Let’s discover out. However first, a caveat: I’m not loopy about my photos from the Peninsula. I take quite a lot of pleasure within the photos I submit of properties, I believe it’s one of many issues which units me other than different bloggers on this area. So I apologize upfront. Anyway, let’s head to the Peninsula.
Checking in
Checking in was the simplest a part of your complete expertise. As I arrived within the Rolls one of many valets opened the door for me and ready on the opposite facet of that door was a form gentleman who welcomed me to the Peninsula, launched himself, and fortunately knowledgeable me that not solely was my room prepared however I had been upgraded to the next flooring. He then escorted me on to my room to finish check-in there.
I’ve accomplished the in-room check-in factor earlier than and it’s all the time a very nice contact. The Peninsula had a particular type of grandeur although, which made it really feel distinct. Since this kind of property is way above and past a typical lodge I pay for I’m certain that biased me a bit, however oh effectively.
The Room
I used to be in room 2501, very near the elevator (however this wasn’t an issue, I by no means heard any kind of noise from the elevator throughout my keep). I’m all the time a sucker for a vanishing-point perspective shot, so in fact I needed to get an image of the hallway wanting all darkish and stylish.
I used to be in a deluxe room on the next flooring however dealing with away from Victoria Harbour, which was too unhealthy. That stated, the view was nonetheless wonderful, I simply would’ve most well-liked a Harbour view, I believe it might’ve been value the additional cash.
The mattress was surprisingly agency however the pillows have been in all probability the most effective I’ve ever slept on.
The room was arrange with plenty of cupboards and closets. It had a desk space in addition to a kind of vainness space with a pop-up mirror.
Across the room have been quite a lot of facilities, amongst them a very nice espresso and tea station.
The TV was huge and was hid away properly in a cupboard in case you didn’t need to see it.
My room was in a little bit of a singular configuration as I had a small hallway which led to the lavatory. It wasn’t fairly a set however the hallway made it really feel nearly like one. On the finish of the mini-hallway was a shelf for me to set my baggage.
Now return and have a look at the previous few photos and look on the wall. As an alternative of getting a Generic Wall Artwork Per Room like most properties you’ll see that the decor is frequent and well-placed. It’s little issues like that which add to the worth of a keep at a property like this. I imply yeah I do know you don’t pay $600 to see random acts of inside ornament in a room but it surely was nonetheless good.
The lavatory was expansive and wonderful. It jogged my memory of the lavatory on the St. Regis Abu Dhabi really.
My favourite a part of the room
For the reason that Peninsula is a little bit of an older property I figured it might be kind of like staying on the Waldorf in New York Metropolis: nice location however the rooms have been a bit old-fashioned and stuffy. Nothing might’ve been farther from the reality. My absolute favourite a part of staying on the Peninsula was the considerate use of know-how at each flip. Actually in all places I appeared there have been touchpads as an alternative of switches to manage varied elements of the room.
Then there was the number of inputs accessible for watching your individual content material on the TV or listening to your individual audio by means of the sound system.
After which there have been a few tablets well positioned across the room which managed your complete expertise on the lodge, from all room controls to ordering room service to spa pricing, and so forth. It changed the large and dated Huge Binder of Nonsense that you simply see at most resorts.
The know-how was efficient, helpful, and well positioned. It didn’t intrude on the expertise in any respect but it surely felt prefer it was there while you wanted it however out of the best way while you didn’t. It was way more refined than some resorts which might really feel a bit HEY WE HAVE TECHNOLOGY LOOKIT however don’t execute it effectively. The know-how actually enhanced my expertise.
The pool and health club (kinda)
The pool on the Peninsula sports activities an awesome view of Victoria Harbour (the pool on the Ritz in all probability has the most effective). It additionally sports activities a really apparent NO PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED signal. At high-end resorts like this there are many employees across the swimming pools to ensure everybody has what they want, or in my case ensuring I wasn’t taking any photos. I managed to get a pair earlier than an attendant politely requested me to place my digital camera away. The pool was pretty and had a Roman tub really feel.
The health club was equally attended and non-photographyable. It was a powerful health club and there are photos on-line in case you’d wish to see (I do know it’s inconvenient however to keep away from copyright points I typically keep away from posting photos that I discover on-line because it’s so exhausting to search out the true writer of a picture to request permission). What I did get an image of was the solar deck the place they do yoga lessons and the like. It has a equally nice view of the Harbour.
Though it was sizzling and humid, the pool and health club are situated excessive sufficient from the road degree that you simply don’t actually hear that a lot avenue noise, so I discovered it quite peaceable.
The property
The Peninsula has a large and well-known foyer adorned in a colonial theme hearkening again to British Hong Kong. Many evaluate it to the Raffles Resort in Singapore. Both approach, it has an Outdated World appeal to it that may be a good respite from the standard ultra-modern efforts you see in Asian resorts (not that these are unhealthy, this was simply totally different).
On the entrance doorways have been pages wearing white to open doorways for you and all that, it felt very regal with out being overbearing or in your face.
And, as a result of it was Easter weekend, they’d a properly designed flooring show of what appeared like an homage to Peter Rabbit.
(for different photos of the foyer space try my evaluate of the afternoon tea service right here)
Breakfast at The Peninsula
Since I booked my keep by means of American Specific Fantastic Resorts & Resorts I acquired a complimentary breakfast. I had heard nice issues in regards to the breakfast buffet and was desperate to attempt it out for myself. One of many nice issues about my digital camera is its Silent Taking pictures perform, the place it may well take an image with out making a sound. It’s good for issues like this the place you need to take photos with out it being apparent that you simply’re doing so.
The entryway into the restaurant was huge.
I met the hostess and was seated after giving them my room quantity (the costs have been utilized to my room and eliminated throughout checkout). Seeking to my left I might see one other part of the restaurant, which wasn’t crowded, though it was very early within the morning.
The restaurant was situated a degree above the foyer and had a good view out to the road.
I made my approach to the buffet space and whoa’d.
There have been stations for every “style” of meals. The choice wasn’t overwhelming or huge just like the Park Hyatt Dubai but it surely appeared just like the theme of the buffet was a good number of dishes cooked very well.
After which in fact they’d an Omelette Dude (in all probability not his official title).
After an awesome breakfast I made my approach out of the restaurant, walked down the steps, and went out to get pleasure from humid pretty Hong Kong.
What I missed
The Peninsula has an awesome bar on the highest degree known as Felix (with an extremely distinctive rest room for guys) however I didn’t have an opportunity to go to it on this journey, as I met a buddy (who occurred to be in Hong Kong) for dinner throughout the road on the Sheraton. I’ve been earlier than and it’s an awesome bar with an ideal view of the sunshine present at night time, I extremely advocate it. I’ll return subsequent time.
Total ideas
Look, it was some huge cash to remain right here. $673 is quite a lot of scratch. Hong Kong isn’t precisely recognized for affordable resorts, however there are a number of boutique and chain resorts with which you should utilize factors or pay rather less. Excessive-end chain resorts (the Conrad, JW Marriott, and so forth.) usually go for $300ish per night time, whereas the high-end resorts like The Peninsula, The Higher Home, and the Ritz go for $600-700 at a minimal. I really feel a bit disingenuous reviewing the Peninsula as a result of I’m fairly far beneath their typical clientele by way of the cash I usually spend on resorts. So I can’t actually inform you whether or not it was definitely worth the cash or not in comparison with one other lodge on this class.
I can say that I felt like this keep was nicer than my keep on the Conrad the subsequent night time. The service was polished, the property was immaculate, and every thing felt tailor-made to me, regardless that it’s a really massive property. The breakfast was nice, the afternoon tea was a enjoyable expertise simply to say that I’ve accomplished it, and the Rolls Royce airport switch was completely phenomenal. Utilizing the Amex FHR advantages added a ton of worth to my keep as effectively. Total, it was an exceptional expertise at a legendary lodge. And, sure, I do imagine I bought a superb worth for the cash I spent. Perhaps I’ll save up for a bit and keep right here once more…
Have you ever stayed at The Peninsula? What did you assume? Out of all of the posts from the Peninsula (Rolls Royce, Afternoon Tea, Maximizing Worth, and this Assessment) which was your favourite and why? Inform me within the feedback beneath!
