Hotel Review: Intercontinental Hong Kong

I recently stayed 4 nights at the Intercontinental Hong Kong. If you have IHG points, you can redeem 70k for a night at this hotel.  The rate can be anywhere between $300-$500 USD/night.

Check-In

I checked in at the front desk and was helped by a friendly and professional staff.  I didn’t realize that they have a separate check-in area for IHG ambassador and elite members. The staff thanked me for being a Spire member, and walked me over to the Priority Check-In desk to complete the check-in.

The concierge desk is just to the right of the entrance.

We got to the hotel a little earlier than the 2PM check-in time, but our room wasn’t ready.   Still, the staff helping us with our check in was just wonderful.  She gave us recommendations on things to do around the area.  Because our hotel wasn’t ready, she asked if we wanted to leave our bags to kick off our day or wait at the Lobby Lounge.  Since we were tired, we decided to wait at the hotel.

We opted for two simple drinks.

We hung out at the Lobby Lounge and enjoyed the view.  When it came time to pay the bill, it turned out the drinks were comped due to the delay.  We didn’t check-in to our room until a little after 3PM.

Food options at the Hotel

The hotel offers a buffet breakfast, at about $50USD per person.

Room service for breakfast is priced around the same range.

It boggles my mind that a glass of fresh juice can cost $95HKG.  That’s about $12USD.

The hotel is also home to a 2-Star Michelin restaurant called “Yan Toh Heen”.   I stopped by just to take a glance at the menu.  Let’s just say the pricing is not for the faint of the heart.

Deluxe Room

We were upgraded to a Deluxe Room.  If you need an extra bed, it would set you back $800HKG + 10% service charge.  The room is nicely appointed and it felt spacious.

Unexpected Perks

We had a room on the 3rd floor and it came with unexpected perks.  It was apparently at the ground level so we ended up with our own little private “outdoor” space as well.

It’s on the same floor as the hotel spa.

I have no idea if they have it on every floor, but the aroma from the floral scented candle is lovely.

Benefits of Spire Membership

The IHG elite program is slightly underwhelming compared to other hotel programs, especially since the program doesn’t offer complimentary breakfast for any elite member levels.  Instead, you get drink certs and a voucher credit towards food and drinks.

Complimentary Tea

If you like tea, you are in luck.  Intercontinental Hong Kong offers complimentary tea service.

Nearby Areas

There are usually taxis near the hotel entrance, so you don’t have to wait too long for one.

The hotel is across from the SOGO shopping mall, if you are into shopping.  There is also a Morton Steakhouse across the street as well.

There is a nice little hotel walkway that takes you to the street.  The closest MTR station to Intercontinental Hong Kong is “East Tsim Sha Tsui” MTR station.  The station is of walking distance (5 minutes) from the hotel, so it’s very easy to get to other places in Hong Kong.

You can also get a really nice view of the Hong Kong skyline in the evening.

Handy Smart Phones for Your Stay

I love that some of the Hong Kong hotels offer “handy” smart phones for guests. It comes with a local number.  Even if you don’t end up using the phone for calls, you can turn on the “hotspot” to get Internet access when you’re out and about.  This beats having to buy an international pass.  It’s a great idea.

Service at the Hotel

The service at the hotel is impeccable. Even with the delayed check-in, the staff who helped us personally came by to let us know that the room is ready.  She even escorted us to our room, and made sure we got everything we needed.

We came back to the hotel in the evening to find another platter of fruits and a small box of chocolates with a note card apologizing for the delay with our check-in.  That was an unexpected surprise and a very nice touch.

In Summary

Intercontinental Hong Kong is one fine hotel, worthy of its 5-star hotel rating.  The room is comfortable, the service is impeccable, and the view is amazing.

Granted, there are plenty of other hotel options at this price point.  If you are in Hong Kong for a special occasion and want to stay at a hotel with a great Victoria Harbour view, Intercontinental Hong Kong has a view that’s pretty hard to beat.