Equatorial Hotel*****
Our brief comments: 
The Equatorial opened in September 1996. It's a few kilometres outside the commercial centre in the District 1, but only a few minutes from the waterfront and Cholon (Chinatown).
The hotel offers an executive floor, the Equator Club Floor. It is enhanced with reception facilities, express check-in, a private lounge with a bar offering daily breakfast and evening cocktails and butler service.
The hotel has full back-up power support enabling electricity to be restored within 40 seconds of a power cut. A water purification system ensures that all water is safe for consumption.
A 24m outdoor swimming pool with a sunken bar offers an interesting view of the city's skyline. The Equinox Fitness Centre has state-of-the-art gym equipment and separate male and female saunas, steam baths, Jacuzzi and therapeutic massage services.
An adjoining beauty salon offers a full range of beauty treatment.
There are several food and beverage outlets. The Golden Phoenix restaurant offers  Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine. In the Kampachi you can dine on authentic Japanese cuisine.
Other dining outlets include the international Cafe California where theme buffets are served for lunch and dinner daily, as well as brunch on Sunday.
The Lobby Lounge provides snacks and pastries and Rye's Coffee Bar serves freshly brewed coffee.
The hotel is popular for its 'Culinary Treats' programmes ranging from Asian cuisine, such as Japanese, Cantonese and Szechuan dishes, to western specialities.
The only real drawback of the Equatorial is its location some way from the heart of the city, but the hotel's complimentary shuttle service and the cheapness of local taxis easily overcome the distance.
Its wide range of facilities, comfortable rooms and friendly service make it well worth consideration.
(Last inspected in November, 2002 - comments welcomed if you've visited more recently!)
Room facilities (?= awaiting updated information from the hotel):
Room Categories |
Deluxe |
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Club Floor |
Junior Suite |
Executive Suite |
Senator Suite |
| Number of rooms |
215 |
36 |
61 |
14 |
4 |
2 |
Air-conditioner |
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Satellite television |
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Shower or bath |
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Bath with shower |
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| Bath + separate shower |
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Personal safety box |
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Coffee and tea facilities |
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| Laptop connection |
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| Free broadband access |
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Extra bed |
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Child's cot |
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Room size (m2) |
32 |
38 |
32 |
64 |
70 |
102 |
View |
pool/city |
pool/city |
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Additional room facilities: telephone extension in bathrooms, daily newspaper
Equator Club Floor Benefits:
- Express check-in and check-out
- Welcome drink and deluxe fruit basket
- Choice of buffet breakfast at Cafe California or a continental breakfast at the Club Lounge
- Refreshments and hors d'oeuvre, afternoon tea and evening cocktails
in the Club Lounge
- One hour free use of wireless Internet access per day
- A selection of current and latest reading periodicals
- Personalized services including photocopying, faxing, restaurants reservations, etc.
- One taxi voucher per day
- Daily newspaper in English
- Shoe shine service
- Overnight pressing for two pieces of garment per stay
- City shuttle service
- 10% discount: meeting room and services at Business Centre (not telecommunication)
- 20% discount off Equinox massage & hair beauty services
- Late check-out until 4.00 p.m. at no extra charge (subject to availability)
Hotel facilities:
Pool |
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Non-smoking floor(s) |
n/a |
Pool bar |
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Non-smoking rooms only |
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Fitness/health centre |
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Vietnamese/Asian restaurant |
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Sauna |
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International restaurant |
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Massage |
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Patisserie/coffee shop/cafe |
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Jacuzzi |
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Business centre |
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Additional hotel facilities: water purification system, aerobics room, hair and beauty services
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