Sunday, February 12, 2012

TASTE OF HONGKONG: HARBOURVIEW HOTEL IN WANCHAI 2011

Before I tried the guest house (City Guest House) and the five-star hotel (The Langham Hotel) in Hong Kong, I stayed in a three-1/2 to four-star hotel in Wanchai, THE HARBOURVIEW HOTEL.

This has to be differentiated from Harbor View Hotels, which may include any hotel along the Victoria Harbor on both the Kowloon and the HongKong Island sides.

This also has to be differentiated from the Renaissance Harbour View, which is a five-star hotel also in Wanchai and closest to the Hong Kong Convention Center.

I chose this hotel because it is the hotel closest to the Hong Kong Convention Center, which is the venue of conference I attended.


Hong Kong Convention Center in Wanchai, HongKong

Since this was the first time I went to Hong Kong for a long time, I decided to choose a hotel, walking distance from the venue so I didn't have to ride the MTR (train) or taxi!
The HKCC is about a 2 to 4 minute walk depending on how large your steps are.
The MTR, however, is still about a 5 to 10 minute walk away so less convenient in that sense. 
For accessibility, I would still choose Harbourview Hotel, if the venue is at the HKCC.

The price range of the hotel was about USD 110.00 (about HK$ 856.00) for the standard room and when booked through the booking sites in Trip Advisor. I think, this also has a Convention discount.
From their website and also in Trip Advisor for 2012, the premier room (their term for a standard room), the price is USD 231.00 (about HK$1800.00).
I didn't choose the one with the Harbor view because it would be more expensive, about USD 50.00 more!

I was on the "Safe Mode" then and so I booked a bus ride from the airport to the Harbourview costing about HK$110.00 at that time.
My new friends, Anthony C. and Mel B. arrived at the Hotel the faster way through the Airport Express to Central, then a taxi ride from Central to Wanchai. The ride was shorter, although, the fare came out almost the same.

From the Harbourview Hotel website  (http://www.theharbourview.com.hk/) , this is what I gathered.

Address: 4 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

1 800 1 114 2079 (Philippines Toll Free) +64-9985-3513 (From abroad)

The Hong Kong Business Hotel

The Harbourview Hong Kong has everything a modern executive traveler looks for when searching for business accommodations in Hong Kong. Situated in the heart of Hong Kong island’s major business hub Wanchai (Hong Kong), The Harbourview Hong Kong has reasoned itself as an ideal business hotel. Various commercial landmarks are neighboring with Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre – the address of hundreds of sizable Hong Kong exhibition – accessible within only a 2 minute walk from the hotel.
As a Hong Kong Business Hotel, The Harbourview Hong Kong has not sacrificed the excitements and the buzz of this metropolitan Hong Kong city. Shopping is made effortlessly enjoyable as some of the largest and newest shopping centres like IFC Mall and Time Square are close by. To experience Hong Kong to the fullest, pay a visit to Jockey Club for a fun racing day or Lan Kwai Fong for a great hang out.
Inside this four star Hong Kong hotel, all facilities are tailored for a seamless business travel experience. Two function rooms and a business centre offering a full range of services are available. For conducting business in a relaxed privacy, all hotel guest rooms in The Harbourview Hong Kong are completed with wireless broadband Internet access for connectivity at anytime.
Convenience and efficiency are not all The Harbourview Hong Kong has to offer. Facing the celebrated Hong Kong Victoria Harbour, it invites business travelers into a world of combined efficiency and tranquility. And with its modern and boutique hospitality, there is little doubt that a stay in this Hong Kong business hotel is blissful and unrivalled.

These are the photos, I took of the THE HARBOURVIEW HOTEL.
The Facade.




The Lobby.
We got our Disney tickets from the lady (tour agency) with a desk within the lobby.


The Room. 
The room was not too large, about 19 sq. meters, but nice and clean.
Standard Amenities include the following: wi-fi (I think I paid for it?), minibar, tea- and coffee-making facilities, refrigerator, satellite TV, centralized air-conditioning, personal safe, hair dryer.
Room has a safe, a work desk and a flat-screen TV with cable channels.
Room Facilities: Safety Deposit Box, Air Conditioning, Work Desk, Heating, Carpeted Floor, Hairdryer, Bathroom Amenities, Toilet, Bathroom, Bath or Shower, Telephone, Radio, Cable TV, LCD /Plasma /Flat-screen TV, Tea/Coffee Maker, Minibar, Refrigerator, Wake Up Service/Alarm Clock







The Bathroom.
Fair size and clean with good shower.


The Restaurant. Breakfast.
The food choices were good but slightly more than basic, meaning several heavy breakfast type of food like bacon, ham, Chinese noodles, congee and fish/chicken dishes plus the bread counter group plus the salad counter group and of course, the fruits . 
This matches that of a three-star hotel as described by one of the guests.
But, for me, it was filling and tasty. Really, if you come to think about it, we don't really need a lot of choices at one time, do we?







The Harbourview Hotel is a good business hotel with the necessary amenities.
Trip Advisor ranked it #82 of 318 hotels in Hong Kong.
I would still stay in this hotel if the venue of my conference is at the Hong Kong Convention Center.
The area of Wanchai where Harbourview Hotel is located, is safe and clean.

This is a good hotel. 
Just find the best price from the booking sites in Trip Advisor, since the price range per room is quite wide, although, there are also attached details like free cancellation vs. cannot be canceled or if breakfast is included, etc.

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