Top 5 destination hotels within 5 hours of Hong Kong
Whether you live in Hong Kong or around the world, the city, with its status as an international travel hub, offers the perfect oppoortunity from which to explore Asia. Locals enjoy its proximity to exotic locations, while for those from abroad, the city acts as a stopover for travellers from around the world, typically on their way to Thailand (Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai, Phuket, Koh Samui) or Indonesia (Bali), thanks to its unrivalled connectivity with direct flights. But beyond Phuket and Bali, there are a series of destination hotels that are within five hours of Hong Kong from airplane to resort, perfect for a quick weekend getaway. Below are five of the best and easiest accessed.
Enjoy exclusive Virtuoso benefits when you book these resorts. Email [email protected]
5. Fusion Maia Da Nang, Danang, Vietnam
Danang is one of the most unique destinations within easy reach of Hong Kong, mixing the tropical paradise elements of sea, sand, sun with the heritage and cultural exploration of the old town of Hoi An. For those in search of some R&R though, Fusion Maia Da Nang offers the ideal place to sit back and relax, with its all-villa and all-you-can-spa concept. Each of the 87 rooms here are private-pool villas with the ability to have breakfast at your leisure any time during the day. More importantly, the resort offers a ‘blank cheque’ when it comes to spa – you are allowed as many spa treatments as you can handle in a day!
Total travel time: approximately 3 hours
4. Imperial Springs, Conghua, China
Why fly and bother with the stress of airports and airlines at all? Most people haven’t heard of Conghua, but may have heard of Guangzhou, which is only a two-hour train ride from Hong Kong. Guangzhou, whilst a large bustling metropolis (several times the size of Hong Kong, and double the population!), is only a short 60-minute drive from the hilly region of Conghua which hosts famed hotsprings and is popular for its fertile landscape that produces lychees. The Imperial Springs resort covers a large area and is inspired by ancient Chinese dynasties, featuring suites and several standalone villas with private pools and private hotsprings, making it the idyllic summer and winter getaway.
Total travel time: approximately 4 hours
3. Phum Baitang, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Angkor is a destination unto itself, with sprawling ancient monuments and temples, but Siem Reap, a 2.5 hour flight from Hong Kong, has become quite crowded. To be away from the crowds, escape to Phum Baitang on the outskirts of town, and yet only a 15-minute drive from the airport, where city life morphs into village life. Featuring 45 villas on stilts designed like traditional Cambodian wood houses, the interiors and exteriors reflect a modern and understated luxurious take on Cambodian living, some with pools.
Watch our video of Phum Baitang here.
Total travel time: approximately 3 hours
2. Hoshinoya Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Designed like a modern-day ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn), Hoshinoya Kyoto is set in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto, famed for its temples and bamboo groves. In this peaceful region, Hoshinoya Kyoto offers a stay for the senses, with traditional inn-style rooms overlook the river and Kyoto’s distinct seasons, spa treatments with deep roots in Zen Buddhism, and a refined contemporary twist on classic banquet cuisine featuring the freshest of local ingredients.
Total travel time: approximately 5 hours
1. Amanpulo, Palawan, Philippines
A private island resort with its own landing strip, this slice of paradise is surprisingly easy to reach. Accessed by Amanpulo’s private twin-propeller plane, the resort is an hour flight from a private hangar in Manila, which itself is only a two-hour direct flight from Hong Kong. With one of the softest, white-sand beaches and crystal clear waters, this is a more accessible and arguably better alternative to anything in the Maldives. The resort’s scheduled charter arrivals and departures are synched into to international arrivals for Hong Kong, so by taking a flight from 09:00 or 10:00, you’ll be enjoying a drink by the beach in time for a late lunch at 14:00.
Read our review of Amanpulo here.
Total travel time: approximately 5 hours