As the one who originated this thread with an inquiry about "Express by Holiday Inn" in HK, I thought I'd do the right thing and post my impressions on the place.
It's located in a smal side-street in Causeway Bay right next to Times Square. The first thing that you notice when you pull up in the cab is that there is no concierge to greet you, in fact there is no driveway to the hotel only a parking bay where the tax drops you off and you then take the escalator up to the check-in.
The rooms (no expansive harbour views here I'm afraid to say) are fairly small but very practical and are done out in a very chic manner. The place only opened last November. The room I was in had a queen-sized bed with a very practical desk area for working, abundant power points (without the need to scramble about on the floor looking for them) and free broadband internet access. The lighting in the room was excellent. There is a small two-seater couch in the room as well.
The bathroom is very modern and functional with a strong and powerful showhead. There was no soap provided in the room but instead there is liquid soap dispenser by the sink and another one in the shower itself.
The room has a small size TV which provides on-demand movies (no CNN). Also there isn't a mini-bar in the room but there are tea & cofffee making facilities and there's no room service either.
The room rate (I paid $HK880 per nite which is about $A155) includes breakfast but the breakfast menu offered in the downstairs restaurant only offers 3 choices and if you're a westerner like me then you'd most likely go with "B" offering eggs, toast, ham, sausage, coffee and juice.
This hotel is certainly not for everyone but if you are travelling on business and looking for a clean and functional hotel with the basics and most importantly at a very reasonable rate in HK then I can thoroughly recommend it.
It's located in a smal side-street in Causeway Bay right next to Times Square. The first thing that you notice when you pull up in the cab is that there is no concierge to greet you, in fact there is no driveway to the hotel only a parking bay where the tax drops you off and you then take the escalator up to the check-in.
The rooms (no expansive harbour views here I'm afraid to say) are fairly small but very practical and are done out in a very chic manner. The place only opened last November. The room I was in had a queen-sized bed with a very practical desk area for working, abundant power points (without the need to scramble about on the floor looking for them) and free broadband internet access. The lighting in the room was excellent. There is a small two-seater couch in the room as well.
The bathroom is very modern and functional with a strong and powerful showhead. There was no soap provided in the room but instead there is liquid soap dispenser by the sink and another one in the shower itself.
The room has a small size TV which provides on-demand movies (no CNN). Also there isn't a mini-bar in the room but there are tea & cofffee making facilities and there's no room service either.
The room rate (I paid $HK880 per nite which is about $A155) includes breakfast but the breakfast menu offered in the downstairs restaurant only offers 3 choices and if you're a westerner like me then you'd most likely go with "B" offering eggs, toast, ham, sausage, coffee and juice.
This hotel is certainly not for everyone but if you are travelling on business and looking for a clean and functional hotel with the basics and most importantly at a very reasonable rate in HK then I can thoroughly recommend it.
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