The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong [Master Thread]
Nov 17, 2019, 3:43 am
#121
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,233
Just had a 5 night stay here and I have to say that coming back to this hotel was a wonderful respite from the total madness I encountered in Central. I agree with those who say that things have taken a turn for the worse this week, I'm not sure it makes sense to be in Hong Kong unless you absolutely have to be currently but I'd say the RC is not a bad choice if you have to be in town. Most of the other people I met who were in town for the same events were staying at the Mandarin / FS etc. and getting a taxi or Uber anywhere from the FS was a total nightmare, the shopping centre under the FS was evacuated at one point and the event I was supposed to attend at the Mandarin on Friday had to be cancelled entirely with police firing tear gas outside the hotel for a lot of the week.
RC felt quiet but not totally empty. Service was arguably even better than last time I stayed here as a result, genuinely some of the most attentive hotel service I have experienced anywhere, ever. Occupancy is apparently hovering somewhere around the 20% level in Hong Kong hotels generally and I'd guess the RC was somewhere a little above this level during the week. St. Regis supposedly more like 10% and Rosewood closer to 5%(!) from someone I was speaking to who knows the owners!
RC felt quiet but not totally empty. Service was arguably even better than last time I stayed here as a result, genuinely some of the most attentive hotel service I have experienced anywhere, ever. Occupancy is apparently hovering somewhere around the 20% level in Hong Kong hotels generally and I'd guess the RC was somewhere a little above this level during the week. St. Regis supposedly more like 10% and Rosewood closer to 5%(!) from someone I was speaking to who knows the owners!
Nov 18, 2019, 3:33 pm
#123
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,028
Just had a 5 night stay here and I have to say that coming back to this hotel was a wonderful respite from the total madness I encountered in Central. I agree with those who say that things have taken a turn for the worse this week, I'm not sure it makes sense to be in Hong Kong unless you absolutely have to be currently but I'd say the RC is not a bad choice if you have to be in town. Most of the other people I met who were in town for the same events were staying at the Mandarin / FS etc. and getting a taxi or Uber anywhere from the FS was a total nightmare, the shopping centre under the FS was evacuated at one point and the event I was supposed to attend at the Mandarin on Friday had to be cancelled entirely with police firing tear gas outside the hotel for a lot of the week.
RC felt quiet but not totally empty. Service was arguably even better than last time I stayed here as a result, genuinely some of the most attentive hotel service I have experienced anywhere, ever. Occupancy is apparently hovering somewhere around the 20% level in Hong Kong hotels generally and I'd guess the RC was somewhere a little above this level during the week. St. Regis supposedly more like 10% and Rosewood closer to 5%(!) from someone I was speaking to who knows the owners!
RC felt quiet but not totally empty. Service was arguably even better than last time I stayed here as a result, genuinely some of the most attentive hotel service I have experienced anywhere, ever. Occupancy is apparently hovering somewhere around the 20% level in Hong Kong hotels generally and I'd guess the RC was somewhere a little above this level during the week. St. Regis supposedly more like 10% and Rosewood closer to 5%(!) from someone I was speaking to who knows the owners!
Dec 7, 2019, 9:41 am
#124
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium, Hyatt Explorist, LH / *A Gold, BA Bronze
Posts: 51
I'm looking to stay in Hong Kong for 6 nights over Christmas and contemplating between St. Regis and Ritz Carlton. I've stayed with Bonvoy >75 nights this year, am also Hyatt Globalist but understood that Hyatt is not as competitive in HK.
I would love a hotel that is very relaxing to stay in, ideally free breakfast for Bonvoy 75 status members, good location to give around especially given the protests (as I heard there are some travel disruptions and at night difficult to catch a cab), and maybe a lounge to get a cocktail every night before going for dinner.
I was considering the St. Regis, but read on here it is difficult to get good views and there is no club lounge. Is the area good to walk around, i.e. plenty of restaurants and bars? Are the tourist sightseeing spots easy to reach?
How does the Ritz Carlton score on these criteria? Read that the views must be much better here and that there is a lounge, but heard Kowloon a bit more boring of a location.
I would love a hotel that is very relaxing to stay in, ideally free breakfast for Bonvoy 75 status members, good location to give around especially given the protests (as I heard there are some travel disruptions and at night difficult to catch a cab), and maybe a lounge to get a cocktail every night before going for dinner.
I was considering the St. Regis, but read on here it is difficult to get good views and there is no club lounge. Is the area good to walk around, i.e. plenty of restaurants and bars? Are the tourist sightseeing spots easy to reach?
How does the Ritz Carlton score on these criteria? Read that the views must be much better here and that there is a lounge, but heard Kowloon a bit more boring of a location.
Dec 7, 2019, 9:55 am
#125
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
The RC lounge is supurb, but to access it (regardless of Starriott/Bonvoy elite status) one must pay for a club level room, probably about US$150 extra per person per night.
Also, the RC isn't located in a very interesting area of Hong Kong, although it's convenient in many ways (especially if the airport express train is operating and the Kowloon station and attached elements mall are open) and it's fun getting views from such a tall building.
Also, the RC isn't located in a very interesting area of Hong Kong, although it's convenient in many ways (especially if the airport express train is operating and the Kowloon station and attached elements mall are open) and it's fun getting views from such a tall building.
Dec 7, 2019, 9:58 am
#126
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,423
Poorly.
There is no free breakfast or lounge access. The lounge is a very expensive upcharge. The location is awful for tourism (and the problem is not Kowloon, but rather this property's particular location in Kowloon).
The pluses of this property are the views, the large rooms, and the indoor pool. The service is IMO no better than any of the many other top tier Hong Kong hotels.
There is no free breakfast or lounge access. The lounge is a very expensive upcharge. The location is awful for tourism (and the problem is not Kowloon, but rather this property's particular location in Kowloon).
The pluses of this property are the views, the large rooms, and the indoor pool. The service is IMO no better than any of the many other top tier Hong Kong hotels.
Dec 31, 2019, 9:31 am
#127
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott BonVoy Titanium Elite, Marriott LT Plat.
Posts: 1,717
Agree completely with @Kacee!
I'm in the W HKG camp (Next door to RC HKG) and my major issue us just the location itself.
Despite the fact that I'm a mere 25 minute walk to the office and the fact that I like Kowloon too, I just wish there was more "nightlife" in the area and not relying on MTA as transportion since it closes soon after mid-night.
I'm in the W HKG camp (Next door to RC HKG) and my major issue us just the location itself.
Despite the fact that I'm a mere 25 minute walk to the office and the fact that I like Kowloon too, I just wish there was more "nightlife" in the area and not relying on MTA as transportion since it closes soon after mid-night.
Jan 19, 2020, 4:45 pm
#128
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 111
Just completed a 3 night stay at The Ritz-Carlton HK.
Status: Platinum
Check-in:
Similar experience to The Ritz-Carlton Macau, where the floor you are dropped off at is merely a greeting space, then you take express elevators to check-in. One difference is Macau has a check-in lounge, this one i think just has a counter- or you need to be Titanium for special check-in. Either way, check-in took all of 5 minutes so not a big deal. Welcome drink was tea.
Room Type:
First night we were upgraded to the 117th floor, seaview corner room. Second and third nights were in the Victoria Harbour suite on the 110th floor.
Dining:
Fantastic service at Ozone, Tosca, and Tin Lung Heen.
The staff at Tin Lung Heen in particular take the time to chat with you if you wish, and deliver extremely high end service.
Tosca we were seated in the middle so we had both views of the harbour and the open kitchen. Lots of international staff, I dined when they had a guest chef so it was tasting menu only.
When you leave Ozone, they remember you're a guest and let you through a secret door for direct access to the guest elevators instead of going down and switching. Nice touch.
Facilities:
Pool was closed for maintenance, was offered pool access at the W hotel.
Location:
Yes, the location is out of the way of basically everything. I actually don't mind because the MTR is located in the Elements mall which is about a 10 minute walk all indoors. There's always a queue of taxis outside, no waiting required.
Service:
Warm, friendly staff all throughout. Not sure if this is standard, but when we booked our airport transfer from the hotel they had a ground staff that escorted us into the airport, checked-in, and all the way up until the security gates. Talk about feeling like a VIP.
Status: Platinum
Check-in:
Similar experience to The Ritz-Carlton Macau, where the floor you are dropped off at is merely a greeting space, then you take express elevators to check-in. One difference is Macau has a check-in lounge, this one i think just has a counter- or you need to be Titanium for special check-in. Either way, check-in took all of 5 minutes so not a big deal. Welcome drink was tea.
Room Type:
First night we were upgraded to the 117th floor, seaview corner room. Second and third nights were in the Victoria Harbour suite on the 110th floor.
Dining:
Fantastic service at Ozone, Tosca, and Tin Lung Heen.
The staff at Tin Lung Heen in particular take the time to chat with you if you wish, and deliver extremely high end service.
Tosca we were seated in the middle so we had both views of the harbour and the open kitchen. Lots of international staff, I dined when they had a guest chef so it was tasting menu only.
When you leave Ozone, they remember you're a guest and let you through a secret door for direct access to the guest elevators instead of going down and switching. Nice touch.
Facilities:
Pool was closed for maintenance, was offered pool access at the W hotel.
Location:
Yes, the location is out of the way of basically everything. I actually don't mind because the MTR is located in the Elements mall which is about a 10 minute walk all indoors. There's always a queue of taxis outside, no waiting required.
Service:
Warm, friendly staff all throughout. Not sure if this is standard, but when we booked our airport transfer from the hotel they had a ground staff that escorted us into the airport, checked-in, and all the way up until the security gates. Talk about feeling like a VIP.
Last edited by Comp4k; Jan 19, 2020 at 7:25 pm
May 8, 2020, 1:33 am
#132
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: HKG
Programs: Marriott Ambassador (Titanium Lifetime), BA Gold, Ex-Hertz 5* PC, Ex-HH Diamond, Ex-BD*G
Posts: 3,059
Not sure about upgrades as a Platinum, but appears that Titanium's have a reasonable chance at the moment for sure.
May 8, 2020, 5:34 am
#133
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 2,966
People are sweeping up the base suites due to an up to 50% off promotion. I booked a few nights in a Deluxe Victoria Suite for HK$3,850+; seems the base suites starts from HK$3,300. Club access included.
May 8, 2020, 5:41 am
#134
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 159
May 8, 2020, 8:53 am
#135
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 2,966