Thuy T N.
Yelp
W Hong Kong is probably one of my favorite W Hotels throughout the world for its location (love Hong Kong!), amazing views, and unforgettable rooftop pool and spa. As SPG platinum members who regularly travel for work globally, we stay in a LOT of hotels throughout the world. If I could give 4.5 stars, I would because although it exceeds my expectations in so many different avenues (location, service, accommodations, ambiance), there is definitely room for improvement (food and maintenance issues).
Great, convenient location. The W is located in Kowloon, and adjacent to the high-end Elements Mall, which gives you instant access to shopping and restaurants. The Elements Mall is also an MTR hub, which simplifies navigating around the city.
Accommodations are whimsical, modern and trendy. The hotel is Alice and Wonderland themed, taken to the abstract. The elevator is made of glass and encourages you to take selfies. The building is a high rise building with a rooftop pool on the 76th floor. The views, whether from the harbor or city, are spectacular -- day or night.
We usually stay in the suites, which are corner units. The rooms have backlighting in every room, ultra modern bathrooms (think full walk-in showers, flush mounted sinks, concrete countertops, Toto dual flush toilets, fixtures are very angular, glass wall partitions, hidden shower drains) that provide free Bliss bath products (you get the oversized ones in the suites). The beds are super comfy and the hotel is overall, very clean.
Top-notch service. The service is unparalleled and exactly what you would expect from W Hotels. The staff is courteous, attentive, responsive and very friendly. The maid service is very prompt. They are trained to exceed your expectations and as a team, they succeed in doing so.
Handy is an innovative and brilliant idea. Every room comes with a Handy, which is an Android phone that offers free local unlimited 3G data that you can take anywhere with you during your stay. You can tether the Handy to your actual phone if you have an iPhone (like I do) and use iMessage for free data texts. The Handy only works in Hong Kong (something I sadly learned when I took a day trip to China) but unlimited data is AMAZING if you're stuck, like me, with a very limited Verizon international data plan. If only all international hotels offered this!!
Spa and pool. Like every hotel of its caliber, the spa and pool are nothing short of spectacular except this one has stunning views to boot. You can enjoy sitting in the spa Jacuzzi overlooking the entire city from 70+ stories on top of the world.
Early check-in. Because the hotel is regularly in demand, early check-in is difficult, even for SPG members. They do give you full access to the spa while you're waiting.
Transportation. The first time I went to HK, I arrived by myself so we used the hotel Tesla limo, which, as you would expect, is divine. All W Hotel limos have built-in Wi-Fi, another great perk.
TIP: the MTR is super clean and convenient and is the fastest way to get to the airport (Kowloon is only one of three stops on the Airport Express Train). The MTR located in Elements is also the fastest and cheapest way to travel throughout the city. Uber is also a great and convenient alternative. DO NOT TAKE THE CABS, they will rip you off (I was once arbitrarily charged extra because I had two oversized suitcases and really, what are you going to do? Argue with the cabbie who barely speaks English at the airport??).
Room for improvement:
_ Food. I have a lifelong love affair with breakfast and every upscale Asian hotel has an incredible, scrumptious breakfast buffet spread with almost every imaginable food option at your fingertips. Every time that I have been to W Hong Hong, my breakfast bubble is burst. The food preparation is bland, the fruit selection is not the freshest or most savory, the breads and pastries are dry, the warm foods taste like they've been sitting around for a few hours, and nothing is really flavorful. I would say equivalent to going to a Soup Plantation. Total bummer every time.
* The room service, which is expensive, takes a while to deliver is also pretty mediocre.
* Their saving grace is Sing Yin, the Cantonese restaurant downstairs, which is very delicious, creative in their cuisine, which independently garners a solid 4 stars.
_ Maintenance. Every time I have stayed here, there has always been a maintenance issue. I've had to have a space heater delivered because the room was too cold, the shower was overflowing, the toilet was backed up, one of the ceiling lights was broken. I presume because this hotel is so frequented and often, by nature of its continued use, it has maintenance issues.
Overall, if you're looking for a trendy, modern, luxury hotel in Hong Kong, I would recommend W Hong Kong.