In Part 2 of our coverage of airport hotels, the team reviews four airport properties in Asia
HONG KONG SKYCITY MARRIOTT HOTEL
ROOMS 658 rooms, including one presidential suite and 32 suites.
INTERNET RATE Rates for one night in mid-February in an entry-level room, including breakfast, start at HK$1,588 (US$204).
DETAILS 1 Sky City Road East, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau; tel +852 3969 1888; www.marriott.com
FROM/TO THE AIRPORT Passengers can hop onto the Airport Express train and take one stop to the AsiaWorld-Expo station (HK$5/US$0.60 for a one-way ticket), from which they can reach the hotel via a covered walkway within minutes. Alternately, the hotel runs daily shuttle bus services every 20 minutes to and from Hong Kong International Airport between 0500 and 0040. Or jump onto a (blue) taxi for a five- to ten-minute ride, at about HK$20 (US$2).
CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT TIME Check-in is from 1400 and check-out is at 1200.
SURROUNDINGS Located on Lantau Island, the hotel is surrounded by beautiful views of hills and the ocean, which is refreshing for an airport hotel. The neighbouring SkyCity Nine Eagles golf course is also a plus for travellers with some time to spare.
COMFORT The lobby, lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, is colourful with exquisite art pieces and eclectic furniture. The hotel bar is directly opposite the entrance, while reception is hidden away to the left. My room on the executive floor was spacious and comfortable with all standard amenities.
WIFI The wifi was sketchy – though it is free in public spaces and for all Marriott Reward members regardless of tier – and fixing it was tedious since management of the network is outsourced to a third party that assists remotely. For non-members, in-room wifi and wired internet access rates start at HK$60 (US$7) per hour.
BREAKFAST The breakfast buffet is wide ranging and up to par with Marriott’s high standards.
F&B OUTLETS The hotel has five F&B outlets, comprising two bars, the Sky City Bistro, the locally renowned Man Ho restaurant, and Java+, a small grab-and-go counter serving coffee and snacks.
OTHER FACILITIES The hotel is ideal for meetings and events, and being close to the AsiaWorld-Expo exhibition centre helps too. It offers 1,300 sqm of space, including a ballroom measuring 591 sqm and 10 additional meeting rooms. For leisure, there is an indoor swimming pool, Marriott’s signature Quan spa and a large, well-equipped gym.
VERDICT Fantastic property and even better F&B outlets. The only thing that needs to be fixed is the wifi connection.
Alisha Haridasani
REGAL AIRPORT HOTEL HONG KONG
ROOMS One of the biggest airport hotels in the world, with 1,171 guestrooms in various categories, including club rooms, suites, cabana rooms with patios, and spa rooms and spa suites.
INTERNET RATE Best available rate for a weeknight stay in mid-February starts from HK$1,850 (US$238) for a superior room and Regal Club superior room is offered for HK$2,550 (US$327) a night.
DETAILS 9 Cheong Tat Road, Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong; tel +852 2286 8888; www.regalhotel.com
FROM/TO THE AIRPORT My flight touched down at Hong Kong International Airport at 2230 and I got out to the landside by 2300. This hotel is linked to the airport terminal by a foot-bridge and it took me a mere ten minutes to arrive at the front desk for check-in.
CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT TIME As per usual, check-in starts at 1400 and check-out time is 1200. But for those arriving at 0900 to 2100, there is the option for a ten-hour package starting from HK$1,300 (US$167), which includes free internet at the business centre. For HK$600 (US$77) more you can upgrade to the Regal Club floor.
SURROUNDINGS This property is right by the airport, with some of the rooms looking directly out to the apron. Soundproof windows ensure guests’ comfort while offering the amazing sight of take-offs and landings, including those of the superjumbo A380.
COMFORT There is a reason why this place has been voted by our readers as the best airport hotel in Asia-Pacific. The staggered layout of the lobby offers a sense of space, and the giant glass water features add a touch of drama. The colourful abstract art piece behind the front desk also helps distinguish this property from the usual dull and mundane airport hotels. My Regal Club room, with a streamlined and contemporary décor, rivals many deluxe properties.
WIFI This is included in the rate of a club room, otherwise it costs HK$120 (US$15)for 24 hours and the password can be used throughout the hotel.
BREAKFAST My room on the club floor included breakfast at the lounge, which consisted of a decent selection that included both Chinese and Western items.
F&B OUTLETS This is where the property truly excels. There is a host of choices such as international all-day dining outlet Café Aficionado, casual Japanese dishes from Airport Izakaya, lounge-style Regala Café & Dessert Bar, Cantonese and Sichuanese kitchen Rouge and Shanghai restaurant Dragon Inn. It was almost midnight when I settled down but luckily China Coast Bar & Grill was still open (until 2am). I had a prawn cocktail with some fresh and plump crustaceans, a lobster cappuccino so good I almost licked the cup clean, and a perfectly done porterhouse steak. It was especially a treat after enduring economy airline food. Residents from nearby satellite towns such as Tung Chung also make China Coast their regular hangout so there is often a nice buzz here.
OTHER FACILITIES There is a full range of fitness facilities such as outdoor swimming pool, Thai-style OM Spa and a sizeable 24-hour gym (which also offers membership to non-hotel guests). There are also 30 function rooms and the largest pillarless hotel grand ballroom in town. I used the media room set up by All Nippon Airways at the basement Executive Conference Centre and found the staff helpful and intuitive.
VERDICT As good as an airport hotel can get; but despite its size, rooms often get booked out here, especially when there are trade events at the nearby AsiaWorld-Expo facility.
Reggie Ho 
HYATT REGENCY INCHEON, SEOUL
ROOMS 523 guestrooms, including a number occupying the Regency Club floor which has a lounge offering complimentary breakfast and boardroom access. The hotel is designed to cater not only to transients, but a conference market as well with matching facilities and services.
INTERNET RATE From US$208 for a mid-week, mid-February stay per night.
DETAILS 2850-1 Woonseo-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon, South Korea 400-340; tel +82 32 745 1234; www.incheon.regency.hyatt.com
FROM/TO THE AIRPORT A free shuttle bus operates between the hotel and the airport every 20 minutes between 0500 and 2300. The journey time is approximately three minutes.
CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT TIME Follows regular hotel procedures of 1400 check-in and 1200 check-out.
SURROUNDINGS Mainly the airport, which can clearly be seen from most guestrooms and some office buildings. Incheon Free Economic Zone is a 30-minute ride away.
COMFORT The seven-year-old hotel has been well maintained, and this is evident in the guestrooms. Kept free of clutter and extraneous furnishings, the unit may seem at first cold to the eye, but one gets to appreciate the simplicity. The 51mm-thick double-glazed windows ensure relative quiet. The temperature controls allow both air-conditioning and heating, depending on the season. In the lobby, some highly collectible art such as the Frank Stella by the entrance and an installation by Korean video artist Nam June Paik in a prominent corner enliven the place.
WIFI It’s 20,000 Korean won (US$18) for 24 hours. The service can support multiple gadgets but each counts as a separate payment.
BREAKFAST This is offered at the Regency lounge or at the all-day dining Restaurant 8, and the spread here is very extensive, including selections that will appeal to all travellers.
F&B OUTLETS A unique cuisine complex, Restaurant 8 brings together the styles of West and East consisting of a Parisian-style café, deli, dessert and coffee bar and Northern Italian outlet together with noodles, sushi and yakitori grilled items. The VY Club keeps night owls happy.
OTHER FACILITIES Indoor swimming pool and gym, Golden Gate Casino, ballroom for up to 1,200 guests and 11 breakout rooms.
VERDICT Sleek and stylish and impeccably maintained interiors. Staff service was very intuitive and unfailingly polite.
Margie T Logarta
NOVOTEL TAIPEI TAOYUAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
ROOMS 360 rooms, including suites and club floor.
INTERNET RATE Standard room rates start from US$103 including breakfast for a mid-week stay in mid-February.
DETAILS No 1-1 Terminal South Road, Dayuan Township, Taoyuan County, Taiwan; tel +886 3 398 0888; www.novoteltaipeiairport.com
FROM/TO THE AIRPORT The hotel runs a complimentary shuttle bus to the airport, operating every 30 minutes between 0630 and 2330; travel time is approximately five minutes. A taxi will cost around NT$100/US$3.30.
CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT TIME Official check-in is 1400, while check-out is before 1200.
SURROUNDINGS This hotel impressed me. From the open, spacious lobby area and the patio and grassed area (with seating at the back of the hotel) to the fantastic food offerings at the all-day dining restaurant, nothing about it said airport hotel (in the sense that airport hotels are often considered inferior to their city or resort sister properties). There are displays of arrival and departure information throughout the hotel.
COMFORT The rooms are modern and fresh with a funky design and offer all that you need for a comfortable stay. The bathroom was large, tasteful and clean.
WIFI It is free and you can access it anywhere in the hotel.
BREAKFAST My stay included breakfast, which is served buffet style in the all-day dining restaurant The Square. It features a range of international fare and the usual buffet items and cooking stations. Alfresco dining is also available.
F&B OUTLETS The Square also has a small deli counter for take-out coffee, pastries and bakery items; there is the Wei Fang Chinese restaurant, Q Bar, and a Premier Lounge for those with access.
OTHER FACILITIES Duty-free shop, 24-hour fitness centre, steam room, indoor heated swimming pool, spa and beauty salon, 24-hour business centre, five meeting rooms and a grand ballroom.
VERDICT I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at this hotel and would certainly return, not just because it is conveniently located but because it is a lovely hotel with good food and amenities.
Vicki Williams
