Hong Kong – completely exotic & foreign, yet oddly familiar. Jaw dropping skyline, skyscrapers next to temples, squalid alleys with snakes for sale next to luxurious hotels. The fourth most crowded place on Earth. More cell phones than people. How do you choose among 60,000 rooms? Do you stay on Hong Kong Island or Kowloon? First stop – where to stay.
Does being married or single influence Where2Stay? Do you want your hotel hip & modern or do you prefer a quiet and romantic hotel? Sometimes you might want to “marry” the two. You will see an M (married), S (single), or an MS, (married/single) next to each hotel.
Where2Stay – Hong Kong Island
The Upper House– A Wear Girls favorite. Centrally located above Pacific Place retail complex is this oasis of personalized service. A small (117) room boutique hotel, where suites start at a whopping 730 sq. ft, bathrooms take up 350 of it! Espresso makers, free snacks & WiFi, Cafe Grey, and a private lawn/garden to unwind. Perfect! (M)
Mandarin Oriental – for business or pleasure this 430 room hotel located in Central is “central” to everything. Fab restaurants, cocktail lounges, meeting rooms & great rooms. Perfect service. As a Mandarin always is. (MS)
J Plus Boutique Hotel – Phillipe Stark has come to Hong Kong. A hip hotel/apartment offers comfort & practicality. Located in Causeway Bay combines cutting edge location w/ a local atmosphere. Feel as if you are living in Hong Kong. (S)
One of the best infinity pool views ! #1 hottest bathroom – The Peninsula… so what if it’s the men’s room?
Where2Stay – Kowloon
Intercontinental – one of the top hotels in the world w/ views to match. Splurge on a Victoria Harbour or HK Island view. All rooms come with private butlers. Bring your swimsuit. The infinity pool juts over the harbour. (MS)
Ritz Carlton – Experience the worlds tallest hotel when checking on the 102nd floor! Located on top of the International Commerce Center, the world is at your feet! (MS)
Hotel Icon – 3 “iconic” architects designed this gem. Plush rooms, an indoor vertical garden, rooftop deck, a perfect firework perch & it wont break the bank. Free snacks included. Book now and receive 20% off. (S)
Mira Hong Kong – A 5 star Alliance member, this classic luxury hotel is hip, edgy & newly remodeled. Located on Nathan Road. A value alternative (S)
Where2Stay – the Masterpieces
Impossible to forget – memorable to stay. The Peninsula, Island Shangri – La & Kowloon Shangri La, Four Seasons & The Grand Hyatt
Where2Dine
Hong Kong IS about food. Here’s a few…Dim Sum – Maxims Palace City Hall, Lin Heung Tea House or Luk Yu. Visit One Peking Road in Kowloon to view the nightly fireworks from Aqua (Italian) or Hutong. Ask for a window table. Try Yung Kee or Fook Lam Moon for traditional Cantonese cooking. Splurge at Lung King Heen, the three star Michelin at the Four Seasons. End your night at Felix at the Peninsula.
Where2Shop – Hong Kong Island IS all about shopping and malls. Ready, set … Causeway Bay: Times Square Mall is the Olympics of shopping. Central: the tourist hub is home to every high end designer. If you want the latest from Paris & London, visit the Landmark Mall. Browse along Hollywood Boulevard & Cat St. to SoHo for art galleries, antique shops and boutiques. It becomes party central at night. Head to Sheung Wan for street markets. Ferry to Kowloon for the Temple Street night market, a must for the knockoff hunter. Visit Canton Road for the largest Louis Vuitton store outside of Paris. Shanghai Tang,of course and never forget Maylin and Ashneil for custom bags at great prices. We need a drink and more money!
What2Do
Be a tourist…Cross the harbour on Star Ferry, stroll Stanley Market, don’t miss the hair raising vertical Peak Tram to Victoria Peak, take a Junk boat ride, ride the Central mid level escalators, take a day trip to Macau (ferries leave every 15 min) ride the Ngong Ping Cable Car to view the Buddha on Lantua Island, stroll Hollywood Road & stop at Man Ho Temple. And we haven’t started shopping yet!
Even the Wear Girls need a Shopping Break
San Francisco – Mention to anyone else that you live in SF and they say how lucky you are! San Francisco– Steep hills (carry your heels, ladies) Haight Ashbury,the 49’s. an eclectic, artistic,technologically advanced city. Add in designer flagship stores -are you in Italy or SF? A friendly, multi-cultural walking town within a city. Why would we live anywhere else? SF already captured our hearts!
Does being married or single influence Where2Stay? Do you want your hotel, hip & modern or do you prefer a quiet and romantic hotel? Sometimes you might want to “marry” the two. You will see an M (married), S (single), or an MS, (married/single) next to each hotel.
Where2Stay
Inn at the Presidio – We always wanted to sleep with an officer! Or is it his uniform that attracts us? Book a room at the new Inn at the Presidio, the only SF Hotel to open in 2012. A former military base used to house the bachelor officers. Now a chic 22 room (mostly suite) B & B. Lounge around the fire pit, (s’mores anyone?), sip complimentary wine & cheese, enjoy the privacy of your National Park (M/S)
Intercontinental Mark Hopkins & The Palace Hotel – iconic landmark hotel buildings define SF. The”Mark” opened in 1926. Hop on a cable car & top off your night at Top of the Mark with views that go on forever. If you prefer the financial district, The Palace Hotel may be your cup of tea. Literally, they serve tea under their glass dome in the garden court. Best Sunday Brunch (M/S)
Hotel Drisco – An intimate independently owned hotel in Pacific Heights. Why stay? Luxury bath products by Agraria,free WiFi, chauffeured limousine morning service, a lavish continental breakfast, evening wine reception & lovely rooms. We love it here and want to check in! (MS)
Clift Hotel– Only Phillipe Stark could transform this hotel from Victorian & classic to “A Scene & Be Seen Hotel.” Surreal, dark & hip, have cocktails at the Redwood Room & dine in the Velvet Room. Never know whom you might meet. (S)
Where2Eat ? SF has it all – no passport needed! Do you want French tonight? Visit Chapeau on Clement St. Love Rome? Have a romantic dinner under Chanti bottles at Luisa’s on Union St. Beijing too far? Try R & G Lounge in Chinatown. Confused about what you want? The fusion inspired Butterfly on the Embarcadero might do it. Want to heat up your night? Visit the just opened LoLinda on Mission St. a hip Argentinain Steakhouse.
Where2Cocktail – Tipsy Pig Happy Hour from 4-7- Oct 11- portion of proceeds will benefit Family House
Wear2Shop – Saks 5th Avenue In-Store Shopping Event: October 13th-14th
Prep for Wine Women and Shoes (Wednesday, November 14) by shopping first at Saks 5th Avenue on October 13th and 14th. Mention Family House & 10% of your sales proceeds go directly to supporting our families. Wine Women & Shoes, Wednesday, November 14, 2012, 6 PM at the St. Regis Hotel.
Where2Go – Weekend of Oct 5th, 6 & 7th Choose between the America’s Cup, SF Open Studios, the free Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park, Fleet Week, Blue Angels & on Sunday the Castro Street Fair, North Beach Heritage Fair, Giants playoff and the 49er Game! This IS why we love SF!
Beware of the women in black… Taking charge at Lolinda!
Travel Tip : If restaurants are booked (they usually are) ask if there is a communal table! Beat the system while making new friends!
Just when you think you knew it all…the new hotel, THE new hot restaurant, where2buy that outfit that will make your friends drip with envy, something new opens. Nothing wrong with your favories, but always good to stay in the loop. Lets take a peep…
Does being married or single influence Where2Stay? Do you want your hotel, hip & modern or do you prefer a quiet and romantic hotel? Sometimes you might want to “marry” the two. You will see an M (married), S (single), or an MS, (married/single) next to each hotel.
Where2Stay – New York City
NoMad Hotel – newly restored Beau Arts Building perfectly near Chelsea, Gramercy Park & the Meat Packing district. Designed by French designer Jacques Garcia, rooms have leather headboards, king size beds, walk in showers & standing claw foot tubs. Don’t forget the bubbles! (MS)
Setai Fifth Ave – named one of 10 sexiest & romantic hotels by Gayot Guide, think seduction, plush and pampered. Where else can you get Duxiana beds & personal assistant for all your needs? Throw in phenomenal bathrooms, take the phone off the hook & you better not use the free WiFi they offer (M)
Wythe Hotel – Brooklyn waterfront. An old factory turned into a “room with a view hotel” with industrial detailing & brick walls. Book the Manhattan king room w/ floor 2 ceiling windows. How fun to look at NY from the other side. (S)
Where2Eat – Restaurants in hotels are cool again. If lucky enough to be staying at the NoMad head downstairs where it will be hard to choose among their dining rooms- the library, glass enclosed atrium, the parlor or rooftop dining. At the Setai dine at famed chef Michael White’s Al Fiori. Dine at Reynards in the Wythe, pretend you live in cool Brooklyn.And know that “what happens in Brooklyn stays in Brooklyn”. The newest happening is in the Bowery- Saxon & Parole, named after two race horses. Fab decor. And what is NY w/out “Carnegie”!
Where2Cocktail- Apotheke Cocktail Bar – On Doyers Street in Chinatown. Line up at their 30 ft bar of Carrera marble & let the mixolgist in white lab coats create cocktails using herbs from their rooftop garden. If you close your else you can almost see the opium den that used to be there.
What2Do – Whitney Museum- View japanese artist Yayoi Kusama thru Sept 30. See what red dots and Louis Vuitton have in common.
Where2Shop Take a bus, pack a sandwich (you won’t have time to eat) and head to Woodbury Common. Shop major designers at discount prices! Jimmy Choo, Dolce, Prada, Etro & just added – the first Tom Ford & Reed Karakoff outlet in the US! In NYC visit the Michael Kors 6,600 sq ft empire on Mad & 61st, shoe maven Charlotte Olympia on Mad 65th or head downtown to 807 Washington St for Nicholas Kirkwood’s new store. For value head to Dalaga where most items are under $150.00. Named “Best Dresses” by NY magazine!
The Wear Girls Take Manhattan!