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Review of the JW Marriott Hong Kong: A Great Hotel for Families
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
For our five-night stay in Hong Kong during our 100-day family sabbatical, we chose the JW Marriott Hong Kong as our home base while exploring the city. Based on our experience, we believe it's one of the best hotels in Hong Kong for families travelling with kids, and in this review we'll explain why.
The JW Marriott Hong Kong is located in Admiralty on Hong Kong Island, directly above the MTR and connected to Pacific Place shopping centre.
We've previously stayed twice at the YMCA Salisbury, which remains our recommended hotel on the Kowloon side. However, after staying at the JW Marriott, we actually preferred Admiralty as a base for exploring Hong Kong.
We found it to be slightly quieter and more convenient for a family, with attractions such as the Peak Tram, Hong Kong Park, the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, and the Central waterfront all within easy walking distance.
Being attached to the Pacific Place mall also proved incredibly useful, as we had access to restaurants, shops, and even a supermarket in the basement of the mall.
In this review, I'll share our experience staying at the hotel, including our thoughts on the double room, outdoor swimming pool, facilities, location, and why we'd happily stay here again on a future visit to Hong Kong.
If you're already considering staying here, you can check availability and prices on Booking.com and read recent guest reviews on TripAdvisor.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend hotels we genuinely love and use ourselves.
How to Get to the JW Marriott Hong Kong
One of the biggest advantages of staying at the JW Marriott Hong Kong is how easy it is to get to. The hotel sits in the heart of Admiralty, one of Hong Kong's best-connected neighbourhoods. The JW Marriott is actually one of three luxury hotels connected to Pacific Place mall, alongside the Conrad Hong Kong and Island Shangri-La.
If you're arriving at Hong Kong International Airport, the easiest option is usually the Airport Express, which takes you to Hong Kong Station in around 25 minutes.
From there, you can either take a short taxi ride or transfer to the MTR for a single stop to Admiralty. As the JW Marriott is directly connected to both Admiralty MTR Station and Pacific Place, you can make the entire journey without having to step outside, which is especially convenient when travelling with kids, luggage, or during Hong Kong's hot and humid weather.
If you're planning to use public transport during your visit, I'd strongly recommend purchasing an Octopus Card. We used ours constantly throughout our stay on trains, ferries, buses, and even in convenience stores.
If it's your first time visiting Hong Kong, the combination of an Octopus Card and the hotel's location above the MTR makes exploring the city incredibly straightforward.
If you'd like more information about getting around the city, we've covered everything in detail in our 5 Day Hong Kong Itinerary.
Making a Reservation
The JW Marriott Hong Kong is firmly positioned in the luxury hotel market.
Room rates vary considerably based on the season, school holidays, and major events, but you can generally expect to pay HK$3,000 to HK$5,000 per night for a standard room (roughly C$500 to C$900).
We did some research while writing this post and found that prices on booking.com were actually cheaper than booking directly with the hotel, so it’s worth checking current prices there before you lock anything in.
That said, those prices are well above what we'd normally be willing to pay for a family holiday, especially as part of 100 days of travel. Instead, we redeemed Marriott Bonvoy points for our stay, allowing us to enjoy a luxury hotel that would otherwise have been outside our budget.
In fact, this redemption was a great example of why we love collecting points and miles, and why they can be such a valuable tool for family travel.
Utilizing Hotel Points
As you may know from reading our other posts, we’re pretty savvy and put all of our spending on credit cards, collecting points and sign-up bonuses to help offset travel costs.
For this stay, we redeemed Marriott Bonvoy points to cover the full amount, including taxes, making the stay completely free.
Hong Kong has no shortage of Marriott properties, ranging from more affordable options such as Four Points by Sheraton, Courtyard by Marriott, and Aloft, through to luxury properties including The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, The St. Regis Hong Kong, and W Hong Kong, making it easy to find something that suits both your budget and travel style.
Our redemption at the JW Marriott Hong Kong cost 220,000 points for the 5 nights, which felt like fantastic value given the cash price.
If you're based in Canada and looking to start collecting Marriott Bonvoy points, the Marriott Marriott Bonvoy American Express card is the card we recommend. Its annual 35,000-point free night certificate can deliver excellent value.
Looking ahead to 2026/27, redemption rates do seem to have increased to around the 80,000-point mark, making it more important than ever to take advantage of Marriott's 5th Night Free benefit. This perk allows Marriott Bonvoy members to receive every fifth night free when redeeming points for an entire stay, significantly reducing the average cost per night.
Check‑In Experience
Check‑in at JW Marriott Hong Kong was smooth, professional, and extremely welcoming. The staff recognized our Marriott Bonvoy gold status, and arranged for an upgraded room for us, which was appreciated after flying in from Japan.
While we were checking in, the staff went ahead and took our luggage straight to our room. Everything was handled very efficiently.
The reception staff spoke excellent English, which always makes the process much smoother.
The lobby area is spacious, with stunning views through the huge glass windows overlooking the Hong Kong skyline and harbour, all beautifully lit up at night. It was very impressive. There is a restaurant called The Lounge on this floor and, while we didn't eat there, the views would undoubtedly be spectacular.
The only negative point I would mention is that the corridors looked a little tired and perhaps somewhat old-fashioned. However, the rooms themselves were modern, spacious, and very comfortable.
Overall, it was efficient and professional and exactly what you’d hope for from a higher‑end Marriott property.
The Two Double Room
One challenge we consistently encountered while travelling throughout Asia was finding hotel rooms suitable for a family of four.
Thankfully, that wasn't an issue at the JW Marriott Hong Kong. In fact, it was one of the few hotels we came across that clearly advertised its standard rooms as accommodating up to four guests. We found the room comfortably sized for our family, with enough space for both adults and children without feeling cramped or overcrowded.
We had read a few reviews prior to our trip suggesting that the décor might be starting to feel a little dated; however, we didn't come away with that impression at all. Instead, we felt it struck a nice balance between modern luxury and practicality, with everything feeling clean, well maintained, and thoughtfully designed.
There was a large glass desk with plenty of power outlets, which made it easy for us to keep up with our daily travel blog. The room also featured a small table and chairs in the corner, which the girls frequently used for snacks, colouring, and card games.
The beds were exceptionally comfortable, something we especially appreciated after spending 12-hour days exploring Hong Kong. The two double beds worked perfectly for our family of four, giving everyone plenty of space to sleep comfortably.
There was even a 'pillow menu' where you could request a different firmness of pillow to suit your sleep pattern.
The large windows also provided impressive views across the city and Victoria Harbour, which looked particularly beautiful after dark when Hong Kong's skyline lit up for the evening.
The bathroom was elegant without being overly extravagant and included a large bathtub and a separate walk-in shower, which is always something we appreciate in a hotel room. There was plenty of space, along with all the usual toiletries and amenities you'd expect from a luxury hotel of this calibre.
Having travelled extensively across Asia, it’s always a real treat to find a Nespresso machine in the room, as they are surprisingly quite uncommon to find! The hotel was great at replenishing complimentary bottled water each evening for the next day.
Overall, the room delivered exactly what we wanted: comfort, practicality, and somewhere relaxing to recharge before another day of exploring.
Pacific Place
One of the huge benefits of the hotel's location is that it is directly connected to Pacific Place, which not only has all the restaurants and shops you would expect from a high-end shopping centre, but also a large supermarket on the basement level and direct access to the MTR.
We spent some time exploring the shops in the mall, as well as Susie trying a chai latte to see if it was as good as the ones in Canada (purely for research purposes, of course).
There was also a fantastic dim sum restaurant called Dim Sum Library, which offered an excellent set lunch menu. It is one of the experiences we highly recommend as part of a 5-day Hong Kong itinerary, as it really is a great introduction to both the food and dining culture of the city.
Other Amenities
Beyond the rooms, the hotel has plenty of facilities to enjoy during your stay. From the fitness centre and whirlpool to the heated outdoor pool, there are lots of options whether you're looking to stay active or simply relax.
Outdoor Swimming Pool
One of the standout features of the hotel was the large outdoor swimming pool. Quite simply, it was one of the best hotel pools we've experienced, particularly when travelling with children. We ended up in the pool every single evening, and some of our favourite memories from Hong Kong were made splashing around with the kids while surrounded by the city's illuminated skyscrapers. The atmosphere at night was incredible.
The pool area is located on the sixth-floor terrace, and is a fantastic space to relax, with plenty of sun loungers, a whirlpool hot tub, complimentary towels, and attentive pool attendants on hand throughout the day.
We ordered a few drinks while enjoying the pool, although there is also the adjoining Fish Bar restaurant if you're looking for something to eat.
Given the heat and humidity in Hong Kong, I cannot recommend choosing a hotel with a pool highly enough!
Fitness Centre
The hotel fitness centre is located on the ground floor and is split into two main areas, with separate spaces dedicated to cardio equipment and strength training. The gym is well equipped, with a good selection of machines and free weights, and should be more than adequate for most travellers looking to keep up their fitness routine while away.
The locker rooms are also spacious and well maintained. They even feature a small hot tub, which is a great spot to relax and unwind before showering and heading back up to your room.
Dining Options
In addition to its excellent leisure facilities, the JW Marriott has plenty of dining options, meaning you never have to venture far for a meal or drink. Whether you're looking for a relaxed breakfast, a quick bite after sightseeing, or a more upscale dining experience, there is something to suit every occasion.
The hotel has several restaurants and bars, including:
JW Café (popular buffet restaurant)
Man Ho Chinese Restaurant
Fish Bar (poolside)
The Lounge (great views through the floor-to-ceiling windows)
Flint steakhouse and grill
You can find more information about each of the hotel's restaurants and bars here.
Family Friendly Things to do in Hong Kong
If you're visiting for the first time, we'd highly recommend making Victoria Peak a priority. The views from the top are absolutely spectacular and give you a real appreciation for just how impressive Hong Kong's skyline is.
Taking the historic Peak Tram up the mountain is all part of the experience and was a real hit with our kids.
Related Content: Our Ultimate 5-Day Hong Kong Itinerary
Another experience we highly recommend is taking the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour. It's one of Hong Kong's most iconic attractions and, despite being incredibly affordable, offers some of the best views in the city. Sometimes the simplest activities end up being the most memorable.
If you're looking for somewhere to let the kids stretch their legs, Hong Kong Park is located only a short walk from the hotel. The playgrounds, open spaces, water features, and aviary make it a great break from the busy streets and shopping malls.
Another experience we highly recommend, especially if you're travelling with children, is spending a day at Hong Kong Disneyland. The park is easy to reach from the city and, compared to many other Disney parks around the world, felt relatively compact and easy to navigate.
If you've never visited a Disney park before, Hong Kong Disneyland is a fantastic introduction, offering plenty of Disney magic without feeling overwhelming.
Read our daily Hong Kong diary entries for a detailed look at everything we did during our stay:
The JW Marriott Hong Kong Review - Would we Recommend the Hotel for Families?
To wrap up this JW Marriott Hong Kong review, we absolutely loved our stay at the hotel and wouldn't hesitate to stay there again., we absolutely loved our stay at the JW Marriott Hong Kong Hotel, and we wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again when we return to Hong Kong.
The location is exceptional and, for us, it's hard to imagine a better base for a first visit to Hong Kong. Between the direct MTR access, connection to Pacific Place, and easy reach of attractions on both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, it ticked every box for family travel.
The standout feature, however, was undoubtedly the outdoor swimming pool. It quickly became the highlight of our stay, and the evenings we spent swimming with the kids while surrounded by Hong Kong's illuminated skyline are memories we'll treasure for years to come.
The main downside is the cost. This is firmly a luxury hotel and room rates can be expensive. If you're paying cash, there are certainly more budget-friendly family hotels available in Hong Kong. However, if the JW Marriott fits within your budget, or you're able to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points as we did, we believe it offers an excellent combination of location, comfort, facilities, and convenience.
If you’re ready to book your stay, you can check availability and prices on Booking.com and read recent guest reviews on TripAdvisor.
A little bit more about us....
We’re a Calgary‑based family that travelled for 100 days, documenting each step so other families can get an honest, real‑life look at long‑term travel with kids.
You can browse the full 100‑day daily diary contents list here.
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