Sarah-Kate Lynch basks in the luxury of Hong Kong’s grand Peninsula Hotel
Travelling across the world is one of my favourite things to do but it takes a long time and tends to be more fun if you’re doing it with someone else. I like a stopover if I’m going to London, say, but on my own I avoid them because although you suffer less from jet lag at your final destination, the stopover itself can be a lot of bother and lonely.
or so I thought, until I discovered The Peninsula hotel in Hong Kong. oh boy, did this joint put a very shiny spin on my stopover theory. In fact, this shrine to good taste and glamour that sits front row on the Kowloon side of Victoria Harbour is such a divine experience for the single traveller, it would almost be a shame to share it with anyone.
I was feeling slightly glum during the 11-hour flight from Auckland to Hong Kong. I’d packed up the house, the car, the life, the dog, and was heading off to join the husband for possibly a year away from home. Imagine the warm fuzzy feeling I got when I stepped off the air bridge at Hong Kong International Airport and there, right at the gate, was a smiling face attached to arms holding up a card with my name on it.
While other passengers scrabble over the travelators, the blessed Peninsula guest among them is despatched in a motorised cart to passport control, after which her bags are picked up by the charming Norman, who then delivers her to one of the Peninsula’s fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantoms.
She is given a cold wet towel and a bottle of water. She is then driven to her hotel. She no longer feels sorry for herself. She feels on top of the world. And that’s before she even arrives.
Upon arriving at the grand, glorious Peninsula, which celebrates its 80th birthday this year and looks every bit the Roaring Twenties ingénue, I was taken straight up to my room – oh, did I say room? I’m sorry, I meant suite – and checked in right there in my sitting room, with a full view of the stunning Hong Kong skyline.
The bathroom had a corner bath overlooking Nathan Road, Kowloon’s famous shopping street. The bed was enormous. The dressing room such a delight I had to unpack everything immediately even though I was only there for 24 hours. There was even a cubby hole in the dressing room to put my shoes, which would have been polished, free of charge, overnight had I not been so organised that I cleaned them myself before leaving New Zealand!
After a shower and a change of clothes and an hour spent sitting at the window staring at the view, I took myself outside for a bit of a wander. Actually, I nearly didn’t make it out of the hotel, which conveniently has a Shangai Tang shop (very good for Chinese-style T-shirts) right inside. However, I braved the great outdoors and crossed the road to the Avenue of Stars beside the bustling harbour which, just like LA’s Sunset Boulevard, features a star for every famous Hong Kong actor. Bruce Lee is easy to find as he has a statue as well, and Chow Yung Fat is not far away, but it was a particular thrill for me to find Jackie Chan.
As soon as I did I headed back to The Peninsula for afternoon tea, served in what must be one of the world’s grandest lobbies. I picked my way through three tiers of sandwiches, scones and pastries and drained a pot of the hotel’s own blend of tea. Then I put my feet up for a bit before heading to the spa for a two-hour massage. I know! Sometimes it rocks to be me!
Post skin-buffing, all steamed and sauna-ed, I had thought to take myself up to Felix, the stylish restaurant on the hotel’s 28th floor for dinner. But I loved my room – sorry, my suite – so much I just couldn’t bear to leave it. I watched the view some more, including the amazing light-show that plays between the buildings every night, ordered room service (one of life’s true luxuries) and then played starfish on my enormous bed.
In the early hours of the next morning, I had a bath, breakfast was brought to my room, I packed, and climbed once again into a Peninsula Rolls-Royce. I did not think about the dog. I did not miss my husband. I did not wish I was travelling with someone else. I was in love with The Pen, and I will be forever.
FactfileWebsite: www.peninsula.com.Getting there: Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific both fly daily from Auckland to Hong Kong. Note: Check your airline baggage allowances. If you fly return to London via Hong Kong with Air New Zealand in Economy, for example, you are only allowed 20kg luggage but if you go one way through LA, the allowance is 40kg. (An excuse to stay at The Peninsula hotel in Beverly Hills, maybe?!)
