Accommodation in Hong Kong

One of the questions I get asked a lot is: Where should I stay in Hong Kong?

For me, location is everything. Hong Kong is divided into three main regions - Hong Kong Island (where the central business district is), the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories (which includes outlying islands like Lantau, home to the airport and Disneyland). I've always stayed in Kowloon. Hong Kong Island would be fine too, except for the steeper hotel prices. Since the public transport system is very developed, my typical hotel of choice is one within walking distance of a MTR station.

Langham Place Hotel, a five-star establishment located in Mong Kok, is in a perfect location as far as I'm concerned. Apart from its adjoining Langham Place Mall, there is no lack of eateries and shops at its doorstep.

 

A couple of streets away is Harbour Hotel, at an equally great location but costing just a fraction of the price. It's actually more of a guest house rather than hotel, and ideal for the budget-conscious traveller looking for just a clean room to sleep in, shower and deposit shopping bags. The downside is that they have the tinest rooms. REALLY TINY. And the walls are thin - not good news for light sleepers as you'll probably hear your neighbours opening and shutting their room doors. If you're fussy, claustrophobic, afraid of noise or travelling with kids, please pass.

Harbour Hotel also has a couple of triple rooms (1 queen + 1 single).

 

 

If you're staying a few days in Hong Kong and want to experience a stay in a luxury hotel without burning too big a hole in your pocket, do what my friend did. Stay in Harbour Hotel for the first few days before moving to Langham for, say, the final two nights. The two hotels are located close enough for you to pull your luggage easily from one to the other, and I should add, without needing to negotiate any stairs (that seem to be all over Hong Kong!).

Also in Mong Kok, Stanford Hotel is another of my picks. It's nowhere as pricey as Langham Place, and offers more breathing space than Harbour Hotel. It is, however, slightly further away from the MTR than the other two. In the mornings, before the shops open and the people congregate, the walk is about five to seven minutes. After that, it may take you anything from 10 minutes to negotiate through the crowd.

  

The good thing is that there are plenty of shops, food and sometimes even street performances to distract you so you kind of forget the distance. Ladies' Market (Tung Choi Street) and the Sportswear Street (Fa Yuen Street) are just nearby. And just outside the hotel, there's a shop selling yummy claypot rice, don't miss it.

 

Similar to Stanford Hotel in terms of pricing and room size but located in another area of Kowloon is BP International. This is about three to five minutes' walk from Jordan MTR. Those who find Mong Kok too noisy may prefer this quieter alternative. Within walking distance are eateries like the popular Australia Dairy Company and 24-hour Tsui Wah. The China Ferry Terminal is also nearby; it can't get any more convenient than this for those making a trip to Macau.

A couple of other options... Friends have stayed at Prudential Hotel, which sits directly above Jordan MTR, and given it decent reviews.

One other hotel I am tempted to try on my next visit to Hong Kong is The Salisbury at YMCA, located at Tsim Sha Tsui. Some of the rooms even offer a view of Victoria Harbour if you're willing to fork out a bit more. They also have family rooms - great for those with kids.

I usually book my Hong Kong accommodation through Booking.com or AsiaRooms, and have been satisfied with their services over the years. But as always, do your homework and compare prices across different hotel booking sites, as well as with the hotel directly, to make sure you get the best deal.

 

Also see my other posts covering hotel choices in Hong Kong - Hotel Benito and Metropark Hotel Mongkok.