DATELINE HONG KONG – My three-day visit here has been lived in the lap of luxury, thanks to my decision to stay at the Peninsula Hong Kong. The historic Grand Dame of this city’s hotels, which is located on the Kowloon side and offers breathtaking views of the Hong Kong side from its harbour view rooms and suites, just keeps getting better with age.
Over the years, the Pen, as she is affectingly known by residents living in this former British colony, has fought off challenges from the likes of Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental to hold onto her title of “Best Hotel in Hong Kong.”
However, the Pen may have finally met her match. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel chain, which closed an older property on the Hong Kong side of the bay many years ago, is back – the new Ritz officially opened March 28.
And while it will take some time to wrestle the title of Best Hotel in Hong Kong away from the Pen, the Ritz already has one bragging right – it’s the tallest hotel in the city, soaring 490 metres above Hong Kong harbour in a new office/residential/hotel complex known as the International Conference Centre (the photo is taken from Star Ferry terminal) at 1 Austin Road West in Kowloon’s commercial area.
The hotel lobby sits on the building’s 102nd floor and from the top floor rooms on the 118th floor you get stunning views of Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong Island and on a clear day you can see into the far-off New Territories bordering China.
Also, the hotel’s swimming pool on the ICC’s top floor is now recognized as the highest pool in the world. The 312-room Hong Kong Ritz also features six restaurants and pampers guests with a 9,257 ESPA spa on the 116th floor.
Apparently, the sky’s the limit when it comes to Hong Kong hotels.
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