Location/accessibility

Centrally located in North Point and walking distance to the newly opened North Point Promenade, we really enjoyed walking around, trying the various little coffee spots.

The new mall, Harbour North, also has a number of fun shops and restaurants to explore! The MTR station, ferry and tram are also very accessible, and we took a quick ride to Central for a meal.

Aesthetics

The rooms and the hotel are modern and beautifully decorated, with lots of sunlight streaming in. The seating area in particular has beautiful large glass panels. And although it was a little annoying to have to go between the East and West Tower, the décor along the walk, as well as the pool, restaurant and bar at the other end, made it worth it!

Staff/service

Staff and service were great, nothing to complain about. The pool staff was particularly accommodating and helpful as we tried to sneak in as many pool hours as possible. More on that later. We also loved the servers at their main rooftop bar and restaurant Cruise, they were ever attentive and we had a great laugh!

Book Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour now

Dining

Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour has three dining options and one bar. The Farmhouse offers buffet dining, The Farmhouse Deli pastries and coffee, Cruise serves modern Asian cuisine, and outdoor bar Cruise Terrace serves breezy cocktails.

We opted for Cruise but unfortunately we didn’t eat there during this stay; we only had drinks. I have since been back to enjoy a full meal, and the experience was exceptional both times. The outdoor area makes Cruise one of my favourite spots in Hong Kong currently, and their incredible drinks, such as the Cruise Control, is unbeatable. The Farmhouse, which is where the breakfast buffet was served, has a combination of western and Asian dishes and fresh fruits and coffee. Which as per me, is all one needs!

Room

The room was incredibly cosy and comfortable and three girls fit comfortably on the two twin beds. The view, of course, was the highlight as the big bay windows make the whole room light up. It made us confident that it was definitely worth upgrading to the Harbour View. While we didn’t use either, the Nespresso machine and 49-inch LED TV were noticed and appreciated.

The bathroom was also great as it had both a rain and standard shower head. The lighting was particularly useful, and there was just enough space for three of us to get our make-up on together. 

Amenities

The pool, unfortunately, is a little small. There are one-hour limits that you can book for entry, and you can’t book more than one in succession. Having said that, it is a spectacular infinity pool with gorgeous views, and the area is decorated with different themes. We went during the last pride month, and have amazing rainbow photos which we will cherish. The changing rooms are great and a tiny detail which blew my mind was this dryer that instantly dries your swimsuit. It revolutionized swimming for me, and may be one of my favourite parts of the hotel! There are sauna and steam rooms, which unfortunately were closed due to the pandemic.

My friends also dragged me to the fitness centre, which was well equipped; even a gym buff will be able to get a workout in in there.

Overall, I highly recommend Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour to the international travellers who will (hopefully soon) be wanting to come and stay in the heart of the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong, while still enjoying familiar comforts of home. I also believe it is a great option for those who don’t spend a lot of time in the Eastern District of Hong Kong. Discovering hidden, and not so hidden, gems like Tung Po (a famous dai pai dong), the waterfront park and Oi! (a yacht club repurposed into an art space), I have taken this opportunity to explore the side of Hong Kong that has been unknown to me, and I invite others to do the same!

Book Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour now

Several offers are available. Standard rates start as follows.

Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong, 1 North Point Estate Ln, North Point

Header image credits: Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong

The stresses of day to day life seem to fade away with each step, and by the time you descend the spiral staircase into the main complex, they are forgotten. There are endless paddy fields of brilliant green to wander through, or you can dip your feet into the wild River Ayung, which snakes around the property. This is Bali at its vintage best.

There are options for a range of budgets – the main building has standard rooms, which has spacious and artfully decorated with remarkable views of the mighty river as well as easy access to the restaurant, gym, and activity room. But as most guests come here for special reason such as honeymoons, anniversaries, and engagements – it is worth splashing out on one of their lush villas.

Equipped with their own pools and sundecks, and in some cases, an outdoor terrace for aperitifs or nightcaps, the villas make a perfect bolthole. You don’t really have to leave, as room service is excellent, and most of the accommodation has spectacular views to rival the main complex. Bedrooms are designed to showcase Bali’s heritage, craftmanship, and natural bounty, while indoor and outdoor bathrooms are exquisite and fun. And while many come for a romantic getaway, the villas are perfectly set up for families too. There’s plenty of space and privacy, but if you need a break then there is a kids club, with a treehouse, and an on-site babysitting service.

The Four Seasons Sayan – is a ‘bucketlist’ favourite beloved by travel magazines and the jet set – the Obamas holidayed there last summer – but there’s plenty to keep you grounded. There’s a traditional yoga pavilion hidden amongst the rice paddies, which has daily classes for all skill levels or a place simply to retreat and read. As former US President Barack Obama demonstrated during his vacation – the rafting excursions are hugely popular.

For those needing further chances to decompress, there are spa villas offering a wide range of treatments, and meditations in starlight on the rooftop.

Meals are pricey by Bali standards but ingredients are fresh, often locally-sourced and the menus thoughtfully put together. Breakfast on the Ayung Terrace is a delight with multiple options from local classics such as Nasi Kusing (turmeric rice) to Western favourites including french toast, chocolate waffles and ‘luxe’ avocado toast to choose from. The stylish Jati Bar, meanwhile, is a great spot for sundowners.

Service is exemplary and staff go above and beyond to ensure you have what you need. There are plenty of hikes to take on – from simple walks to nearby villages, visits to traditional healers and water purification ceremonies, to the 2.5 hour nocturnal hike up Mount Batur, which usually culminates with spectacular sunrise views. Ubud is just twenty minutes away, so there’s plenty of extra entertainment and activity close by for those craving more of a buzz, but for most guests Four Seasons Sayan provides a rare chance to enjoy the best of Bali in peace.

Click here to book The Four Seasons Sayan on Agoda.com now

We recently enjoyed a night away with the family to experience what the Grand Lapa has to offer as a weekend destination. We headed over on the 12pm ferry from Hong Kong, arriving into Macau an hour later, and thanks to the hotel pick-up service, we were checked in by 1.30 – the whole journey involved minimal fuss and hassle.

Located on the Cotai Strip, The Grand Lapa is a historic hotel with a colonial feel. Inside, you are greeted by the sight of a huge sweeping staircase, chandeliers and ornate furnishings and a distinctly luxury vibe.

Traveling with two boys aged 5 and 7 can sometimes prove a challenge in hotels where interconnecting rooms are often hard to book, so we were delighted to be offered a two bedroom suite complete with two bathrooms and a living room. But with stomachs growling, we dropped our bags and headed straight for lunch.

There are several dining options at the Grand Lapa, but for lunch, we visited the hotel’s renowned Thai restaurant, Naam and enjoyed Thai delicacies designed to impress both adults and children alike. The boys both demolished their specially designed children’s platter, which had been created with delicate palates in mind.

For adults, this chef’s signature lobster dish was not only beautifully presented, but the lightly spiced curry complemented the delicate flavour of the lobster.

We also tried a selection of traditional appetisers, curries as well as traditional desserts including mango with sticky rice. The restaurant’s interior offers a refined, colonial-style setting but is also welcoming to families.

Alternative dining options are mainly centred around Cafe Bellavista which offers daily breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets and the hotel’s dim sum restaurant: Kam Lai Heen. The buffets at Cafe Bellavista showcase an array of authentic Portuguese and Macanese dishes alongside international favourites, with a seafood buffet available throughout the weekend and afternoon tea served each afternoon. Kam Lai Heen is a stylish restaurant and serves traditional Cantonese dishes as well as delicate dim sum treats, which are available every lunchtime.

The facilities at the Grand Lapa centre around the hotel’s huge pool. Surrounded by lush tropical vegetation with a large deck, jacuzzi and water slide, the pool was a huge hit with our boys, who couldn’t get enough and must have clocked up over 50 goes each. For little ones, the pool has a shallow area perfect for splashing about, and the jacuzzi is an ideal spot to kick back and relax.

If you are craving a little bit of time without the children, the hotel offers Kids Co., a kids club, with fully trained staff and a wide array of toys, activities, video games suitable for children aged 3-12 years. Each guest receives two hours complimentary access included per day, so if you are looking for an excuse to head to the spa, this is it!

The spa is set in lush, tropical gardens and in addition to treatment rooms, also offers steam room, sauna and jacuzzi. I enjoyed a 60 minute aromatherapy massage, with a great therapist who worked her magic on removing all the knots and aches.

The rooms at the Grand Lapa are incredibly spacious, although a little tired in terms of decor. However we had ample space and the boys certainly enjoyed their huge king size bed and enormous television – we even managed to experience a once in a year lie-in beyond 7am!

Overall, the Grand Lapa makes it easy to enjoy a quick trip away from Hong Kong with minimal hassle. Everything you need is at the hotel, but if you want to venture out and explore, the Cotai Strip is on your doorstep. The huge pool makes it a winner for children, while adults can enjoy some real rest and relaxation at the spa. Just 24 hours away from home and we all returned back to Hong Kong feeling refreshed and recharged.

Tucked away on the south eastern tip of Coloane Island is the Grand Coloane Resort; a destination that is all about relaxing, recharging and enjoying time away from city life. We were recently invited to try the hotel and facilities for a family getaway, perfectly timed for the last weekend of the school holidays.

The great thing about a trip to Macau is the quick one hour ferry trip and for our 7- and 5-year-old boys, this was definitely a highlight. Fortunately a smooth crossing, despite the pouring rain outside, meant that we arrived in Macau without a hitch.

Transport to the hotel from the ferry terminal is via a complimentary shuttle bus, which departs from the bus terminus just outside the terminal building. Unlike many of the hotels, there is no signed bus stop, so just head to the left hand side of the terminal and look out for the Coloane branded bus. A 20 minute trip took us from the heart of the strip to the lush green mountains and sea views of The Grand Coloane.

This resort-style hotel, with sea views and a mountain backdrop feels a million miles from the huge, imposing hotels that dominate the Macau skyline.

First impressions on arrival were that some parts of the hotel looked in need of cosmetic updating and certain areas looked a little tired. That said, it added to the relaxed charm of the hotel, and certainly didn’t detract from our experience. The hotel has only 208 rooms, each with outdoor terrace and either sea or mountain view and all the rooms have recently undergone an upgrade to offer well finished and very spacious accommodation.

As we were visiting the hotel with with two rather boisterous boys, we chose to have two interconnecting rooms rather than a suite. Both rooms were very large, each with its own spacious outdoor terrace. Light, bright and tastefully furnished, the rooms had ample bathrooms, huge beds and well equipped mini bars (always important when travelling with children!).

The suites are also very large and can easily accommodate an extra bed, so ideal for families that want to share. The large outdoor terrace also ensures that parents can relax and unwind once the children are in bed.

We arrived at the hotel around lunch time so headed straight for the lunch buffet at Café Panorama. Although not quite on the scale of some of the large buffets found at upscale Hong Kong hotels, we were all impressed by the food. The buffet included a barbecue which was a huge hit with our boys, plus a good range of salads, cold cuts, some sushi, Asian dishes, pasta and more.

In addition to the buffet style dining, there is also the highly regarded Kwun Hoi Heen, a Cantonese restaurant for those craving dim sum.

Having stuffed ourselves, we had to take a little break before heading to the pool, so took the boys to visit the kids area in The Club for a bounce on the bouncy castle – a huge hit for both kids. For younger children, there’s also a room set-up with toys, arts and crafts and space to crawl and run around.  The Club also houses the hotel’s Nirvana spa where you can truly relax and unwind with a massage, facial or manicure.

There are both indoor and outdoor pools at the Grand Coloane, and despite the wet start to the day, the weather lifted long enough for us to enjoy the large outdoor pool. Surrounded by a veranda and garden, there is a small pool for young children, plenty of loungers and, to aid your relaxation, table service for drinks, cocktails and light snacks from the friendly staff at the pool bar. For older children, the slip and slide bouncy castle is bound to be a hit and our two made the most of it, working up a great appetite just in time for dinner.

Weekend evening dining at Café Panorama involves an Italian themed buffet, with a wide selection of antipasti, salads, pasta, roasted meat, fish, seafood and of course desserts. Again, the food selection was not on the scale of other buffets, but the emphasis on quality was evident throughout and we were all very happy with the selection on offer. If you want to try something different, you can hop on the shuttle to the Cotai strip to explore what else Macau has to offer.

By breakfast the following morning, I wasn’t quite sure I could face another buffet, but that didn’t stop the children digging into the selection of Asian, western and pastry dishes to start their day and fuel them for a morning’s swim. As checkout was not until 12pm, we all enjoyed a further few hours relaxing by the swimming pool, all feeling that even though we had only been away for 24 hours, we had all benefitted from the break at The Grand Coloane Resort.