Hong Kong and Macau - Hong Kong: Mandarin Oriental OR Intercontinental?

Husband and I are off to Honkers next week. As part of Centurion, we get one free night at the Mandarin Oriental - With Ambassador, I get one free night at Intercontinental.

Centurion also provide a free upgrade at reservation, though the upgrade is that you pay the price for the room category below the one you want.

At this stage we are leaning towards to MO as last time we stayed in Hong Kong we stayed on the Kowloon side (and didn't see much of the island at all). Also, the cost for the Deluxe Suite is roughly $550 AUD a night which seems competitive (though it is city view, not harbour view). The one bummer about the MO is that there doesn't appear to be a club lounge - does anyone know?

Does anyone have any recommendations or advice?

If you want to have a great view, book the IC. If you want to have the more old fashion hotel, book the MO. I personally prefer the "dark side", however, many of my HK friends would never stay in Kowloon.

Regarding suites: I would not be aware of any Executive Suites at the HK IC without Harbour View.

Perfect comparison - view go with IC, location go with MO.

I have stayed in Mong Kok, Prince Edward, TST (Sheraton Towers), Sheung Wan and Wan Chai and would probably never stay back in Kowloon any more...too much to see, too much to eat and too much culture on the Hong Kong side.

Plus, even though I couldn't afford it on a regular basis, the MO has an amazing location and would be great for almost everything!

-jeremy

MO is one of the best hotels in the world, in my opinion, particularly after the refurb a few years ago that did away with the balconies (which are now part of the room). Since the harbour is so built up, I find the city views just as good (better?).