Holiday Inn Express - Hong Kong - SOHO
What is your Priority Club status?
Platinum via CC.
Were you happy with the hotel/stay?
Yes.
Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked a double standard. Pretty sure I wasn't upgraded but we were on the 28th floor facing the harbour. The amenity was one coke, one orange juice and a travel sized Oreo pack. Checked in a few hours early and late check out at 2pm.
How are the rooms?
Two single beds, desk, mini-fridge, 32-inch flat screen TV, tiny sitting area with table and the semi-translucent bathroom cubicle. A bit tight near the foot of the beds, but overall room for all our stuff. Internet was fine, my sister even used her iphone to wi-fi call with no dropped calls.
How is the exec. lounge?
HIE - No executive lounge
What was good and what was bad?
Good: It was on the airport shuttle route, so the van dropped you off right by the hotel. The Sheung Wan MTR station on de Voeux Rd/Hiller was about 3 blocks away. Starbucks, 7/11 and Bank of China for ATM needs are on de Voeux.
I thought it had a good variety of breakfast (esp compared to a HIE in the US) even if it mostly stayed the same: scrambled eggs, chicken sausage, ham (bacon one day), and baked beans every other day. There was also apples (there were grapes one day), yogurt, and cereal as well as bread, baby croissants, and cinnamon raisin rolls. My sister thought the Chinese stuff was quite good: congee, rice noodles, lo mein, cabbage, mantou (plain steamed buns) with condensed milk and veggie fried rice (only twice).
I was able to buy a SIM at the front desk (5x IHG points). An extra outlet adapter in the tray with the tea kettle was very helpful. Wi-fi was fast enough for both of us to use at the same time - though not uploading at the same time.
The only thing I could complain about was the elevators were slow during breakfast with only 2 for 30+ floors. My sister's solution was to go down the stairs - going down was ok, but I put my foot down on going up the stairs!
There's some pics of the room and breakfast (sorry 1 pic is off color - no flash) in
my trip report on FT (scroll down).
Value for $? Would you return?
Great value as I got it 20k a night and it came with breakfast for my sister and I. Yes, it very good for what is considered the "lower level" brand, just not as much a deal pointswise now at 30k.