LUXURY

sentiment continued. A short six-storey
atrium extending partially from one end of
the otherwise understated lobby hinted at
greater things to come without shouting
it right at us.
We were greeted warmly, in an efficient
and quick manner, and it was immediately
obvious that this hotel was geared to the
business traveller. Approached separately
by a different staff member, we were
ushered directly to our rooms. My
travelling colleague and I found ourselves
checked in, there and then, in the comfort
of our hotel suites – documents were
signed, credit card details exchanged
and then done, we were in! No hanging
around in the foyer, as in most hotels,
which is a bonus when arriving late at
night off a long flight.
We’ve only experienced this personalised
service a handful of times and it makes
for a great start to any trip. With only a
three-day visit to this lively city, an express
check-in meant we were out sampling
Hong Kong’s bustling nightlife pronto.
A unique characteristic of the Four Seasons
is having a choice of room themes. We
each had an Executive Suite and could opt
for either a modern take on traditional
Chinese décor or a more contemporary
European rendition – both as beautiful as
each other. With a room each, we decided
to sample both variations.
But this was no subtle wallpaper or carpet
colour change – these themed room
options meant not only variations in décor
but striking differences in the bathroom
layout, lounge furniture and fittings.
With an intuitive layout, the generous
sized rooms (68m 2 to be exact) made
the most of the striking view with a large
floor-to-ceiling arc of glass spanning both
the expansive bedroom and lounge. Each
room featured all the modern touches
that we have come to expect in a property
of this class – iPod Bose speaker system,
42” plasma in the lounge and bedroom
along with air-conditioning and electric
curtain controls at the bedside.
Further luxurious and unique touches
included a stunning selection of breakfast,
lunch, canapés and drinks at the Club
Lounge that are complimentary for
guests who stay in suites. With French
Champagne, fine aged ports and an
impressive wine selection all included on
the complimentary drinks list, what better
way to kick off an evening or to wind
down after a dinner out.
Added to this are the divine in-room petit
fours. Ours dripped with chocolate and
gold leaf, making a return to our room
after dinner an extra special treat.
One of the must do’s of this hotel (or of
any stay in Hong Kong) is a visit to the
hotel’s Chinese restaurant, Lung King
Heen (View of the Dragon). Here the
food is a superb example of modern and
traditional cuisine. The yum cha is the
best we have ever had – in particular, the
lobster, prawn and scallop dumplings are
to die for!! Not so impressive was the
hotel’s chicken rendition of a Chinese
classic, Peking Duck. It didn’t work and it
would have been better if they had stuck
with the original recipe.
A big draw card is the hotel’s location
for both leisure and business travellers
alike. Positioned on the waterfront, it is
just a two-minute walk from the Central
District, which is one of the major
financial centres of Asia. From there it’s a
short trip by boat across Victoria Harbour
to Kowloon or 10-15 minutes by taxi.
Below the hotel is an underground train
station taking you directly to the airport,
making it a very quick and convenient
travel option.
Our impression of the Four Seasons Hong
Kong was that of a beautiful hotel with
delightful, friendly staff at every turn. It
felt small and intimate even though it is
much larger than it appears – partly due
to its clever building design, with it only
ever being a short walk to your room
from the service areas of the hotel.
The Four Seasons is our pick for the best
hotel in Hong Kong as nothing else offers
such a complete package.
Four Seasons, Hong Kong
at a glance
Category: City Hotel
Suite reviewed: Executive Suite
What’s great? The beautiful restaurant
options. If you’re a yum cha fan, you must
try the lobster and scallop dumplings! They
are truly beautiful. The pool is amazing,
and the spa set-up just beckons!
What’s not so great: Because the hotel is
situated in the business district, it doesn’t
get the same striking panoramic cityscape
views that you get on the other side.
Editor’s tips: Opt for a ‘traditional Chinese’
styled room. While not as reserved as the
other suites, it feels more ‘Hong Kong’.
Rate: NZ$2120; AU$1693 per night for
Executive Suite.
Website: www.fourseasons.com/hongkong
Reservations: For more information or
enquiries please contact United Travel
on 0800 730 001.
Location
Suite size
Suite interior
Overall service level
Food & beverage
Hotel pool
Business needs
Fitness facilities
Spa facilities
Value for money
Classical style fused
93%
with a touch of
local flavour.
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