Earlier this year I had the chance to stay at the beautiful InterContinental Hong Kong during my first and albeit brief stay in the city. I’ve stayed at other InterContinental hotels around the world and so I had an idea of what to expect. While my high expectations were met and exceeded, even I was surprised at just how exceptional a property it is. With that in mind, here are a few reasons why I think the InterContinental Hong Kong should be your only choice for hotels when you visit this exciting city.
1. Location
Situated on Victoria Harbour in Kowloon, the hotel offers arguably some of the best views in town. From the grand lobby to my own room I could’ve spent hours just watching the boat traffic ferry across the harbor with the beautiful skyline as backdrop. It’s not just about the views though, the location is also perfect for easy exploration of the city. The metro is next door and a few feet away are the docks where you can catch the ferry to head across the harbor. I didn’t have a car and I had no problem navigating my way around the city. Personally, I think hotel location is key when planning a trip, especially if you’re light on time. I’d much rather pay a little more for convenience than waste precious time commuting to places of interest to me.
2. Amazing Service
As a premier luxury property, it’s no shock that the service at the InterContinental Hong Kong was beyond reproach, but I was also impressed by the little moments of hospitality. When I checked in I had hot tea waiting for me; perfect after a very long flight across the Pacific. It rained when I visited and before I could even ask for one, the bellman had an umbrella waiting for me as I left the property. It may not seem like a big thing to some people, but to me this level of service is the very reason why I stay at luxury hotels. Anyone can have a nice lobby or fancy bed sheets, but true hospitality is a much rarer attribute to find.
3. The Food
I am not usually someone who eats at hotel restaurants, but I blame my own country for that. The US, Western Europe and many other places around the world have forgotten the appeal of great hotel restaurants, a phenomenon that is still alive and well in Asia. Throughout Asia and Hong Kong oftentimes the best restaurants in town are in hotels, such is the case at the InterContinental. Home to five restaurants, these aren’t generic eateries by any stretch of the imagination. ‘Nobu’, part of the restaurant concept by chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa is based at the hotel and has been named one of Asia’s Top 20 Restaurants. Then there’s Spoon by famed chef Alain Ducasse, a 2 Michelin star restaurant specializing in contemporary French cuisine. Not to omit more regional favorites, I ate at Yan Toh Heen, a beautiful restaurant that features the best of traditional and contemporary Chinese cuisine. So you see, the restaurants at the InterContinental are far from what one might expect, even at a high-end property.
These are just a few reasons why I think the InterContinental Hong Kong should be your only choice when visiting the city. From the elegance of the design to the five-star service, I can’t imagine ever being disappointed there.
