This past week I spent a couple of nights in one of my favorite city in the world – Hong Kong.  There’s simply no other city in the world that’s quite as exciting to me as Hong Kong, and if it weren’t so expensive I’d probably move there in a heartbeat. Not only is the city my favorite, but I also love the skyline more than any other in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

You couldn’t really describe Hung Hom as the most interesting neighbourhood in Kowloon, but at least the opening of the MTR station in Whampoa (five minutes’ walk away) gives the hotel easy access to the rest of the city. Hung Hom railway station nearby is the departure point for trains to China. The hotel’s harbour-front site, with a lovely promenade all the way to Tsim Sha Tsui, makes up for the unremarkable hinterland.

 

Big. And bright. The interior was designed by Andre Fu who did Hong Kong’s boutique-sized Upper House, but this project is on an altogether different scale. The lobby, the rooms, the outdoor areas and the ballroom (‘the largest pillarless’ one in the city) are about size and sea: a recurring ripple motif refers to the harbour beyond the enormous windows. Guests who pine for urban greenery will appreciate the leafy landscaping and the lobby’s signature scent, entitled ‘Walk in the Woods’.

 

38 Hung Luen Road, Hung Hom Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong,+852 2252 5871,
shangri-la.com

 

 

The Harbour Grand impresses guests upon entry. The massive marble lobby with huge chandeliers is imposing, and the stately, yet modern, look continues throughout the hotel. Rooms here are sexy and up-to-date, with none of the stuffy grandeur of some other luxury hotels in Hong Kong. Simple, sexy decor with peek-a-boo bathrooms, large sepia-toned wall photos behind the headboards, and views of the harbor give the rooms a sophisticated vibe, and they have been updated with flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi (for an additional fee). Though the hotel has all of the amenities business travelers could want — tons of meeting space, a business center, and 24-hour room service — it attracts an equal number of leisure travelers, thanks in part to its large outdoor pool and kiddy pool, and free shuttle to nearby sights. Overall this 828-room mega-hotel is a gorgeous option; with four full restaurants, a fitness center, and a spa.

 

The Harbour Grand is located near the Causeway Bay area, with stunning views over Victoria Harbor. It is within walking distance of Victoria Park and the Fortress Hill metro stop.