OVERNIGHT
New Hyatt Regency in New Territories By Erza S.T.
H
ong Kong never stops impressing me with its new establishments. Every time I come back I end up having the same conversation with the taxi driver about new buildings and infrastructure. On my last trip for Art Hong Kong 10, I explored Hong Kong more by not staying on the main island but instead going a bit further out to a new territories area called Sha Tin. The main reason to go there was the new, just recently opened, Hyatt Regency. After trying many Hyatt establishments around the world, I was very interested to try this new one and see what they had to offer compared to the other two Hyatt hotels downtown. At first I was a little unsure going there as it felt like so far away, but in just 30 minutes, via toll road, I arrived at the hotel. High ceilings and a huge lobby with attentive and polite staff welcomed me on arrival. I was quite impressed with their fast and efficient service, especially seeing that there were a lot of big groups checking in at the same time, but they managed to serve without having to wait too long. The quickly they escorted me to Regency Club floor on level 26 and introduced me to the Regency Suite King. The first impressions of this room were that it was immediately a winner. Spacious with a nature-inspired colour palette done in modern and elegant minimalist style, this 67sqm is separated into a living room, dining 66 l FRV Travel
area, bedroom and bathroom. The room is also equipped with sophisticated amenities such as a 42-inch LCD flatscreen TV, DVD player, microwave and high-speed internet connection, including the essential private concierge. However, what makes this room so great is the large windows that showcase the magnificent view to Tolo Harbour. It looks heavenly in the morning and really stunning at night. There are so many things that this hotel can offer and I started by checking in to their Melo spa for some seriously rejuvenating massage. The spa, named after pomelo, or grapefruit, incorporates pomelo skin and fruit into all its signature treatments. An hour later, after a Hong Kong Deep Tissue massage and a glass of pomelo iced tea, all my muscles were ready to work again and I was ready to explore my surroundings. Another exciting part of the hotel is their fantastic restaurants. The amazingly designed Café offers a varied selection of eastern and western dishes and is the ideal spot for those business travelers that need an impressive place for a breakfast meeting. Sha Tin 18 offers authentic Chinese cuisine from Canton to north China. This is a restaurant where you can find one of the best Peking ducks in Hong Kong. To discover a new area is always exciting and staying at Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha
Tin gave me the chance to see things that we usually might not see if we stay downtown. Some points of interest to enjoy while you are in the area include historical sites like Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, built in 1957 or a visit to Tsang Tai Uk, a Hakka walled village – one of the best preserved in Hong Kong where it remains the same from since being build in 1848. For sport lovers, you can either visit Sha Tin Racecourse that hosts many major horse races every year, or enjoy some leisure time at the 18 hole Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling. Hyatt Regency in Sha Tin seems to serve well for both business travelers and families on holiday as the hotel also features a resortstyle kid’s club. Aside from that, they also have interesting programs such as Camp Hyatt that offers a wide range of activities focusing on culture, history, and environment surrounding Hong Kong; perfect for children aged between 3 to 12. Visiting Sha Tin for me this time was almost like going to a resort city where I could relax and unwind from the city’s hustle and bustle just a 30 minute drive away. It is a really great idea for a weekend getaway. FRV
Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha tin 18 Chak Cheung Street Sha Tin New Territories, Hong Kong www.hongkong.shatin.hyatt.com