Mention Harbour Plaza Resort City, and one is likely to mistakenly think of the landmark hotel in Hunghom. So, when an invitation was made to this writer, the press officer was quick to point out that the hotel is actually situated in Tin Shui Wai, a good 45 minutes away from Causeway Bay. The resort hotel is built in two million square feet of reclaimed marshland in the middle of a green park with its own lagoon.
Easily accessible by road (KMB, Citybus and the hotel's shuttle bus) and rail (LRT Tin Shui Wai), the hotel is ideal for a quick weekend break and once you reach your destination there is a feeling of being away from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong.
Marketed mainly towards the conference and serviced apartments sector, Harbour Plaza Resort City could easily reposition itself as a weekend retreat as its spa facilities and quiet location in the fresh air of the New Territories give it a distinct advantage over many of its rivals.
After what was a pleasant 25-minute journey from Tsim Sha Tsui on the shuttle bus, the family arrived to a warm welcome and a spacious and comfortable room - complete with indoor tent in the lounge area for the children to sleep in. The wife and I were booked for an anti-tension massage in the afternoon, which proved to be the highlight of our stay. While the children were being supervised in the hotel's kids' club, we could indulge ourselves a little in the spa.
The Resort City has a fully equipped fitness centre, with a yoga room, a golf driving range and putting green, plus tennis courts. Its main feature, however, has to be the pool, which would not disappoint had you flown for three hours or more to get some rest and recreation. It is also child friendly and provided hours of fun for the children.
During the one-night stay, what was missing was the traditional hotel services, such as room service, mini-bar and a restaurant. As mentioned earlier, the resort is really geared towards residential guests and conferences.