Hong Kong Master Thread

[MEIR613]

It's just a very nice looking hotel, beautiful lobby, elevators.
76th floor infinity pool and hot tub are awesome.
Was upgraded to a huge marvelous suite with a tub that had a great view and and a TV to boot.
The airport express station is in the hotel's "basement." The Bellhop took our bags from our room and we never touched them again until we got to CLE thanks to the checkin stations there.

IMO, those aren't reasons to switch to there for one night.

Yes, it's nice and definitely would consider it again, but not worth shlepping over on a Saturday night for one night.

[Yehoshua]

IMO, those aren't reasons to switch to there for one night.

Yes, it's nice and definitely would consider it again, but not worth shlepping over on a Saturday night for one night.

I guess it kind of depends on your definition of schlep and who/what is being moved, no? Of you're just with a carry on and no kids would you still not "schlep"?

[MEIR613]

I guess it kind of depends on your definition of schlep and who/what is being moved, no? Of you're just with a carry on and no kids would you still not "schlep"?

It's annoying to move hotels, period.

I personally got an amazing suite at the Sheraton and was the same size as the W. Was the W a little nicer? Yes, but a little nicer doesn't warrant a change in my books.

Also, you will need to make sure you can check out after Shabbos with out being charge for an additional night, which I don't think will be so easy.

Yes, there is a nice pool, but for the 15 hours you are going to be there, the type of person you are and the weather, dont think you will end up using it.

[Dan]

Without kids I'd disagree.

TA ranks the W as one of the best hotels in HKG for good reason. Unless you're pressed for time, why not be able to experience it?

[Yehoshua]

It's annoying to move hotels, period.

I personally got an amazing suite at the Sheraton and was the same size as the W. Was the W a little nicer? Yes, but a little nicer doesn't warrant a change in my books.

Also, you will need to make sure you can check out after Shabbos with out being charge for an additional night, which I don't think will be so easy.

Yes, there is a nice pool, but for the 15 hours you are going to be there, the type of person you are and the weather, dont think you will end up using it.

All valid points, especially the last 3. Regarding checking out on shabbos, Shabbos is over at 6:45, so I'd just pack up my bags in the morning and have the hotel take them down to storage for the rest of the day and just hang out in the lounge or lobby area. That being said, if I decide to stay in HKG on Sat night, I'd rather spend 12k SPG for another night at the Sheraton than 20k at the W. But it's also 12k for the St. Regis Macau which will be brand new by that point. I just have to decide if I want to go to Macau for Sunday and then take a boat straight back to HKG (airport).

Without kids I'd disagree.

TA ranks the W as one of the best hotels in HKG for good reason. Unless you're pressed for time, why not be able to experience it?

Well besides for the extra 8k SPG, if I'm going to switch hotels I may want to check out the brand new St. Regis. TA's won't have reviews of it yet, but how can you pass up a 12k/night, brand  new  St. Regis (besides the fact that it's in Macau)? I can always visit the W just to see it.

[Dan]

I (and several others) found Macau to be exceedingly dull.
Why would you spend ~8 hours of your vacation time transferring RT to an unproven hotel rather than spend 30 minutes transferring to one of the highest rated hotels in HKG, (and one that also saves you time by putting you right on top of the Airport Express checkin lobby)?
Unless you really want the extra stamps in your passport?
Besides hotels close to opening are often full of problems and kinks that have yet to be worked out.

Your wife likes to swim too, no? There are some things you can't do by just "checking it out"

[MEIR613]

All valid points, especially the last 3. Regarding checking out on shabbos, Shabbos is over at 6:45, so I'd just pack up my bags in the morning and have the hotel take them down to storage for the rest of the day and just hang out in the lounge or lobby area. That being said, if I decide to stay in HKG on Sat night, I'd rather spend 12k SPG for another night at the Sheraton than 20k at the W. But it's also 12k for the St. Regis Macau which will be brand new by that point. I just have to decide if I want to go to Macau for Sunday and then take a boat straight back to HKG (airport).
Well besides for the extra 8k SPG, if I'm going to switch hotels I may want to check out the brand new St. Regis. TA's won't have reviews of it yet, but how can you pass up a 12k/night, brand  new  St. Regis (besides the fact that it's in Macau)? I can always visit the W just to see it.

Biggest PITA and for that reason alone I wouldnt do it.

Dan, the best hotel in HKG, serious?

It's nice hotel, but definitely dont think it's the nicest.

So you think he should go through the hassle to check out early on Shabbos and switch hotels MS just to have his bags checked through?

[Dan]

I said one of the best, feel free to argue with TA:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g294217-d1068719-Reviews-W_Hong_Kong-Hong_Kong.html

Personally I'd just convince them to give a late checkout and then switch. Really depends on what you like. If you'd enjoy a 75th floor infinity pool and hot tub then yes, it would be worth it. Assuming that you covered the main tourist spots in HKG already.

You think it's worth switching to Macau for Sat night? Esp for someone who lives 4.5K Avios from far more exciting/accessible/kosher food LAS?

[Yehoshua]

I (and several others) found Macau to be exceedingly dull.
Why would you spend ~8 hours of your vacation time transferring RT to an unproven hotel rather than spend 30 minutes transferring to one of the highest rated hotels in HKG, (and one that also saves you time by putting you right on top of the Airport Express checkin lobby)?
Unless you really want the extra stamps in your passport?
Besides hotels close to opening are often full of problems and kinks that have yet to be worked out.

Your wife likes to swim too, no? There are some things you can't do by just "checking it out"

Well there's that; I like passport stamps. True, the hotel will be just 1 month old, but that give them 1 month to get things in order. Finally, DW won't be with me on this trip, and I don't know if I'd actually use the pool myself (unless it's heated).

Biggest PITA and for that reason alone I wouldnt do it.

Dan, the best hotel in HKG, serious?

It's nice hotel, but definitely dont think it's the nicest.

So you think he should go through the hassle to check out early on Shabbos and switch hotels MS just to have his bags checked through?

Is it really that big of a PITA to check out ~3 hours before shabbos is over?

I said one of the best, feel free to argue with TA:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g294217-d1068719-Reviews-W_Hong_Kong-Hong_Kong.html

Personally I'd just convince them to give a late checkout and then switch. Really depends on what you like. If you'd enjoy a 75th floor infinity pool and hot tub then yes, it would be worth it. Assuming that you covered the main tourist spots in HKG already.

You think it's worth switching to Macau for Sat night? Esp for someone who lives 4.5K Avios from far more exciting/accessible/kosher food LAS?

Assuming I covered the main tourist attractions already, are you suggesting just spending the day at the hotel? You're right, the Airport Express  check  in does look cool, but that wouldn't be the only reason I'd stay there (especially since I don't plan on checking bags). Besides you can check in bags in Macau when taking the ferry straight to the airport.

As far as LAS is concerned, I wouldn't exactly go there for the food (coming from LAX), but as I said above, it's more about the passport stamp. Plus it's only for a half a day.

[Dan]

Didn't realize no DW.

Didn't say anyone would go to LAS for food. I just don't see any advantage of Macau over LAS in any aspect unless you're a smoker who likes $100 minimum tables. It's a time consuming transfer that's only worthwhile if you've exhausted everything to do in HKG or if you really want to see the dancing water show.
Definitely not just to see a completely unproven hotel.

(unless it's heated).

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/features/attraction_detail.html?propertyID=1965&attractionId=1001940006&language=en_US
Heated:   Yes

[Yehoshua]

Didn't realize no DW.

Didn't say anyone would go to LAS for food. I just don't see any advantage of Macau over LAS in any aspect unless you're a smoker who likes $100 minimum tables. It's a time consuming transfer that's only worthwhile if you've exhausted everything to do in HKG or if you really want to see the dancing water show.
Definitely not just to see a completely unproven hotel.

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/features/attraction_detail.html?propertyID=1965&attractionId=1001940006&language=en_US
Heated:   Yes

Very valid points. I'll need to consider it more. As of now I haven't booked anything in HKG, since there's still a chance I'll be on HKI for shabbos. If I am on HKI, is it still worth it to transfer to the W MS?

[avrumy22]

FYI IME Macua didnt stamp our passports. you get a paper. so dont go just for that.

[Yehoshua]

FYI IME Macua didnt stamp our passports. you get a paper. so dont go just for that.

Really? Well that's disappointing. Thanks for letting me know. Did anyone else have the same experience?

[Dan]

We got stamped, but that was almost 6 years ago.

[Yehoshua]

We got stamped, but that was almost 6 years ago.

FYI IME Macua didnt stamp our passports. you get a paper. so dont go just for that.

When were you there?

[D93]

Why would you spend ~8 hours of your vacation time transferring RT

The ferry is 1 hour each way, add the time getting from hotel to ferry and from ferry to airport, it shouldn't be more than 3 hours RT (that's exactly what I did and it took 3 hours on the dot).

Unless you really want the extra stamps in your passport?

Well there's that; I like passport stamps.

That's not a reason to go to Macau, because Macau doesn't stamp your passport (the same way that HKG doesn't stamp your passport), they just give a little visa paper.

[D93]

When were you there?

2 months ago.

[Yehoshua]

Macau is looking a lot less attractive now. The W looks attractive and convenient. Decisions, decisions...

Why don't Hong Kong or Macau stamp?

[Dan]

The ferry is 1 hour each way, add the time getting from hotel to ferry and from ferry to airport, it shouldn't be more than 3 hours RT (that's exactly what I did and it took 3 hours on the dot).

There's no way you can make it from your HKG hotel room to the ferry station, buy tickets, wait for the ferry, ride the ferry, clear immigration, and make it into your next hotel room in 1.5 hours.
No way. No how.

[D93]

I just don't see any advantage of Macau over LAS in any aspect unless you're a smoker who likes $100 minimum tables.

You are no longer allowed to smoke in Macau casinos, except in designated smoking rooms (similar to airport smoking rooms).