Value-for-Money Hotels
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Note: Unless otherwise stated, all hotels accept credit cards, have en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning
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The Salisbury YMCA Don’t
be put off by the initials. For value, views and location, the
always-popular YMCA, next door to the posh Peninsula, can’t be beaten.
The well-furnished rooms are spacious, equipped with fax/laptop ports,
satellite and cable TV. A large swimming pool, sauna, gym and indoor
climbing wall round off the facilities. Family suites are terrific. A
few excellent up-market dorm beds, too. BP International House The
boxy rooms with ugly 80s wallpaper have smallish beds, but the place is
clean, efficient and can be cheap, and has lovely views over Kowloon
Park. The Wharney Right
in the increasingly smart centre of Wanchai, the Wharney offers decent
surroundings, a revamped gym and pool, sauna, business centre and a
couple of restaurants. Rooms are well appointed but on the small side. The Fleming The
perfect option for families, The Fleming has smart rooms that are
reasonably priced. Many of them also have small kitchens. Located close
to the conference centre and the ferries to Kowloon and Wan Chai. Garden View International House Given
the location, the prices aren’t bad, and even better for long stays
(two weeks plus). The décor is 80s and the rooms smallish. Discounts of
30 to 50 per cent are often available in the low season. Shamrock The
rather severe lobby opens onto Nathan Road, and the dishevelled lifts
lead up to some big rooms with satellite TV, a/c and telephone.
Nathan Road
Harbour View International House This
modest Chinese YMCA-run hotel charges a hefty premium for the location,
but low-season discounts are available. Baths are only big enough for
very supple adults. 2 Macdonnell Road With
pleasant rooms, a good Central location and excellent views across the
Zoological and Botanical Gardens to the city and harbour, Macdonell Road
offers good value. Rooms have all the basics plus kitchenette.
Long-stay packages are also available
The Empire Hotel Marooned
between the area’s two main roads, the Empire is right in the heart of
Wan Chai so you’re paying for location rather than luxury as the cheap,
nasty fittings will constantly remind you. Still, prices are
competitive, the service isn’t bad and there’s a small but adequate
rooftop pool plus gym and broadband Internet access. Rosedale on the Park This
self-styled “cyber boutique hotel” offers reasonable value overlooking
Victoria Park. The look is sleek and modern, and small but well laid out
rooms include broadband connection.
Cheap Sleeps
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Note: Unless otherwise stated, all hotels accept credit cards, have en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning
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Anne Black Guest House If
location isn’t important then consider the YWCA-run Anne Black Guest
House stuck out in Mongkok. The rooms (either with private or communal
bathrooms) are basic but clean with air-conditioning, TV, and telephone. Booth Lodge Air-conditioned
rooms with shower, fridge, phone, bath and TV are merely adequate but
the location and prices are great at this Salvation Army-run hotel. Caritas Bianchi Lodge Like
Booth Lodge next door, there’s only a chapel and restaurant-cum-café to
amuse yourself here. Still, the rooms are large by any standards. New King’s Hotel Well situated but in something of a chaotic, scrappy and noisy area. Rooms are neat but small, and the views unlovely. Holy Carpenter Guest House A
pleasant alternative to the dingier guesthouse offerings in Chungking
and Mirador, but stuck out in boring old Hung Hom. Facilities in double
and triple rooms are basic but include TV, phone, bathroom, shower and
air-conditioning. Bradbury Hall Hostel As
you might expect from such a remote hostel, basic, barrack-like dorms
are the order of the day. Those with tents may want to walk on and pitch
camp at Tai Long Wan’s lovely beaches nearby. Bradbury Lodge Youth Hostel This
very pleasant hostel by the reservoir makes for a good base or stop-off
for walkers exploring the beautiful Plover Cove area. Air-conditioned
singles, doubles or dorms are available.
Plover Cove
Pak Sha O Hostel Lying
in the heart of the country park, this is a functional hikers’
over-night stop with dorm beds. The views are great and it’s also
possible to camp. Sze Lok Yuen Hostel A
very basic hikers’ crash-pad, Sze Lok Yuen is close to the summit of
Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong’s tallest peak. The views are spectacular but its
dorm rooms are pretty basic with no fans or air-conditioning. The
altitude cools things down though in all but the hottest months. Camping
is permitted. Chungking House, Chungking Mansions Staying at the mansions is a badge of honour to some budget travellers, an unpleasant necessity to others .
The dingy hallways and semi-squalor contain dozens of guesthouses
offering cheap, boxy and usually stuffy accommodation in an excellent
location. Oppressive and fascinating at the same time, Chungking
Mansions is a warren of small-scale commerce and Hong Kong’s cultural
melting pot. Chungking House is probably the best option, with larger,
more comfortable rooms than else-where in Chungking Mansions.
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