WHAT'S IT LIKE? I arrived in a heavy drizzle but was immediately distracted from the discomfort by the stylish lobby and high ceilings which I have a penchant for.
WHERE IS IT? I took the free airport shuttle provided by the hotel (running 15 and 45 past the hour from Chek Lap Kok. In under 10 minutes, I found myself at the hotel entrance.The Tung Chung MTR was also just a very brisk 10-minute walk through the Citygate shopping complex and it took only 30 minutes to reach Central.
HOW MANY ROOMS? 440 guestrooms and suites on 23 floors, with views facing either the sea or inland.
ROOM FACILITIES: I was delighted to find that my Deluxe Sea View Room had its powerpoints well hidden away, creating a sense of neatness and taste. The bathroom was separated from the bedroom just by a glass wall. Risque, but anyhow I was alone. My only gripe concerned the extremely heavy doors which never closed properly.
RESTAURANTS: Breakfast was pretty much a self-service affair. An island buffet provided the standard offering of coffee, tea and juices, with a selection of cereal and fruits. Over at the open kitchen, chefs served up eggs done any style, warm pancakes or hot congee for an Asian palate. I was also told that the dinner buffet was popular in the vicinity, and advance bookings were the norm. I missed out on Olea’s Mediterranean cuisine. Mocatto was a life saver for a coffee addict like me.
BARS: Andante in the lobby seemed to be busy throughout the day. It served well for a quiet discussion.
BUSINESS FACILITIES: The business centre was located on the ground floor next to the walkways or escalators leading to the Citygate outlets, and it provided the usual copy, print, internet and mobile services required by any traveller or meeting delegate.
LEISURE FACILITIES: The outdoor pool with landscaping was the perfect place for relaxing under the sun, but for those who needed a work out, the gym was very well equipped. An avid trekker told me that there were walking trails not far from the hotel and on days with great weather, a walk would be a lovely workout. Perhaps, if I had stayed longer, I might have tried them out.
PRICE: Internet rates for a three-night stay in late April are from US$793.
VERDICT: One of my better and more comfortable Hongkong business hotel stays in recent memory.
CONTACT: 51 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung, Hongkong, tel 852 3602 8888, www.novotel.com/asia
Terrence Guo
