BT87

I was considering staying at the hotel sometime next Janurary. As it will be boiling in Hong Kong then, a pool is a must. My question to those who have stayed there recently is, how much do they charge to you the facilities (pool etc.)?

rtw*

January in Hong Kong is by no mean "boiling". It is more like a San Francisco winter.

IK in Seattle

It is probably not much different than January in Vancouver. I'm not sure the pool will even be open.

IncyWincy

It is an OUTDOOR pool also!

jkc22

January HK weather can be unpredictable. Last year it was freezing, with temperatures hovering around 10C, and since I've never packed any winter clothes, I bought my first jacket in Hong Kong last winter........All previous year I laugh at European designer shops carrying thick down/wool jackets and coats. But last year, they came in handy!

All previous year (I've been visiting every winter since 1994) and have never really needed a jacket. I wear the usual "summer" clothes with temperatures hovering arounc 18C (mind you, the HK residents will get every chance to showcase their winter collection when temperatures dip below 20C....mink coats and scarfs included....)

That said, the outdoor pool at the GH HK is heated and is open year-round. There's also no additional charges to use the gym/pool for hotel guests......

Pickles

But it sure isn't heated year round... That pool in spring can be freezing. But it is a nice pool. A lot of outdoor pools in HK close in winter. My favorite pool in HK is the PLA training pool at the Tamar barracks. In three years of looking at that pool from the top floors of the MO, I've only ever seen one person ever swim in it. But is is always ready to go, 25 meters and 6 lanes across.

nologic

It is a great pool/pool area and spa area and is open year round, but it is not heated very well (not sure why).

macj86

I stayed at GH HK this past January ('05) and swam in the pool. Very nice. The entire fitness/spa area is top rate.

As an aside, if you are a Diamond, let us know if they upgrade you to a RC floor. A couple of helpful tips in this regard:

1. On the day you check in, and before you arrive at the hotel, make it a point to go to hyatt.com and print out the page detailing available reservations for that night (and each of the nights of your stay).
2. Call the regular (not Diamond) GP reservation line and, before giving your name and GP number, ask about RC room availability.

If 1 and 2 show that there are a number of RC rooms available AND If you are not upgraded during check in, show this information to the desk clerk and then, if necessary, ask to see the manager on duty and share the research.

If you are still not satisfied, go to the room that they check you into, go back to the website and GP hotline, confirm your information again, and then send a nice but firmly worded email to the HK GH general manager.

nologic

I am not sure what "games" you are talking about, but they are very strict about their policies and they are very good at upselling; the last time I was there (last month), the front desk people were going thru a training course in "upselling" during their non-duty hours -- so they take upselling seriously.

They did a good job with me as I upped myself to a junior suite, but we bargained on that, and the room really is MUCH better.

I also had a "hard time" getting a front desk person to confirm a Diamond GC upgrade by phone for me in the wee hours of the morning on my day of arrival(I was calling from JFK before my flight to HKG) on my day of my arrival, even though the GC was somewhat empty in terms of bookings for that day. What I wanted to avoid happening, given that I was arriving so late that day (11PM at the hotel), was somehow having them fill all their GC UGs with people that would be arriving earlier in the day. I got a lot of resistance to this very normal and easy request -- finally, after asking for a manager, I was told OK, only this one time, like this was such a big deal/problem.

miki13331

[QUOTE=nologic]I am not sure what "games" you are talking about, but they are very strict about their policies and they are very good at upselling; the last time I was there (last month), the front desk people were going thru a training course in "upselling" during their non-duty hours -- so they take upselling seriously.
QUOTE]

here's an example of a "game" - i was offered a GC room or a suite on a lower floor, i chose the GC, but after seeing the room i called down and asked if i could have a suite. they told me they had no more suites available - they sold all of them within the 5 minutes it took me to go up to the room, so i called hyatt reservations in USA and booked a suite and then had a conversation with the director of rooms. their defense was that the reservations do not have access to the actual room inventory at the hotel.

nologic

I would call the GM on this one. That's BS, although I don't really get the "game" -- they were willing to offer you a free suite UG or a fee GC UG, either are decent, and both were free?

miki13331

the GM was "in a meeting" or "in shanghai" or something like that, they have lots of games

nologic

Well, theres ALWAYS a GM on duty, but it sounds like you surely were getting the run around.

SanDiego1K

And this is why I have switched my July reservations to the JW Marriott, where I am assued of the executive floor. (I am top tier on both programs.) I simply don't have the stamina nor the inclination to do all the research re available rooms and to take the necessary stand on check in.

Bondiboy

I completely agree.

For me, if I have to argue to get the appropriate recognition, thgen I just could not be bothered. It is sort of like getting a belated birthday present after reminding your friends that today is your birthday.

....Not to mention the time and effort involved.

Best to go somewhere else.