Hong Kong
6th November 2014
Hello,
This was my first trip to Hong Kong, an awesome destination with its historic link to England, it has a mixture still of the British influences. Mainly known as a stop over point, it is still worth 3-4 nights as there is so much to do. Stay longer and you will be rewarded with a variety of activities, not just the amazing shopping, but that is in buckets full, attend a cooking class, or play at Disneyland. Anyone for rollercoasters? Ocean Park, covers it all, oceanariums, panda's and other animals marine life in 870,000 sq metres of FUN. A visit to Macau is recommended with the Portuguese influence, remember there is no gambling in Hong Kong, so very popular with the locals. You are able to have a wee flutter on Wednesday and Saturday at the Happy Valley Race Club (Horses). Also a great opportunity to do a day trip to China. Hong Kong has much to offer!!!
Also let's not forget the HONG KONG SEVEN'S, another fabulous reason to visit HONG KONG!
Here are the hotels I saw while in Hong Kong, these are my personal opinions at the time I inspected the properties.
The rooms in Hong Kong are very small starting from 22 sq., the beds are hard (generally double beds, maybe a queen) and the pillows are very soft.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
HARBOUR PLAZA NORTH POINT
Located on Hong Kong Island which seemed quieter and cleaner to me, or better maintained. Between Causeway and Quarry Bay, edge of CBD. A mixture of European and Chinese clients at breakfast, which was very good but not included in rate (most Hong Kong hotels don’t include breakfast)
Superior twin were two single “hard” beds and room was of a normal HKG size. Close to MTR exit C. Opposite was Starbucks that did 30mins free WIFI with purchase. Nothing about this property had a WOW factor or popped.
HARBOUR GRAND HONG KONG
Still on Hong Kong Island within walking distance to MTR, Causeway Bay and Wanchai with amazing view s Victoria Harbour. Property was only 5 years old and FREE WIFI – which for your corporate clients or internet junkies – a must! One of the better “Harbour” properties and I would have preferred to stay here than the North Point, lovely bathrooms, pillow menu and a better property to sell with confidence to any client.
THE EXCELSIOR HONG KONG
Overlooking Victoria Harbour in the Causeway Bay area, with complimentary “Noon Day” Gun Tour, connecting to World Trade with SOGO – all your label shopping and La fold Mall. They have lovely “Tins: in each room for guests with candy or chocolate, a nice touch. Close to the MTR and truly amazing views from the bar and restaurant, no free WIFI, so not a totally package winner here, but very positive option for NZ travellers.
COSMOPOLITAN HOTEL HONG KONG
Super location close to the Hong Kong Jockey Club and opposite the Happy Valley Race Way. With racing every Wednesday and Saturday however there is no international event. MTR is an 8 min walk, nearby is Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Stanley Markets are close by and shopping at the Causeway.
Property has great family quad rooms with 2 x queen beds, kiddie’s robes and slippers, just like mum and dad get. FREE WIFI and smart phone for use during stay with FREE calling to six countries – but not NZ. There is a pillow menu, which is very valuable in Hong Kong as the pillows are generally very soft.
COSMO
Sister property to Cosmopolitan, an Eco Green Boutique property with charge back between the properties. Themed coloured rooms, orange, yellow and green. Property had a triple room with 3 single beds which would be great for a girl’s shopping trip or the lads going to the sevens. Close by is the #10 bus which goes side to side of the Island. Very basic, had a cool big funky door to the breakfast room come bar at night.
HARBOUR PLAZA 8 DEGREES
Property with a twist, reception area has an 8 degrees angel to the building to represent the angel of a plane when landing as they are located with views to the old airport run way, now the new Kai Tak cruise terminal. Really nice pool with outside terrace area. Convention Centre and Mega Box are an 8 min drive away in the Mongkok area of Kowloon.
City deluxe rooms get the view of the cruise terminal, harbour views.
METRO PARK KOWLOON
Good location in Mongkok area with MTR nearby, 15 min walk to Nathan Road with Marks & Spencer’s, and other English Stores, lots of labels. Renovated in 2009 and 2014, so the rooms are kept to a high standard for a 25 year old property. There are four floors of non refurbished rooms.
Family room only has double bed and single bed, not that great for families. Pool is located on the 19 floor, with the gym.
THE CITYVIEW
Really good location for Lady’s Markets and Nathan Road, so ideal for shoppers. MTR Yau Ma Tei is 1 min away and the property has FREE shuttle to the Airport. Rooms have FREE WIFI and an amazing Thai Restaurant which has recently been decorated and had a lovely plant wall, also is a silver certified Earthcheck property.
Premium rooms (not marketed) have 2 x double beds which will allow 2ad/2ch. These have just had a total refurbishment and we saw a “mock up” room. Rooms are due to be done between Jan – Sep 2015. I found this property to have less Chinese tourist and more European.
HARBOUR GRAND KOWLOON
Super views of Victoria Harbour for the roof top pool with bar and spa. Another great location situated next to Tsim Sha Tsui MRS Station, a truly waterfront property.
Your clients will not be disappointed here, lovely deco and large rooms. Here you can do 2ad/2ch sharing existing bedding for families. The club room’s and club facilities will appeal to the business traveller, with their needs well catered for.
HARBOUR PLAZA METROPOLIS
Another good location in the heart of Kowloon, opposite the MTR Hunghom accessible via the Metropolis Mall, or a few minutes to Tsim Sha Tsui MTR.
Rooms are the standard Hong Kong size, small for NZ traveller’s with 2 x single beds that were very hard, the bedding could be an issue for some travellers. There are other room types that may suit the NZ market, family friendly. There is a complimentary shuttle which is great to get your bearings of the shops and local area.
Great property to walk to see the lights, 8pm, it gets very busy.
HOLIDAY INN GOLDEN MILE
One of the best options in Hong Kong for NZ travellers due to the size of the rooms and the fact that they can do a 2ad/2ch FOC sharing exciting bedding. There is interconnecting rooms for the larger families too. Free WFIF.
Roof top pool and gym with sauna, no spa pool. Not the “typical” Holiday Inn.
THE LANGHAM, HONG KONG
Very grand and opulent property, I hope the others around the world are of the same standard. The Langham Suite was to die for, it’s an amazing property. The property has 5 restaurants, perfect for the traveller wanting to get a bit of “home” cooking with USA themed burgers, NZ oysters from Coromandle on the menu at another and the Michelin 2* restaurant.
Langham group has their own spa products, CHUAN. Plus OPI do their own nail polish colour for them.
A bucket list property, it’s on mine!
BP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL
This property interested me, I had associated the BP to British Patrolmen, and as soon as I walked into the large reception area I recognised the connection to the scout moment. Ideal property for groups as they have bunks rooms and large areas by the lifts for meeting up. They also had family rooms with 2 sets of bunks, not sure how many Kiwi mums and dads’ would like bunks, but the kids would. They do have 5 x sets of interconnecting rooms of double bed and 2 x singles that would be more suitable.
Good location known as Jordan with Nathan Road close by and Temple Street Night Markets.
NOVOTEL HONG KONG NATHAN ROAD KOWLOON
Very popular Nathan Road for the shoppers, also close by Jordan MTR stop, Temple Street Night Markets, Ladies Market and the Star Ferry. Rooms were very funky and modern which may date easily and there was an X Box in the reception area.
Superior rooms have king size bed and pay for WIFI, but get 20 free minutes in the lobby/reception area.
Premier rooms get FREE WIFI, i-dock and breakfast included – not showed in GO brochure. Also includes the use of the premier lounge, nibbles, and complimentary drinks between 6-8pm.
EATON, HONG KONG
Modern designed property with art in the lobby and a “plant wall”. Located in the Jordan area with a MTR close by. Property offers complimentary walking tours to Temple Street Night Market and Jake Market, plus a Tai-Chi class. Seven restaurants/bar mixture with a N.Z. restaurant in-house too. (Didn’t get to see the menu). An eco friendly hotel. Great Club room facilities.
Ice marker on each floor, had 30 x interconnecting rooms with double beds, property was renovated in 2013.
Family rooms (not marketed) have 1 double bed and a set of bunks that comes out of the wall and a pull out sofa bed. Small heated roof top pool.
Also there were wooden window sliders instead of curtains.
THE MIRA HONG KONG
Formally known as the Miramar located in the Tsim Sha Tsu area off Nathan Road. Very contemporary and modern edge to it, I found the hall ways very dark, might be an issue with older clients. NO smoking in the entire hotel, FREE WIFI and use of smart phone with free calling to 25 countries.
Pillow menu is available, and there is a lovely courtyard. Also property features an amazing inside pool with a nail and hair salon.
Mira Mall is opposite the hotel (side street) has Vivienne Westwood and American eagle.
PARK HOTEL HONG KONG
In the heart of Kowloon’s shopping and Tsim Sha Tsui MRT area. FREE WIFI from Jan 15 onwards, deluxe rooms have a queen size bed and premier rooms have a king size bed, extras in the mini bar and include breakfast (not sure if included in rates), superior rooms are the lead in and the bed is only a double.
Deluxe plus family rooms on the 12th floor (6 of them) have 2 x queen beds, not featured in the brochure. Interconnecting rooms are a mixture of superior and deluxe with only 2 or 3 sets of these.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
Advising clients to take the “Symphony of Lights Harbour Cruise” only $64.00 per adult, best view of the light show and FREE drinks!
TIPS/HINTS
I wouldn’t over sell Ocean Park to clients who have been to the Theme Parks at the Gold Coast; it is a mixture of all of them, less the swimming. However you get to see the Panda’s – only 2 not 4 as mentioned in some guide
Victoria Peak would be great but only on a clear day, if the weather is bad try the Wax Museum instead.
I would recommend Hong Kong to any traveller, older clients and families with children. English is widely spoken, also an advantage in the MTR, signs are in English too and is very easy to follow, as easy as the Tube in London. (just get the right entrance/exit - otherwise it can involved more walking then necessary)
Again please contact me if you have any questions.
Cheers Jo
