Hong Kong Hotels

[mike35]

DW and I will spend a few days pre-cruise in Hong Kong next February, and we would like advice on 5-star hotels there. We would love to stay in the Peninsula, but it is cost prohibitive. We've looked at the JW Marriott and the Intercontinental, which both look quite nice according to their web sites and most on-line reviews. Any suggestions from previous recent travelers would be most welcomed.

Many thanks

Mike

[DanceswithNancy]

DW and I will spend a few days pre-cruise in Hong Kong next February, and we would like advice on 5-star hotels there. We would love to stay in the Peninsula, but it is cost prohibitive. We've looked at the JW Marriott and the Intercontinental, which both look quite nice according to their web sites and most on-line reviews. Any suggestions from previous recent travelers would be most welcomed.

Many thanks

Mike

Quite enjoyed the Shangri La, almost next door to the Intercontinental, and a short walk to the Peninsula (for tea). We were there just 8 days ago.

Jack and Nancy

[caribbean dreams]

We stayed at JW Marriott in Hong Kong and loved it, the service was outstanding, the hotel has a water view and a city view, the city at night is something to see, we were on a very high floor (can't remember which one) and had a view of everything with the big corner window.

[Jayayeff]

Hi Mike: The Shangri-La gets my vote again. Don't know how prohibitive the Peninsula is but if you feel like a treat (other than the Nautica cruise of course) the Island Shangri-La does a 3 night Ultimate Indulgence Package which trust me is worth every penny!! Shame I currently have no-one to indulge me!!!

Anne

[Druke I]

Yes, the Peninsula is expensive - but what an experience.

Several years ago we stayed there - just had to do it - damn the expense. We were there only one night, and then stayed with our ex-pat daughter and her hubby, who were living in Hong Kong at the time.

The hotel picked us up at the airport, in a Rolls Royce! After check-in, a maid came by the room with a trolley of soaps, shampoos, etc., and my wife was able to pick and choose to her heart's content. Shortly after that, another maid came by with a trolley set up for "high tea".

We ate one dinner in the hotel's beef restaurant - prime rib carved from a trolley at the table, and I think we must have had three waiters attending the two of us. The meal was very good indeed.

It was a once in a lifetime experience, but I'm glad we did it.

[Saga Ruby]

I know you are staying at the Peninsula in Bangkok and I second the motion of Druke about "Mother" Peninsula in Hong Kong where it all started. I stayed at The Peninsula in Hong Kong for a week and it was worth every penny. I cut my budget by riding doubledecker buses and eating at local cafes, then threw caution to the winds to eat at the seafood restaurant at the hotel.

Like everyone else, I wanted to have afternoon tea at the hotel. There were always enormous lines of tourists and locals for a table, so for a few days I didn't have tea. After querying the concierge, he said, "Aren't you a guest at the hotel?!" and I replied, "Yes." He said, "Go over to the head waiter, tell him you are a guest, and you will be seated immediately!" I called some friends from my cruise who were staying at the YMCA next door (with harbour view for $100 a night!), and they came for tea.

By the bye, it turns out the harbour ferries continue on from Hong Kong Island, crisscrossing the bay. I rode the Star Ferry over to Hong Kong side, then watched locals walk down to another terminal. I followed the local crowd, hopped on to the next ferry, kept changing ferries, and wound up at the far end of the bay, the only gaijin in sight for miles. The ferries kept getting smaller and smaller and more and more decrepit, but it was grand fun.

Ruby

[Jancruz]

I too vote for the Shangri La ..have stayed there several times..maybe Druke can verify but when Stu and I were at Peninsula for afternoon tea he had to wear a jacket and tie..
Jan
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[Druke I]

Jan

Sorry to say, but I honestly don't remember if jacket/tie were required for "high tea" at th Peninsula, but do recall that I did wear a jacket/tie for dinner, having been raised in a proper English household, where jackets and ties were always worn when dining out!

I'm sure my Edwardian-era father would be shocked at the degradation of dress standards so prevalent today. Of course my sister would just say "try to get over it".

On another trip to Hong Kong,we stayed above the Ocean Terminal - think that might have been the Shangri-La. Damned memory is not as sharp as it once was.

[Jancruz]

LOL..we live at the beach and since Stu retired ..we are in a "NO TIE EVER" mode..in fact (with him) shoes are sometimes a problem..:-)
Jan
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[Rickey 88]

For a different experience, I would recommend you consider staying across the harbor on the Island side. As members of the Hilton Honors, we have stayed at the Conrad numerous times and are always delighted. If you opt for a harbor-view and the Honors level, you have a morning breakfast included on the highest floor, an afternoon tea and an early evening cocktail hour included.

Also next door, in an exact duplicate building is the Island Shangri-La -- equally delightful. We stayed at the Shangri-La in Beijing and were extremely pleased.

Both hotels have direct elevator access to the beautiful Pacific Place shopping center on ground level....

Enjoy......

[hgatsawgrs]

Mike, Going to Australia in Dec( I saw the HAL S suite question) and Hong kong in Feb is quite a bit of traveling. Great! Since you travel that much I would suggest the 4 Seasons in Hong Kong. It is very new and one of the best new hotels in the world. The service is wonderful and the location and views are spectacular. Be sure to ask for the concierge level and water views. It is worth spending the money for this rememberable event- We were there for 3 days and the wife loved it.(me too)
Amex plat sometimes has 4 seasons deals.

[jrkfrk]

Is anyone familiar with the Royal Garden Hotel? Any opinions. . . . . ?

frk

[Jancruz]

I have stayed there twice..I would consider it a good 3 star..location is OK..but I liked Shangri La much better..
Jan
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[digby]

DW and I will spend a few days pre-cruise in Hong Kong next February, and we would like advice on 5-star hotels there. We would love to stay in the Peninsula, but it is cost prohibitive. We've looked at the JW Marriott and the Intercontinental, which both look quite nice according to their web sites and most on-line reviews. Any suggestions from previous recent travelers would be most welcomed.

Many thanks

Mike

The Intercontinetal Hotel is our favorite in HK. We spent two nights there in April after our Nautica cruise and a week there ten years ago when it was The Regent. The view from a harbor view room is unbeatable. It has several excellent restaurants, and its location makes it easy to get around.

[meow!]

The Intercontinental (formerly Regent) has an excellent location, and rooms facing the harbour have fantastic views not available anywhere else. However, the hotel building itself is somewhat dated, with relatively low ceiling, and long corridors. Also, there aren't that many shops in the concourse.

The Shangri La, Conrad and Marriot on Hong Kong Island share a major mall at Admiralty. Among the three, the Shangri La is nicer than the Marriot, with higher ceiling and more spacious rooms. The Marriot has triangular shaped room-windows which are not very practical. The Admiralty mall used to be very nice, it still is, but often has a lot of newly rich, rather flamboyant shoppers from mainland China.

The Ritz Carlton in the central district is also very nice. Smaller in overall size, it feels more private, and has a half dozen restaurants specializing in different types of food. One side faces the harbour (more expensive), while the other a "sea" of skyscrapers (which can be quite a view).

The nearly brand new Four Seasons is right above the International Financial Centre (IFC). This mall contains all the major brand name boutiques, and as they are expensive, it is less crowded and has the modern feel.

We just went on a trip to Tokyo and Hong Kong this past January. Compared to ten years ago, there is not much change in Tokyo, albeit not as prosperous as before. In Hong Kong, the standard of living has declined, e.g. jewellery shops used to be overflowing with gold, and now even silver is being sold. The orderliness of a formerly British administered territory is slipping, e.g. people often no longer follow traffic rules, jaywalking across red lights etc.

In any case, good luck and have a nice trip!

[mike35]

Thanks so much, everyone, for the great info! Both Shangri-Las are sold out for our dates, so that leaves it out. We're kind of leaning toward either the Marriott or the Conrad. We've stayed at Conrads in Istanbul and London, and they were both spectacular properties, and of course Marriotts are generally well run, customer-oriented properties (at least in our experience). We'll hold off for a week or so to see if we get more recommendations.

We "used" the Intercontinental as a base of operations after disembarking the Nautica on 3/31 this year. They kept our luggage and arranged their own driver and limo for an excellent tour. We also ate at its Spoons restaurant, which was incredibly good.

Mike

[NYDee]

Hi Mike, we stayed at the Harbour Plaza Hong Kong post our Beijing to Hong Kong Cruise this past March. It is slightly out of the main attractions, but right on the harbour, walking distance to the ferry and has a complimentary shuttle to downtown every 15 minutes. It has 6 restaurants. We were very pleased with the room and the hotel and service. We had a harbour view room. The website is www.harbour-plaza.com. There are several harbour plaza hotels in Hong Kong. This one is new. I don't remember if you stayed at the Peninsula Palace in Beijing were we stayed. We felt the rooms and view was nicer, and the service every bit as good. The lobby is beautiful with a view of the harbour. The rates were less than the Marriott and Intercontinental.

Dee Troutman

[mike35]

Hi Dee

We stayed at the Grand Hyatt in Beijing and were 100% satisfied with it. All things considered, including our Marriott Rewards, senior discount, AAA discount, etc, we've decided to go with the JW Marriott in Hong Kong. Thanks again to everyone who have helped us with this decision.

Mike