> > by Melissa Reynolds
The Peninsula is Hong Kong’s oldest hotel and is located on Victoria Harbour in the heart of Kowloon’s shopping, business and entertainment district, right on the tip of Kowloon Peninsula, hence its name.
THE ROOMSRelaxing in a Deluxe Harbour View Suite it dawns on me that I am in a dream I do not wish to wake from. With four rooms at our disposal, it is difficult to know where to sit first. In the beautiful living room with television, stereo, sofa and desk? In the huge bedroom with club chairs, telescope, flat screen television, superior king bed and bar? In the dressing room, with built-in couch/luggage bench, mood lighting and two different weights of dressing gown to choose from? If not, then it will have to be the bathroom and the spa bath with its own television, ducted music and mood lighting. Everything in the suite can be controlled by the press of a button beside your bed so no getting out once you’re nice and cosy because you forgot to close the curtains.
A ‘smart’ panel beside the front doors (there are two access doors in the suite) avail you of outside temperatures so you can dress accordingly for the day’s adventures.
TASTE TEMPTATIONS
An amazing variety of restaurants (over eight) in the hotel makes it difficult to choose. Try Swiss cuisine at Chesa in the most darling and cosy timber-lined room or Cantonese in Spring Moon, a 1920s-style setting complete with a tea master to advise you on the appropriate tea to end your meal with, some of which have been maturing for over 20 years. My pick would be Felix. Sitting on top of the hotel, it was designed in 1992 by Philippe Starck and is still eye-poppingly stunning. The views from the 28th floor over Hong Kong from the floor-to-ceiling windows are breathtaking! For a novel night out try the ‘Culinary Journey’ where you will enjoy a six-course meal in four of The Peninsula’s restaurants. It’s quite fun ‘table-hopping’, the service is impeccable and the different atmospheres of each restaurant quite marked.
COUPLES WILL LOVE
The ‘Time Together’ spa treatment for two in the Peninsula’s Spa by ESPA is highly recommended. The spa has to be seen to be believed for it is a truly beautiful space. Taking up a whole floor of the hotel, it is the perfect respite from Hong Kong’s frenetic pace. The private spa for two has stunning harbour views and the ESPA treatments mix European, Oriental and Ayurvedic philosophies for an unforgettable experience.
VENTURING OUT
Go cruising on Hong Kong Harbour in a Chinese junk. Only they are definitely not junky! Aqua Luna is a brand new Chinese Junk done up to sail the harbour in style. So while you sip on an ice-cold cocktail you can lie back, relax and take in the sights. Each night at eight o’clock a laser show plays out across the harbour from various buildings on Hong Kong Island and the harbour or on a high floor of The Peninsula are two of the best places to see it.
GETTING THERE
Virgin Atlantic fly daily from Sydney to Hong Kong. Try Upper Class if you possibly can because the service is fantastic as are the spacious seats that switch to flat beds when it’s time for a little shut eye. You are in your own little world as a glass of champagne arrives and you face the quandary of selecting a film from 52 titles.
When dinner arrives, a starched white tablecloth and napkin appear. Salt and pepper shakers in the shape of miniature planes sit alongside a glass of Spanish red. It’s terribly civilised. When mini tubs of ice cream arrive a few hours later while we are all engrossed in our movies, it proves Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class is the crème de la (ice) crème.