mustang281man

The other day I booked a 7 reward nights stay at the IC Hong Kong in October. I also emailed the hotel to see about a harbor view room and it was the normal $900hkd plus 10%. I agreed to that because I definitely wanted a harbor view room because this will be my first time to Hong Kong. I was wondering if anyone here has used the airport transportation service that the hotel offers? What's the cost of it and did you have any issues with it?

Raynyan

Hotel limousine service is too expensive. If your package doesn't include the limousine service, I strongly recommend to take the Airport Express train from Airport Station to Kowloon station, and then take a taxi to hotel.

Unterwegs

The Airport Express works perfect. Train every 12 min. Just walk to the platform. If the train is there board and buy the ticket at the arrival station. If not buy the ticket at the booth at the platform. 90 HK$ for one, 140 HK$ for two. There are enough trolleys at the arrival station, Taxi to the hotel is around 40 HK$ plus 5 HK$ per large luggage.

The car service of the hotel is very nice, but not much faster and totally overpriced.

Enigma368

Just as a point of information, this is not strictly true. I mentioned this earlier this year on this thread but I booked a 4 night award stay back in March and was upgraded to a Harbour View room prior to checkin. I am an IHG Platinum and have no Ambassador or RA status.

I appreciate this kind of award stay upgrade may not often happen in this property but it did happen for my stay.

cyberon

I wonder if it depends on how busy the hotel is? I booked 3 nights Superior Harbour room and 1 night on points in Xmas 2012. As an Ambassador, I got upgraded for the 3 nights to a Deluxe Harbour room, however they didn't let me stay in the same room for the 1 night on points. Instead I got a a room on the side. Definitely not a harbour view room, although I could see a bit of the water on the Eastern side.

mustang281man

Thanks, I'll just do that then.

Enigma368

They told me it was because the standard non harbour view rooms were sold out. It seemed strange that they upgraded my points stay based on this instead of upgrading someone who had paid for the standard room but of course I didn't question it.

The Mileage Millionaire

Thanks for this helpful information. What about Royal Ambassadors staying on points? Do they give free Club access?

Raynyan

Sorry, not officially confirmed. But I received the CLUB access in my last point stay of this month.

aglp2k

I understand there is also a bus option (A21) from the airport that has a stop in front of the hotel. Any experience with this option? The cost is only $33 HKG one way.

Unterwegs

Never took the bus, but the stop for the bus from the airport is a few minutes walk away from the hotel closer to the East TST MTR. You can check online how man stops the bus makes: http://www.nwstbus.com.hk/routesearc...99&intLangID=1

terpfan101

Currently here for two nights and a bit disappointed. Read lots about the property and despite some negatives probably had too high of expectations, made worse by having just spent eight nights at some fantastic properties (Park Hyatt Tokyo, Hyatt Regency Kyoto, St. Regis Osaka, and Hyatt Regency Tsim Tsa Tsui. My fiancé is diamond with Hyatt, I'm SPG gold, and were both IHG platinum. All nights except for SPG were award nights and treatment was significantly better at all of the other properties. Not only that but other than he view at the IC (I paid the upgrade cost), the hotel is a massive disappointment.

Don't get me wrong, some of this has to do with IHG as a program being vastly inferior to Hyatt and SPG, but the rooms, especially the bathroom are extremely dated and remind me of rooms I stayed at as a child in the 90s. Are they all this dated or did we get a crappy room on the third floor?

On another note we took a taxi into the city last night and the driver was an insanely aggressive driver and scared the daylights out of my fiancé. Wondering if we should just do the taxi/airport express combo. Is it easy to get to the train at Kowloon station with heavy luggage?

Raynyan

You should not expect too much since you are not Ambassador member. IHG Platinum is not appropriate to compare other programs. Only Ambassador canbe discuss in InterContinental.

Regarding to your room, if your room was Harbour View, hotel offered best room to you. Hotel regards the best view is 3rd floor. I agree room is dated. But well maintained. I'm not sure what's your expectation. But if your expectation is just a newer room, I recommend to stay other hotels.

Regarding to taxi driver, I can only say "You are bad luck.". It is easy for transfer from taxi to Kowloon station. You can check in the flight at the station. Of course, heavy luggage canbe deposit at check in counter. No worry.

TravelTheWorld66

Booked a night for my brother who is studying in China, who wanted to spend the weekend in Hong Kong for his 21st birthday. I booked a Saturday night using points. Was upgraded to a Superior Junior Suite from the basic room booked.

I emailed to request a harbor view room, and they declined. They offered a Deluxe Junior Suite (with harbor view) for a supplement of HKD550. They also offered to include club access for the stay.

From what he told me, they treated him very well. When he checked in they brought him up to his room, and sat down with him to explain the benefits, etc. They also asked about his preferences regarding English/Chinese newspapers among other things. And they also ordered tea to the room while this was going on.

It's good to know they took good care of him and his friends especially since I wasn't even there, and he was essentially using my RA status (although I made sure his name was also on the reservation).

Tim_T

5 nights, using a combination of 3 nights on points and 2 nights on ambassador BOGOF voucher.

I paid a supplement to upgrade the 3 nights to delux harbour view room, and paid for the category below using the voucher. It cost me 1540hkd for each of the 3 nights, and with my ambassador card I got a great room on the 17th floor with direct views over the harbour. I don't think it could have been better and the views were jaw dropping. Enjoyed watching the ferries and cruise ships navigating each other.

We also booked the transport with the hotel. I know other posts have said it's not worth it. I understand it's more expensive than a taxi or the train, however "value" comes in a number of ways. We are a party of 3 arriving with luggage from a long overnight flight. We were met at arrivals, our luggage taken from us and escorted to a waiting car. The journey was smooth and they called ahead to the hotel. We were then met at the car and escorted direct to our room, by passing the front desks. All check in arrangements were done in our room and our luggage delivery quickly. This made life so much easier and relaxed. The cost was 1100hkd (we booked a larger car due to our luggage, otherwise it's 880hkd)

Hotel is nice. Building work is going on all around, but apart from some paths closed this was not a problem for us. Easy walk to star ferry, and very easy access to the MTR (exit J2 is right by the hotel). We explored using various transport and found it easy. The octopus card was very easy to use and covered most things we needed.

Room in good order. Large bathroom with a semi sunken bath and separate shower. Bose sound system in the room. Adapters for us and euro power outlets also fitted but not needed by us as Hong Kong uses UK plugs! Turn down service refreshed coffee and water as well as towels etc.

All staff were excellent