Given the praise that this hotel has been received both in these pages and those of CNTraveller and Travel and Leisure, our expectations we could have let us in for at least a minor disappointment. Instead we had one of the best hotel experiences we have ever had anywhere.

I think it really bears repeating that the Gate Greeting at the airport is worth every cent of its $800HK price. After some 20 hours of travel from New York, nothing could have been more welcoming than the sign with our names on it at the end of the jetway. You are then whisked along by motorized 'golf cart' leaving all your fellow passengers to muddle their way along a very lengthy passage to Passport Control. (Upon leaving JAL actually estimated that 20 minutes is needed to get from the gate to passport control). Instead, you are whisked past everyone else, have your temperature checked, your passport looked over and off you go to baggage claim. From there a second greeter takes you to the hotel's beautiful grey Mercedes. In less than one hour from our plane's arrival, we were at the hotel's front door.

My partner has visited Hong Kong on several occasions --staying at the Peninsula, the Regent, the Mandarin--but nevertheless even he was impressed when we were greeted by name at the car door by the Four Seasons manager and taken to our room for check-in.

We took a Harbor View King Bed room, requested and were assigned a high floor room with a stunning view of Victoria Harbor. The room itself was perfect. No detail is overlooked
and the style and comfort of the place made me wish we had more time to spend in the room. From the 42 inch flat screen to the closet space to the comfortable seating, we lacked for nothing. The bathroom was flawless as well. We particularly appreciated having housekeeping set up on our timetable so that at no time was there one of those jarring knocks on the door.
Turn down service is also on your schedule. It's these details that set the 4 Seasons apart. The concierge service was superb in getting us reservations wherever we needed them. We liked the breakfast buffet in the Blue Bar which we used daily.

The pool and the spa are not to be missed and completely in keeping with the style and elegance of the whole place. We only wish the weather had cooperated so that we could have enjoyed the outdoor pools more.

The hotel is ideally situated in Central. As previously mentioned, my partner's last visit to Hong Kong was some 14 years ago and he was astonished at how Central has overtaken Kowloon as the heart of Hong Kong. In fact, the Peninsula seemed rather lonely and forelorn when we visited her and we were delighted we'd been steered by our friends in HK to the 4 Seasons.


All in all, I can't say enough good things about this hotel. No wonder it gets the raves it does. I look forward to a return visit.