South Pacific Hotel

Among Hong Kong's many towering high-rise hotels, the South Pacific is fairly straightforward and unsurprising. However, thanks to the hotel's distinctive oval shape, the views from almost all of its rooms are astounding. Skyscrapers sprout in every direction the eye can see, and many rooms have views of the mountains and harbor. The hotel itself is pleasant enough, though rates aren't necessarily a bargain. It has the glitzy appeal of many of Hong Kong's larger hotels, with lots of marble and chandeliers found throughout common areas. Dining here is surprisingly delightful, with a lower-floor dim sum restaurant that's popular with locals as well as a trendy ground-floor teppanyaki joint. These two outlets add a little bit of buzz to the hotel, though overall it's a fairly calm and tranquil property that's a solid home base for travelers looking to stay near Causeway Bay's shopping meccas.

This hotel occupies a prime spot for travelers who are in Hong Kong to do serious retail damage. The neon-lit megamalls of Causeway Bay are just beyond a nearby underpass, putting Times Square (one of the city's biggest retail destinations) within a five-minute walk of the hotel. Just behind the hotel is a wet market that draws locals in droves and is either an authentic window into traditional Hong Kong or off-putting, depending on your tastes. You'll also spot fortune tellers beneath the underpass. There are countless dining and drinking venues all around, including a branch of the no-frills (but eternally popular) Yee Shun Milk Company, which is less than 10 minutes away on foot. The closest MTR station is Causeway Bay, and is an eight-minute walk from the hotel. It takes about 20 to 25 minutes to reach the lively Central and Soho districts by MTR. Getting to Kowloon Island takes around 30 to 35 minutes. The airport is a 30 to 45 minute drive from the hotel, or around an hour by MTR and Airport Express train. 

The rooms here certainly have one major advantage over many others in this part of town thanks to this hotel's distinctive oval shape -- the views from the long walls of windows in each unit is frequently amazing. Depending on your position, you can spot Victoria Harbour, the mountains, and Hong Kong's dizzying forest of skyscrapers. The rooms themselves are pleasant, though some are a bit tired and have lightly worn furniture. Expect sober neutral hues, dark wood furniture, and plush carpets, as well as older details like push-button room control panels. Rooms are far more spacious than you're likely to find in Hong Kong, coming in at around 360 square feet. That's amplified by the large windows, which let in plenty of natural light. Expect standard features like air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, coffee- and tea-making facilities (pod machines in higher category units), Handy smartphones, and safes. About 50 percent of the hotel's rooms are smoking units, so be sure to check ahead if this bothers you. Bathrooms are simple and straightforward, with shower/tub combos, hairdryers, a decent amount of counter space, and basic toiletries. 

While the South Pacific doesn't have bells and whistles like a pool or a spa, there are some nice-to-have extras found on-site. The highlight is the hotel's dim sum restaurant, which is a traditionally elegant space that pulls in a big crowd of locals for lunch and dinner. There's also a Japanese teppanyaki on the ground floor, with trendy decor and intimate booth seating alongside a long list of sakes (there's even a sake master on-site). Breakfast is served in the dedicated buffet space. A simple fitness center has a decent selection of cardio and weight-training equipment. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.