brickpaul24

Hello I am considering Mandarin Oriental and Peninsula for a weeks stay before heading to Thailand. Has anyone stayed at either? I like the Peninsula here in the states so Im leaning toward that property. If anyone has other recommendations for a true 5 star experience, I assume all have great spas, fantastic views of the harbor, beautiful spaces, and different elements to the rooms. I would love to hear what someone felt was worth the $450-500 per night expense. I guess how would you rank the top 3.

Thanks

Kathie

The Peninsula is the Grande Dame of hotels in Hong Kong Old-Fashioned elegance and harbor views from the upper floors. The MO is on the Hong Kong side so doesn't have the iconic views, but has modern "Asian minimalist" decor.

Is the classic harbor view important to you? The classic view is from the Kowloon side, and you can get great harbor View rooms at the Shangri-La in Kowloon and perhaps the best view of all from the Intercontinental near the Star Ferry terminal in Kowloon.

Of course, you can get views of the Harbor from the Hong Kong side as well, just not the iconic view of the water and the lights of Hong Kong. In addition to considering the MO on that side, consider the Island Shangri-La or the JW Marriott, both located in Hong Kong Park. I think it is a wonderful setting and plan to stay there next trip.

HappyTrvlr

We prefer to stay on the Hong Island side of the harbor so JW Marriott, Shangri La, Four Seasons. You may have to pay more than your stated range.

CaliforniaLady

I have not seen the Mandarin, but we did spend some time at the Peninsula. We had drinks there, and we watched the colored lights that come on at sunset. The hotel is gorgeous and classy and in a nice, central location. The indoor pool area is beautiful. If you want to spend the big bucks, then they will be well spent.

However, we did indeed stay at the JW Marriott, and I believe you won't suffer there, and it would probably cost you half. As Kathie mentioned, it's in a quiet location near the park. The rooms all have panoramic views (the rooms are not, in fact square, so you have lots of windows). Downstairs, there is an army of concierges waiting to assist, and they do a fabulous job of it. I began writing to them a year in advance with tons of questions, and they were prompt in responding. I also like that the hotel is attached to a huge shopping mall. It was raining one night, and we were able to take an "indoor walk" to dinner at one of the mall restaurants, which gave us more options than just eating at the hotel.

Guenmai

I'm really glad that I came upon this thread as I was booked into the Mandarin Oriental as of about a minute ago. I booked around Feb 2016 for Jan/Feb 2017 as about everything else was already sold out.

I initially wanted a split between the YMCA Hotel and the Four Seasons Hotel, but both were sold out back when I was first looking for a hotel. Well, I just went on Expedia and the Four Seasons has opened up a few rooms, during the 5 nights that I'll be there, and Expedia has just booked me into one of them and has canceled my Mandarin Oriental reservation. I now just need to wait for my total refund which I was told should be credited to my account within 5 days.

I had to pay for the Four Seasons booking, in full, and will apply the Mandarin Oriental refund toward that new charge although the Mandarin Oriental is less expensive than the Four Seasons. So I'll have a bit of a difference to pay. But, I'm a happy camper as I'm a big Four Seasons fan and will now be where I wanted to be in the first place. Smiles.

Oh, out of curiosity, I just looked at the Mandarin Oriental prices and had I booked it now, instead of months ago, it would have cost me about an extra $70. a night as the price has gone up. That hotel is not sold out yet.

Happy Travels!

rkkwan

The JWMarriott or the Shangri-Las aren't the same class as the Pen or MO, since the OP is really looking for the top. The Ritz-Carlton (despite its location) and the Four Seasons are. The Upper House (literally above the JWMarriott) should be in same class. And if you want a smaller hotel, the Hullett House (next to the YMCA Salisbury and two doors down from the Pen) is it.

annhig

And for those of us with more modest tastes and means, the Salisbury, aka the YMCA, is great and if you didn't know it was an YMCA, you would think that it was an ordinary hotel - which from our point view it was. we had a room with a full view of the harbour and it was great.

Guenmai

I would have loved to have also gotten into the YMCA-Salisbury, but it is booked solid. I've stayed, many times, at the YMCA International House Hotel in Singapore, since the 1990s, and watched it transform into what it is today. It would have been nice to have been able to split part of my stay at the YMCA-Salisbury and the other half at a 5-star, but that isn't going to work out.

Happy Travels!

rkkwan

The Salisbury is a hotel run by YMCA to make money for themselves when they redeveloped their site. Same for YWCA, Scout, Salvation Army, Caritas - each of those has hotel(s) in HK.

Kathie

Guenmai, if you really want to stay at the Salisbury, be aware that they are just now beginning to open up rooms. You were trying to book a year out and they don't open up rooms that early. If you are still interested, email them directly and find out when the will begin to accept reservation for your dates... they do fill quickly once the open up reservations.

annhig

guenmai - that's what happened to us, until some kind person made the same suggestion as Kathie, and I quickly got an email telling me when to book. [in fact, they might even have made a reservation for me - i can't remember now].

Guenmai

Thanks, guys, but I don't want to cancel another reservation and wait for another refund in order to possibly book the YMCA for 3 nights and the Four Seasons for 2 nights. I"ll just keep the Four Seasons for all 5 nights as I've already paid for that new reservation.

With so many Hong Kong hotels sold out, I thought that it might have had to do with the fact that I arrive into Hong Kong the day before Chinese New Year as I booked all of my other hotels in S.E. Asia, except for Bangkok, around the same time as I tried booking a hotel for Hong Kong, but had no problem booking various reservations for hotels in Malaysia and Singapore. I also usually book them way in advance as the hotels that I book there usually sell out fast. And since I'll be gone for 6 weeks and already have my various airline tickets, there's no real flexibility.

Happy Travels!

annhig

I can't say I blame you for that, Guenmai, especially as you've prepaid.

The Four Seasons should be great, and 5 nights gives you a good long time to explore HK. As you arrive just before the New year, do you need to prebook a restaurant too?

Guenmai

Thanks, Annhig, but I usually don't pre-book restaurants. I just kind of go with the flow with the food and make reservations if needed when I get to a destination. Plus, I'm not a big dinner person and am more into doing lunch.

Happy Travels!

annhig

I don't either Guenmai, but as it's Chinese New year I wondered if that might be a good idea just for that day/night.

I know what you mean about going with the flow when it comes to food - i don't know about you but I don't necessarily know what I'm going to want to eat 6-9 months in advance!

Guenmai

I'll be at the Four Seasons and can order room service if restaurant reservations are a problem on that day. The Four Seasons has never let me go without food. Smiles.

Happy Travels!

annhig

The Four Seasons has never let me go without food. Smiles.>>

good point. My very brief experiences of Four Seasons hotels in Paris and Florence remind me that that is so.

sounds like a great trip .

dorie809

We have stayed at both the Four Seasons and the Peninsula in Hong Kong, and the Four Seasons is our first choice. We love staying on the Hong Kong side, the hotel location is perfect and very walkable. We will be staying there in October for 12 days........we love it!

Guenmai

Thanks, Dorie809. That's good to know.

Happy Travels!