Hong Kong Hotels
The best choice of hotel in HK is way too subjective to answer simply. It really depends on what you are looking for. Even if price is your main concern, the price can vary dramatically based on where you get the price, when you propose to travel and how busy the hotel is at the time.
Jack has done a great job providing info based on his experience, I add to that with my own. What's best for you though depends on what you are looking for and how you propose to punt.
Do you want a room with a bed and that's it? Is the lowest possible price your top priority? Do you want something very nice so you can take a Bar Girl back to your hotel with comfort? Is location your top priority?
Keep in mind that the "ideal" location really depends on how you propose to punt. If you plan to do Hotel Girls, staying right in the heart of the action can be convenient. That means TST, Wan Chai etc are good options. You can check the Data Base of girls to see where the girls you like are located and consider staying close by. Keep in mind that public transport in HK is so convenient, underground train (MTR), cabs, ferry and busses are all readily available, easy to use and very economical so don't be "over concerned" about where to stay.
If on the other hand you plan to do bar girls, staying right in the heart of the action can have a negative impact on the service you get because the girl wants to do you fast and rush back to the bar for another punter. Hotels like the Wharney and the Novotel on Lockhart Rd in TST are definitely in the heart of the Wan Chai Bar scene action. Rooms are relatively small and prices are reasonable, you should get either for under HK$1,000 per night and sometimes well under $1,000 depending on the circumstances I mention above. Staying close to where a Bar girl is "based" can get you a better price (because she thinks she may be able to hve time for a double header that night. However it can also mean rushed service so weigh that up before you decide to stay in a hotel right in amongst "it".
If you are looking for a nice place to stay in Tsim Sha Tsui (TST), I can recommend the following:
(1) Holiday Inn Golden Mile: punting bar in the hotel, priced from $1,000 - $2,000 / night.
(2) Marco Polo Hong Kong: well located near Star Ferry & Ocean Centre. 15 minutes by ferry and you're in Wan Chai, 10 minute walk to Hari's Bar in the Holiday Inn, priced from $1,200 - $2,500 / night.
(3) Marco Polo Gateway & Marco Polo Prince: Sister hotels to the MP Hong Kong, they are right next door so a slightly longer walk to the ferry but no big deal. Priced from $1,000 - $2,000 / night.
(4) Sheraton: Located on the corner of Nathan and Salisbury Rds, well located and close to Wan Chai ferry and Hari's Bar. Priced from $1,200 - $2,500 / night.
(5) Peninsula: Located on the corner of Nathan and Salisbury Rds, (across the road from Sheraton) a beautiful hotel in every way. Great civvie bar on the 28th floor with amazing views so good place to take your date... Priced from $2,500 - $4,500 / night.
All these hotels are girl friendly so you will not have a problem walking in with your WG... arm in arm if that floats your boat... They are all well appointed with excellent service. For more info about any of these hotels, google knows.
The following map shows lots of TST hotels, there are reviews and pricing for all of them readily available on the net. TST is a good place to stay if you are thinking Hotel Girls because there are lots in TST and you are only a short ferry trip or MTR ride from Wan Chai where there's more.
Budget TST Hotel options would include the Kimberly, Ramada, Park & Empire Hotels. I have stayed at all of them over the years, the Empire is quite nice for the price, last time I stayed at the Ramada it was a dump but that is quite a few years ago.
If you are looking for even lower priced accommodation, I would suggest you start by looking at the DB and deciding where you will most likely want to punt and how you want to punt, ie. Bars, Hotel Girls, Walk Ups etc. The data base girls you see may not be there when you arrive, but you will get a feel for where there are lots of girls and where there are just a few. Decide on an area, then look for prices for hotels in your selected area from web sites like wotif.com This will give you some idea of the price range, you may then decide to pick 2 or 3 hotels and negotiate with your travel agent for a good deal.
If you come to HK regularly, consider talking to the sales department of the hotel you settle on and negotiate a corporate account. If your company (including friends etc) uses upwards of 50 - 100 room nights per year this is very attractive to the hotel. For example, I pay $1,080 / night at the Holiday Inn for an executive room including breakfast. The rack rate is more than double and I have never found another way to get that kind of deal. Dealing direct with the hotel staff means they remove all commissions to agents etc so they have more room. If you can develop a relationship with a sales person you can do extra well because you are helping him/her get their sales budget (they dont get credit for agent bookings) so you find they are usually flexible.
Keep in mind April and October are the busiest times for hotels in HK because they are very big trade fair months in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Be sure to book early because the cheaper rooms tend to fill up first.
[ Last edited by TonyToro at 30-3-2011 08:43 ] | |
