I have booked this hotel, through Marriott Reward points, for next month (3 nights).

What are you thoughts on the hotel, the services it provides, shopping, transportion (metro, ferry, airport access) etc?

Some of my people stay there and like it. I liked the floor to ceiling windows and the electric drapes. Nice shopping center down stairs with a grocery store in the basement. It is pricey, but a good location.

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Luke in Silicon Valley
AA Platinum - 1.3MM, HHonors Gold - Love the Hilton in Frankfurt.
Virgin Silver
Could you tell me what room I am in, again.....

Can't comment on the service, though I've been to one of its rooms not long ago, and it looks great.

The Admiralty MTR station is just across the hotel via a footbridge. The hotel sits on top Pacific Place, which is one of the largest premiere shopping malls in Hong Kong.

It's within walking distance to Central and the ferries (about a 10-15 min walk) over a couple of footbridges or some interconnected walkways with shops above the Admiralty MTR station. The tramway also runs in front of the hotel, so do many buses. So, it's extremely convenient.

Behind the hotel is the Hong Kong park, which you can transverse to get to the Peak Tram terminal.

From the airport, your best bet is the Airport Express train (23 minutes) to Hong Kong station, and then take the free bus shuttle "H1" (every 20 minutes) to the hotel. There's also the airport bus A11 that goes to the Admiralty MTR station, which is cheaper. But you'll need to take the footbridge to cross into the hotel, and the airport bus doesn't stop near Admiralty MTR or the Marriott on its way back to the airport.

If I am with my wife and 8 yr old daughter, and I have several pieces checked luggage/baggage (at least 6!) - these transportation options would not be convenient - alternative options would be the taxi (assuming that 6 pieces of luggage will fit - are there any minivan taxis?), or a bus directly from the airport, to the hotel? What the the fares, in those 2 situations?

Alternatively, I can store most of our luggage at a luggage storage area at the airport (I will be arriving on a Singapore Airlines flight, from Singapore, and leaving a few days later on an ANA flight, to Narita/Tokyo)? What are the rate for such storage?

[This message has been edited by FlyerGoldII (edited Feb 21, 2004).]

There are private companies who provide hotel shuttles from the airport. http://www.hotelink.com.hk/main_1.asp HK$140/person to HK Island.

Taxi fare is approximately HK$335 to Central, from HKG's website. So, for three, that's very competitive with shuttles and the Airport Express. There's no minivan-cabs in Hong Kong. Only large sedans (usually Toyota Crown Comfort - interior size is almost as large as a Ford Crown Vic, but trunk is probably smaller). One problem is that most cab driver have lots of junk in their trunk, so expect to fit no more than two full-sized suitcases there. However, with just you, your wife and a kid, there should be enough room to fill the rest.

A more comfortable, but pricier alternative is limo service. I have not used this, so I can't comment on the service, but according to their website, you can get a Mercedes or a minivan to Central for about HK$600. http://www.hongkonglimo.com/html/home.html They have counters at HKG, and you can even book a car online.

Here's another one. Their website is Chinese only, but the prices and services are basically the same as the above: http://www.hklimo.com/limo_club_price.asp Merceds S320 HK$620, E280 limo HK$720 They also have an online reservation form.

Or you may want to contact Marriott to see if they have their own airport limo service.


[This message has been edited by rkkwan (edited Feb 21, 2004).]

Abysmally expensive. Something in the order of USD 7 per day for a small bag.

Your best bet might be a limo, but even that may struggle for boot (trunk) space. If you don't need the luggage immediately then if you got a limo through the Marriott then they would probably arrange for your luggage to be sent down in the hours following.

Remember if you were to catch the Airport Express and shuttle bus that there are free trolleys to get your luggage from the carousel to the train and from the train to the shuttle bus and, normally, staff around who will help you move the bags on and off the trolleys. It wouldn't be too hard with two of you to look after the bags on two trolleys.

[This message has been edited by christep (edited Feb 22, 2004).]

The US Marriott Internet help desk indicated that the Marriott limo is HK$650 one way, or $1200 return. It indicated that the airport express train one way (to Central Station) is HK$100 per passenger, one way.

The question is whether one can get an airport bus or shuttle (that would drop us off directly at the hotel), without prebooking, and what are the rates?

Flyergold - The shuttle service that I linked to above does not require pre-booking. It has a counter inside HKG (Counter # 3D, in the "Exit B" area of the arrival hall). They are not that frequent, though, once every 30 minutes. The rates are in the link. HK$140 per person to HK Island, as I mentioned. Return trip to airport is HK$100.

The limos may not need pre-booking either. However, you may want to give them a call to make sure. Or you may have to wait at HKG for a while for the car to show up.

[This message has been edited by rkkwan (edited Feb 22, 2004).]

Rkkwan:

Is there not an English language version of the hotel shuttle web site, esp for tourists?
I am interested in the option, but I would like to get more information, by being able to read details on the web site.

FlyerGoldII

[This message has been edited by FlyerGoldII (edited Feb 22, 2004).]

Flyergold - Unfortunately, the Hotelink shuttle service only have website in Chinese.

But let's recap, if you're already decided on taking the hotel shuttle bus services:

- 2 companies authorized by the Airport Authority. One is "Airport Hotelink", run by the large Wing On tourist group; the other is Parklane Limo's "Airport Shuttle" service.

- Both don't require reservations. Buses leave every 30 minutes. The "Hotelink" leaves at :15 and :45 from 6:15 to 23:45. Not sure about the "Airport Shuttle", my guess is it leaves on :00 and :30.

- Both will bring you to the door at JW Marriott.

- Fares of each should be HK$140/person to HK Island. Half price for kids, I believe.

- Each has two ticket counters in the arrival hall of HKG. One each in the "A" exit hall's ground transportation area, one each in the "B" hall.

Therefore, in my opinion, you don't need to worry, and there's really little need to research further. You should visit the counters of both services after getting your luggage, check what time's the next bus, and then decide which one to take. No need to book tickets in advance.

[This message has been edited by rkkwan (edited Feb 22, 2004).]

Certain travelers seem to find it necessary and/or reassuring to plan, re-plan, then check and re-check every step of their journey, asking more than once whether it is better to pay for the HK$10 water bottle with 2 $5 coins, with 1 $10 coin, or with a $20 note. Such travelers rarely find comfort in hearing that they need not worry, as that would leave them with little else to do.

I believe I will take one of the 2 companies' airport buses from the airport to the JW Marriott, and back. I will report to this forum, on my experiences with the buses.

PS-Does one get a discount taking these buses, with the octupus card, that I have read about on another thread?

These private shuttles do not take the Octopus cards. You need to pay at the ticket counters directly. The Octopus cards only work with the Airport buses, or Airport Express. Can't use them on taxis either, unless things have changed.

I heard they are working on getting the taxis to take the Octopus card but they were not set up to do so as of two weeks ago.

FlyerGold - the Octopus card is essentially a debit card that you put money on and use to pay your public transportation needs (tram, ferry, bus). The airport shuttles you're using are privately run so they are not included.

Enjoy your trip, HK is a wonderful city.