The Conrad hotel in Hong Kong is a place I continue to return to. On my second trip to Hong Kong, I returned for my birthday with my girlfriend, it was her first time to Hong Kong. I wanted to show her a good time so I went for the Conrad. Conrad Hilton is the only Hilton property in town. This is a fantastic hotel to stay with its 5-star rating, which is just a slight step below full on luxury brands.

At a price of approximately $500 US per night I was also able to extend our stay cheaply by using Hilton Honors points for most of the nights.

The hotel itself is located above Pacific Place shopping center at the Admiralty stop of the MTR. Surrounded by the Shangri La and the JW Marriott it is a 61-story building with stunning harbor views. The rooms have just recently been through a renovation and all include DVD and new TVs, comfortable king beds with full turndown service, and a working desk with pay per day Internet access. The bathrooms are well appointed with your standards of high end. Double sinks, stand-alone shower and large Jacuzzi tubs and separate toilets.

My only experience has been staying on the executive floors in ocean view rooms (harbor view) and must say that the service has been incredible. For my birthday I received a special treat, a piece of cake with a card signed by the entire executive floor staff. A very nice and personal touch.

Our stay was as fantastic as the city. The hotel is equipped with all the luxuries you could ever want. The decor was beautiful with satin sheets and a comfortable king size bed.

We were upgraded to the Executive Suite and we enjoyed the free breakfast every morning overlooking Hong Kong Harbor along with afternoon tea and evening cocktails with hors d'oeuvres.

Breathtaking views of Victoria Peak and Hong Kong Harbour, these luxury hotel rooms are equipped with all the amenities you are accustomed to, including high-speed Internet access, CD players, international direct dial, electronic safes, iron and ironing board, satellite and cable television.

Each suite is also equipped with a beautiful marble bathroom, Jacuzzi tub, double sinks, and a separate shower, plush bathrobe and slippers along with plush towels.

The Conrad Hotel is one of three luxurious hotels on a hillside above Pacific Place, a nice shopping center between Wanchai and Central districts on the Hong Kong side. The location is convenient especially with the ease of public transportation available: taxis are readily available at the hotel entrance and numerous subway (MTR) and bus lines at Admiralty, which is the main stop that serves Pacific Place.

I was able to stay here as my trip coincided with my father''s business trip and thus my hotel room was paid for. However, I thought the room was well worth its price and there are sometimes promotions through the hotel at off-peak times. (Do check on their internet site, listed at the end of this entry.)

My room was on a high floor (the hotel totals 61 stories) and had a panoramic view of the harbour. I believe the price would be lower if you opt for a land view of the hills. I was most impressed by the size of the room, incredibly spacious and comfortable. The windows were nice and wide, spanning the width of the room. The decor is classic modern, not stuffy at all. The mable bathroom had both an oversize tub, a separate shower and two sinks (plus a rubber duck for a light touch!) Again, very spacious. For the business traveler, a fax machine with your personalized fax number, two phone lines, dataport and voice mail are included. Another personal touch is the teddy bear on your bed at night.

The best thing about the hotel was the convenience of Pacific Place. I visited in the summer (it was only May but already hot and humid) and it was nice to be able to walk to the shopping center while staying in air conditioning. The stores at Pacific Place are not for bargain hunters as prices are high and the quality upscale. However, it makes for good window browsing and people watching as a cross-section of Hong Kong makes it indoors especially after hours and on weekends.

There are many restaurants to choose from, both at Pacific Place and between the three hotels. I''ll focus on Conrad's selections. Nicholini's serves Northern Italian food and our meal there was quite good (and quite expensive). You can expect the attentive service and luxurious settings as with other upscale hotel restaurants. There is a more casual setting at Garden Cafe. It is in a wonderful open space with windows facing the pool (did I mention there is a heated outdoor pool? Pure bliss in the summer heat). Sometimes the Cafe offers buffets, and the menu serves both Asian and Western dishes. I have not been to Brasserie on the Eighth (French food) nor the Golden Leaf (Cantonese food), nor two lounge/bars in the hotel. I''ve been told they are comfortable and are ideal settings to meet up with friends or unwind after a long day.

Link to their website: http://www.conrad.com.hk/