Hotel check: Regal Airport Hotel

Published: 26/01/2009 - Filed under: Archive » 2009 » February 2009 » Tried & Tested » Tried & Tested » Hotels » Tried & Tested » Tried & Tested » Hotels » Hong Kong »

Print
Send

WHAT'S IT LIKE The hotel opened in 1999, a year after Hong Kong International airport. It is a large, modern property, although it doesn’t feel like the mega-hotels in some resorts. There are no long walks. It operates a 24-hour occupancy policy so if you check in at midnight you have the room until midnight the next day. It also offers a five-hour stay for executives awaiting connecting flights for HK$968 (£86).

WHERE IS IT At the airport, a couple of minutes’ walk from the terminal. The reception is on the second floor, which is where you enter the hotel from the airport, and a concierge is on hand to help you with your bags.

ROOM FACILITIES There are a number of room and suite types, the main ones being Superior and Deluxe. These are available on both Standard and Club floors and are about 27 sqm. The Club floor offers privileges such as a free minibar (stocked with soft drinks, beer and crisps), access to the Club lounge (for free breakfast and snacks), free in-room internet (wired or wireless), free local calls, free use of a conference room for two hours a day, complimentary pressing of two items of clothing daily, late check-out, 30 per cent discount on a range of services, and bonus frequent flyer miles. While the Club floor was HK$1,600 (£141) more expensive at rack rates, it was only about HK$400 (£35) extra at the time I travelled, which, considering the benefits, is good value for money – 24-hour internet access on its own costs HK$240 (£21).

Rooms are modern in style and most have wood fittings and neutral colours. There is a built-in desk with power sockets, a sofa and a coffee table. Most rooms have flatscreen TVs and Club rooms also have an in-room iPod speaker system. The bathrooms are not large but are adequate, and are fitted with a bath, an overhead shower and a hairdryer. Toiletries are Regal branded except on the Club floor and in suites, which have L’Occitane products. Deluxe and Club suites offer two rooms and are therefore twice the size of a Standard room. The bedroom is similar to a normal room but the extra space and lack of door to the corridor means more room for the bathroom, so suites have separate showers and corner baths (or spa baths in the case of Club suites). The extra space in the living area is taken up by comfy chairs, a large coffee table and a round dining table, and there is also a guest toilet. Being an airport hotel I was concerned that it would be noisy, but the double glazing meant there was no disturbance despite the room overlooking the runway.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS The hotel has six restaurants and there are numerous outlets at the airport a short walk away. Café Aficionado is an international eaterie serving buffets and à la carte cuisine (6am-12am). China Coast Bar and Grill is an American steakhouse serving a wide selection of meat and seafood (12pm-2am). I tried a small fillet steak, which was incredibly tasty. Regala Café and Dessert Bar serves snacks but is best known for its cakes, desserts and teas (8am-11pm). Rouge, a Cantonese restaurant, serves dim sum and other traditional dishes (weekdays 11am-11pm; weekends 9am-11pm). Dragon Inn serves Shanghainese and other Chinese cuisine – hairy crabs were in season during my visit (lunch 11am-3pm; dinner 6pm-11pm). Airport Izakaya is a Japanese restaurant with a teppanyaki station and sushi bar (lunch 11.30am-3pm; dinner 6pm-11pm).

BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES There are 31 function rooms. The biggest, the Grand Ballroom, can hold up to 1,500 guests and has its own stage. The basement houses the Executive Conference Centre, consisting of 13 purpose-built meeting rooms. A business centre operates 24 hours a day.

LEISURE FACILITIES There is a large 24-hour gym with about 25 cardiovascular machines and a fitness room. An indoor pool is open from 7am-10pm and a larger outdoor pool is open until 8pm. There is also the Thai-style OM Spa.

VERDICT Nothing like your average airport hotel. First-class facilities and exceptional service.

Fact file

HOW MANY ROOMS? 1,171, including 32 suites over 14 floors.

ROOM HIGHLIGHTS Suites are spacious and modern in style, and have separate showers and corner baths. Club rooms have an in-room iPod speaker system, while all rooms have flatscreen TVs. Double glazing keeps out any airport noise.

PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in February started from HK$1,782 (£158) for a Superior room.

CONTACT Regal Airport Hotel, 9 Cheong Tat Road, Hong Kong International airport; tel +852 2286 8888; regalhotel.com

Julian Gregory