I stayed at one of the world’s best hotels with chocolate rooms and helipads – and there’s one like it in the UK
THE best hotels in the world have been revealed, from beachfront resorts to towering city skyscrapers.
And I was lucky enough to visit one during my trip to Hong Kong, when I stayed in The Peninsula.
The Telegraph recently named the prestigious hotel as one of of the world’s best, after looking at everything from in-room perks, personal reviews and staff-to-guest ratios.
The Peninsula, which came in fourth, is the oldest in Hong Kong having opened in 1928, and nicknamed the “Grande Dame of the Far East.”
They certainly show you on arrival why they are the creme de la creme.
All guests get picked up from the airport in their own branded Rolls-Royce cars in Peninsula green, as well as a complimentary newspaper inside.
It’s not always faster, what with Hong Kong traffic sometimes making the public transport a quicker option.
But it’s certainly one in style.
The grand Art Deco lobby is rather breathtaking too, with huge marble columns and glass chandeliers lining the corridors,
I was stunned that all of the staff seemed to know my name by day two of staying (and not because of any bad behaviour).
The rooms
With 300 rooms, the best ones are the suites overlooking the river.
My room had its own lounge, bedroom and two bathrooms (one for ‘guests’) with the main one having a corner bath overlooking the city.
My bedroom even had its own telescope for looking out to the waterfront.
One very exciting element I had never seen were drawers that had their own chargers in, as well as wireless chargers.
The food and drink
There is enough to explore in Hong Kong but the hotel does its best to keep you there.
There is its own on-site chocolate shop, where you can watch as they make everything in house.
I was greeted by a different chocolate work of art in my room most days, from planes to passports… all handcrafted.
You won’t get hungry with the huge number of restaurants on-site either.
There is the one Michelin-star Gaddi’s, serving French cuisine, as well as the Michelin-starred Spring Moon serving traditional Cantonese.
A Swiss-themed restaurant will take you straight to the Alps, or you can go to the Japanese restaurant Imasa.
The rooftop bar Felix is a must too with even more amazing views, abd tge miost deliciously fresh melon yuzu cocktails.
I dined with their nine course menu with all of the decadent dishes you can think of – by that I mean truffle gnocchi and juicy scallops.
What we didn’t realise was there is often an evening light show, which was an amazing surprise as we finished off our drinks.
I also tried the hotels’ amazing breakfast buffet in the Verandah restaurant, which blew me away with the choice.
Already a dim-sum obsessive, every morning i gorged on juicy prawn dumplings, refreshing cold noodle soups and my favourite – congee (think a savoury rice porridge).
Of course there were also Western options if you don’t fancy the local cuisine.
The only sad thing was not being able to sit outside, but there was nothing tempting me to be in the humidity.
What is it like to go to Hong Kong?
The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey visited Hong Kong – and found amazing food and stunning beaches.
Hong Kong is the perfect stopover destination between trips to Australia and New Zealand, and is easier to get around that London.
The Metro is simpler than the London Underground and you can even hop on a “ding ding,” one of the many double-decker trams.
But exploring by foot, a food tour let me explore everything from mango tofu puddings, egg waffles and milk teas.
If you fancy a quieter hike, less than an hour from the city centre is Sai Kung, known as the “back garden of Hong Kong”.
The region’s bright-blue waters and hiking trails, as well as the golden sandy beaches surrounded by huge green slopes, made me feel like I was in Hawaii.
Its bar scene is unmatched too, from the Early Grey Caviar Martinis at Quinary named one of Asia’s best bars, or Ozone, the highest rooftop bar in the world.
The amenities
The Peninsula has is its own shopping arcade, albeit with expensive designer brands such as Chanel and Prada.
And the extremely beautiful swimming pool on the ground floor comes with ornate water fountains and sun loungers.
Make sure to check out the spa with massages also overlooking the Hong Kong skyline.
You can even tour its helicopter pads on the roof which only the elite guests use.
Even if you can’t stretch to a stay at the hotel, you can book its famous Afternoon Tea, loved by the locals and with live music.
Can’t quite swing to Hong Kong? The Peninsula London opened last year, becoming the city’s first billion-pound hotel.
Otherwise here’s a hotel in Greece that was named the best in the world by TUI.
And this hotel has one of the best views in the world.
Full list of Telegraph's World Best Hotels
- Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok – Bangkok, Thailand
- Ballyfin – County Laois, Ireland
- Ellerman House – Cape Town, South Africa
- The Peninsula Hong Kong – Hong Kong
- Les Prés d’Eugénie – Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
- Awasi Patagonia – Chile
- Hotel Santa Caterina – Amalfi Coast, Italy
- Southern Ocean Lodge – Kangaroo Island, Australia
- The Maybourne Riviera – Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France
- Palace Hotel Tokyo – Tokyo, Japan
- Sterrekopje – Franschhoek, South Africa
- Belmond Hotel Cipriani – Venice, Italy
- Son Blanc Farmhouse – Menorca, Spain
- Al Moudira Hotel – Luxor, Egypt
- Nay Palad Hideaway – Siargao, Philippines
- Borgo Santo Pietro – Tuscany, Italy
- Estelle Manor – Oxfordshire, England
- La Casa del Califa – Cadiz, Spain
- Banyan Tree Buahan – Bali, Indonesia
- Kisawa Sanctuary – Mozambique
- Six Senses Yao Noi – Thailand
- Lundies House – Highlands, Scotland
- The Hotel Britomart – Auckland, New Zealand
- Asaba – Izu Peninsula, Japan
- Soneva Fushi – Maldives
- Singita Kruger National Park – South Africa
- Amangalla – Galle, Sri Lanka
- Four Seasons Astir Palace – Athens, Greece
- Hampton Manor – West Midlands, England
- Riad Mena – Marrakech, Morocco
- Hotel Endsleigh – Devon, England
- Palácio Príncipe Real – Lisbon, Portugal
- Susafa – Sicily, Italy
- Hotel Esencia – Mayan Riviera, Mexico
- The Goring – London, England
- Post Ranch Inn – Big Sur, California, United States
- Shinta Mani Wild – Cambodia
- Castle Hot Springs – Arizona, United States
- The Calile Hotel – Brisbane, Australia
- The Brando – French Polynesia
- Qualia – Hamilton Island, Australia
- Chicago Athletic Association – Chicago, United States
- Nooishof – Sinclair Nature Reserve, Namibia
- Zannier Bãi San Hô – Phu Yen, Vietnam
- Hôtel Grand Powers – Paris, France
- Hotel César Lanzarote – Lanzarote, Spain
- The Shinmonzen – Kyoto, Japan
- Jamaica Inn – Ocho Rios, Jamaica
- Kahani Paradise – Gokarna, India
- Fogo Island Inn – Newfoundland, Canada