Luxury Hotels - Where to stay: Hong Kong & Tokyo with family

Hello all!

Recently found flyertalk from my office colleague. First time post so please be kind. I have read many posts in this forum and have tried to use the search function.

I am traveling with my husband and 2 boys (8 and 12), visiting Hong Kong (4 nights) and then Tokyo (3 nights). Trip will be end of July. First time visit to both places. I would be interested in recommendations as to which would be best for a family to use. Neither of us have any status nor points with any hotels so it will be paid room or rooms. It looks like in Hong Kong hotels do not offer Family rooms. From a post in this forum it seems Grand Hyatt in Tokyo has family rooms. Also how difficult would it be to find vegetarian meals in these hotel restaurants (my husband is vegetarian), and my two boys will stay with Western food.

Would appreciate also recommendations as well as advice on how to best experience the area (shopping/places to visit) will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Welcome to Flyertalk! :)

Would appreciate also recommendations as well as advice on how to best experience the area (shopping/places to visit) will be greatly appreciated.

Well, what are your objectives on the trip? :-:

Welcome to Flyertalk! :)



Well, what are your objectives on the trip? :-:

Thanks.

Summer vacation with the family, and maybe some shopping.
We have been to Europe many times. This time family decided to go East.

What is your pricepoint? The hotels you mention run USD 300+ per day. There are both cheaper and more expensive available (Tokyo is expensive based on location, while Hong Kong has half of the 10 best hotels in the world, so you get quite lavish hotels but for a price). You can look at the spectrum of what is available at http://www.asia-hotels.com

In HKG the room size is often directly proportional to the price (so a room that is twice the square footage will be twice as expensive). In Tokyo it is more than twice as expensive (definitely more than linear as size increases). Probably your best bet in HKG if you want large rooms for reasonable price is the YMCA (which happens to be in a fabulous location, next door to the Peninsula, and more like a 3* hotel).

Vegetarian food is widely available everywhere, not a problem in either city and almost every restaurant would have a vegetarian dish on request.

In Hong Kong, the Deluxe Suite at the Peninsula works out well for a family of four. They will put two rollaways in the room, and the suite is huge, and somewhat pricey, but not for what you get, in my opinion.

I was recently looking for rooms in Tokyo for my family. I didn't really see any options other than going for two double rooms, which is often the only thing which will work, since so many rooms have a three person maximum occupancy, even suites.

The other option is to look for apartment type lodgings. We have also done that on occasion, usually with good results.

I hope you will convince your boys to try some Japanese or Chinese food!! Those cuisines are so accessible to children!! Surely they could find something. My sons love the har gau (shrimp dumplings) and BBQ pork buns in Hong Kong. And Japanese food is great too.

I think it really depends on what your budget is. But since you've posted on the "Luxury hotel" forum, I assume that's also reflecting your budget,more or less right?

The Peninsula is really an experience of its own. But I feel that the Pen har lost some of its old style luxury feel, because of the huge amounts of tourists just stopping by to take pictures and have some afternoon tea. It is a bit costly, but I believe its worth it. If the suites are too expensive, I would suggest booking two superior rooms with connection doors. That would save you some dollars. But the deluxe suite and upwards are really nice for families.

If you really want to splurge, go for The Landmark (MO- hotel), or The Four Seasons Hong Kong! ^ I believe the 4S is the most expensive hotel in Hong Kong, not quite sure, but its supposed to be incredibly fabulous! :D The Landmark is also one of the new ultra-luxury hotels in Hong Kong. But anyhow, hope that your family and you will have a wonderful vacation in Asia, whatever hotel you decide to stay at. ^


Bon Voyage! ^
Cheers!

For the situation that the OP has (first-time visitor to HK, family of 4, special dietary needs), a hotel in the Pacific Place complex (Shangri-La, Conrad, or JW Marriott) might work out exceptionally well. They're connected directly to an upscale shopping mall with lots of stores and food options (including a food court w/McDonald's if your boys stay Sinophobic for food) and a movie theatre, also connected directly to the subway.

In Tokyo, the Grand Hyatt is an excellent choice: great location for lots of activites, food choices, and transportation.

A word or two about dining: 'vegetarianism' in some restaurants may be understood to mean 'mostly vegetables,' and a dish that is claimed to be 'vegetarian' might surprise you by having a meat- or fish-based stock, or even ingredients. Safest places to find vegetarian meals are Indian restaurants (the Woodlands in Kowloon is all-vegetarian and fantastic); in other Asian restaurants, specifying "Hindu" is likely to yield better results than just "vegetarian." A great choice for the whole family is the buffet restaurant at the Shangri-la (and possibly similar ones at other hotels), which has a tremendous and high-quality selection of Asian, Western, and vegetarian foods.

In Hong Kong, the Deluxe Suite at the Peninsula works out well for a family of four.

If you are going to book a suite at the Pen, there are two packages that offer added value amenities for suite bookings:

http://hongkong.peninsula.com/phk/packages.html

However, I don't know if the Rolls will fit four people plus luggage.

number_6:
Was looking for luxury hotels which could accomodate family. Tokyo Grand Hyatt seems to do it.

kingsroadgal:
Tokyo Grand Hyatt would accept a family, however Hong Kong Grand Hyatt would not. I definitely want my boys to try local cusine. My older one probably would be amenable.

Vuitton:
Thanks. Will try the hotels you have listed. Thanks

wideman:
Thank you for the clarifying the vegetarian options. I will ask some more questions regarding it in the Hong Kong and Japan forums.

francophile:
Thanks. Will check them out,

Agree with wideman about staying at Pacific Place as first time HKG visitors - it backs to Hong Kong Park, sits atop a very nice underground mall (and metro/subway stop) and is walking distance to the Star Ferry terminal (to Kowloon) and Victoria Peak. I recommend getting connecting deluxe rooms at the Conrad - we did that with 4 kids in tow, and it worked out OK although a bit cramped with 6 of us; with only 2 kids, it will be heavenly. Search the Hilton forum for loads of info on the Conrad HK.

GH Tokyo sounds like a good bet there; I've never travelled in Japan with family, only solo on business so can't be of huge help there.

Anyway, good move taking the kids to Asia - ours absolutely loved HKG.

Try the IC (ex-Regent). Big rooms, great location and some of the best food. Be sure to stay away from the other IC (Stamford), that is a completely different hotel and not in the same class. Normally I stay at the Pen and eat at the IC, but I think the rooms at the IC are bigger for the price and are similar quality. If you do stay at the Pen you have to book one of the higher grade rooms, they are significantly better. However the Pen is not really the best choice with children. The other suggestion of the Shangri-La (or any of the Pacific Place complex hotels) is also excellent. Lots to choose from, all good. Be aware that hotel pricing in HKG is a bit different from most cities, it fluctuates a lot by specific date. The same room can cost 40% more on Wed than Thurs (or vice versa), based on what events happen to be in town that day. And not all hotels have the same schedule. I suppose it is supply and demand pricing at its finest (or worst). If you are getting a flat rate, it is either a bargain or grossly overpaying.

If you do stay at the Pen you have to book one of the higher grade rooms, they are significantly better.

number_6-

Is there a big difference between the rooms in the original building and the new tower?

number_6-

Is there a big difference between the rooms in the original building and the new tower?Yes, the tower is significantly better for the most part (excluding the view, which is non-existent in the original building). There isn't a good reason to stay in the old building, except to save money.

Yes, the tower is significantly better for the most part (excluding the view, which is non-existent in the original building). There isn't a good reason to stay in the old building, except to save money.

The deluxe suite in the original building (at least the top floor) has a magnificent view across the harbor. I prefer it to the tower, because the view is close up. But I am not a huge fan of high rise hotels in any event. I was concerned about the rooms in the original building and that perhaps they were not up to snuff. No problem there. This room was top notch. Beautifully decorated and maintained - and huge - about 1300 square feet, with the fabulous harbor view. We are returning later this year.

If you are going to book a suite at the Pen, there are two packages that offer added value amenities for suite bookings:

http://hongkong.peninsula.com/phk/packages.html

However, I don't know if the Rolls will fit four people plus luggage.

The Rolls Royce will fit four people and luggage with difficulty. They are masters at tying the trunk closed. We switched to a Mercedes S class on the way back.

I have to say, the Rolls' transfer was the only thing which disappointed me a little at the Pen. I thought our car looked a little worn. This was about a year and a half ago. Do they plan to modernize the fleet??

Do they plan to modernize the fleet??

I wish they had the new Phantoms. :(

I wish they had the new Phantoms. :(

The M-O Tokyo has one. And in London, the Lanesborough has one too..

I am traveling with my husband and 2 boys (8 and 12), visiting Hong Kong (4 nights) and then Tokyo (3 nights).

Well, lets start with Hong Kong, shall we? I'm surprised that the Harbour Plaza Metropolis (http://www.harbour-plaza.com/en/home.aspx?hotel_id=hpme&section_id=home&subsection_id=overview) hasn't got a mention yet, especially with its Grand Harbourview Suite (comfetably sleeps two on the Queen Bed, and two in the Sofabed).

Probably the reason it hasn't been mentioned is that it gets mixed reviews (search FT, you'll find a few) but I've got friends who will pretty much only stay there when in HK, they love it so much. It's still fairly new (Opened in 2002) so I figure that even without any renovation or upgrades, it will still be quite modern.

In Japan, if you want someone nice, with the added bonus of accumulating points (always a nice bonus), check out the Strings Hotel Tokyo (http://www.stringshotel.com/) which is a member of ANA's growing hotel chain. Probably not the cheapest of hotels, but beautiful in all its glory.

I'm struggling to find you anything in Japan that will sleep all of you without costing an arm and a leg. The Tokyo Bay Hilton (http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=JVOHXTFFB4A4ACSGBIV2VCQKIYF C5UUC?ctyhocn=TYOTBTW) has rooms with two Queen beds from around JPY 49000 (yes, around $500US per night)

Also how difficult would it be to find vegetarian meals in these hotel restaurants

Asia is the easiest of any of the continents to have Vegetarian meals arranged. Don't worry about this in the slightest. The Restaurants at the Harbour Plaza (http://www.harbour-plaza.com/en/overview.aspx?hotel_id=hpme&section_id=rest&subsection_id=overview) seem quite complete, although expensive (maybe I'm reading it wrong, but US$10 for a California Roll in the Senzuru Restaurant seems a bit high...)

In Japan, be sure to visit the Deva Deva Cafe (http://devadevacafe.com/Enindex.htm) for your husbands food intake.

I'd tend to choose the IC over the Pen in HK, both because I agree with previous poster that the Pen is FAR too touristy these days (especially during the summer months), and also because the top-floor IC suites that face the harbor have perhaps the best view in town. There's nothing between you and the water, so everything from passing junks to the evening light show are rightthere.

I'm a big FS fan, but previous posters have implied that the FS HK is more of a business location than a family one, and given your intent, may not be the best fit.

Haven't been to Tokyo, so will learn along with you about the best choices...

I'd tend to choose the IC over the Pen in HK, both because I agree with previous poster that the Pen is FAR too touristy these days


AGREED! ^ The amount of tourists in the Lobby during the summer is a little ridiculous, for any hotel. I recommend either the IC ( I still call it the regent, but I don’t care, it sounds better) or the Four Seasons. IC for the view, Four Seasons for the stunning rooms (Though they service needs a little bit of fine tuning)

For Tokyo, I recommend the Park Hyatt. Since your going with family, you may want a somewhat quieter setting for a hotel. Normally I would recommend the Grand Hyatt because of its slightly better location and it wins more stylish points, but it can get a little busy around the Roppongi area. But the Park Hyatt is in a nice area itself (Shinjuku) and it’s a fabulous hotel with some of the best views in Tokyo. If you have the money to throw around, that should be a top choice. If not, the Conrad and FS are both excellent choices.

Wow so many suggestions. Thanks everybody. For Hong Kong I am leaning towards Conrad. I have sent the hotel an email asking for more info. Again thank you all.

The Tokyo Bay Hilton is extremely convenient if you plan to spend your entire visit to Tokyo at Disneyland. In a city where virtually every hotel is conveniently located, this hotel is one of the exceptions: It's a lousy location for everywhere else.

Strings hotel may be nice, but it isn't a luxury hotel. The only acceptable rooms would be suites, which are 70 sq mt, and the floor plan doesn't look real "family friendly" to me unless they moved out a lot of furniture and replaced it with beds. Tokyo hotels will rarely do that.

Wow so many suggestions. Thanks everybody. For Hong Kong I am leaning towards Conrad. I have sent the hotel an email asking for more info. Again thank you all.

The HKG Conrad is my favorite Conrad in Asia. I have stayed at BKK and SIN Conrads and HKG is a notch above BKK and few notches above SIN. Good choice IMHO.

Just a suggestion but if do decide to stay there, sign up for the Hilton HHonors program. You might want to call HHonors and ask if they can offer some kind of a fastrack to status. At the very least you might as well start collecting points. With 2 rooms at ~$200-300 a night for 4 nights you will collect quite a few.

You may also consider staying with a Hilton family property in Tokyo as that would give you more points with the same program. Recently I have stayed at the Tokyo Hilton and while it's not a solid 4* (at least IMHO) it is a very nice hotel with very nice location. There is also a Conrad in Tokyo but I can't tell you anything about the property as I have never been there.

Have a great trip!

I recently stayed at the Sheraton HKG with the family. decent hotel and a great location but best of all they bent over backwards to accomodate my son which is always a plus... ^

have to also agree the Pen and the IC are great hotels...

I wish they had the new Phantoms. :(

I hear they are coming soon.... :cool:

For the situation that the OP has (first-time visitor to HK, family of 4, special dietary needs), a hotel in the Pacific Place complex (Shangri-La, Conrad, or JW Marriott) might work out exceptionally well. They're connected directly to an upscale shopping mall with lots of stores and food options (including a food court w/McDonald's if your boys stay Sinophobic for food) and a movie theatre, also connected directly to the subway.

In Tokyo, the Grand Hyatt is an excellent choice: great location for lots of activites, food choices, and transportation.

A word or two about dining: 'vegetarianism' in some restaurants may be understood to mean 'mostly vegetables,' and a dish that is claimed to be 'vegetarian' might surprise you by having a meat- or fish-based stock, or even ingredients. Safest places to find vegetarian meals are Indian restaurants (the Woodlands in Kowloon is all-vegetarian and fantastic); in other Asian restaurants, specifying "Hindu" is likely to yield better results than just "vegetarian." A great choice for the whole family is the buffet restaurant at the Shangri-la (and possibly similar ones at other hotels), which has a tremendous and high-quality selection of Asian, Western, and vegetarian foods.
Which Shangri-la please--for your recommended buffet (it sounds good!)
Thanks
LWW

I believe that wideman talks about the Shangri-La buffet in this thread in the Hilton forum (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131489), my favorite Hilton thread of all times. His recommendations are equally as valid for any of the 3 hotels attached to Pacific Place.

conrad tokyo is a notch above conrad hkg imho. I stayed in a suite facing tokyo bay in the exec floor...I would recommend that over the tokyo hilton.

If you are going to book a suite at the Pen, there are two packages that offer added value amenities for suite bookings:

http://hongkong.peninsula.com/phk/packages.html

However, I don't know if the Rolls will fit four people plus luggage.

Yes, The Rolls has enough room for two adults and two children and the will "extend" the trunk. They have a mat to cover and hold a lot of luggage.

Sorry this post is late, but in case anybody else wants to know about alternative rooms in Tokyo that are large enough for a family, the Takanawa Prince (a 4* near Shinagawa station with beautiful stroll garden and carp pool) has Japanese Suites - made of a couple of rooms. These can be very affordable through www.utell.com, often coming up at 30,000yen a night (which is half the rack rate). This is about $300.

The Takanawa Price is a 'friendly neighbour' with Tokyo Disney and runs free shuttle buses to and from the park. It's just under an hour away.

Also for true vegetarian fare in Tokyo (without any fish stock) aim for "shojin ryori" which is Japanese vegetarian cuisine that has been developed and refined in Temples, best to aim for these at lunch times, the price at the same restaurant can be considerably more expensive at dinner time. Nevertheless, vegetarians can enjoy a delicious 'kaiseki' style multi course menu this way. Some more budget minded vegetarian/vegan friends I know used to visit Yakitori places. Although these mainly sell chicken and other meats which are skewered and cooked on an open griddle, vegetables and tofu also get the same treatment and is one of the safest bets for an adventurous vegetarian out for an informal meal.