This is Hong Kong's most famous hotel,theplace to stay if you are an incurable romantic and have a penchant for the historical. Built in 1928, it exudes elegance from its white-gloved doormen to one of the largest limousine fleets of Rolls-Royces in the world. Its lobby, reminiscent of a Parisian palace with high gilded ceilings, pillars, and palms, has long been Hong Kong's foremost spot for afternoon tea and people-watching. Its restaurants are also among the city's best, and service throughout the hotel is sterling. After The Peninsula lost its fabled view of the harbor following construction of the unsightly Space Museum on reclaimed land across the street, it remedied the problem in 1993 with a magnificent 32-story tower providing fantastic harbor views from guest rooms and its top-floor restaurant Felix, designed by Philippe Starck. For the culture-minded, The Peninsula offers classes on everything from tai chi and feng shui to cooking; for the travel-weary, a new spa focuses on the journey to rejuvenation with a soothing, minimalist design of natural woods, bamboo, candles, cascading water, a tiny moss garden set in rocks, and views of the harbor even from its sauna. Compared to the spate of newer, more expensive hotels, The Peninsula seems like a downright bargain. I absolutely love this place.
Spacious rooms (with a minimum of 42 sq. m/456 sq. ft.) -- so wonderfully equipped that even jaded travelers are likely to be impressed -- include a silent fax machine with a personalized phone number; headphones for both radio and TV; tightly focused bedside reading lights designed to keep sleeping partners happy; telephones and control panels on both sides of the gigantic beds; a display panel showing outdoor temperature and humidity; mood lighting; and a box in the closet where attendants can place your morning newspaper or take your dirty shoes for complimentary cleaning. Each huge bathroom is equipped with its own TV, hands-free phone (which automatically mutes the TV or radio and digitally filters the sound of running water), separate bathtub and shower stall, and two sinks, both with a magnifying mirror. It's worth the extra money to spring for a stunning harbor view in the tower if you can afford it, since views facing the back are a disappointment and those in the older part of the hotel are marred by the Space Museum. Both the Star Ferry and MTR are just a short walk away.
Facilities:6 restaurants (French, Pacific Rim crossover, Continental, Swiss, Cantonese, Japanese); 2 bars; lounge; gorgeous indoor pool w/sun terrace overlooking the harbor; health club; spa; concierge; limousine service; business center; designer-brand shopping arcade; salon; 24-hr. room service; massage; babysitting; same-day laundry service/dry cleaning; in-house nurse; practice music room with grand piano.
 | | | |
| Location | Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Kowloon | |
| | | |
| Transportation | MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui | |
| | | |
| Phone | 800/462-7899 in the U.S. and Canada, 852/2920 2888 | |
| | | |
| Fax | 852/2722 4170 | |
| | | |
| Web site | www.peninsula.com | |
| | | |
| Room Information | 300 units | |
| | | |
| Prices | HK$2,900-HK$4,200 (US$377-US$545/£207-£300) single or double; from HK$4,600 (US$597/£329) suite | |
| | | |
| Credit Cards | AE, DC, MC, V | |
| | | |
| In Room Amenities | A/C, cable/satellite TV w/CD/DVD player and free in-house movies, fax, free high-speed dataport, minibar, hair dryer, safe, bathroom scale, compliment | |