Which would you choose? We had our heart set on the Peninsula but my mother needs a spa for an arthritic condition and the spa is under renovation. Would you choose the intercontinental instead? We were really looking for the "best 5 star" hotel in HK or would you opt to go to the Four Seasons on the HK side. I only know the Kowloon side having stayed at the regent once but that was 20 years ago before it was the intercontinental. I am concerned about posts that the IC is a little rundown. Has anyone stayed at either hotel recently? Anyone used the spa facilities at either hotel? Thanks so much in advance.

I would go with the Four Seasons - it is brand new and really gorgeous...also the location is right on the harbour so you will hopefully get a similar view to the Kowloon hotels. I like island side hotels and you can take the train or Star Ferry to Kowloon a couple times, the FS is very near.

Or the Mandarin Oriental which has a spa... they have the older one and the brand new Landmark. I'd stay on the Hong Kong side anyway as there's a bit more varity in restaurants, shops, etc.

I live in Hong Kong. If you can tell me exactly what kind of treatments you mother needs, I might be able to recommend local day spas that could provide the treatments, thus allowing you to stay at the Penn. You could also stay at the Penn and your mother could have treatments at the IC, which is basically across the street. You might also want to look into acupuncture for your mother's arthritis.

The spa at the Four Seasons is not yet open and according to them (I called today), they don't expect to be open unitl early October. The hotel is behind schedule and only had a partial soft opening of some rooms and restaurants last week. You don't say when you trip is scheduled for. I would be cautious about booking here if your sole purpose is to have access to the spa. Even if the spa is open, some of the treatments and facilities may not be open or available when you are there.

The spa at the IC is very good. I have not seen the rooms in some years, but the public areas are very nice. The views of course are unparalleled. (Sorry, Marmot, but the Four Seasons views are really of the "wrong" side, and given the fact that the huge IFC II tower blocks some of the rooms, there is no view at all from parts of this hotel.) I agree that staying on the Hong Kong side is a bit more convenient in some respects.

The spa at the new Mandarin Landmark Hotel is open. I have not seen it and don't know anyone who has used it, but I would imagine it is very nice, as Mandarin are generally good operators. The hotel is very centrally located (really you can't get a better location) although I would not expect that there would be views to speak of, maybe some Peak views. Take a look at http://www.mandarinoriental.com

If spa treatments are really the main criteria, you might consider the Grand Hyatt. Normally I would not recommend the Grand Hyatt, for while it is certainly a 5 star and the rooms are very nice, it is a pain to get to and from, as it is rather inconveniently located in Wan Chai rather than in Central. However, the hotel just built THE MOST AMAZING SPA, called the Plateau. You can even book a room for overnight treatments. Honestly, it takes a lot to impress me in a spa, but this place is really something. Take a look at the Hyatt website.

cicerone, I'm curious why you wrote "sorry, marmot." I was wondering about the new 4 Seasons, but can't remember writing about it. ESP?

Sorry Marmot, it was hobbes who wrote about the view at the Four Seasons, not you.

Thanks everyone for your help. We are leaning towards the Four seasons. I kind of decided that if I stay on the HK side the Four Seasons would be our choice. I am pretty sure their spa will be up and running since we will be there in february 2006. We considered staying at the Penn and using the spa at the IC as recommended but would miss the convienence of not dressing to go to the spa. And since i haven't heard yet from anyone who has stayed at the IC that it is really first class I am ruling out staying there. The truth is we are not picking a hotel mainly because of the spa but do need a hotel that has a good one. Once again, thanks for your invaluable help.