Ina Yulo Stuve takes her baby daughter on her first long-haul trip to Hong Kong with a stay at the luxurious Four Seasons…
Deciding to take a baby on a 12-hour long-haul flight is not for the faint of heart, but as I’m originally from the Philippines and most of my family still lives there, I always knew that we’d need to bite the bullet sooner rather than later. The perfect moment came this summer, when we decided to spend a month in my hometown of Manila to celebrate my 6-month-old daughter Cecilia’s christening with close family and friends. Unfortunately, there are no straight flights from London to the Philippines, so my husband and I chose to take this opportunity to do a 3-night stopover in a city where he spent a formative year of his life over a decade ago: Hong Kong.
The flight
With this being our first long-haul flight with Cecilia, we wanted to make sure we set her (and us) up for success—this meant booking flights well in advance. We are loyal British Airways flyers and had built up enough Avios points for Club World tickets for our outbound flight to Hong Kong. In addition to this added bit of comfort, we made sure to call the airline in advance to book the bassinet at the front of the cabin and ensure our pods were near it. Infants get allowance for essential extras, so we had no problem bringing a freezer bag of breastmilk, a nappy bag, and Cecilia’s pram—we took the new Joolz Aer² which fit in the overhead compartment—onboard with us. The staff was also extremely accommodating, with one attendant even coming up to us to say he had children of his own so was happy to help with anything we may need. Cecilia even got her own Skyflyer passport where the flight team notes down how many miles she’s flown and signs it (older kids get activity packs to keep them busy too).
Booking an overnight flight was a gamechanger—that, along with buying a CoziGo airline bassinet cover (it’s approved for use onboard by British Airways), meant Cecilia slept for 10 hours out of the 12-hour flight. We arrived in Hong Kong fresh and ready to explore.
Exploring Hong Kong
Striking skyscrapers tower over a gleaming harbour, street food vendors roll their carts past Michelin-starred restaurants, a concrete jungle is dramatically interrupted by a lush subtropical forest. Hong Kong is a place of contrasts as much as it is one of the most exciting, cosmopolitan cities in the world. Its East-meets-West culture makes it a top choice for expat families who are attracted to the Southeast Asian metropolis for its excellent international schools, multicultural environment, and unrivalled connectivity to the rest of the world.
When exploring the city with a pram, finding public lift access was not much of a problem, save for a few restaurants which only had step-free access via service elevators. Our Joolz Aer² was the perfect companion on the trip—with its lightweight design (only 6.5 kg), super extended sun hood with UPF 50+ protection, and fully lie-flat feature, our baby was secure and comfortable even in Hong Kong’s bustling streets and warm weather. The city is known for its humidity, which is why there’s air-conditioning practically everywhere, but it’s still good to remember to stay hydrated and wear light, breathable clothing (check my packing list for where we got some excellent humidity-friendly outfits for Cecilia).
Four Seasons Hong Kong
The Four Seasons brand has seamlessly incorporated family travel into the guest experience with an approach that is as authentic as it is luxurious. The Four Seasons Hong Kong sits in an enviable location within the International Finance Centre (IFC) in Hong Kong’s Central district, just a stone’s throw away from the Airport Express station (25 minute direct line to the Hong Kong International Airport) along with access points for the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) and ferry. The award-winning five-star hotel celebrates its 20th birthday this year with an array of exclusive experiences such as four-hands dinners and all new wellness offerings. After staying at the Four Seasons Hampshire for Cecilia’s first ever staycation, it was an easy choice to make the brand’s Hong Kong outpost our base after a trip halfway across the world.
The room
Our Superior Harbour View Suite welcomes us into the pinnacle of luxury—with only one unit per floor, this sprawling corner suite feels über-exclusive. Electric curtains pull away to reveal the breath-taking Hong Kong skyline framed perfectly by the the floor-to-ceiling windows in both the bedroom and the beautifully decorated living area. The daytime sun glistens into our room as we watch junk boats glide across the teal waters of Victoria Harbour and in the evening, we’re treated to the nightly lights show where a choreographed dance plays across the city’s skyscrapers. Our room is reportedly one of the select few in the hotel with uninterrupted harbour views directly from the bed—it was a completely surreal experience each morning to roll up the curtains and see Cecilia slowly waking up in her crib as the junk boats and ferries sailed across the waters below.
Cecilia’s welcome pack included everything she needed to enjoy a comfortable stay in Hong Kong: Four Seasons-branded mosquito repellent, after sun lotion, an adventure diary and colouring kit, a plush toy, and even her very own room key in the shape of the hotel’s mascot Max the Fox. Our swish marble bathroom features a bath tub, his and hers sinks, and separate rooms for the shower and high-tech toilet. Bath time for Cecilia was a breeze, with her own bath tub, Mustela bath amenities, and nappy bin. The hotel also provides bottle warmers and sterilisers upon request. Bigger kids are in for oodles of fun in the in-house playroom which has video games, a mini pool table, library, and board games.
Suite guests have access to the Executive Club Lounge, an exclusive space perched atop the 45th floor with unbeatable views of Hong Kong. A buffet breakfast with a mix of Cantonese, Asian, and continental dishes is available to enjoy at leisure. Later in the day, there’s an afternoon tea buffet and light bites in the evening for prime sunset watching. For those mixing business with pleasure, another benefit is the use of the private boardroom, and you can avail of the garment-pressing service too to ensure you’re looking smart and ready to take on the day.
The food
The hotel takes food and beverage seriously. Their dining programme is overseen by executive chef Maxime Luvara, who tells us about the eight different restaurants and bars spread throughout the hotel—with a combined eight Michelin stars, no less—which feature French, Italian, Asian, and continental menus, ensuring all taste buds and preferences are covered. On our first morning, we went traditional with the Hong Kong breakfast served at The Lounge, located on the ground floor near the lobby. The hearty offering includes a warming congee, a dim sum selection, wok-fried noodles, and fresh juice and tea.
Emphasising the hotel’s exceptional approach to accommodating for the needs of parents with unpredictable schedules, our daughter decided to have a meltdown right before we were meant to enjoy a delicious Afternoon Tea downstairs. I decided to make my way alone while my husband cared for Cecilia back in our suite. Upon seeing me on my own, the team offered to send the Afternoon Tea up to us instead so that we could enjoy it together. This turned into an even more special occasion as we tucked into a selection of finger foods like the savoury plum, shrimp, and salmon roe sandwich; a strawberry cremeux with Japanese yuzu and a mixed berry compote; and some loose-leaf tea all while gazing out at the view of Victoria Harbour. This menu was part of the seasonal offering from June to September called 101 Days of Summer, celebrating the delicate flavours of Japanese cuisine.
Things to do
If you’re looking for a quick break from the city’s electric energy, there is no better refuge than the Four Seasons Hong Kong. The hotel’s wellness programme offers a holistic blend of treatments and amenities, merging the benefits of traditional Eastern therapies like the special Full Moon Floating Sound Bath with modern technologies such as red light therapy. The Spa spans over 2,000 square metres and boasts 17 treatment rooms, Finnish saunas, ice fountains, and a crystal steam room. My deep tissue massage is delivered by the skilled hands of Rosa, who tells me she has been at the hotel for over 20 years and enjoys meeting guests from all over the world. Each of the treatment rooms has views over the pool, harbour, or city, and I accept Rosa’s offer to keep the curtains open so that I can enjoy the stunning surroundings while my tension melts away.
Speaking of the pool area, there are four different pools to dive into. Serious swimmers can have undisturbed time in the lap pool, while the heated infinity pool—with its underwater music and tranquil waters that fade into the harbour beyond—has a dedicated shallow area for little swimmers. For a bit of hot-and-cold therapy, there’s a hydrotherapy whirlpool to soothe tired muscles and a revitalising cold plunge pool for those who are brave enough. Feeling peckish? The Pool Terrace restaurant serves up light bites and drinks—get the yakitori skewers with padron peppers and the poke bowl, which is lavishly topped with Kristal caviar. Hong Kong’s location as an international hub means it has excellent access to fresh fruits, so you’ll never go wrong with a tropical cocktail.
Packing list
This long-haul trip called for a fair bit of kit, taking into consideration multiple flights, stays in both the city and the beach, and the humidity that Southeast Asia is known for. Aside from our trusty suitcases, the KAOS Weekend bag was helpful for shorter breaks and separating Cecilia’s things from our own clothes. The newly-released Joolz Aer² came with us for every part of our trip, and was such a reliable and convenient part of our packing list. This new version of the pram has a larger storage area, and we made sure to keep a healthy dose of Pura eco wipes and our Elodie Details portable changing mat in there at all times.
Every parent worries about their babies overheating, so we made sure to pack lots of lightweight clothing for Cecilia—for night-time, Kyte does super soft bamboo rayon sleepsuits while Rosa and Blue has cute sleepsuits with hand-painted prints, made with thermo-regulating bamboo and organic cotton. Airconditioned rooms meant we had to keep her snug and comfortable, and you can’t go wrong with a Love to Dream Swaddle Up Transition Bag. We attended some special events during the trip and for these we turned to royalty-approved Pepa London for a gorgeous embroidered gingham dress and another Kate Middleton favourite, Rachel Riley for their cherry smocked dress.
This trip marked Cecilia’s first time swimming, both in a pool and at the beach. MORI’s lemon-frilled swimsuit and Monsoon’s daisy swimsuit and hat combo both have UPF 50+ protection and fun prints. For pre-and post-swim activities, we threw on her seahorse-printed romper from Monsoon. Keeping Cecilia’s fragile skin hydrated was something that was top of mind, and the dermatologist-developed Eucerin Aquaphor soothing skin balm was perfect for after flights or a day in the sun—plus points that it’s great for adults too! Another first on this trip was the beginning of Cecilia’s weaning journey, which can be a stressful time when on holiday. The waterproof long-sleeved bib from Soren’s House helped keep messes at bay while on-the-go meals were made easy with Finnsøn’s eco lunch bag.
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