Stopover at W Hong Kong: zombie in Wonderland

[Keith009]

Stopover at W Hong Kong: zombie in wonderland

A zombie in wonderland

May 24, 2009


A surreal Hong Kong experience convinces Rob McFarland of the power of the stopover.

It's the age-old question when flying back from Europe: to stopover or not to stopover? Do you utilise precious time that could be spent in your destination on a night somewhere along the way that may or may not leave you feeling less zombie-like when you arrive home?

Until recently I'd always subscribed to the straight-through theory don't muck around with all the hassle of getting to some anonymous airport hotel just hunker down, grin and bear it. And then I stayed in the W Hong Kong.

Opened in September last year, its location two floors above the Airport Express train station in West Kowloon makes it the ideal stopover candidate when flying via Hong Kong. W claims it is the closest luxury hotel to Hong Kong airport and I was checked in and lying on my bed 90 minutes after my flight touched down. The other bonus is that when you leave, you can check in your bags and get your boarding pass in the terminal downstairs, leaving you free to explore the city with just your hand luggage.


From the moment I arrive it is clear this is far from an I-could-be-anywhere airport hotel. Staff dressed in black and wearing Ray-Bans relieve me of my luggage at the front door and a short lift ride later I'm sitting in a funky, LCD screen-backed reception area with a welcome drink. Behind me is a holographic wall that changes each time I look at it (a little disconcerting when you've just got off a 12-hour flight) and dotted around are striking pieces of contemporary art such as an enormous swirling pink vase and a life-size sculpture of a horse.


...

W Hong Kong excels by making you feel like you're staying in an exclusive boutique hotel, when in actual fact the property has almost 400 rooms. The staff are young and enthusiastic, the design is refreshingly different and the attention to detail is impressive for a hotel of this size.

While its convenient location makes it perfect for a one-night stopover, next time I'll be staying longer.

Nice review of one of my faves. In fact the only criticism I can think of is that over weekdays, unless there's a special party happening, the Living Room can be rather dead. It has a more weekend scene like much of Honkers. Though I'm told the fab (and cute!) DJ Angus now plays on Thu nights and Sun arvos as well! Sick!

 

[winfred]

The rack rate of W Hotel in HK is slightly more expensive than Intercontinental's. I was there in May and I paid HK$1550 for a standard room which is a 65% discount off the rack rate of HK$4500.

Nice hotel but I would not rate it in the same league as the Intercontinental - it hasn't got the same level of service, amenities, class (the grand entrance, the driveway, the restaurants, etc).

I wish the sales staff there good luck!

 

[Keith009]

The rack rate of W Hotel in HK is slightly more expensive than Intercontinental's. I was there in May and I paid HK$1550 for a standard room which is a 65% discount off the rack rate of HK$4500.

Nice hotel but I would not rate it in the same league as the Intercontinental - it hasn't got the same level of service, amenities, class (the grand entrance, the driveway, the restaurants, etc).

I wish the sales staff there good luck!

That's like comparing apples and oranges IMO. The W and the IC have very different clienteles.

It's not meant to be in the same league, it's meant to be in a class of its own altogether. Smith's Travel Research rates the W as both a 'niche' category as well as 'luxury' alongside names like St Regis and the Four Seasons. The W is meant to be sassy, fun, party-central and fashion-forward. Who needs the synthetically reverent service of the traditional Asian hotels when the world's best DJs spin at the W?

It's not for everyone I agree but I'd gladly pay twice the rate of a yawning ol Peninsula to stay somewhere interesting, hip and glam. You don't get hot fashion launch parties (eg Rugby 7 boys launching new undies :mrgreen at the IC either.

It aims to be everything traditional luxury hotels like the IC isn't. I don't think the IC aims to be a funky design hotel either (I personally think it's just dowdy ).

Personally if i were to stay at a boring ol' hotel like the IC, I might as well be staying on the Island, nearer to the cool expat/tourist nightspots, at the Four Seasons or MO. Now that's class.

 

[Evan]

In HKG i think the W is a nicer hotel than he IC's
I would generally say the W and IC are both nice hotels, if the price is the same and location the same the IC would win for me due to the fact i get all the benefits of being Platinum RA, but W's very nice, just different than IC.

 

[winfred]

I agree that Four Seasons and MO are better than IC (except for the restaurants) as long as being on the island is not a problem. But the price difference is something I can't afford.

OK, IC is not as "fun" as W, and "class" is debatable. For me who either travel for business , IC suits me much better.

When I travel in Dec with my family (wife, 5 yo & 10 mths), I will try to stay at W and see if it is better than IC as a holiday maker.

 

[Alanslegal]

Seems like alot of trendy people of HKG and A Listers have been visiting the W HKG recently and enjoying the funky Living Room party esp. of a Fri/Sat night.

Also recently caught *pun intended* at the W HKG this month was the hugely popular Edison Chen, the singer come actor, turned into one of the biggest sex scandals in Asia with Gillian Chung from the pop group Twins.

After running away from the Hong Kong spotlight he has returned after a more than 12 month recluse back in his native and birth country of Canada. Anyway my point - the man flees HKG and only returns, where else, but to this W!

 

[munitalP]

That's like comparing apples and oranges IMO. The W and the IC have very different clienteles.

It's not meant to be in the same league, it's meant to be in a class of its own altogether. Smith's Travel Research rates the W as both a 'niche' category as well as 'luxury' alongside names like St Regis and the Four Seasons. The W is meant to be sassy, fun, party-central and fashion-forward. Who needs the synthetically reverent service of the traditional Asian hotels when the world's best DJs spin at the W?

It's not for everyone I agree but I'd gladly pay twice the rate of a yawning ol Peninsula to stay somewhere interesting, hip and glam. You don't get hot fashion launch parties (eg Rugby 7 boys launching new undies ) at the IC either.

It aims to be everything traditional luxury hotels like the IC isn't. I don't think the IC aims to be a funky design hotel either (I personally think it's just dowdy ).

Personally if i were to stay at a boring ol' hotel like the IC, I might as well be staying on the Island, nearer to the cool expat/tourist nightspots, at the Four Seasons or MO. Now that's class.

You are such a snob!! :mrgreen:


Mr!

 

[Keith009]

Try to time your stay around one of their special events and you'd be guaranteed an aWesome time:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Hong-Kong/W-HONG-KONG-OFFICIAL/53518408870?ref=ts

After the kids have gone to bed that is.

I'd also suggest a Feel the Wuv package for yourself and the missus, but might not be so suitable if the kids are tagging along. They also do some fab Bliss Spa packages from time to time but I can't comment on these as I'm not much of a spa person myself.

You are such a snob!! :mrgreen:


Mr!

Unashamedly so.

 

[drron]

Well this staid old grey hair had better stay away from the W.The excitement could kill me!

 

[Keith009]

Well this staid old grey hair had better stay away from the W.The excitement could kill me!

Well, my parents who're approaching 60 both love Ws despite also being avid FS fans. Mum loves the fashion show in the W Honkers Living Room every night, helped that she was there when the Rugby 7s were on and one of the teams modelled new undies thru the Living Room when she was there. :mrgreen: