The hotel positions itself as a 4-star establishment, but it falls short of that mark. Here's a breakdown of my experience:
Location: The location is excellent, if you don't mind a steep uphill walk. However, the entire island is built on different levels, which isn't a negative but rather a positive – a daily workout! There's a bus stop right by the hotel, making it easy to reach the metro instead of walking up and down, straining your leg muscles. Next door is a botanical and zoological garden where you can take a stroll. By the way, entry is free. A 10-minute walk down the hill leads to the cable car ”tram” stop for a trip to Victoria Peak.
Check-in: Check-in was fast, but a USD 300 deposit is required, which isn't mentioned on either the trip.com website or the hotel's website. If you need an adapter for your electronic devices, ask for one right away – the receptionist won't offer it.
Room: The room is relatively clean, though I did find some hair in the kitchen and on the bedding. For Hong Kong, the room is spacious, but there's nowhere to store a suitcase. You can set the temperature on the air conditioner, but it doesn't work. It only blows cold air, making the room humid.
Kitchen: The kitchen is minimally equipped, but it's sufficient. However, upon check-in, they warn you that the stove can only be used for reheating food, not cooking, as the fire alarm system is very sensitive and might activate the siren due to hot steam. You must turn on the exhaust fan to full power and the air conditioner to avoid triggering the alarm. Why bother having a kitchen at all?
Bathroom: The same situation as with the kitchen – you need to close the door and turn on the air conditioner at full power while showering to avoid the fire alarm being triggered by steam from the bathroom. The shower hose started leaking on the second day of my stay. It was replaced with a new one, which also leaked. When the technician replaced the hose, did he check if the equipment was working properly? I doubt it.
Breakfast: Breakfast is only served from a menu, which is quite limited. It's delicious, but not diverse. Is this the service you'd expect from a 4-star hotel? The breakfast organization is chaotic – staff running around and clanging dishes. Two slow coffee machines and one toaster keep guests waiting in line. By the way, there are plastic mugs for tea and coffee. The only fruit options are two types of apples – red and green.
Service: The service is polite, but I'd say it's ”on demand.” You need to ask for shampoo, shower gel, and dishwashing liquid to be refilled. The housekeeping, for some reason, doesn't notice the need to replenish hygiene products in the bathroom and kitchen.
Environmentalism: As in all of Hong Kong, they no longer provide water in plastic bottles. That's good, but come up with an alternative so guests don't have to go to the store for water. In my opinion, this environmental concern is simply an opportunity to reduce service costs while maintaining high accommodation prices. Speaking of breakfast again, the jam and butter are provided in small plastic containers, just like on airplanes. Is this really about caring for the environment?
Conclusion: Overall, it's a good choice if you're not bothered by the minor service inconsistencies and if you don't have high expectations for a 4-star hotel. If you're visiting Hong Kong, I'd recommend Two MacDonell Road.
