Choosing a hotel to stay in while traveling isn’t a subject I take lightly. To many, it’s a place where one simply dumps their bags and sleeps. I, on the other hand, enjoy the feeling of staying at a hotel that not only reflects my personality, but accentuates the feeling of being on holiday and being taken care of. This is why I spend a lot of time researching which hotel to stay at before going to Hong Kong.
One thing I have to mention is that the city has a mind-boggling abundance of hotels to choose from, and in the process, I actually booked two others before finally settling on the W. What swayed me initially was the allure of the W brand in a buzzing city like Hong Kong, as well as the views the fabulous room offered.
I arrived a few hours before check-in time, and unfortunately, the room wasn’t ready. As I waited for my room’s preparation, the lady who helped with the check-in process was extremely helpful, registered everything, and invited me to have breakfast at Kitchen, the W’s restaurant that offers sweeping views of a busy harbor. The food there is excellent, with a wide variety of Chinese, European, and American options, and a staff that is attentive without being too intrusive.
One think you notice about the W, is that it is filled with a lot of quirky pieces of art – both paintings and sculptures. There were two in particular that stood out to me – a modern interpretation of a famous painting of Chairman Mao, holding in his hand a W book in place of his famous Little Red Book, and a sculpture of a white peacock made entirely out of recycled bicycles.
Once I finally checked into my room, I immediately fell in love with the view. Similar to Kitchen’s view, the room overlooked the harbor and the sea. I found it to be relaxing and mesmerizing, and could easily get lost in my thoughts just gazing out the window.
Now, an issue I usually have with hotels is noise, and I was afraid that the perfect room would be ruined by noise – however none of that happened, and I slept blissfully every night.
One way I test hotels is by ordering room service, and check for promptness, presentation, and taste. The W did not disappoint, and each time, the food arrived beautifully presented, and delicious.
I also loved the Whatever/Whenever feature. This means you’re always connected to one person who will help solve whichever issue you have, instead of bouncing between an operator, the front desk, concierge, housekeeping, etc.
Another element that enhanced my stay was that the hotel offers a 3G enabled smart phone for you to use during your stay to make local calls and stay connected to the Internet. This comes in very handy when you’re out and need directions.
Another amenity I got to try out a few times at the W as their Wet Deck, located on the 76th floor and consisted of a decently sized pool and huge Jacuzzi. Needless to say, the views over the harbor and skyline were breathtaking, and even there, the staff were welcoming and friendly.
On my last day, I treated myself to a spa treatment at their in-house Bliss spa – and I can honestly say that I have never been better taken-care of at a spa to the level that the W provided. The locker room is bright and airy, and I loved the in-door Jacuzzi, with its fascinating views of the city. The massage itself was very comfortable and relaxing, and the manicure that followed was great. I love that it took place in a nice bright room with big windows overlooking the city – you can easily get lost in your thoughts there.
A big plus that to the hotel’s advantage, is its location – set in Kowloon, and connected directly to Elements mall, as well as to Kowloon MTR station (from where you can also check in to your flight and drop off your baggage – which means getting to and from the airport (and around Hong Kong) exceptionally easy!
Overall, this was a phenomenally excellent choice, and hope that other W hotels I stay at in the future live up to the expectations the W Hong Kong has set for me.
Keep up to date with Faris’ journeys by visiting his website www.traveleye.net, and follow him on Instagram @travel.eye, and on Facebook: Gotraveleye. Follow his YouTube channel @TraveleyeGlobal.