subway stations or

struggling to communicate your destination—that's the ultimate perk.

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I recently used a pre-booked airport transfer from Shanghai Pudong Airport

to my downtown hotel,

and I want to share my honest review,

along with a few tips on how to book it at the absolute lowest price.

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If you're planning a family vacation

or traveling with a group of friends,

you definitely want to pay attention to this post.

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Why I Chose a Pre-booked Private Transfer

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First off, this was my very first time visiting China.

Traveling to countries where English isn't widely spoken can make

that initial airport-to-hotel journey incredibly stressful.

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The language barrier, combined with heavy luggage...

and navigating a brand-new city, was something I was genuinely worried about.

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On top of that, I had read countless reviews warning travelers

about hailing local taxis directly at the airport.

Many people mentioned getting older cars with lingering odors,

or struggling to fit two large suitcases into tiny trunks.

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I decided I'd rather book my ride online before leaving home.

I wanted my trip to start smoothly, getting from the airport to the hotel

quickly and comfortably!

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Surprisingly, reserving a private car in advance doesn't

cost much more than calling a cab on the spot.

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When you book online beforehand,

you provide your hotel name and address in advance.

The service assigns you a premium, spacious,

and odor-free vehicle.

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Plus, we had absolutely no problem

fitting two large suitcases into the trunk.

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And if you book through a discount link,

it's incredibly affordable!

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You can book the exact Shanghai airport transfer I used

👇🏻at the lowest price right here.

Airport Pickup/Drop-off: Shanghai Hongqiao/Pudong Airport to Downtown (Various Vehicles)

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Seriously, if you aren't traveling solo—especially

for family trips or group getaways—the cost of a private transfer

is often cheaper than buying multiple train tickets.

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Always compare the prices first! (Spoiler: The car is always more convenient).

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Airport Pickup/Drop-off: Shanghai Hongqiao/Pudong Airport to Downtown (Various Vehicles)​

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My Pudong Airport Transfer Experience

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Because I pre-booked,

as soon as we cleared immigration and grabbed our bags at Pudong Airport,

our driver was waiting right there holding a sign with my name on it.

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There was no need to wander around looking for the taxi stand.

We met our driver immediately and headed straight

to the car. It was SO incredibly convenient.

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I was traveling with my parents on this trip.

Trying to figure out train tickets upon arrival,

or trying to explain our hotel address to a local taxi driver

using translation apps while jetlagged...

that whole process would have been exhausting.

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But with a pre-booked transfer,

the hotel address is provided in advance.

The driver already knows exactly where to go,

so you can just hop in and relax the moment you arrive.

It was seamless.

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The best part was definitely the condition of the car!

It was spotlessly clean and smelled fresh.

The trunk easily swallowed our two large suitcases,

and the back seat was incredibly spacious and comfortable.

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If you've traveled in Shanghai before, you might know

that regular street taxis can be quite small, and the odor issues can be...

intense. Sometimes it smells like someone hasn't showered in a week.

Or it reeks of stale cigarette smoke.

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The drive from Shanghai Pudong Airport to the city center

takes about 40 to 50 minutes (roughly 25 miles).

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Instead of suffering through a smelly ride for nearly an hour,

reserving a clean, premium vehicle

in advance was easily the best decision I made for this trip.

It was worth every penny.

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Airport Pickup/Drop-off: Shanghai Hongqiao/Pudong Airport to Downtown (Various Vehicles)

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To be fair, you'll probably use the DiDi ride-hailing app a lot

while exploring Shanghai. But even then,

you'll often run into cleanliness and odor issues

with the local cars.

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Throughout my trip, the condition of my pre-booked airport transfer

was so vastly superior that I found myself wishing I could just

book them for all my daily city travel!

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We arrived safely at our hotel.

The driver helped unload all our luggage,

and there were zero requests for tips or hidden extra charges.

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I absolutely recommend booking a private transfer to anyone traveling to Shanghai!

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Compared to other global cities,

transportation costs in Shanghai are quite low,

so booking a private car in advance doesn't strain your travel budget

at all.

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It completely eliminates the stress of language barriers

and the fatigue of dealing with uncomfortable local cabs.

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As soon as your Shanghai itinerary is set,

make sure to book your airport transfer first!

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👇🏻 Book Your Shanghai Pudong Airport Transfer

Click here to reserve in advance at the lowest price (Automatic 6% Discount)

Airport Pickup/Drop-off: Shanghai Hongqiao/Pudong Airport to Downtown (Various Vehicles)