Top Five Staycations in Hong Kong: Get away while staying in

If you are hard-pressed for time to take that beach vacation to Koh Samui, look no further than the many beaches in our own city. With our top five staycations in Hong Kong, there’s really no easier way to recuperate your holiday-deprived souls.

Silvermine Beach Resort

Beachside Blue Horizon Café at Silvermine Beach Resort

Unwind at one of Hong Kong’s only true beach hotel. Complete with Saturday barbecue dinners, alfresco style dining, luxurious lounges, boat and bicycle rentals, Silvermine Beach Resort is ideal for transporting you to the beaches of Phuket or Bali in a mere 30-min ferry ride from Central!

D.D.2 Lot 648, Silvermine Bay, Mui Wo, Lantau Island
+852 6810 0111, www.silvermineresort.com

Auberge Discovery Bay

Ocean Front Suite at Auberge Discovery Bay

Situated in the lap of nature, this island oasis on Discovery Bay brings the best of nature’s beauty and state-of-the-art facilities to its guests. Enjoy a staycation in Auberge’s many sea-facing spacious rooms or suites that offer panoramic views of South China Sea. Auberge Discovery Bay is also completely smoke-free, making it the perfect place to soak in pure oxygen.

88 Siena Avenue, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island
+852 2295 8288, www.aubergediscoverybay.com

Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong

Imperial Suite at Four Seasons Hong Kong

When it comes to luxurious staycations, Hongkongers are literally spoilt for choice by the myriad luxury hotels in town. Among these, Four Seasons Hong Kong would be an obvious choice for couples looking to ‘up’ their wellness quotient. With a wide range of vegetarian, gluten-free and sustainably-sourced seafood options, and one of the world’s best five-star spas to boot, Four Seasons is the place to visit all seasons for a weekend of holistic makeover and rejuvenation.

8 Finance Street, Central
+852 3196 8888, www.fourseasons.com

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong

Swimming pool at Grand Hyatt HK

Time-starved people can also explore the rather aptly named Escape 24 staycation package at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. Enjoy a 24-hours stay in the Grand Deluxe Harbour Room and access to an outdoor heated pool and a fitness centre in this package that’s only available to HKID holders. Complimentary parking for one vehicle per stay is also included in this offer. We recommend this for an anniversary or birthday getaway for the complimentary celebration cake, the chocolates and strawberries, and, of course, the champagne.

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai
+852 2588 1234, www.hongkong.grand.hyatt.com

Hullet House

Tai O Suite at Hullett House

Looking to imbibe a bit of heritage on one of your staycations? Look no further than Harbour Plaza’s colonial-style heritage hotel Hullet House, housed in the former Marine Police Headquarters, one of the oldest surviving government buildings in Hong Kong dating back to 1881. In keeping with their old-world charm, the hotel offers heritage tours within its history-laden premises, covering spots like pigeon courtyard, Indian police rest, mariners’ rest and old horse stables.

1881 Heritage, 2A Canton Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
+852 3988 0000, www.harbour-plaza.com/hulletthouse

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

Spooky shenanigans: Top 4 Halloween parties in Hong Kong

Seeing a constant stream of drunk ghouls on their way to spooky parties can only mean one thing: it’s Halloween.

The yearly night of revelry and fancy dress is nearly upon us, but where are the best parties to flaunt your witch’s costume and get your monster mash on?

Luckily Gafencu is here to help if you are still unsure about where to go this weekend.

We have selected the four best Halloween parties in Hong Kong to be seen at, dead or alive.

Witch’s House Halloween Party at Dada Bar + Lounge

The Luxe Manor in Tsim Sha Tsui is hosting a dark party for evil witches.

The entertainment venue on Knutsford Terrace will turn into a haunted house on Saturday, which is the perfect place for you and your coven to meet and sample the ghoulish cocktails (HK$90) and dance to the live band.

There will also be a makeup artist on hand just in case your scary look needs a quick touch up.

Venue: Dada Bar + Lounge, the Luxe Manor, 39 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.
Date: 29 October
Time: 8pm till late
Entrance fee: HK$200 per person, includes one drink.
Reservations: (852) 3763 8778

 

Shipwrecked Halloween Party at Armani/Prive

With a nautical take on Halloween, the Armani/Prive rooftop bar in Central is hosting a Shipwrecked Party on 29 October.

The bar’s biggest event of 2016 will cover both floors, with the rooftop acting as a chill-out area and the first floor — or lower deck as they call it — acting as the dance venue where the lost souls can party the night away.

Venue: Armani/Prive, Landmark Chater (Chater House), 8 Connaught Road, Central.
Date: 29 October
Time: 10pm-3am
Entrance fee: HK$450, includes 2 drinks
Tickets: Fatsoma

 

The Pawn Ripper’s Sanatorium Halloween Party

The Pawn in Wanchai will turn into a hospital with 3 different themed rooms this Halloween.

The Ripper’s Sanatorium, which is a much more sinister sounding word than hospital, will be held on the first floor Botanicals Bar with cocktails served in blood bags and syringes.

Guests can enjoy their blood bag cocktail at a surgical table or one of the other hospital props at the party.

There will also be makeup artists, Halloween nibbles, best dressed prizes and different concoctions sponsored by Belvedere.

Venue: The Pawn, 62 Johnston Road Wan Chai
Date: 29 October
Time: 9pm till midnight
Entrance fee: HK$160 advance ticket. HK$199 at the door
Tickets: Ticketflap

 

Dead Not Alive Halloween Party

The ever-popular Dead Not Alive Halloween Party is back for its 9th year and will be held at Hullett House. And costumes are mandatory.

Undoubtedly one of Hong Kong’s sexiest parties, Dead Not Alive is taking over the luxury boutique hotel and restaurant and transforming it into a haunted party, including a haunted dungeon in the building’s historic Mariners’ Rest jail cells.

Dancers and models in costumes will roam among the guests and there will also be a special 3-course dinner and party package

Japanese hip hop act M-Flo will headline the party and perform in the main courtyard.

Venue: Hullett House, 1881 Heritage, 2A Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.
Date: 29 October
Time: 8pm till late
Entrance fee: HK$600 advance ticket, includes 2 drinks. HK$800 at the door, includes 2 drinks.
Tickets: Alivenotdead