Luxe dog beds, canine caviar, photo shoots – pet staycations at hotels in Hong Kong reach new heights
- Isotonic drinks (for your dog), canine caviar, a styling session and photo shoot – The Langham, Hong Kong’s pet staycation deal shows the lengths hotels go to
- Choose The Murray or the Ritz-Carlton and there’s a pet wardrobe to choose from. Your dog might like the Marriott Ocean Park more, though, for the varied walks
Not so long ago you would have been hard pushed to find any pet-friendly accommodation in Hong Kong. Now, a year into the age of Covid-19, with borders closed and no end in sight to restrictions on international travel, dozens of hotels are rolling out the red carpet for pets.
To sniff out the best deals, I packed my case and borrowed my brother’s family dog, Piper, an adoptee from Hong Kong Dog Rescue. Together, we set out in search of the paw-fect holiday at home.
All per-night prices include taxes.
Eaton Hong Kong
Want to treat your four-legged friend without breaking the bank? This budget stay at Eaton Hong Kong in Yau Ma Tei should do the trick.
Waiting in our Nook Room once we’d checked in was a gift bag filled with a couple of cute squeaky toys, a packet of organic freeze-dried chicken treats (a hit with fussy Piper), poop bags, a pee mat, food bowls and a cosy velvet dog bed. You’ll need to bring your own dog food, but an ample room service breakfast for two humans is included.
During the day, we used the Eaton’s Doggie Guide to find the dog garden at Man Cheong Street Park and the new pet-friendly Petoyo Shopping Mall, which has a pet kindergarten, a pet onsen and a number of groomers, accessory shops and people- and pet-friendly cafes spread over seven floors.
Even more fun, though, was hanging out together at the Eaton’s effortlessly cool outdoor bar, Terrible Bay.
Dog Fur-iendly Staycation starts from HK$1,650
The Langham, Hong Kong
The Langham has been knocking it out of the park lately with its value staycations, including extras that outweigh the cost of the room.
They’ve done it again with a lavish “pet-cation” that includes gifts – paw cleaner, isotonic drinks, dehydrated chicken snacks, poop bags, pet wipes, dog spa vouchers – a styling session with wonderfully patient dog-groomers Ruff and Fetch, and a 30-minute shoot with a professional photographer. All of this could easily add up to over HK$2,000.
Then there’s the non-stop food (served in your room); a Bulgari afternoon tea delivered alongside a bacon cupcake, a peanut “bone” and strawberry jelly for the mutt; and a three-course dinner for two from the Bostonian Grill, as well as a chef-prepared baked salmon fillet, canine caviar and pink paw-secco.
In the morning, I had breakfast in bed and Piper ate roast pumpkin and minced chicken, before we took a complimentary limo ride to dog-friendly West Kowloon Park. Top marks.
Pampered Pet Staycation from HK$2,860
Marriott Ocean Park
The most family-friendly option on the list is also the best located for walkies.
After checking in, we strolled the coastal Mills and Chung Path (named, apparently, after employees of Hong Kong Electric and the government’s Lands Department) past Deep Water Bay all the way to Repulse Bay and back.
The dog and cat ambassadors at luxury hotels and resorts
The next morning, we walked up the road to Manly Villa, passing beneath the Ocean Park cable cars. Back at the hotel there was a box of goodies for Piper – a rope toy, a packet of Natural Pro pet food, a liver-boosting supplement, natural antiseptic spray – as well as bowls and a dog bed.
The deal doesn’t include any food, but all of the restaurants (and Prohibition Bar) have outdoor tables at which pets are welcome to join their humans (The Pier Lounge had an excellent value three-course meal for HK$298 per person).
Book your stay to coincide with Ocean Park’s new Woof & Wags Doggo Parties, which allows dogs inside the park on specific days.
Paws on Vacation package from HK$1,099
The Murray
We knew we were on a classy pet-cation when virtually every member of staff greeted me and Piper by our names.
Among the first hotels to welcome canine guests, The Murray in Central still leads the way when it comes to pet-friendly holidays. Dogs are welcome to stay in any of the rooms for an HK$800 supplement, or you can splurge on the current VIPaws package, which we tried.
Our huge Explorer Suite was filled with a riot of pet-friendly accoutrements, from Petisserie chew sticks to dog champagne (made with bacon oil), a cheese board and a choice of outfits. After walking the Central Green Trail, I gave Piper a bath with rose-scented doggie salts and wrapped him in an adorable tiny bathrobe.
Later, he slipped into the supplied velvet jacket for a superb dinner together at The Tai Pan (not included in the deal). The next day, we had an alfresco breakfast, a hoot of a 30-minute photo shoot in one of the top suites, and a Pet Afternoon Tea for two.
The experience was pricey but packed with memorable experiences.
The Murray VIPaws Staycation from HK$6,477
Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong
From twice abandoned rescue dog to canine king of the world’s highest hotel rooms, Piper has literally and metaphorically gone up in the world.
Waiting in our room when we first entered on the 108th floor was a dog bed, a toy (wearing a ribbon embroidered with Piper’s name), pet bowls, wipes and potty pads. Soon afterwards, a fancy picnic – with sandwiches, prawn and beetroot salads, fruit tarts and cakes – arrived, along with a wardrobe for the dog. We don’t usually put clothes on Piper, but the opportunity to dress him in a sailor suit, tartan bonnet and Burberry-style cape was too hilarious to resist, and resulted in hours of fun and some fantastic photos.
We also loved the hotel’s proximity to dog-friendly West Kowloon Park and visited during the day and at night to soak up the harbour views, but at nearly HK$4,000 a pop it felt as though breakfast should have been included. Cats are also welcome on this package.
The Pawfect Stay package from HK$3,959
