The largest hotel in Hong Kong, The Excelsior has long been capitalising on its prodigious 34 floors of rooms in what is probably the city's best location. Causeway Bay is one of the most affluent addresses in the world; a densely packed network of skyscrapers and world-class shopping, overlooking the waterfront and in the heart of one of Asia's greatest metropolises.

Unusually, despite its centrality and reputation, The Excelsior is less pricey than most of Hong Kong's five-star hotels, a feat only made possible by its size and popularity. Dining is one of Hong Kong's favourite pastimes and restaurants in this area are of a noticeably high quality, with a huge variety of traditional Chinese cooking sitting alongside some of the world's best international establishments.

The facilities

The Excelsior's leisure facilities are mainly focused on fitness, but are large enough to service the thousand or more guests that can occupy the hotel at any one time. The Excelsior Wellness Centre, newly renovated, prides itself on its high-tech equipment and also offers a sauna and spa area. The hotel caters equally well to business travellers, with its own business centre plus several restaurants and bars (one of which is executives-only).

The rooms

The Excelsior has 886 separate rooms and suites in 12 different price brackets. Standard rooms are fairly cosy, and furnishings err on the traditional side. The views over the bay are spectacular, and all rooms come with flat screen televisons, internet access, pay-per-view and well-stocked minibars.