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| Mandarin Oriental/ photo: Verghese |
HONG KONG’s fortunes have always had their fair share of turbulence. Yet a resilient economy has done much to dull memories of SARS and snotty chickens. The public is soldiering bravely on with its therapy – of the retail kind – and the government is so vigorously forward-looking it will soon be setting the date for universal suffrage at a reasonable 2189. Hotels are responding to this newfound confidence with a barrage of facelifts and new developments. More fodder then for our Hong Kong business hotels review.
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Hong Kong Business Hotels, Island
Central district is a world of gleaming high rises and teeming streets. It’s also a world on the move… expanding ever forward into the sea, chunk by chunk of reclaimed land. Right now busy Bertie barges and Tommy tugboats make the area a fun place to be for two to six-year-olds, but for the corporate bigwig accustomed to his gin, tonic and grand views from the deluxe room, it can be a bit of a letdown. Hong Kongers await their seafront utopia, but are understandably suspicious. Little in this area seems to stay waterside for long. Central is where some of the best Hong Kong business hotels are to be found.
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| Four Seasons Hong Kong/ photo: hotel |
The reclamation is good news for at least one hotel that towers above it. The 399-room Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong and 519-unit Four Seasons Place strut out in front of all their competitors, contentedly gobbling up the views. As room numbers suggest, it’s a giant property – big rooms, massive multiple lobbies, high-ceilinged restaurants, an extensive spa… you get the picture. It makes you wonder whether a hotel can get a little too big. The lobbies almost feel like an extension of the posh IFC shopping mall next door. Still, this proximity to the mall is another useful magnet for work-and-play visitors. The Four Seasons Hotel is a highly regarded among top drawer Hong Kong hotels with a raft of excellent facilities, fine dining, attractive, hi-tech rooms (both short and long stay), a plush spa, and two stunning swimming pools. Wired and wireless Internet access is available in all rooms for a fee – for guests in suite rooms, WiFi is free.
In contrast, the grand old timer, the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, sits back along the original waterfront not far from the newer Four Seasons. The consternation was palpable when renovation plans were announced – its ancient regulars shaking their silver-topped canes in dismay. Dramatic overhaul complete, the grand dame surged back with several of her best-loved features, among them the Captain's Bar with its silver-plated beer tankers, the Mandarin Barber, and the “couture” cake shop, now one floor up.
It has updated its look though with two distinct room styles, the traditional Taipan and the more contemporary Verandah. Desks and daybeds sit in the area where the old balconies used to be. Hi-tech amenities are all there, with a comprehensive DVD and speaker system, but bathtubs aren’t guaranteed. The lower “study” room grade has some pretty bog-standard building views, but there are some rooms in the hotel with windows that can be opened – a rare luxury. The new spa has an old-Shanghai feel, an indoor lap pool, and an array of treatments. Fine dining options include Man Wah with impressive views, and the intimate Pierre, which serves experimental, three-star Michelin French cuisine. This is high end indulgence and accommodation Hong Kong style with local twist and flair.
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| Landmark Mandarin Oriental/ photo: hotel |
Down the road, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong was opened a few years back for the sort of hip crowd that appreciates a Harvey Nichols next door and the MTR train line right underneath. Though boutique in expression, with an intimate book-lined lounge and one bar, it houses one of Hong Kong’s larger spas and has a small indoor pool. Rooms are very spacious and serene. They edge towards a minimalist tone – well, except for the three plasma TVs per room, the large round soaking tubs, 400-thread-count sheets waiting to glide over your body, and wellness touches such as a nutrition-packed minibar and yoga mats in every room. The two-floor 25,000sq ft Oriental Spa and Wellness Centre will take care of the foot-weary and pummel and cajole limbs into executive ecstasy with Ayurvedic treatments, an amethyst crystal steam room, Turkish hamams, and yoga classes. Mark this in your Hong Kong hotels' diary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong (Senior) had a good run, its old-world atmosphere securing a loyal following that perhaps marvelled at the presentation of the biggest truffle known (1.2kg) in 2005. Wonderfully atmospheric and non-conformist, it ceased operation January 2008 to make way for offices and more corporate cubes. The new Ritz-Carlton will be across the harbour in West Kowloon, on the top floors of the ICC building. Construction of the tower is busily underway and the hotel is expected to open in 2010, doubtless setting new benchmarks for other Hong Kong business hotels.
Above the neon mayhem of Lan Kwai Fong, the 95-room Hotel LKF stands tall. The place cuts a smooth impression design-wise, with a lobby full of the hip and well heeled. Within the surrounding bustle the hotel offers chic, cocooned, environs. The rooms are spacious with deep colours, fancy photography on the walls, and hi-tech extras, though WiFi is not available. Highlights include large bathrooms with sinks big enough to bathe a baby, Molten Brown amenities, mood settings on the lighting console and espresso machines with Illy coffee. Pampered pets can be catered for (and staff will address them by name), but you’ll need to pay for an extra room.
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| Island Shangri-La view/ photo: Verghese |
This is one of the few hotels in Hong Kong that offers some views of the harbour as well as the old police headquarters and, down the other end of the hall, the Botanical Gardens and former governor’s house. But if you find yourself wanting a broad sweep of the lot, just head to the pricey but pretty split-level bar (which has a snooker table) and restaurant Azure, up top. If you’re in a VIP mood, book one of the two private rooms. This is the hotel’s only official dining outlet, but considering the culinary zoo waiting outside, that’s just fine.
The hotel trio above Admiralty’s Pacific Place mall are a competitive bunch. The Island Shangri-La boasted the largest rooms in Hong Kong (until the Four Seasons arrived). The JW Marriott claims the largest selection of wines by the glass and the Conrad, you should know, has one of the largest ballrooms on the island, sans pillars. However in terms of views, access and location the three are much of a muchness: all very good.
A bit more flamboyant than the others, The Island Shangri-La Hong Kong is all old-world paintings, gilded mirrors and chandeliers, with a few exceptions – the modern wall art in its lobby for example. The open-air pool terrace is a real highlight: a way to be bang in the middle of Hong Kong and yet so very out of it at the same time. The serene Peak-view rooms are popular with returnees. Expect oversized furniture with plenty of room to manoeuvre, huge well-equipped desks and large safes. In-room features include wired and wireless Internet access (HK$120 per day), a dataport by the desk, a DVD player, an LCD TV in the bathroom and a four-in-one fax/scanner/copier and printer.
The Shangri-La offers a wide range of restaurants and bars including the classical top-floor Petrus with fabulous views over Victoria Harbour. Or laze at the remodelled poolside with a tall drink in hand. The hotel has a brisk and friendly style and staff who are very much on the ball. Access to the adjoining Pacific Place Mall is an added draw for those with shopping on their minds and, on the way down, stop by the deli for some orgasmic almond-and-chocolate “frou frou”. This Shangri-La ranks among the best Hong Kong business hotels. (The Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong is showcased in our exclusive Top Asian Hotels Collection, featuring the best Asian hotels, resorts and spas in a printable A4 page with stunning visuals.)
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| Conrad room/ photo: hotel |
A comprehensive renovation has left the Conrad Hong Kong with an elegant residential feel, and it’s much more homey than most business environs. Strong Asian accents set the decor in browns and burnished gold. Mountain-view rooms offer green vistas and the highest harbour-facing rooms rise above the neighbours for unobstructed panoramas. Even the city-view rooms get a glimpse of the harbour and lots of greenery. Rooms at the Conrad come with flat-screen TVs, DVD players and a useful CD player alarm clock that can hook up to your iPod. Bathrooms are large with deep bathtubs, separate showers and two washbasins. Broadband Internet is available for HK$120 per day, and free WiFi is offered in public areas. Executive floor guests get in-room WiFi and access to a business lounge with lovely views. The fine dining Nicholini’s has won the lofty Insegna del Romano more than once in the past, branding it the best Italian restaurant outside of Italy, no less. The Conrad offers a decent fitness centre, an outdoor pool, an efficient business centre, and is a good Hong Kong business hotel choice.
The JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong is a brisk business hotel, all glass and brass. It greets its largely executive guests with a vast lobby lounge, stocked to the hilt with 40 or so teas and offering bright, leafy views over the harbour. Harpists often soothe the afternoon tea crowd. The rooms offer a pleasant, simple, contemporary luxury and are in the process of being fully refurbished. Business amenities vary according to room type, but the new JW Premium rooms feature 47-inch flatscreen TVs, Bose stereo systems, plug and play connectivity to iPods as well as other tech gadgets. Expect wired and wireless Internet connection (HK$120 per day) and, making their debut in stages, IP phones, and larger electronic safes that will house a laptop. Bathrooms are tidy and compact yet manage to offer a small bathtub as well as a shower cubicle. Fastidious travellers will be pleased to find an iron and ironing board stowed away in the cupboard.
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| JW Marriott new decor/ photo: hotel |
The new décor is warm, minimalist, and welcoming, with soft yellow tones and dark wood furniture. Large cabinets and bulky items have been dispensed with altogether. The work desk is now glass, adjoining a dataport and two three-pin square electric sockets. JW has upped the emphasis on personalised service too – a regular guest may arrive to the strains of his favourite music playing in the room. Business facilities are considerable – there are 15 meeting rooms, a refurbished ballroom, public areas offer free WiFi access and the business centre has private work stations complete with coloured pencils and gummy bears. There are a number of fine dining options but, up by the poolside, the Fish Bar offers a nice rustic escape from the city. It also offers sustainable seafood on its menu, which is just one of JW Marriott’s eco-friendly initiatives.
Perched above Central in the Mid-Levels district (about five to ten minutes on the escalator from SoHo), Bishop Lei International House comes highly recommended for the light of wallet. The Catholic diocese-run hotel is popular with long-stay visitors. You wouldn’t want to spend too much time in the standard rooms here – space is tight. High-floor rooms are affordable, well maintained and clean. Free WiFi is yours throughout. The fact that you also get a small terrace café, gym, a reading room and a nice outdoor pool makes this a gem. For a Hong Kong budget hotel, look no further.
Lan Kwai Fong Hotel (not to be confused with Hotel LKF) is about a ten-minute walk west of Lan Kwai Fong, reasonably handy to Central and close to SoHo and the Sheung Wan MTR station. It is surrounded by older buildings; the area has more of a community feel as opposed to the bright lights of Central. Lan Kwai Fong Hotel bills itself as a Hong Kong boutique hotel and there is no grand entrance, though two bowls of turtles will greet you at the door. Its 158 compact rooms are oriental in style and feature flatscreen TVs, Broadband Internet access, bathrobe and slippers, minibar, desk and portable phone. The five suites are roomy, have nice harbour views, balconies and traditional Chinese furniture and art. The quaint Breeze café, which offers a buffet breakfast, has an outdoor terrace hemmed in by bamboo plants. A free bus goes back and forth from the hotel to the Airport Express station.
Five minutes further west on antique-shop-filled Hollywood Road is Lan Kwai Fong Hotel’s sister property, Central Park Hotel. The 136 rooms are white, bright and compact with small flatscreen TVs, Broadband Internet, and tiny bathrooms. The six suites are double the size of a standard room and include a kitchenette, complimentary Internet access, a separate living room, and 21-inch flatscreen TVs. Suite guests can enjoy free rental of the hotel’s small meeting room.
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| Courtyard Hong Kong |
Island Pacific Hotel Hong Kong, in Sheung Wan is not a bad three-star option, with compact rooms in a quiet yet relatively accessible area, and good views. One serviced apartment newcomer in the area is The Putman, a ten-minute walk from Central and a quick stroll from the MTR, the pet project of French designer Andree Putman.
Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong opened in this area in early 2008. The Courtyard brand offers "moderately priced" lodgings aimed squarely at the business traveller with a focus on the room and work functionality rather than grand lobbies and ballrooms. Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong, in Sai Ying Pun has spacious, smart rooms with superb sea views from almost 70 percent of its bedrooms. Guests can expect wired and wireless Internet access, a rainforest shower in the bathroom, an oversized work desk, and a safe that will house a laptop. Executive suites have a separate living area, although the space for bedroom and bathroom is open plan, so don’t plan on sharing this style of room with a business colleague. There is a restaurant, a small snack bar in the lobby, a business centre, and a well-equipped fitness centre. Transport into Central and Wanchai is easy with the hotel’s regular shuttle service.
Almost opposite Courtyard is Ramada Hong Kong Hotel, a basic three-star option catering for large tour groups from the mainland. Sitting on busy Des Voeux Road where trams trundle by all day long, Ramada offers 307 rooms with a minibar, TV, Broadband Internet, hair-drier, desk, and small bathrooms. There are two restaurants, one bar and a small gym. A complimentary shuttle bus runs to IFC mall via Sheung Wan MTR station and the Macau ferry pier.
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| The Fleming deluxe/ photo: hotel |
Opened in March 2008 on Queen’s Road West not far from Hong Kong University is the smart new Hotel Jen, a 280-room independent with a mix of standard rooms, Jen Rooms and Jen suites, the latter two offering WiFi, flat-screen LCD TV, and an iPod or MP3 dock. Jen Rooms, on the higher floors, serve up some harbour or mountain views. Also find a rooftop pool, a 24-hour gym and a function room that can manage up to 50 persons. Expect full kitchen facilities, wall-to-wall views (of buildings, unfortunately, unless on one of the higher floors) and a palette as bright and white as a laundry-powder ad. The grey area between hotel and long-stay apartment is becoming increasingly competitive, and this is just the latest in a series of high quality contenders such as the Shama brand, Four Seasons Place and Ovolo.
There are two sides to the sprawling Wanchai district – the fun side with its neon, miniskirts, bars, hole-in-the-wall restaurants and bathroom fittings shops; and the less fun side, by the Hong Kong Convention Centre (or Wanchai North for those in the know). The Fleming is a 66-room Hong Kong boutique hotel that hovers between the two. It flouts a hard-edged, if minimalist, modernity. Guests are greeted by a luminous green reception desk and lobby installations that make you wonder if they are for sitting on, or gazing at thoughtfully. Rooms are on the small side and cut from a simple cloth, but perfectly functional. Executive Rooms come with a fax-scanner-printer machine, as well as a DVD player and small kitchenette. There’s a tidy little conference room here and a café. Non-smokers should beware of rogue smells drifting up between floors. There is Broadband Internet access available in rooms as well as Wi-Fi in public areas. The service is included in some room packages while other guests will need to pay HK$120 per day.
Enjoying the harbour-views from Wanchai North, the Renaissance and the Grand Hyatt are conjoined at the waist, sharing a lovely outdoor pool which, on the Hyatt side, connects to the indulgent spa complex Plateau, and on the Renaissance side, to a large leafy private plaza with jogging trails, two tennis courts and a small putting range.
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| Crisp Grand Hyatt/ photo: hotel |
Both hotels share the facilities and fine views. And sandwiched between the two is the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Along with a soaring signature black-marble lobby and popular restaurants, the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong offers Broadband (wired and Wireless) for busy fingers in all rooms and also offers Ethernet connections in meeting rooms. The Plateau is the Grand Hyatt’s 80,000sq ft “oasis” with a range of revitalizing spa treatments, fitness facilities and a stunning alfresco poolside restaurant. Savour glass-walled bathrooms, extra-large infinity tubs and futon beds. One of the Grand Hyatt’s main advantages, in terms of location, is the proximity to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre where many of the trade fairs are held. Wanchai Ferry is not too far away though the MTR is a small hike. The Grand Hyatt makes a good choice as a Hong Kong business hotel and a conference venue, with excellent F&B and service. For the musically inclined, the new-look JJ's offers a chic bar-cum-music-lounge with Thai dining.
The Renaissance Harbour View Hotel Hong Kong is a slightly more affordable yet popular alternative. It favours white marble with large glass frontage in its airy, busy lobby, and has extensive function facilities, good harbour views and decent rooms. The hotel is in the midst of renovation; the lobby was finished in October 2007 and some of the rooms have had a facelift. New features include modernised décor, a “Remote Jack Pack” for connection of laptops and cameras to flatscreen LCD TVs, glass desks, and glass panels separating bedroom and bathroom. In-room Internet access is HK$120 per day and WiFi (available only in public areas) is HK$80 per hour. Not far from here is a cheaper option, the YMCA’s Harbour View International House, which has 320 rooms with flatscreen TVs, Wireless Broadband, minibar, private bathrooms, and, unsurprisingly, harbour views. There is also a house doctor on call.
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| Bright Cosmo Green/ photo: Verghese |
Scattered along Hennessy Road and Lockhart Road on the other side of Wanchai are a variety of mid-size three and four-star hotels, all very popular with mainland Chinese visitors. Staff here tend to be better versed in Mandarin than English. Lending further appeal for mainlanders is a well-worn coach route from the Wanchai Star Ferry that zips passengers across the border to Shenzhen in about 45 minutes.
Options such as the smartly renovated Luk Kwok Hotel (which was the setting for The World of Suzie Wong in its original incarnation and currently offers a good Cantonese restaurant) and the 358-room Wharney Guangdong Hotel Hong Kong are clean and compact with mid-range facilities and easy access. The Wharney’s Canny Man provides a pleasant subterranean refuge for the whiskey drinker, and has a good international beer selection.
Location-wise The Wesley is a good alternative to the Admiralty bigwigs. The Metropark Hotel and the smaller King’s Hotel both manage to mix three-star prices with a modern funky approach, with the former flaunting LCD TVs and free Broadband throughout. And the Empire Hotel Hong Kong plods on unremarkably but reliably. The Novotel Century, Hong Kong, is a comfy, efficiently run four-star with a great Shanghai restaurant in the basement and tasty Italian fare. The hotel has 511 rooms, including 22 suites, with the latest hi-tech and offers easy walkway access to the Convention Centre. There is Wireless, Broadband and meeting facilities for up to 260 people. Also expect a health club, pool and sauna.
And on Wanchai Road, a bit further in and away from the harbour, is the low-price no-frills JJ Hotel with clean rooms, and a simple set-up. No lobbies and soaring arches or lavish business centre, though there are some meeting rooms. Expect an LCD TV, a DVD player, an electric safe, hair drier and complimentary shoe-shine. There's Wireless in the rooms and good and cheap restaurants up and down the road.
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| Cosmopolitan OSIM Suite/ photo:Verghese |
Set farther away from the harbour but within strolling distance of Causeway Bay shops and the Happy Valley racecourse are the Cosmopolitan Hotel and sibling Cosmo Hotel. You’ll need to traverse an underground walkway to reach the main drags but it’s nothing their regular shuttle bus service doesn’t cover in a couple of minutes. The curved Cosmopolitan Hotel clocks in at 454 rooms, the lobby cutting a light, clean impression, with lots of beige marble and the odd chandelier. Good-sized deluxe racecourse-view rooms get an eyeful of the Happy Valley turf.
Standard rooms are compact in pleasant pale cream and custard hues, but the frosted glass windows make them feel smaller. Backing onto the property is a large and rather beautiful old graveyard, but local lore deems this an unlucky view, hence the frosted windows. If booking a suite, choose from four themed categories – the A-Fontane Suite contains 300-count linen, LG Suite is for those in need of audio-visual stimulation, and the Toy Suite, a fun option for those with a young family (children can choose a toy to take home). Parents may prefer the OSIM massage suite. Relax in buzzing, vibrating, pulsing furniture, or watch the horses astride your own vibrating gee-gee.
Neighbouring sister property, the 142-room Cosmo, is a colourful Hong Kong option with three room options – orange, yellow or green. The bright colours work to open up the small, but well-designed rooms – bathrooms offer the best use of space. Larger executive rooms come with a PC, and pay package WiFi or Broadband is available in both hotels throughout. Nooch Bar is a dark industrial style hangout on the ground floor, which also serves breakfast. A lighter, brighter breakfast experience is just a hop skip and jump next door to Cosmopolitan’s buffet or Sunday morning dim sum. Cosmo is simple bordering on hip, a good value Hong Kong hotel with some design flourishes. Shop at these two for good Internet deals and longstay packages.
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| Jia breezy whites/ photo: hotel |
Nearby you’ll also find the kitsch-and-karaoke The Emperor Hotel, with a racy bar and good Szechuan cuisine, and South Pacific Hotel, both staples for business visitors from the mainland who like to cut loose a little after work. Beds in the South Pacific Hotel are a tad short for taller people, but the concierge here is enthusiastic and helpful.
Hotel Bonaparte by Rhombus, sister property of Hotel LKF (in Central) and Hotel Panorama on the Kowloon side, is set on a busy road, next to its own cheap eats café, and a short walk away from Causeway Bay and Wanchai MTR stations. Entry to the tiny but chic, black granite lobby is easy to miss in the bustle. Not far from the Hong Kong Convention Centre, it is aimed at the business traveller with 82 no-frills, pint-sized rooms, one up from the fashionable pod-hotels of Tokyo.. WiFi card and mobile phone (deposit of HK$800) are provided for use inside and out of the hotel – a nice business traveller addition. Broadband is charged, HK$100 for 24 hours or HK$300 for a week.
Moving eastwards into the retail jungle of Causeway Bay you’ll find a few good Hong Kong business hotels. The Excelsior and the Park Lane Hotel go head to head in the four-star market. Both benefit from beautiful views of the harbour and the green lung of Victoria Park. Park-side hotels are a smart choice and a great way to take stock of this city’s inhabitants at their most relaxed – jogging, playing soccer, doing tai chi or just feeding stray cats. Hong Kong is safe so do try a night time stroll.
The Excelsior (operated by the Mandarin Oriental group) is a solid business and leisure favourite that lies right at the water’s edge, looking onto the bobbing masts of the Hong Kong Yacht Club and typhoon shelter. It offers high-end, spacious, user-friendly rooms, the majority of which have a view of the harbour. There is in-room Broadband (HK$130 per day) and public areas have free Wireless. The Excelsior’s solid range of eateries includes the Dickens Bar, a well-trodden English sports pub in the basement. On the penthouse level is the funky ToTT’s with wraparound views, champagne and cocktails.
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| Le Meridien Cyberport/ photo: hotel |
The Park Lane is also pleasant and upscale, offering sizeable rooms, some with views over the verdant green of Victoria Park. It flirts with the hip factor by way of funky carpet and glass screens between bathroom and bedroom. In-room Broadband comes at HK$120 per day and there is free WiFi in public areas. Riva on the top floor offers nice views with its popular appetizer buffet, and Cafe One downstairs is open 24 hours a day. The area just outside the hotel is sometimes congested so be prepared to battle pedestrians. However, taxis at the entrance will whisk you out and away very quickly unless there’s a rush hour jam.
Rosedale on the Park and a second Metropark Hotel also take advantage of the park views. The former is set a few minutes away from the general spender-lust, and has all the necessary room amenities, free Broadband Internet, a cute Chinese restaurant and a top-floor lounge. The Metropark is probably a little farther out than you might like, (about a 10-minute walk across the park) with unremarkable standard rooms, but free Broadband Internet. Sunset views to the front of the hotel make an upgrade worth it. Scan the horizon as well from a small pool up on the roof.
Back in the thick of Causeway Bay are two Hong Kong boutique hotels. Jia is one of Hong Kong’s more acclaimed younger ones, having been decked out head-to-shin by design extraordinaire Philippe Starck. Rooms are cool, compact and perilously white, with quirky bits of décor adding a homey touch. A sheer curtain separates the bed from a lounge space, complete with 23-inch flatscreen TV and a smart little kitchenette. Starck is renowned for being user-friendly, so expect laptop-sized safes, a heater for the winter months and a portable landline phone (with free local calls). Broadband is free. Guests all manage to cram themselves into the tiny lobby for breakfast, where a mini pantry awaits, stocked by day with cake and the occasional bottle of wine and, on some nights, with cocktails and canapés. While the Jia is, at first glance, dowdy and unprepossessing from the outside, inside is a different story. This is a cool hangout with good vibes.
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| Chic Lanson Place/ photo: hotel |
A few minutes away, the 194-room Lanson Place offers a different, much larger interpretation of the boutique hotel approach. Its owner hails from the serviced apartment industry so rooms are big and comprehensively stocked, with kitchenettes and chests of drawers included. Flick on the flat-screen LCD TV, pop in a CD or watch a DVD. Unlike Jia – which conceals its relatively viewless windows – this hotel flaunts them floor to ceiling. Go for the park views or a slice of Hong Kong stadium above the eighth floor. The building itself, in all its faux-European glory, was purpose-built, and the public spaces are few but large. There is a lovely club-like lounge with sofas and bookshelves, a 24-hour fitness centre and a conference centre. The entire hotel is Wireless enabled, and it's free. Pick up a hotel mobile phone and your room calls will seamlessly transfer to your pocket, ensuring nothing gets missed on the go. Both Lanson and Jia are popular options for accommodation in Hong Kong with attitude.
An interesting and somewhat quirky choice on Hennessy Road is the Hong Kong boutique hotel, Walden. The Walden Hotel is a compact and colourful offering with the atmospheric Antique Bar featuring good chillout music, old Chinese lanterns, deep sofas and cosy nooks for a slow unwind. There is even a spa and rooms won't exactly pinch the wallet.
Close by is the Regal Hongkong Hotel, a slightly ornate leisure-business option that’s low on views but big on Broadband and bathtubs, L’Hotel, a fresh, modern four-star with a rooftop pool and, at the rear of shopping Mecca, Times Square, Express by Holiday Inn, offering the ultimate in comfortable no-frills accommodation, with identical, affordable rooms, big desks, American-style décor and powerful showers. Express has 282 rooms (including a wheelchair access room) with complimentary Broadband access, in-room safe, and satellite TV. An “Express Start” breakfast is included in the room rate.
To the east of Victoria Park, North Point district (also easily accessed by the MTR) is served by the Newton Hotel Hong Kong and Hotel Ibis North Point; both light, simple and good value for money. The Newton’s website still proudly advertises colour television so don’t expect a Wireless wonderland. However, both hotels have Broadband.
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| Langham Hotel's Grand Langham/ photo: hotel |
The Harbour Plaza North Point is a larger option with 669 rooms and serviced suites, some overlooking the harbour. This is convenient to the Taikoo Place office blocks in nearby Quarry Bay. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, business centre and a choice of four restaurants. You might want to avoid the rooms that overlook the crematorium if you’re superstitious.
Far out on the west of the island in the green suburbia of Pokfulam, the hi-tech Le Méridien Cyberport is one vast wireless hotspot. At this unabashedly modern building, technology married with art provides the theme for the minimalist design with angular lines and daubs of colour. Guestrooms are divided into Smart, Deluxe and Club rooms with many offering full floor-to-ceiling ocean frontage. The bright and sunny “Art + Tech” rooms feature a 42-inch plasma TV. Some rooms come with playful glass-walled look-in bathrooms complete with oversize rainshowers. About 30 minutes from Central by shuttle and far removed from the hurly-burly of Hong Kong, the hotel has a decidedly self-sufficient feel. It is a popular conference and training venue. This probably has something to do with the lawns outside that you’re actually allowed to walk on. The hotel is also very proud of its celebrity visitations and rightly so – anywhere Gloria Gaynor and Art Garfunkel have laid their curly mops has got to be worth a gander.
Last but not least, for those looking to savour the sights, smells, pubs, beach, markets and seaside ambience of Stanley, the fishing village and tourist hotspot in the far south of Hong Kong Island, there is the new and mod The Stanley Oriental Hotel with nine large studio arrangements (starting at 590sq ft) including a few even more spacious suites. Too much for just a day. Right. Thus you'll need to book a week or more at this service apartment-hotel. It's an all white affair with about one room per floor. Expect a large kitchenette (microwave, fridge and electric range), generous bathroom, flatscreen TV, stylish faded wood floors and free WiFi. The larger suite rooms offer two large flatscreen TVs, DVD, modern sofas, balcony, separate shower, and a raised bathtub taking in the view of Stanley Bay. The hotel - small, quirky and clean - is right on the bayfront with easy access to all Stanley facilities and restaurants.
Hong Kong Business Hotels, Kowloon and TST
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| Vibrant W Hong Kong/ photo: Verghese |
The Kowloon peninsula, with Tsimshatsui (TST) at its very tip, looks across Victoria harbour at Hong Kong. There’s cut-price shopping, battalions of tailors, fake goods and a slew of high-end hotels along the waterfront on either side of busy Nathan Road. Two tunnels, the MTR and the Star Ferry can whisk you across the fast-slimming channel in minutes.
August 2008 saw the arrival of the uber stylish W Hong Kong, located in fast-developing West Kowloon. It’s a handy choice for trendy metrosexuals and even starched bankers working directly opposite in the new ICC building. The hotel is whimsically designed around the five elements of water, fire, wood, earth and metal. The W brand strives to offer travellers a "sensory muliplex" with a riot of art and more. Entry is on the ground floor where you’ll be greeted by a giant illuminated W “flame”, but the sixth floor “Living Room” is where the actual reception area is situated. It’s all ultra modern with funky furniture, bright colours, and bold art. The reception desk is backed by a giant plasma screen with moving images that change continually.
There are 393 rooms ranging from “Wonderful” to “Spectacular” to “Cool” and a few others in between with equally “Fabulous” names. The spacious rooms come in two quite different designs, so you might end up with bold and obvious (bright purple or red feature walls) or a touch more subtle. The latest technology is on hand – some rooms have sliding mirrors that reveal plasma LCD TVs, and there are DVD players, iPod docks, surround sound speakers, and funky light fittings. Expect a “Munchie Box” instead of a minibar. Bathrooms are stony grey with rainshowers, bathtubs, and Bliss amenities. Spectacular harbour views can be enjoyed from the comfort of your bath, if you’re in one of the suites. Subtlety is not on the menu at W’s Bliss Spa where you’ll get upbeat music, movie-watching with a manicure and vibrant turquoise blue carpet. Along with its idiosyncratic design and unique amenities, W Hong Kong follows in the footsteps of its global counterparts with a “Whatever/Whenever” service philosophy. Be sure to check out the stunning rooftop pool (called “Wet”) and two glitzy restaurants. (W Hong Kong is showcased in our exclusive Top Asian Hotels Collection, featuring the best Asian hotels, resorts and spas in a printable A4 page with stunning visuals.)
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| The Peninsula fleet/ photo: hotel |
With its white colonial frontage and flotilla of Rolls Royce Phantoms, The Peninsula Hong Kong presides over the waterfront like a matriarch – the great grandmamma of Hong Kong hotels. Visitors go gaga over its afternoon teas. Over the years it has expanded from 168 to 300 rooms, introducing a new tower block, a helipad and, most recently, a spa. Décor is studiously refined – gilded this and polished that. Brand name boutiques and classy restaurants complete the ensemble. Expect oriental rugs, stuffed armchairs, sizeable bathrooms with inviting bathtubs and silent faxes in-room. Ask for a bed in the old building if you like a high ceiling. Don’t think all this old world elegance replaces all things modern.
The Peninsula Hotel’s rooms have all the latest hi tech gadgetry, and WiFi comes free of charge. Now that’s a nice touch. For metrosexuals and discerning ladies, a variety of beauty and therapeutic treatments beckon at The Peninsula Spa by ESPA featuring 14 treatment rooms and a Roman style swimming pool. Get a facial or indulge in foot reflexology. You can always slap on the calories again at the penthouse Felix with its stylish décor and eye-popping harbour views. Also look out for Salon de Ning, a new East-meets-West lounge-cum-jazz bar opened in December 2008 in the basement with live music and a small dance floor.
InterContinental Hong Kong is across the road smack on the seafront, about a five-minute walk from the Nathan Road “Golden Mile”. Sit in the lobby and you’ll feel like you’re on a ship in the harbour (minus the motion) with the Star Ferries bobbing past the floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel enjoys a regal status with a more modern, almost masculine twist. Hong Kong’s first outdoor spa cabanas were introduced in the latest revamp creating a resort-type feel on the pool deck. The pool plays underwater music and is surrounded by sun loungers. Two-thirds of the rooms get an unadulterated view of the harbour. Try patio rooms on the third floor for a terrace complete with sun lounger. Or upgrade from any room to Club (and hence a huge, well-stocked executive lounge that serves Moet every night) for an extra HK$900.
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| InterCon goes contemporary/ photo: hotel |
Guestrooms are elegantly Asian in design, with 37-inch plasma TVs, sound systems, DVD players, a Bose sound system, Broadband, WiFi, and iPod docks. Need a 24-hour butler? No problem. Or pop by the I-Spa for some “jetlag relief” treatment. The new five-room Presidential Suite at 7,000sq feet with a stunning two-storey glass ocean frontage is touted as the largest in this category anywhere in the city. Its panoramic pool comes with a “resistance” current so you can keep swimming hell for leather but never get to the other side. The InterCon has five restaurants including notables, Spoon by Alain Ducasse and Nobu. In Kowloon, the InterCon, along with The Peninsula, is among the top picks for those in search of Hong Kong business hotels as well as those in need of a quality leisure digs.
Back across Salisbury Road sits the 782-room Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel and Towers. This was once a muted kind of hotel but is now at the tail end of a warmer revamp, with business angles softened by modern sculptures and mood lighting. Standard rooms here are a bit low on frills and technology but are high on space. All have bathtubs, with a floor-length glass panel between bathroom and bedroom. Pay more for a Tower room on one of the top two floors and you’ll get private check-in, free Internet access, in-room printer and fax, DVD player, and access to the private lounge. The gym provides a workout on top of the city, as does the rooftop pool. Smokers are banished to a cigar room in the lobby, but the Sky Lounge upstairs has a private ambience, as well as sweeping views and pricey cocktails.
A wander farther east along Salisbury and then Mody Road will introduce a queue of modern, well-equipped options – the Renaissance Kowloon Hotel Hong Kong (with Broadband in-room and WiFi in public areas), the Kowloon Shangri-La, the Regal Kowloon Hotel, the smart InterContinental Grand Stanford, and the business-like, busy, but friendly Hotel Nikko, catering to swarms of Japanese guests.
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| Kowloon Shangri-La/ photo: hotel |
A landmark on the Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront, on Mody Road, is the Kowloon Shangri-La with 700 elegant guest rooms (among the most spacious in the city) and unobstructed views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline. The hotel – including its guest rooms, restaurants, function rooms, and Horizon Club lounge and 12-seat conference rooms, underwent a US$25 million renovation. The hotel is kitted with hi-tech facilities, and Horizon Club rooms have special touches such as binoculars for those facing the harbour, trouser presses and wireless telephones that work anywhere in the hotel. Apart from extensive banquet and meeting facilities, the hotel offers a range of excellent restaurants, from Angelini with its harbour views, bright, modern interior and excellent Italian fare, to the red-and-gold Shang Palace offering Cantonese food. There’s also a stylish Japanese restaurant and the sumptuous, groaning buffet of Cafe Kool. The state-of-the-art health club and business centre are both open 24 hours.
Intercontinental Grand Stanford (the second InterCon in Hong Kong) offers shuttles to Star Ferry, Broadband in all rooms, and the Zanadu health spa just for men. There is a separate salon for women (and men) as well. On club floors, guests get personalised stationary, free Broadband and local calls, and 20 percent discount on laundry. The hotel has gone through a major overhaul with an all-new facade, resort-style rooftop swimming pool and new fitness centre. The transformation has been quite dramatic, repositioning this hotel as a brisk Kowloon business hotel. In August 2007 the InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong rolled out a new Club InterContinental Lounge aimed squarely at demanding business travellers who can now avail of harbour views, meeting facilities, and separate check-in, all in secluded comfort. This is a well regarded address for business travellers in need of Hong Kong hotels in TST.
Directly opposite Kowloon Shangri-La on Mody Road are two large hotels, The Royal Garden and Regal Kowloon Hotel.
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| InterContinental Grand Stanford/ photo: hotel |
The Royal Garden is about three minutes walking distance from Tsimshatsui East MTR station, and has 419 rooms with modern décor, plasma TVs, Broadband Internet, and mini-bar. Crown Club guests get benefits that include larger rooms, free breakfast, evening cocktails, and discounts on laundry and dining. There is a rooftop pool, tennis court and putting green overlooking the harbour, and the hotel offers a range of fine dining options from Sabatini (Italian) to Inagiku (Japanese), and Le Soleil (Vietnamese).
Right next door is Regal Kowloon Hotel, with a spacious marble lobby and helpful staff. There are 600 rooms with desk, TV (some are LCD plasma screens), wireless Internet access (complimentary in some rooms), and minibar. Guests on Regal Club floors get access to the Club Lounge (with its own buffet breakfast and all-day drinks), private check in, and complimentary airport transfers.
On the southwest shoreline of Kowloon, close to the Star Ferry pier is the Marco Polo trio – The Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel, Gateway Hong Kong and Prince Hong Kong. All three are part of the gargantuan Harbour City mall complex with over 700 shops and restaurants, making them the most dangerous choice for closet shopaholics. The 664-room Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel is a swish five-star and is right on the harbour. Look out to watch cruise ships docked at Ocean Terminal. The hotel has updated its look and, in general, is large, comfortable, and a little sleeker than its two sister properties. It also has a small outdoor heated pool and a day spa run by Aveda. For business travellers, the hotel serves up its Continental Club with butlers, lounge and boardrooms. In its Hong Kong conference hotel persona, the Marco Polo can offer meeting facilities for up to 500 persons. This is a convenient Kowloon business hotel choice.
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| Sheraton pool/ photo: hotel |
Gateway Hong Kong has 433 rooms and suites, two restaurants and a bar. All rooms offer Broadband Internet access, while suites have additional business facilities like fax machines and telephones in the bathrooms. The Gateway’s gym is being converted to another restaurant, but guests are able to use the Fitness First Health Club nearby to satisfy their fitness needs. The pool at Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel is also available to Gateway guests. Prince Hong Kong has 394 rooms that are slightly smaller than those at Gateway. Amenities are similar though, and Marco Polo’s staple Continental Club is also here. Guests are welcome to use Marco Polo’s pool.
The Salisbury YMCA is another great option in this area, a bargain considering the locale and top-notch harbour views. It is still very much a Y though – with a community-centre feel stemming from its leisure facilities. These include squash courts and a pool that wafts chlorine through the lobby. A total of 16 floors hold 363 rooms, all comfortable and fairly well equipped. Suites are great for families and have flat-screen TVs. Room service is available during the day and the place is Wireless throughout. The Salisbury is also popular for its large function rooms, comprehensive gym and surprisingly modish dining room, with views of the cultural centre and psalms on the menu.
A block back from the seafront is the pretty-in-pink The Langham. Its location among the garment and toy shops makes it popular with those in the North American manufacturing industry, as implied by its Main Street Deli and its Bostonian restaurant. Neither will replicate the East coast, but they’ll tide you over. Among Hong Kong hotels, The Langham is also a hit with Japanese ladies, who go bananas for a specially tailored “complexion menu” at the Chinese restaurant downstairs including oysters, gingko soup and, surprisingly, shark's fin. Décor is traditional European – lots of gold and brocade – but rooms are light, bright and walls are filled with black-and-white photographs of old Hong Kong or attractive art-work. Features include an iHome system, 37-inch flat screen TV, Broadband and WiFi (HK$150 per day) and a safe you could fit a toddler in. Grand Langham rooms have a separate bath, DVD player and about 30sq ft more space. A nice touch in all rooms is the signature pink writing set. For a daily supplement of HK$600, guests can enjoy “Langham Club” benefits including personal check-in, free Internet and local calls, plus breakfast and afternoon tea in the Club Lounge.
Nearby, and just behind the Peninsula, The Kowloon Hotel is a more affordable alternative; fairly basic but still with a luxury touch here and there. It doesn’t have a gym or pool, but facilities at the YMCA or the Harbour Plaza Metropolis (the latter five minutes away by shuttle) can be used for a small fee. Rooms are small, but renovations that took place at the end of 2007 have given them a fresh look.
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| Hotel Panorama/ photo: hotel |
Also in this bustling Nathan Road area are the Holiday Inn Golden Mile – great location, effusive staff and good food, The Imperial Hotel, sandwiched between an Irish pub and a watch shop, and The Minden, a homey 64-room boutique hotel. The Minden is a relatively new, independent arrival in a nice location; a leafy patch near Nathan Road with some good bars and restaurants around. On Chatham Road South, crammed with cheap Japanese restaurants and massage parlours, is Park Hotel. Loud package-tour groups crowd the small lobby, but this hotel offers basic rooms, a good location minutes from the MTR and endless shopping.
Just around the corner on Prat Avenue is the conveniently located Guangdong Hotel. The décor doesn’t sparkle, but its 245 hotel rooms have basic amenities including desk, TV, and Internet access. The hotel has two restaurants, a small gym, and a business centre.
On Hart Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, the 324-room four-star Hotel Panorama (by Rhombus, which also runs the LKF boutique hotel in Central and Hotel Bonaparte in Wanchai) opened end March 2008 with easy access to the MTR train network. Expect small but smart contemporary rooms (in beige tones on the business "Platinum" floors, 26th floor and up, where the skyline opens out considerably) and floor-to-ceiling windows offering generous harbour panoramas. The hotel has just around 10 rooms per floor making things rather cosy for some.
Platinum rooms have iPod docks, a top-opening drop-in safe for jewellery and camera, if not a laptop, weighing scales, and flatscreen TV. Suites, of which there are 12, offer the luxury of double entrances, a more spacious toilet, bathtub and separate shower, two 33-inch flatscreen TVs, walk-in dressing alcove, electric suit press, and a retro coffee making machine. Hotel Panorama's Gold floors run from the 18th to 25th floors while tour groups will commonly be accommodated on lower Silver floors. There is no pool but facilities at this hotel include the breezy open-sided Sky Garden on the 40th floor where you can putt a ball and enjoy the views, a cafe, the 38th-floor Santa Lucia Restaurant and Lounge, a fitness centre, and the well-stocked Rhombus Club lounge.
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| The Mira, City Red room/ photo: hotel |
Hotel Miramar has dramatically rebranded itself as The Mira setting the tone for remodelled Hong Kong hotels. It is right in the thick of the action and offers both a stylish and contemporary business option and a decent leisure stay. Well entrenched at a busy Nathan Road junction and a few steps away from Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station, the hotel has easy access to some of the best shopping Hong Kong has to offer. The August 2008 renaming ushers in a major facelift, upping the hip factor to appeal to arty, tech-savvy types. The main entrance is now super modern, with grey marble floor, a black marbled ceiling, mood lighting, glass reception desks, and smartly-attired staff. The hotel's rooms and suites come in one of four colour tones (purple, red, green, and silver), and are kitted out with Blu-ray PCs (with mobile keyboard), 40-inch Sony LCD TVs, free mobile phones for local use (which also offer some of the cheapest IDD rates in Hong Kong), iPod chargers, ergonomic work stations and designer furniture. Bedrooms and bathrooms are open plan, separated by a glass screen, though there are blinds for a bit of privacy if so desired. The entire bathroom encasing is glass and this opens up what is a compact area into an appealing visual extension. Flip open a concealed flap on the work table to find three adaptor plug points for all your gadgets and more. Plug in to Broadband. Down in the lobby find a free WiFi workstation with computers humming.
Guests on Mira Club floors get access to the Mira Club lounge, which has private access and a personalised check-in service. The chic Yamm restaurant serves up international fare, with an emphasis on Japanese cuisine (for dinner you might need to book a few days in advance), while Room One in the lobby is the place to go for an after work cocktail and some DJ-spun sounds. The Mira's 1,400sq m ballroom is located on the 18th floor and overlooks the green of Kowloon Park - a large event space up this high is a rarity in the city. Some of the rooms also look out over the park, so try to nab one that is rear-facing if you can – England ’s Prince Edward did the last time he stayed over, and the man has taste.
Novotel Nathan Road is, predictably, on bustling Nathan Road and offers a newly renovated place to park your head along this stretch. It opened early 2008 and has 389 rooms, a business centre, fitness centre, a bar and restaurant. In the rooms expect wooden floors and contemporary décor, as well as standard amenities including flatscreen TVs and Broadband Internet (HK$98 per day).
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| Luxe Manor touches/ photo: hotel |
The Luxe Manor, which opened in 2006, has certainly injected a bit of fun into the average business stay. Surrealism is the order of the day at this 159 roomer, with fanciful mismatched furniture, trompe l'oeil (realistic imagery) flourishes on walls and a heavy emphasis on contemporary art. If that sounds like your cup of tea, you’ll find rooms fairly well set for the business traveller. The desks are big, as are the safes, there’s free WiFi (though connections are reported to be intermittent depending on the location of your room) and a Wireless keyboard that can be hooked to the TV and connected to the Internet for a fee. There’s also a small gym and limited business centre in the basement. The Luxe Manor unveiled six themed suites in 2008 that transport guests to the desert (Safari Suite), ice (Nordic Suite), or a palace (Royale Suite). Each of the suites comes with separate lounge areas, en suite bathrooms, bespoke furniture, mood lighting, and whimsical wallpaper. The Safari Suite has a tented feel with wooden floor and tiny sparkling ceiling lights for a ‘sleeping-under-the-stars’ effect. Of course, you won’t usually find a television in the desert, but if entertainment calls, just grab the remote and a flatscreen TV will rise up from a wooden cabinet. Honeymooners can play out their wildest fantasies in the Liaison Suite, which is vintage French, complete with satin curtains that draw back to reveal a huge oval bed.
Stanford Hillview is handy to the bars and nightlife of Knutsford Terrace. This mid-range hotel has 163 rooms with the basics, but you’ll need to book a superior or deluxe room to get Internet access ports. There is free WiFi available in public areas. Two outdoor golf driving nets and a gym will satisfy the sportsters, there’s a business centre for business travellers, and a free shuttle bus runs between shopping spots and train stations. Three restaurants serve a mix of Asian and western fare, but the choices along Knutsford Terrace will satisfy most appetites.
Two Harbour Plaza hotels have laid claim to Hung Hom, a district served by its own Star Ferry routes (from Central and Wanchai) and about a fifteen-minute drive from the TST waterfront. The Harbour Plaza Hong Kong even has its own ferry dock for extra privacy, a touch favoured by many a visiting VIP. This hotel is large, light-filled and nicely perched at a bend in the harbour. Expect Broadband, cable TV and a dollop of something in short supply in Hongkong – space. The 506 refurbished rooms run from 38 to 68sq metres while suites go up to a capacious 104sq m. The hotel caters largely to the business traveller, with function rooms and executive facilities aplenty. There is a 4,500sq ft ballroom should you be in the mood for a tango or a large conference. The “fish tank” rooftop pool area lends the place a resort feel and for those in search of a true wind-down there’s a Jurlique spa service at hand. Be prepared to do battle with various wedding parties for use of the grand staircase. This is a popular venue. Harbour Plaza Metropolis is newer, goes for modern over “grand” and combines rooms with serviced suites opposite the MTR "East Rail" Hung Hom station.
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| Hip, arty Langham Place/ photo: Verghese |
Options tail off quite a bit as you head farther inland, but Eaton Hotel, between Jordan and Yau Ma Tei gives good value for money and thoughtful service, as well as speedy access to the night market melee. Its new Eaton room grade has been spiffily refurbished.
The Langham Place Hotel is your best bet in Mongkok, just a stone’s throw from the MTR with an underground connection. It attracts the hip, fun business and shopper set, with its modern Chinese artworks and hi-tech, but style-conscious décor, and direct access to Langham Place, one of Hong Kong’s gigantic shopping malls. Rooms start on the eleventh floor and all 645 have oversized baths and showers. Dark-wood hallways open onto bright 310sq ft Classic rooms, which make good use of space including a large bathroom with glass wall, 42-inch TV, DVD, IP phone and iPod dock. With twelve suite types there’s room for confusion; best to simply skip to the Chuan Spa on the top three floors. This luxury affair is a frontrunner in the Kowloon heartlands of Mongkok, with 10 double treatment rooms dedicated to Chinese remedies and Asian treatments. Try hydrotherapy, massage, facials and wraps, before plunging into the rooftop pool. Spectacular views abound, particularly at night when the Kowloon highrises are transformed into a sea of flickering lights. A good Hong Kong accommodation pick. Other Kowloon choices include Metropark Hotel Kowloon (sister property of the Metropark Hotels on Hong Kong Island), The Kimberley Hotel and the Empire Hotel Kowloon.
Gone are the days of flying between buildings when Hong Kong’s airport was at Kai Tak. But if you’re feeling nostalgic and want to go plane-spotting without the planes, try Regal Oriental Hotel. In days of yore, it was the closest hotel to the airport. It’s now a more affordable option than its sister property in TST, is still reasonably handy to the city, and is also close to interesting spots like Wong Tai Sin Temple. Regal Oriental Hotel offers 400 rooms, 13 meeting and function rooms as well as a gym, pool and tennis courts.
New Territories, Lantau, Hong Kong Airport Hotels
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| Harbour Plaza Hong Kong infinity views |
If you’re looking for fresher air and open spaces, head west. One choice is the recently developed Gold Coast; a pleasant foray away from all things chaotic and grimy, and into all things, well, pink. The neighbourhood has gone a bit overboard on the faux-Mediterranean vortex feel, and it looks like a small girl was unleashed on the colour scheme. However it is clean, ostentatiously wealthy and has a lovely beach. Amidst this is the 450-room Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel. The hotel is pretty much the only top-notch self-contained resort in town, and it does its job admirably. Families flock from near and far to enjoy its cool marble innards, airy, hi-tech (and balcony-festooned) rooms, 10-acre grounds and big outdoor pools. The Gold Coast shuttle will have you in TST (or bring you back) within about 30 minutes.
Towards the China border in Yuen Long, Harbour Plaza Resort City is split into two gleaming tower blocks either side of a large plaza. The gargantuan property boasts one of the largest pools on the island, with recreational facilities to match if you include the park next door. It’s far out of town – you can see China’s Shenzhen through the haze on a "clear" day – but a shuttle bus can get you either to TST or the airport in about 40 minutes. It’s quicker by cab. The Western Corridor Bridge offers almost instant access to China. Rooms are large and functional (both long stay and short). There are four dining outlets, drinks at the bar are cheap and all rooms have kitchenettes. There’s also an outlet mall next door. Your toughest decision here will be whether to room near the pool or the bar. Choices, choices…
On to Lantau Island, and the Novotel Citygate Hong Kong is minutes away from the airport. With 440 rooms, a good business centre and leisure facilities this four-star is nicely set up for business bods on the go, and operates a free shuttle to the airport and the AsiaWorld-Expo complex.
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| Salisbury Rd YMCA/ photo: hotel |
Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott opened January 2009 just minutes from the airport with a direct connection to the Asia World Expo, a growing concert and trade show venue. The hotel is smart, modern, and airy with plenty of natural light. Look out to the hills of Lantau, the waters of the South China Sea, or the planes making their descent to the airport. The lobby feels rather like an airport lounge, complete with TV screen displaying news and flight schedules. With 658 rooms, a large ballroom, and six generous-sized meeting rooms, this is a potential Hong Kong conference hotel and MICE contender.
Business travellers and offloaded passengers alike will surely appreciate the spacious rooms that come with 37-inch plasma TVs, WiFi, an audio-visual docking station enabling computer to TV connections, a cordless phone, wardrobes containing safes that will fit a laptop, irons and ironing boards, and, quirkily, bathrooms with a “choice” of a bathtub or standing shower. There are six restaurants and bars – including the convenient Java Plus stationed in the lobby for coffee on the run. The latest Hong Kong airport hotel, SkyCity Marriott boasts the first Marriott-branded Quan Spa in Hong Kong, which has seven treatments rooms within a contemporary, Zen setting. For fitness buffs, there’s a blue-tiled 27-metre indoor heated pool and a 24-hour gym while golfers have a nine-hole golf course right next door.
Regal Airport Hotel is connected directly to Hong Kong International Airport. It’s a large affair with 1,171 rooms, 31 function rooms, and one of the biggest pillar-less ballrooms in the city, six restaurants, a spa, and fitness facilities. In rooms expect flatscreen TVs, complimentary wired and Wireless Internet, three telephones, a minibar, safes to house a laptop, tea-and-coffee-making facilities, plus nice views. As well as an indoor pool, there’s also an outdoor option where you’ll hear the roar of the jets as they take off. Regal is family-friendly Hong Kong airport hotel – Disneyland is just a short drive by car, and the hotel has its own ‘Kiddieland’, which has a bicycle track and play area.
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| SkyCity Marriott/ photo: hotel |
And, in the heart of Disneyland, is a large, Victorian-style oasis that’s big on clichéd romance – the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel. Nevertheless, it doesn’t lay on Disney too thick. There are nice green grounds to stroll through and a whimsical Enchanted Garden restaurant for the character buffet. Also check out the almost hip Cantonese restaurant, and a nice club lounge that catches the fireworks show from a distance at 8pm – piping in the accompanying music. Disney’s Hollywood Hotel is a more durable family-style option with nice grounds and more perk, though it has no room service and few rooms with desks. Expect Mickey to make more of a visual assault with rooms in bright colours. Park-view rooms catch the fireworks, but the sea views are much nicer. Interestingly, the place does attract business traffic due to its proximity to the airport and it pitches itself strongly as a conferencing venue. Next corporate meeting with Mickey? Why not.
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FAST FACTS
The exchange rate is US$1=HK$7.8. Room prices featured here are a mix of rack rates (where available), and generally quoted prices, all subject to change at short notice. Internet offers will tend to be better. Rack, or “published” rates, are harder to come by these days as many hotels change prices daily based on demand and supply. Be prepared for an additional 10 percent service charge and 3 percent government tax per night. Hong Kong recently banished smokers from restaurants and many bars, meaning that there’s usually just one smoking venue in each hotel – often rather a small one. Smoking floors are still available. Hong Kong’s low season is the steamy June-August period, while April and the autumn months bring in trade shows and high occupancies. Watch for extra surcharges at some hotels during this period.
Hong Kong Business Hotels and Boutique Options, Island
Bishop Lei International House. Tel: [852] 2868-0828, fax: 2868-1551, (e-mail: resvtion@bishopleihtl.com.hk or www.bishopleihtl.com.hk). Rooms from HK$310.
Central Park Hotel. Tel: [852] 2850-8899, fax: 3472-8888, (e-mail: enquiry@centralparkhotel.com.hk or www.centralparkhotel.com.hk). From HK$780.
Conrad Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2521-3838, fax: 2521-3888, (e-mail: hongkonginfo@conradhotels.com or www.conradhotels.com). From HK$3,000.
Cosmo Hotel. Tel: [852] 3552-8388, fax: 3552-8399, (e-mail: welcome@cosmohotel.com.hk or www.cosmohotel.com.hk). From HK$600.
Cosmopolitan Hotel. Tel: [852] 3552-1133, fax: 3552-1166, (e-mail: rsvn@cosmopolitanhotel.com.hk or www.cosmopolitanhotel.com.hk). From HK$650.
Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 3717-8888, fax: 3717-8228, (www.Courtyard.com/hkgcy). Rooms from HK$880.
Express by Holiday Inn. Tel: [852] 3558-6688, fax: 3558-6633, (e-mail: rsvn@expresscw.com or www.expressbyholidayinn.com.cn). From HK$720.
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 3196-8888, fax: 3196-8050, (www.fourseasons.com). Rooms from HK$4,200, suites from HK$8,000.
Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2588-1234, fax: 2802-0677, (e-mail: info.hkggh@hyatt.com or www.hongkong.grand.hyatt.com). From HK$2,120.
Harbour View International House. Tel: [852] 2802-0111, fax: 2802-9063, (e-mail: harbour@ymca.org.hk or www.harbour.ymca.org.hk). From HK$1,400.
Hotel Bonaparte. Tel: [852] 2366-8977, (e-mail: sales@rhombushotels.com or www.rhombushotels.com). From HK$598.
Hotel Ibis North Point. Tel: [852] 2588-1111, fax: 2588-1123, (e-mail: business@ibisnorthpoint.com.hk or www.accorhotels-asia.com). From HK$420.
Hotel Jen. Tel: [852] 2974-1234, fax: 2974-0333, (e-mail: info@hoteljen.com or www.hoteljen.com). From HK$700.
Hotel LKF. Tel [852] 3518-9333, fax: 3518-9338, (email: reservations@hotel-LKF.com.hk or www.hotel-LKF.com.hk). From HK$3,500.
Island Pacific Hotel Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2131-1188, fax: 2131-1212, (e-mail: reservations@islandpacifichotel.com.hk or www.islandpacifichotel.com.hk). From HK$550.
Jia Boutique Hotel. Tel: [852] 3196-9000, fax: 3196-9001, (e-mail: rez@jiahongkong.com or www.jiahongkong.com). Studios from HK$2,500, suites HK$3,500.
JJ Hotel. Tel: [852] 2904-7300, fax: 2904-7600, (e-mail: info@jjhotel.com.hk or www.jjhotel.com.hk). From HK$1,200.
JW Marriott Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2810-8366, fax: 2845-0737, (e-mail: room@marriott.com.hk or www.marriott.com/HKGDT). From HK$3,900.
King's Hotel. Tel: [852] 3188-2277, fax: 3188-2626, (e-mail: hk@kingshotelhk.com or www.kingshotelhk.com). Rates from HK$550.
Lan Kwai Fong Hotel. Tel: [852] 3650-0000, fax: 3650-0088, (e-mail: enquiry@lankwaifonghotel.com.hk or www.lankwaifonghotel.com.hk). From HK$980.
Lanson Place Hotel. Tel: [852] 3477-6888, fax: 3477-6999, (e-mail: rsvn.lphk@lansonplace.com or www.lansonplace.com). Superior from HK$2,500, suite HK$4,800.
Le Meridien Cyberport Hotel. Tel: [852] 2980-7788, fax: 2980-7888, (e-mail: reservations@lemeridien-cyberport.com or www.hongkong.lemeridien.com). From HK$3,200.
L’Hotel. Tel: [852] 3553-2898, fax: 3553 2888, (e-mail: sales@lhotelcausewaybayhv.com or www.lhotelcausewaybayhv.com). Rooms from HK$1,200.
Luk Kwok Hotel. Tel: [852] 2866-2166, fax: 2866-2622, (e-mail: rsvn@lukkwokhotel.com or www.lukkwokhotel.com). From HK$1,800.
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2522-0111, (e-mail: mohkg-reservations@mohg.com or www.mandarinoriental.com/hongkong). Rates from HK$4,300.
Metropark Hotel, Wan Chai. Tel: [852] 2861-1166, fax: 2865-6111, (e-mail: rsvn@mtphwanchai.com or www.metroparkhotels.com). Comfort room from HK$510.
Metropark Hotel, Causeway Bay. Tel: [852] 2600-1000, fax: 2600-1111, (e-mail: info@metroparkhotel.com or www.metroparkhotel.com). From HK$1,700.
Newton Hotel Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2807-2333, fax: 2807-1221, (e-mail: newtonhk@newtonhk.com or www.newtonhk.com). From HK$1,400.
Novotel Century Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2598-8888, fax: 2598-8863, (e-mail: booking@novotelcenturyhk.com or www.novotel.com). From HK$980.
Ovolo. Tel: [852] 2165-1082, fax: 2790-5490, (e-mail: info@home2home.hk or www.ovolo.com.hk). From HK$12,500.
Ramada Hong Kong Hotel. Tel: [852] 3410-3333, fax: 2559-8499, (e-mail: hotel@ramadahongkong.com or www.ramadahongkong.com). From HK$440.
Regal Hongkong Hotel. Tel: [852] 2890-6633, fax: 2881-0777, (e-mail: rhk.info@RegalHotel.com or RegalHotel.com). From HK$2,400.
Renaissance Harbour View Hotel. Tel: [852] 2802-8888, fax: 2802-8833, (e-mail: sales.marketing@renaissance-hongkong.com or www.renaissancehotels.com/HKGHV). From HK$1.400.
Rosedale on the Park. Tel: [852] 2127-8888, fax: 2127-3333, (e-mail: rsvn@rosedale.com.hk or www.rosedalehotels.com). From HK$1,380.
Shama. Tel: [852] 2522-3082, fax: 2522-2762, (email: info@shama.com or www.shama.com). Rates from HK$28,500 per month.
South Pacific Hotel. Tel: [852] 2572-3838, fax: 2893-7773, (e-mail: info@southpacifichotel.com.hk or www.southpacifichotel.com.hk). From HK$1,500.
The Excelsior. Tel: [852] 2894-8888, fax: 2895-6459, (e-mail: exhkg-reservations@mohg.com or www.excelsiorhongkong.com). From HK$1,180.
The Empire Hotel Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2866-9111, fax: 2861-3121, (e-mail: ehhresa@asiastandard.com or www.empirehotel.com.hk). From HK$500.
The Fleming. Tel: [852] 3607-2288, fax: 3607-2299, (e-mail: hosp@thefleming.com or www.thefleming.com.hk). From HK$1,880.
The Island Shangri-La Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2877-3838, fax: 2521-8742, (e-mail: isl@shangri-la.com or www.shangri-la.com/en). From HK$4,200.
The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2132-0188, fax: 2132-0199, (e-mail: lmhkg-reservations@mohg.com or www.mandarinoriental.com/landmark). Rates from HK$4,500.
The Park Lane Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2293-8888, fax: 2576-7853, (e-mail: info@parklane.com.hk or www.parklane.com.hk). From HK$1,150.
The Putman by Andree Putman. Tel: [852] 2233-2233, fax: 2233-2200, (e-mail: info@the putman.com or www.theputman.com). Monthly rates from HK$45,000.
The Stanley Oriental Hotel. Tel: [852] 2376-0686, 2899-1688, mobile: 6409-9501, (e-mail: sylvia@bondshkg.com.hk or www.stanleyorientalhotel.com.hk). Studios from HK$14,500 per week, minimum seven-day booking.
The Wharney Guang Dong Hotel Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2861-1000, fax: 2865-6023, (e-mail: info@wharney.com or www.gdhhotels.com). From HK$1,000.
Walden Hotel. Tel: [852] 3678-3988, fax: 3678-3960, (e-mail: rsvn@walden-hotel.com or www.walden-hotel.com). From HK$960.
Kowloon and Tsim Sha Tsui Hotels
Eaton Hotel Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2782-1818, fax: 2782-5563, (e-mail: enquiry@eaton-hotel.com or www.langhamhotels.com/eaton/hongkong). From HK$1,100.
Empire Hotel Kowloon. Tel: [852] 2685-3000, fax: 2685-3685, (e-mail: ehk@asiastandard.com or www.empirehotel.com.hk). From HK$1,600.
Gateway, Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2113-0888, fax: 2113-0022, (e-mail: gateway@marcopolohotels.com or hongkonggateway.marcopolohotels.com). From HK$990.
GDH Guangdong Hotel. Tel: [852] 3410-8888, fax: 2721-1137, (e-mail: gdhotel@guangdonghotel.com.hk or www.gdhhotels.com). From HK$1,400.
Harbour Plaza Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2621-3188, fax: 2621-3311, (e-mail: rsvn.hphk@harbour-plaza.com or www.harbour-plaza.com/hphk). From HK$2,600.
Harbour Plaza Metropolis. Tel: [852] 3160-6888, fax: 3160-6999, (e-mail: rsvn.hpme@harbour-plaza.com or www.harbour-plaza.com/hpme). From HK$1,200.
Holiday Inn Golden Mile. Tel: [852] 2369-3111, fax: 2369-8016, (e-mail: reserv@goldenmile.com or www.holiday-inn.com/hongkong-gldn). From HK$765.
Hotel Nikko Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2739-1111, fax: 2311-3122, (e-mail: nikko@hotelnikko.com.hk or www.hotelnikko.com.hk). From HK$850.
Hotel Panorama. Tel: [852] 3550-0388, fax: 3550-0288, (e-mail: reservations@hotelpanorama.com.hk or www.hotelpanorama.com.hk). From HK$700.
InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2721-5161, fax: 2732-2233, (e-mail: reservations@grandstanford.com or www.hongkong.intercontinental.com). From HK$1,100.
InterContinental Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2721-1211, fax: 2739-4546, (e-mail: hongkong@interconti.com or www.intercontinental.com). From HK$4,500.
Kowloon Shangri-La. Tel: [852] 2721-2111, fax: 2733-8686, (e-mail: reservations.ksl@shangri-la.com or www.shangri-la.com). Rates from HK$2,850.
Langham Hotel Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2375-1133, fax: 2375-6611, (e-mail: hkg.info@langhamhotels.com or www.langhamhotels.com/langham/hongkong). From HK$1,350.
Langham Place Hotel. Tel: [852] 3552-3388, fax: 3552-3322, (e-mail: hkg.lph.resv@langhamhotels.com or www.langhamhotels.com/langhamplace/hongkong). Rates from HK$1,050.
Metropark Hotel Kowloon. Tel: [852] 2761-1711, fax: 2761-0769, (e-mail: hotel.hkkl@metroparkhotels.com or www.HotelMetroparkKowloon.com). From HK$1,350.
Novotel Nathan Road. Tel: [852] 3965-8888, fax: 3965-8833, (e-mail: booking@novotelnathanhk.com or www.accorhotels.com.au).
Park Hotel Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2366-1398, fax: 2739-7263, (e-mail: info@tsthk.parkhotelgroup.com or www.parkhotelgroup.com). From HK$950.
Prince, Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2113-1888, fax: 2113-0066, (e-mail: prince@marcopolohotels.com or hongkongprince.marcopolohotels.com). From HK$1,500.
Renaissance Kowloon Hotel. Tel: [852] 2369-4111, fax: 2369-9387, (e-mail: reservations@renaissance-kowloon.com or www.renaissancehotels.com/hkgnw). Standard rooms HK$2,300.
Regal Kowloon Hotel. Tel: [852] 2722-1818, fax: 2369-6950, (e-mail: rkh.resvn@RegalHotel.com or RegalHotel.com). From HK$2,000.
Regal Oriental Hotel. Tel: [852] 2718-0333, fax: 2718-4111, (e-mail: roh.info@RegalHotel.com or RegalHotel.com).
Stanford Hillview Hotel. Tel: [852] 2722-7822, fax: 2723-3718, (e-mail: hillview@stanfordhotel.com or www.stanfordhillview.com). From HK$1,000.
The Imperial Hotel. Tel: [852] 2366-2201, fax: 2311-2360, (email: imperial@imperialhotel.com.hk or www.imperialhotel.com.hk). Singles from HK$400.
The Kimberley Hotel. Tel: [852] 2723-3888, fax: 2723-1318, (e-mail: hotel@kimberley.com.hk or www.kimberleyhotel.com.hk). From HK$1,500.
The Kowloon Hotel. Tel: [852] 2929-2888, fax: 2739-9811, (e-mail: klnh@harbour-plaza.com or www.harbour-plaza.com/klnh). Singles from HK$1,500.
The Luxe Manor. Tel: [852] 3763-8880, fax: 3763-8899, (e-mail: info@theluxemanor.com or www.theluxemanor.com). From HK$2,400.
The Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel. Tel: [852] 2113-0088, fax: 2113-0011, (e-mail: Hongkong@marcopolohotels.com or hongkonghotel.marcopolohotels.com). From HK$1,540 single, HK$1,640 double.
The Minden. Tel: [852] 2739-7777, fax: 2739-3777, (email: info@theminden.com or www.theminden.com). From HK$900, Suites HK$2,500.
The Mira (formerly Hotel Miramar). Tel: [852] 2368-1111, fax: 2369-1788, (e-mail:info@themirahotel.com or www.themirahotel.com). Rack rates from HK$3,000.
The Peninsula. Tel: [852] 2920-2888, fax: 2722-4170, (e-mail: pen@peninsula.com or www.peninsula.com). From HK$4,200.
The Royal Garden. Tel: [852] 2721-5215, fax: 2369-9976, (e-mail: htlinfo@rghk.com.hk or www.rghk.com.hk). From HK$3,100.
The Salisbury YMCA of Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 2268-7888, fax: 2739-9315, (e-mail: room@ymcahk.org.hk or www.ymcahk.org.hk/sales/html/hst001e.htm). Standard room HK$800. A surcharge of HK$250 is added in April, September and October.
The Sheraton Hong Kong Hotels and Towers. Tel: [852] 2369-1111, fax: 2739-8707, (e-mail: res.hongkong@sheraton.com or www.sheraton.com/hongkong). Deluxe singles from HK$1,650. A HK$500 surcharge is added in April, and September to December.
W Hong Kong. Tel: [852] 3717-2222, fax: 2264-3800, (e-mail: w.hk@whotels.com or |
