HKG Hotel Question

[2muchplastic]

QF009, I'd made the presumption that it was the Langham in Peking Road rather than the Langham Place in Mongkok.

Admittedly the Langham has more "old world" charm than the modern Ws, but still not a bad way to spend a couple of hundred bucks

 

[Keith009]

QF009, I'd made the presumption that it was the Langham in Peking Road rather than the Langham Place in Mongkok.

Admittedly the Langham has more "old world" charm than the modern Ws, but still not a bad way to spend a couple of hundred bucks

I quite liked the one in Mongkok. I attended a party hosted by a friend at his suite. Great room, nice minimalist design - love the bathroom.

Admittedly the one in Kowloon has a nicer location despite its "charm."

There seems only USD5 difference in price between the 2 of them on the dates I checked.

 

[dajop]

W sounds great from all that I've read. Shame that it's beyond your budget (and mine too!)

I've stayed at the Langham Place Mongkok a couple of times - location a bit "local" for many tourists, but nevertheless shopping centre over the road is modern, has some OK food, and it's really only a few MTR stops from the action, if you don't mind public transport. Has a great rooftop pool. Have also stayed at the Sheraton (first time I visited HK), and couldn't go past the harbour view room there ... but when I stayed there IIRC it was still modestly priced from the flow on effects of SARS.

Last time in HK I spent a night at the Luxe Manor, a boutique hotel located near the Knutsford steps in Tsim Sha Tsui, slightly cheaper than the big names (not sure if still in the <$250 category) , it was OK little hotel, with a real different feel to it.

Now at the other end of the spectrum ... last year I also stayed at Mingle on the Wing (through wotif.com) on the Island. Cheap (<$100 AUD per night for the room I had), modern, clean and Ok location and everything worked. Probably about the size of a closet at the more pricey hotels. Nevertheless if the aim is to spend very little time in the hotel and enjoy the city and all that it offers it may be an alternative - particularly in some of the dearer (bigger) rooms.

 

[docjames]

Looks like i confused the board as well as myself with the monkok langham!

I think i'll just keep trawling around. Mrsdoc is unlikely to be happy staying where she cant wander easily in the evenings to restaurants etc.

Certainly seems good advice to stay on the Island if possible, but to consider elsewhere if the offer (price or otherwise) is right.

Maybe if it's only 2 nights i just blow the budget and go to W?

 

[Keith009]

Maybe if it's only 2 nights i just blow the budget and go to W?

Or not if you can get something much cheaper and almost as nice. I've certainly never paid that much for the W before (used Starpoints for a few stays when the rates were over $400). I'd save the cash and blow it on shopping, coughtails (must-trys include the W Living Room, Kee Club, Felix or Lotus) or a nice resto.

There are some cheaper design hotels around which are IME also pretty nice, similar concept to the W. Being 'boutique hotels' they can be a bit understaffed but I've had decent service.

The 2 I mentioned above are both on the Island:

Try JIA Hotel at Causeway Bay, v near Times Square which has some good shopping:
JIA Boutique Hotel Hong Kong - Boutique Hotel Apartments In Hong Kong

Also Hotel LKF which is within staggering distance, but watch the stairs, from some v good bars at Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo:
Hong Kong - Lan Kwai Fong, Hotel LKF, Rhombus Official Website, Hip Boutique Hotel in Hong Kong - Home

Hotel LKF is especially central for HK nightlife, excellent restos and the expat enclaves.

Both are around the $200-$250 mark.

But hey, Whatever works for you. $400 is pretty standard for luxe hotels around HK, but I'm surprised that they're still charging this much in the current economic climate. What dates in Oct are you looking at ? It's still v far away and IME they usually drop their rates closer to date of stay. I've seen rates around the $200 mark as Evan suggested.

 

[Evan]

<..>
But hey, Whatever works for you. $400 is pretty standard for luxe hotels around HK, but I'm surprised that they're still charging this much in the current economic climate. What dates in Oct are you looking at ? It's still v far away and IME they usually drop their rates closer to date of stay. I've seen rates around the $200 mark as Evan suggested.

I would book a fully cancelable night where you can cancell upto the day before or even 6pm the same day and keep an eye out, if something much better comes along grab that instead.
E

 

[docjames]

Thanks Keith - useful info (as always). Dates are nights of 5th and 6th October.

Evan - good idea, was thinking that myself, most places the flexible rates are only ~ 10% more than currently available discount rate.

Planning this trip, it seems many of the specials are not loaded too far forward as the hotels/airliness seem to be trying to wait and see, knowing they'll flog them off quickly closer to the time if business doesnt pick up.

Getting excited about visiting HKG, it was really just an add-on to our ATW and we stuck a couple of days there ("robbed" from time in Singapore, cant win them all).

Plan is BNE-LAX-JFK/ JFK-LHR / LHR-STR / MUC-LHR / LHR-AUH / DXB-HKG / HKG-SIN / SIN-BNE leaving 12/9 home 11/10. All in Y:shock:. Ouch.

 

[banger2]

Hi All,
Just my 2c worth...I can highly recommend The Excelsior in Causeway Bay. I used them early this month, the room was excellent, good quality and size. I chose the Harbour view room, and with the hotel right on the harbour edge the views were spectacular! I was very pleased with all the staff I interacted with, very friendly and helpful. Location is excellent, right behind Sogo SC, 1 block to Wellcome supermarket, Starbucks coffee shop next door, 1 block to MTR station, close to Times Square...buses and trains so close...taxi is in abundance in the hotel driveway...and even a free shuttle to Hong Kong station for the Airport Express! If the rate is OK its a great choice. There is a maritime gun right in front of the hotel they fire every day, but I didnt get to see that...
I am also returning to HK in October, and was considering The Excelsior, but the rates are quite a bit more expensive than this month atm, so I may try the Holiday Inn Express next time. Trip report seems to give reasonable reviews for Holiday Inn, especially considering the price is OK.
Have used Park Lane on Victoria Park before, its nice but quite pricey, and also Rosedale on The Park is well priced with nice buffet breakfast and excellent location, but the rooms are tiny and there is a doorman on late shift that is an cough! My mother in law works in Hong Kong, says The Regal is a good one, I think the rates are OK and location is excellent once again...
Slightly off topic, but do visit The Peak after dark...it is more spectacular...make sure you get the Sky Terrace ticket to get all the way to the top viewing area!
cyas
ashley

 

[Keith009]

I might also add that the HIX is also good if you don't mind something far more austere rather than experiential in order to save some money. At the v least the place is clean and functional. It's also v near Times Square. Not far away on MTR or cabs for piss ups in LKF or Wanchai. I remember paying a mere HKD660 at the HIX for an overnight back in 2006 before I wised up to doing away with hotels for weekend overnights in HKG; you also get free internet and brekky. On subsequent weekend overnights, the luggage storage facility at the Airport Express station proved to be far more cost effective and efficient.

 

[docjames]

The HIX location is ok? Price wise it seems well priced if you just want a basic hotel room (which may be us given we've only got 2 days and will want to see as much as possible and NOT eat/drink at a hotel - we usually try and find somewhere a bit more "authentic" or local)

Should I start another thread for Bars/pubs/restaurants?

 

[Evan]

<..>

Should I start another thread for Bars/pubs/restaurants?

sqltalk has these threads... but do you think i could find them when i lasted needed some info

 

[Keith009]

The HIX location is ok? Price wise it seems well priced if you just want a basic hotel room (which may be us given we've only got 2 days and will want to see as much as possible and NOT eat/drink at a hotel - we usually try and find somewhere a bit more "authentic" or local)

Should I start another thread for Bars/pubs/restaurants?

Causeway Bay is an nice enough location for shopping, and pretty close to food and more shopping in Central and Wanchai.

Here's the SQTalk thread for restaurants in HK:
Die, die, must try! -- Eating outside Singapore - SQTalk

Can't recall whether there's any on here for bars/pubs apart from a couple of TRs.

 

[docjames]

Thanks Keith.
Workfilter blocks SQtalk but will have a look tonight - thanks for link.



I'm getting the impression it's not really a drama whether to stay Causeway bay or Kowloon as transport is relatively easy, each area has shopping and restaurants and other pros and cons?

 

[NM]

Workfilter blocks SQtalk ...

Do you work for another airline?

 

[docjames]

Haha no work in a hospital! I wish I worked for a(ny) airline! Difficult career path into aviation medicine from where i'm at currently!

Work filter is a bit screwy - this board is ok, most others get blocked. Suspect it's something to do with the term "frequentflyer" and letting people access QFF accounts.

It also seems to be that most forums after their name in the www bar have /xx_x/forum/xx_x and it kills it on forum.

It also blocks qflyer images, but not the pages. Weird!

 

[Keith009]

I'm getting the impression it's not really a drama whether to stay Causeway bay or Kowloon as transport is relatively easy, each area has shopping and restaurants and other pros and cons?

Yep public transport is convenient and cheap, as are taxis.

 

[docjames]

Yep public transport is convenient and cheap, as are taxis.

And presumably safe when heading home from restaurants/bars?

 

[Keith009]

And presumably safe when heading home from restaurants/bars?

Pretty much.
Just have to watch out for LOTS of stairs in some areas.

 

[serfty]

Yep public transport is convenient and cheap, as are taxis.

... and the Octopus card is your very good friend ...

 

[docjames]

So this leads to the inevitable - best way to//from airport question?

Can you buy Octopus card at airport and I presume the train is the cheapest/easiest way to/from airport, provided the hotel i choose is within a sensible distqance of a train station?