Clocking in a world-topping 2,600 hours at work each year, Hong Kongers’ penchant for hard work is eclipsed only by their appetite for a good time.
A weekend staycation that’s just long enough to jolt with some hard-earned joie de vivre, yet ensures a safe return come Monday morning, hits the sweet spot of vacations.
Seasoned revellers are finding jaunts to nearby hotels less than sufficient, however. Tugging on our impulses – and itineraries – these days are a host of alternative respites that offer a kaleidoscope of bespoke activities and curated programmes punctuated by award-winning interiors.
On the radar of action-inclined vacationers is the Hong Kong Golf and Tennis Academy, a brainchild of cultural magnate Adrian Cheng. Spread across 19 acres of Sai Kung countryside, its plush one- to three-bedroom villas fuse contemporary sensibilities with Mediterranean-style motifs, and are steps away from eco-friendly restaurant Sakti Dining Room and the Bali-hailed Fiveelements spa.
But these likely play second fiddle to the patrons-only property’s state-of-the-art facilities, which includes 75 hitting bays, driving ranges, and training programmes curated by hall-of-fame golfer Jack Nicklaus and tennis legend Lluis Bruguera.
Over on the opposite end of the Kowloon peninsula is the majestic and newly minted Rosewood Hong Kong, boasting 18 specialty residences available for medium- to long-term stays. Its most coveted suite – a ritzy 2,056sqft two-bedroom, three-bathroom room – comes with a private lift, outdoor terraces and magnificent water views.
The theme du jour, however, is wellness, centred around Asaya, Rosewood’s first urban outpost of its holistic concept that offers everything from alternative therapies to nutrition coaching and gastronomy, granting guests a complete recharge from fast-paced lives in the city.
For bon vivants seeking a more cerebral staycation, the nearby K11Artus – a portmanteau that combines ‘art’ with the ancient Latin term ‘domus’ which means luxury homes – opens in the summer for short- to long-term stays with the goal of creating a literary playground, much like old-time Greek and Roman salons for like-minded, well-travelled creatives to gather.
Within interiors designed by star architect André Fu, exchanges across poetry, calligraphy, art, design and music will be held against globally sourced artefacts and memorabilia—including contemporary art and Chinese artisanal objects produced in collaboration with K11 Craft and Guild Foundation, a charity conserving fast-disappearing Chinese craftsmanship—sure to carry conversations into the twilight hours. The only caveat? You might just wish to skip that morning meeting for an extended stay.
See also: A Beautiful Denmark Abode for Scandi Design Lovers
