Review: Grand Hyatt Hong Kong

Ben Schlappig
March 30, 2015
31

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong bottom line

Ultimately this was just a really quick stay, though based on what I saw I was impressed by the Grand Hyatt. The public facilities really capture what you’d expect from a “Grand” Hyatt, while the rooms are near Park Hyatt quality, minus the toiletries.

The club lounge breakfast spread was great, and based on what I’ve heard the evening spread is even more impressive, so I’m sad I missed it.

There’s no denying this property is a step above the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui. The rooms are marginally nicer while the club lounge is significantly better in terms of the offerings. The one advantage of the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui is that you get a complimentary smartphone for the duration of your stay, so you don’t need data locally.

The other major consideration is that this property is on Hong Kong Island while the other property is in Kowloon. So I’ll copy what I wrote about Hong Kong Island vs. Kowloon in my last trip report below.

But all things considered the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong is at the top of my list of properties to return to in Hong Kong.

Should you stay on Hong Kong Island or in Kowloon?

One question I’m often asked is whether I prefer staying on Hong Kong Island or in Kowloon. For those of you not familiar with Hong Kong geography, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon are separated by Victoria Harbour, so it’s a quick 10 minute ferry or subway ride to get between the two.

The Hyatt Regency is in Kowloon, while the Grand Hyatt is on Hong Kong Island.

Which location do I prefer? To be honest, I don’t really have a strong opinion one way or another. There are pros and cons to each.

Pros to Hong Kong Island:

It’s much cleaner, and there’s more high end shopping
It’s closer to Stanley Market and Victoria Peak
A lot of Hong Kong’s top restaurants are on the Island

Pros to Kowloon:

It has a much more “local” feel, as it’s where most locals live (while Central/Hong Kong Island would be more the equivalent of the financial district)
It has views of Hong Kong Island, which really are the best views there are
It’s closer to the Ladies Market and airport
It’s generally more pedestrian friendly — while Hong Kong Island is pretty centralized, it’s surprisingly pedestrian unfriendly

So there really are pros and cons to both, and since it’s just 10 minutes to get between the two, I don’t really have a preference as to which “side” I stay on.

Conversations (31)

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TomT Guest
April 21, 2016, 1:50 am

Cash and points vs all points?

Why would you value C&P as a better options?

How I see it C&P of 12,500 + $150, is equal to $275 in chase UR points if we are doing transfer, which I think most does.

Where all points of 25,000 would equal to $250 in chase UR points.

So if not using a DSU, would a all point stay be worth more???

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Heather @ pass the dressing Guest
April 12, 2015, 8:31 am

@lucky & danny: In March, I was able to take my breakfast in the restaurant. It was amazing! One fun fact: I was charged (an insane amount) for ordering soda water (seltzer). They make fresh to order pressed juices there and those are free, but carbonated water is paid.

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danny Guest
April 12, 2015, 2:08 am

Hi Ben

1. Can you take breakfast down at the restaurant at the GH hong kong?

2. Is there local restaurants and shops around the hotel? Stayed at the le meridien last time and it was boring around there.

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1. lucky OMAAT
  April 12, 2015, 2:16 am
  
  @ danny -- Not as part of the Diamond benefit, as far as I know. And yes, lots of restaurants nearby. This hotel is much more centrally located than Le Meridien.
  
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Euro Gold
April 5, 2015, 2:45 pm

How easy is it to access this hotel from the MTR? Family said that they would prefer the Hyatt Regency Tsim Tsa Tsui over the Grand Hyatt since it's a lot closer to an MTR station, want to see if I can add this hotel to my list of "hotels I can book if I visit again with the family."

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Miles Down Under Guest
April 4, 2015, 7:48 pm

Now that we think about it, room design looks like a downmarket version of the Park Hyatt Sydney.

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Heather @ pass the dressing Guest
April 3, 2015, 7:43 am

@ Lucky-That's awesome! When I first arrived near the start of cocktails, Chandon't it was, but when more folks arrived it was Ruinart. I suppose that night they were saving the good stuff for more people. I probably would have polished it all off before 6 hehe.

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Heather @ pass the dressing Guest
April 2, 2015, 4:13 pm

Lucky, did you happen to notice what they were serving. When I was there in Feb, I was first served a few glasses of Chandon (not Moet, California). Then about halfway through service, I noticed the tell tale bottle of Ruinart coming my way. I thought the waitstaff made a mistake. But alas, more and more bottle came out. It was amazing and unbelievable that they would pour $60 stuff rather than $15 stuff. What?!?

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1. lucky OMAAT
  April 3, 2015, 4:35 am
  
  @ Heather -- My understanding is that they offer Ruinart during the event reception, and then later at night they have Chandon.
  
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KW New Member
March 31, 2015, 3:10 am

i returned to the grand hyatt after 5 years just this month for art basel hong kong and was also shocked by the nasty june jacobs toiletries. fwiw they used to supply very generously sized 200ml bottles of aesop back in 2010, at least in the club rooms. in other news, the florist in the lobby has to be one of the prettiest (or most gorgeous, in lucky parlance) hotel florists ever.

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Ivan Member
March 31, 2015, 1:19 am

Great trip report. However this hotel does repersent what majority of the Hong Kong hotels, too overpriced. I always stayed at Shang-Ri-La or Marco Polo, since they are regularly priced and "liveable"

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Lourdes Guest
March 30, 2015, 10:30 pm

Grand hyatt hong kong looks and feels like a mini mall, gigantic and so impersonal. The horrific June jacobs at grand hyatts is unfortunately common across asia hyatts, and most times suite rooms have no options otherwise. Last time i was at gh hk, i had to check out after one day because of the horrible construction noise that went on during the daytime...

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Miles Down Under Guest
March 30, 2015, 6:03 pm

While the renovated rooms do sort of feel like a Park Hyatt, the regular rooms seem to be simply too small to feel like a Park to us.

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Danray Guest
March 30, 2015, 2:35 pm

can you take the airport train to a stop near this hotel or free shuttle?

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1. lucky OMAAT
  March 30, 2015, 7:09 pm
  
  @ Danray -- The Airport Express goes to Hong Kong Island and then there's a shuttle that runs to the hotel.
  
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Udi Guest
March 30, 2015, 12:15 pm

Lucky, you are being too nice when review Asian hotels and airlines. You need to use Asian standard to judge. For example, if flight attendant didn't kneel down when serve you, then that's one point lose. If you ask something, hotel didn't send to your room within 5 minutes, that's a point lose. After handing you immigration form, if flight attendant didn't ask you if you need a pen, that's a point lose. (Unless there...
Lucky, you are being too nice when review Asian hotels and airlines. You need to use Asian standard to judge. For example, if flight attendant didn't kneel down when serve you, then that's one point lose. If you ask something, hotel didn't send to your room within 5 minutes, that's a point lose. After handing you immigration form, if flight attendant didn't ask you if you need a pen, that's a point lose. (Unless there are pens in amentity kit. In fact, hotel even need to pay attention to customer's culture background. Welcoming gift can never be a clock or things that looks like clock. Welcoming fruits shouldn't have pears but need to have oranges. That's what make the luxury hotels market so competitive.

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pavel Guest
March 30, 2015, 11:58 am

thanks for the review. HK has some great hotel choices. last few times i've been i've developed an affinity for Langham Place. i like the location in mong kok as it's right above the MTR station and mall but the surrounding neighborhood is still very local and non-touristy. as for the hotel itself, i've been really happy with the modernity and quality of the rooms but i haven't explored much else of the property.

would...
thanks for the review. HK has some great hotel choices. last few times i've been i've developed an affinity for Langham Place. i like the location in mong kok as it's right above the MTR station and mall but the surrounding neighborhood is still very local and non-touristy. as for the hotel itself, i've been really happy with the modernity and quality of the rooms but i haven't explored much else of the property.

would def recommend first time visitors to HK stay on HK island proper. kowloon is nice for the view and some eating/drinking in TST but going back and forth to central can get tiring.

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Andy Guest
March 30, 2015, 11:42 am

Maybe the higher category rooms have different toiletries?

Was at the intercontinental in Tokyo and got moved between the base room and a higher category one... The toiletries in the higher one were different

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1. lucky OMAAT
  March 30, 2015, 11:56 am
  
  @ Andy -- Even on the Grand Suite's page they seem to proudly advertise that they offer "bathroom amenities by June Jacobs."
  http://hongkong.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/rooms/suite.html
  
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flyingfish Guest
March 30, 2015, 11:05 am

Hey Lucky, what champagne r they serving, n if the champagne is also avail for breakfast?

(If they also hv it during breakfast.. its all day alcoholic lounge.. which is v good!)

Aside.. can u recall which club lounges serves alcohol all day u have been to.. n also the club lounges that actually hv champagne? I would think both lists will be v short.

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1. lucky OMAAT
  March 30, 2015, 11:58 am
  
  @ flyingfish -- I didn't see champagne in the morning. I believe they offer Ruinart in the evenings.
  
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Dwonderment Guest
March 30, 2015, 11:05 am

Years ago I sat in on a conference with the CEO of Starwood
And he shared that they would be buying cheaper toiletries for all their brands
It seems that a number of the chains have done so
They are giveaways and the chains downgrade to save money
Sad to see as it cheapens their luxury appeal

My stay at the Grand Hyatt.consisted of a very tired jr suite on revenue...
Years ago I sat in on a conference with the CEO of Starwood
And he shared that they would be buying cheaper toiletries for all their brands
It seems that a number of the chains have done so
They are giveaways and the chains downgrade to save money
Sad to see as it cheapens their luxury appeal

My stay at the Grand Hyatt.consisted of a very tired jr suite on revenue with a Diamond suite upgrade that was ugly and odd/very dated/tired/old
I stayed in airport hotels that are far nicer
When I asked to check out a few days earlier they upgraded me to a private section of the hotel that had true wow factor so I stayed.it came with private butler service

Though the lobby is nice and the presentations gorgeous I found the food shockingly bad in the restaurants and the club
Presentation 5 star execution and taste major fail IMO
The staff are hard working but they dont even get half way to the quality of the Grand Hyatt Tokyo in food taste and quality but they sure know how to magically present everything with a ton of glitz and theatrics
I enjoyed the Conrad better not as glitzy but better in room amenities and though less variety the food seemed to be far better prepared
I guess if the Grand Hyatt has no tired old room I might go back

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tjp74 Guest
March 30, 2015, 11:03 am

Ah... our family stayed there last month and this all brings back the memory. Our grand club room was one of rooms that haven't been remodeled yet so it looked little old but still the grand club lounge was most impressive.

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A. S. Guest
March 30, 2015, 10:53 am

@Lucky -- I'm a huge fan of HK as well, so I just wanted to add a "pro" to your list of HK Island pros: nightlife. When I'm in HK I'm there for work and traveling alone, so I don't partake, but if nightlife is important to you then you would be better off on the Island as this is where most decent (translation: not sleazy) bars and clubs are. You can obviously find sleaze...
@Lucky -- I'm a huge fan of HK as well, so I just wanted to add a "pro" to your list of HK Island pros: nightlife. When I'm in HK I'm there for work and traveling alone, so I don't partake, but if nightlife is important to you then you would be better off on the Island as this is where most decent (translation: not sleazy) bars and clubs are. You can obviously find sleaze and niceness on both sides, but HK Island has the higher concentration of cool nightlife.

That said, I, too, don't think there's a clear winner. I always stay on the Island, because it's where I have to be for work and commuting would be insane, but if I were there for purely leisure then it's a toss-up.

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1. lucky OMAAT
  March 30, 2015, 12:00 pm
  
  @ A. S. -- Excellent point!
  
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John Carter Guest
March 30, 2015, 10:53 am

Great report Ben and I can express the same feelings as you about Hong Kong. It is indeed one of my favorite destinations and can't wait to return. I have no preference in which part of hong kong as far as hotels. I also enjoy the Kowloon side for the local feel. On my last visit I stayed in Hong Kong island and it was lovely. This hyatt seems to be a great property - thanks for sharing.

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Santastico Diamond
March 30, 2015, 10:28 am

Nice report. It is usually on small details such as the cheap toiletries that Hyatt and Starwood miss the opportunity to really shine when compared to other luxury Asian chains. Do you see Hyatt opening or converting one of its current properties into a Park Hyatt property in Hong Kong?

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1. lucky OMAAT
  March 30, 2015, 12:04 pm
  
  @ Santastico -- I don't think any of the existing properties fit the Park Hyatt profile. They're too big and not "boutique" enough. It would have to be a new property altogether.
  
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Jonathan New Member
March 30, 2015, 9:39 am

Wow, that was a huge case of DYKWIA from that guy checking out...

At least you didn't run into him again on your flight out!

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SG Member
March 30, 2015, 9:37 am

2 options... either you're really famous in Indonesia. Or he actually wanted your sweater ;)

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R B Guest
March 30, 2015, 9:28 am

I stayed at the GHHK last April, while itt was being renovated. I did not like the hotel, my room did not have the Park Hyatt feeling you referred to. Plus it is a bit of a trek to go to Wanchai MTR or even to find a Seven 11 (you have to go through several foot bridges). Meanwhile I really enjoyed the Hyatt Regency in TST, fairly new room and nice amenities, right in the main shopping district.

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TomT Guest

April 21, 2016, 1:50 am

Cash and points vs all points? Why would you value C&P as a better options? How I see it C&P of 12,500 + $150, is equal to $275 in chase UR points if we are doing transfer, which I think most does. Where all points of 25,000 would equal to $250 in chase UR points. So if not using a DSU, would a all point stay be worth more???

Heather @ pass the dressing Guest

April 12, 2015, 8:31 am

@lucky & danny: In March, I was able to take my breakfast in the restaurant. It was amazing! One fun fact: I was charged (an insane amount) for ordering soda water (seltzer). They make fresh to order pressed juices there and those are free, but carbonated water is paid.

lucky OMAAT

April 12, 2015, 2:16 am

@ danny -- Not as part of the Diamond benefit, as far as I know. And yes, lots of restaurants nearby. This hotel is much more centrally located than Le Meridien.