HIDEAWAY AT THE W HONG KONG
Hideaway at the W Hong Kong - Luxury Travel Magazine
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| WET Deck pool and bar | ||||||
| By: Sandra Nori | ||||||
| SANDRA NORI HAD A QUIET NIGHT IN AT THE W HONG KONG. For once I was all shopped and travelled out by the time I got to the W Hong Kong at the end of a two week trip to China and all I wanted to do was relax, reflect and have quiet time by myself. So I did something I very rarely, if ever, do - I just stayed in the hotel enjoyed its amenity and facilities. Except for a walk into Elements, the very upmarket mall next door, I did not venture out of the hotel and I do not regret it. It was just what I needed and the hotel served me well. The W brand is quintessentially contemporary in its service, layout, décor, hosts (staff) and philosophy. It is minimalist and youthful, skillfully and subtly combining the very best of the more formal establishments to create a vibrant pulse and a very welcoming warm ambience. Don’t misunderstand my reference to youthful as meaning we more mature types will be out of place, it is youthful in the sense of refreshing. | ||||||
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| Extreme WOW Suite | ||||||
| I am not sure how they do it but within hours of arrival most key staff know you by name, have genuinely sought your permission to address you by your first name and share a joke or a pleasantry with you. They are either very good at selecting their staff or have an excellent training programme or both. None of the forced “how has your day been?” routine, the interactions are authentic and you feel like an insider, not just a guest. On my first night I wanted to be outside so I ventured to the open air pool area located on the 76th floor where a bar menu was available. Spectacular views, fresh air, quiet and a great change from the closed environments that often are the only offering in a hotel. | ||||||
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| Fantastic Suite | ||||||
| My room faced the harbour and had great views. The length of the room from floor to ceiling was glass (very securely darkened for sleep as required). During the day, it is a bright, cheery, sunlit space and there is no sense of being jammed in because the room is generous in size but the expanse of glass makes such a difference. I lay in bed reading but birds that were flying by kept capturing my attention. I watched an eagle who kept returning throughout the day, focusing on its flight patterns as it enjoyed itself catching the updrafts. It is not very often that one can observe an eagle’s flight path for minutes on end. The ablution facilities are separated and private but connected to the room in a way that works well. The toiletries are from Bliss and the hotel is generous in providing an extensive range. The body butter is wonderful. There is an excellent spa with a full range of offerings for guests. I was able to get a massage at short notice to complement my lazy relaxing day. Finished off by a visit to the manicurist for some well-executed pampering. | ||||||
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| Marvellous Suite | ||||||
| This hotel is only minutes by taxi to the MRT, which gets you around speedily and efficiently including a very stress free trip to and from the airport. The W is a great hotel for either the business or leisure guest. It has it all - location, the relaxing views, great service, gym, spa and pool, and if you want to shop the mall with upmarket labels is next door. And one last thing - they serve great coffee. Visit w-hongkong.com | ||||||
| Rates: from HK$2,040 (about A$267) per night | ||||||
| Getting there | ||||||
| Cathay Pacific flies from Australia to Hong Kong International Airport. Return economy class fares start from A$1,275, business class fares start from A$7,802 including taxes and charges. Flight time is about 9 hours and 20 minutes. | ||||||
| cathaypacific.com | ||||||
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