Hong Kong and Macau - Hotels --- I've got the list narrowed down, but I can't choose...

Traveling to HKG in a few days -- in town from the 7th-14th.

My second visit, my girlfriends first. While I'd usually find a nice botique hotel and run around like crazy -- we both need some serious decompression.

We're staying in Macau on the 11th, so we need a place for the 7th-11th and 12th-14th.

12th-14th is coming up expensive everywhere, so I'm probably going to redeem points for the Sheraton or Cyberport Meredian -- the latter sounds like it'd be super-relaxing, but I can't find any trip reports from someone whose been there. We'd consider the W, but at 25k points, it's on the edge of 'just too much.'

As for the 7th-11th; there's just too many good choices. Ideally, we'd have a pool, or at least a very nice hospitable place to lounge; and I'm trying to narrow down the list :

Langham Place Mongkok
Hotel ICON
The LUXE
East Hotel
Any of the Butterfly hotels; Prat or Wellington

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I suppose I should wind this up with a few questions, so here goes :

1) Any one been to one or all three of the Starwood hotels ... any thoughts on them? At a strict price per point valuation, the W only comes out around 1.3 cents per point, while the Cyberport is 2.6... (although planning a vacation on cents per point isn't the best way to do it...)
2) Any thoughts on the list of luxury hotels in the middle group? Most of them can be gotten for about 200USD per night, right now; while the boutiques, like Butterfly, can be had for 120 --- I'd like to know that they're worth the additional spend.

Any advice or thoughts appreciated. Thanks!

It appears I wasn't doing the Grand Stamford IC justice by not including it as well..

I would go for W and 2nd Langham, however the Butterfly looks need as well

Langham Place is the best hotel on your list. I stayed at ICON a few weeks ago to try it out and it's decent but not as good at Langham Place. The pool on the rooftop is very nice for relaxing and their gym/spa setup is great. If you're willing to spring for the club floors you'll be pampered better than any Starwood hotel club floor that I've ever stayed in. Only hicup I can see is that if you are looking to totally decompress then being in Mongkok might not be ideal:D

What's the deal with the Club floors? That bits unfamiliar to me.

Great to know that the Langham is the right way to go; thanks!

I'm sorely tempted to do Langham from the 7th-11th and use SPG points at either the Cyberport, Sheraton or W 12th-14th.

given a choice between Cyberport Meridian and the W, I would very much recommend the W.

Cyberport as an area has little to recommend it. Small shopping centre, predominantly residential area

The W is adjacent to ICC so you can pop over to Ozone on the 108th floor and above the Elements mall. Also above the train station.

Is the cyberport area scenic... does that hotel have a lot going for it?

A comfortable hotel: the Royal Plaza Hotel has large rooms, heated pool, gym, is adjacent to the Grand Century Mall/multiplex. Location Mongkok/Prince Edward Transportation hub

Is the cyberport area scenic... does that hotel have a lot going for it?

If on a high floor you may have a sea view. Cyberport is on the western / south side of the island. 15 minute taxi from central and there are decent bus routes.

Key though is that there is nothing much going on there. There is a cinema, a small shopping centre. Bulk of the area is some offices and mainly residential.

The W is on the West Kowloon reclamation. Also a bit out of the way but above a huge shopping centre.

Talk a look at www.centamap.com to get an idea of the locations

I stayed at the Cyberport on points for 2 nights last week. I was in no need to visit anything in HK, so I was happy to enjoy the sea view from my room and relax. (And I really loved the Internet-radio in the room.)
In between the breakfast buffet (^), the supermarket next door and the restaurants across the road I had everything I needed. :)
The only excursion I did was a trip (by public bus) to Stanley to have lunch there.

I chose the Méridien over the W because of the number of points needed per night.

1) Any one been to one or all three of the Starwood hotels ... any thoughts on them? At a strict price per point valuation, the W only comes out around 1.3 cents per point, while the Cyberport is 2.6... (although planning a vacation on cents per point isn't the best way to do it...)



I've stayed at all 3 SPGs there over the past years. From a quality and service standpoint, the W may sometimes come across as a little aloof. The others are a little more classic traditional. Location and style are pretty different. The LM is in a much less trafficked part of town and very quiet and peaceful. Personally, I like the W style as well as that rooftop pool so I typically end up there. (And I'm not paying out of my own pocket. Expect the W to be almnost 2x the LM)



My second visit, my girlfriends first. While I'd usually find a nice botique hotel and run around like crazy -- we both need some serious decompression.


Now, the "serious decomp" part got me. I seek out the LM when I need to hide from the madness that can be HK and Shenzhen/Guangzhou. Cross the border on Fri night, retire to LM, get a sea view room, retreat from everything with my kindle and a good bottle of wine. It is a great location for just that. Hard to find another place like that on the HK island side.

Hope this helps.

As for the 7th-11th; there's just too many good choices. Ideally, we'd have a pool, or at least a very nice hospitable place to lounge; and I'm trying to narrow down the list :

Langham Place Mongkok
Hotel ICON
The LUXE
East Hotel
Any of the Butterfly hotels; Prat or Wellington

===

I've just got back from 6 nights, 3 at the Langham place and 3 at the ICON and can recommend both.

Unlike the travelinmanS, I thought The ICON was definitely the better hotel, room, amenities and service wise (although we did get an iPhone to use from the Langham which was handy) but the location of the Langham Place up in Mongkok was certainly more interesting although lacked the views of the ICON.

If you are hoping to relax, then the ICON would certainly suit you better, being set in a far more sedate neighbourhood. The views from the pool are magnificent, you could easily spend an afternoon out on the pool deck, relaxing away, taking in the view across the harbour, before popping up to the club lounge for some afternoon tea

Just came back... We _adored_ Langham Place. The Sheraton was gorgeous and very professional; and the combination of the two was a spectacular visit.

Thanks for all the advice!

I stayed at the Cyberport on points for 2 nights last week. I was in no need to visit anything in HK, so I was happy to enjoy the sea view from my room and relax. (And I really loved the Internet-radio in the room.)
In between the breakfast buffet (^), the supermarket next door and the restaurants across the road I had everything I needed. :)
The only excursion I did was a trip (by public bus) to Stanley to have lunch there.

I chose the Méridien over the W because of the number of points needed per night.

Don't forget that the Cyberport also offers a free shuttle to central station. So, in reality you only have tp get up 15 minutes earlier when you stay here.

Very good gym, very quiet and relaxing, awesome breakfast buffet and free drinks at night, beautiful rooms with great views and you can in fact relax here. Oh yes, and the price beats the W by a ton. The W offers little for me-too dark inside, no free breakfast or drinks at night, expensive and in reality isolated. It is not worth the money......not even close