WHAT’S IT LIKE? An oasis in the heart of Hongkong’s bustling financial district, Four Seasons Place is a luxurious escape for the weary corporate jungle warrior, a quiet halfway home for the expatriate on the move, and a stylish family retreat for Hongkong’s wealthy locals.
WHERE IS IT? Located in the 436,630-square-metre International Finance Centre complex, the property is minutes away from the Airport Express (AEL) Station and linked seamlessly to one of the city’s most sophisticated shopping experiences – IFC Mall.
HOW MANY UNITS? 519 suites, all with postcard views of either the Victoria Harbour or the city and Victoria Peak, occupying floors 41 to 57 of a 60-storey building.
ROOM FACILITIES: Two design icons, Yabu Pushelberg and Bilkey Llinas, were responsible for interpreting the interiors. My wife Catherine, daughter Angel and I were assigned a Pushelberg two-bedroom suite, where dark wood featured predominantly. (In a Llinas, it is the opposite, boasting lighter shades of Sycamore.) But all units are equipped with the requisite gleaming hardware: a 42-inch plasma TV in the living room and two 15-inch LCD TVs in the master bathroom and kitchen and a home entertainment system by Bose and Nakamichi as well as the Four Seasons customised three-layer “pillow mattress” that contributed to our sound night’s sleep. Exploring the kitchen, we discovered cabinets cleverly concealing a range of kitchen equipment including a family-size refrigerator (stocked with complimentary orange juice, mineral water and cereal), microwave-grill, washer-dryer, glassware, utensils and fine bone China by Narumi. Everyone gets a dishwasher except those in the studios.
Other goodies from management include a discount card from CitySuper (a high-end supermarket in IFC Mall offering free delivery for grocery purchases over US$13) and 10% off treatments at The Spa in the Four Seasons Hotel next door. Maid service is available daily, except Sundays and public holidays and unless instructed otherwise, bed linen is changed thrice weekly.
RESTAURANTS: Selections from the Four Seasons Hotels next door can be delivered to your doorstep for the same price as if you were actually dining at the outlet, a 24-hour service, and some establishments at IFC Mall are good for a 10% discount.
BUSINESS FACILITIES: I tried to rent a laptop at the business centre (US$154.82 a day or US$25.80 an hour) but was too late to snag one. Had I had brought my machine, I could have made use of the Wi-Fi facilities in my own unit, on the 59th floor or in the reading room on the 10th floor, which also has two internet enabled workstations.Adjacent to this are the children’s playroom and laundry.
LEISURE FACILITIES: The 59th floor is the place to find them, and these include the infinity pool and a gym so spacious and well equipped, working out here was a real pleasure. The attendants were unfailingly helpful and attentive, keeping an eye on the youngsters in the water while the grown ups used the fitness centre.
They were a great source of information for a new arrival like me, dispensing tips on cheap eats and good shopping. I single out Rocky, who helped me with my shaky Mandarin when I wanted to befriend a Mainland Chinese family, who had come to the pool area when I was watching my nine-year-old perfect her backstroke.
PRICE: The monthly price tag of a two- bedroom suite is HK$66,000 (US$8,515). VERDICT: While ideally suited to medium- and long-term staying guests, Four Seasons Place can also provide as a quick and indulgent getaway from urban pressures, minus the travelling hassles. The staff really deserve high praise for making making us feel so welcome in a short space of time, starting with Gordon, the doorman, who was a whiz at remembering names, like he did with our daughter Angel, calling out to her each time he saw her.
CONTACT: 8 Finance Street, Central, Hongkong, tel 852 3196 8228, www.fsphk.com
Gilbert Yang
