vysean

I just stayed there two nights this past weekend - some photos are below.

Short summary - overpriced, underwhelming, and very poor check-in experience. Housekeeping staff excellent, breakfast great, location very convenient.

As a Plat, I was not upgraded, despite there being the following room types available before/during/after my booking:

$1400 HKD Double Bed - Economy
$1800 HKD Deluxe Room
$2200 HKD King Bed Executive Club
$3700 HKD King Bed Executive Suite

Additionally, I was told if I wanted breakfast I would have to pay an additional $200 HKD per night. If you can't tell, I'm not at all pleased about the lack of an upgrade and the lack of a free breakfast (or any other Plat bennie if there are any).

So here are some photos - this was the Double Bed - Economy room and cost approx. $211 USD per night with tax and service charge ($1550 HKD) - not a great value IMO, but I'm certainly no expert when it comes to HKG-area hotel room rates.

Hallway in room
Bed
Desk/TV
Desk 2
Bathroom Sinks
Bathroom Tub
View From Window
Food (Some kind of chicken and pork fried rice from the basement restaurant).

The pluses:
Convenient location (M2 exit from TST/TST-East).
Great breakfast spread (if you pay for it or get it comped).
Room looked nice enough.
Free internet (thank you to whomever had an open AP with "linksys" as the name)
Free water.
Restaurant in basement (Yueng Loon I think) quite good, though far more expensive than looking around at street vendor food options.

The minuses:
Inefficient check-in process (took 35 minutes to check-in).
No upgrade of any kind.
No free breakfast.
Door to room didn't automatically close (found out while sitting in my underwear on my laptop and wondering why someone was staring at me from the hallway).
Door to bathroom didn't close/lock.

Wouldn't stay here again unless the room rate was very favorable (e.g. under/around $700 HKD per night) or unless I received some benefit for being a Plat member.

By comparison (not that it's in any way equal), I stayed one night at the Conrad HKG my first night there - they upgraded me to a two room suite with a helluva spread of free chocolate and fruit. Someone came up a few minutes after I settled in with a fresh pot of tea. Bose wave radio next to bed was cool (never used one before and might have to go buy one now). In the morning, free Internet at the lounge, nice breakfast spread (less quantity but greater quality than HI), and of course amazing views from my 59th floor east/south-facing corner suite. ^

Have a blast in HKG - I never thought much about visiting but now that I've been, can't wait to get back. What a cool place!

vysean

I just stayed there two nights this past weekend - some photos are below.

Short summary - overpriced, underwhelming, and very poor check-in experience. Housekeeping staff excellent, breakfast great, location very convenient.

As a Plat, I was not upgraded, despite there being the following room types available before/during/after my booking:

$1400 HKD Double Bed - Economy
$1800 HKD Deluxe Room
$2200 HKD King Bed Executive Club
$3700 HKD King Bed Executive Suite

Additionally, I was told if I wanted breakfast I would have to pay an additional $200 HKD per night. If you can't tell, I'm not at all pleased about the lack of an upgrade and the lack of a free breakfast (or any other Plat bennie if there are any).

So here are some photos - this was the Double Bed - Economy room and cost approx. $211 USD per night with tax and service charge ($1550 HKD) - not a great value IMO, but I'm certainly no expert when it comes to HKG-area hotel room rates.

Hallway in room
Bed
Desk/TV
Desk 2
Bathroom Sinks
Bathroom Tub
View From Window
Food (Some kind of chicken and pork fried rice from the basement restaurant).

The pluses:
Convenient location (M2 exit from TST/TST-East).
Great breakfast spread (if you pay for it or get it comped).
Room looked nice enough.
Free internet (thank you to whomever had an open AP with "linksys" as the name)
Free water.
Restaurant in basement (Yueng Loon I think) quite good, though far more expensive than looking around at street vendor food options.

The minuses:
Inefficient check-in process (took 35 minutes to check-in).
No upgrade of any kind.
No free breakfast.
Door to room didn't automatically close (found out while sitting in my underwear on my laptop and wondering why someone was staring at me from the hallway).
Door to bathroom didn't close/lock.

Wouldn't stay here again unless the room rate was very favorable (e.g. under/around $700 HKD per night) or unless I received some benefit for being a Plat member.

By comparison (not that it's in any way equal), I stayed one night at the Conrad HKG my first night there - they upgraded me to a two room suite with a helluva spread of free chocolate and fruit. Someone came up a few minutes after I settled in with a fresh pot of tea. Bose wave radio next to bed was cool (never used one before and might have to go buy one now). In the morning, free Internet at the lounge, nice breakfast spread (less quantity but greater quality than HI), and of course amazing views from my 59th floor east/south-facing corner suite. ^

Have a blast in HKG - I never thought much about visiting but now that I've been, can't wait to get back. What a cool place!

whitelightning

vysean, not a pretty view from your window!

vysean

Agreed, but worth it for the free Internet...

FWIW, couldn't get it if I moved by the door to the hallway, so I'm assuming it was a fairly weak signal from the building across the street (e.g. the one pictured from my window). That or my laptop just sucks...

Shareholder

Same view as I had...but it is a more realistic view of Hong Kong than the one we normally see. After all, this is where the millions who make this city work have to live!

Can any recent guests tell me if the combs in the bathrooms are a wood finish or the standard white plastic at other properties. I found the comb actually a very good one and should it still be the wood finish, I'd ask a future FT guest to take one (or two) for me and send a PM so I can compensate you. Silly but I've never come across one that was as good...

allenkeys

I would agree this hotel is on the expensive side, however the location, for me, is excellent, and I don't pay the bill.

Regarding check-in you must have been very unlucky. I stay here several times a year and have never experienced any problems at check-in.

For the upgrades and free breakfast, this was no problem. Both were offered as Plat benefits without me asking.

I also agree with the other poster about the view. You get a glimpse of the real Hong Kong from this hotel. If I want an amazing view I get out of the hotel and enjoy it in the open air.

allenkeys

Plastic.

Dr Dave

My experience with this place is pretty negative too, with the same complaints as vysean. You can do far better in HK for less money. The quality of service, especially at check-in, is inexcusable.

Maybe they will sharpen up when the CP opens?

demue

RA status doesn't mean a thing at a HI, but your Plat status should. However, I found them to be more than casual about properly granting Platinum benefits. I remember in Mar/ Apr 2006 when I stayed there for 2 weeks I got something of a 'Premier' room (I think called deluxe now) or so which was bigger than standard, newly renovated, had an extra seating area and table. Overall a nice enough room, but no Exec room and no lounge access.

why fly

I often get the IC Grand Stanford at 1400 so it must just be the time of year... tomorrow the IC GS is 1600.... however its a horrible hotel for RA upgrades.

vysean

Can anyone confirm the free breakfast for Plats deal? I'm staying here again tonight and wasn't upgraded to the Club level - would like to get something out of my stay since the Internet isn't free from this room...

BTW, rooms XX07, XX09, XX31, and XX33 are the smallest rooms - to be avoided if you have lots of stuff or want to stretch out.

The open "linksys" wireless access point is on the odd-number side of the hotel, and probably on the xx00-xx21 wing as I can't access it from my room tonight...

Russell745

Taking my wife and 7 yr old daughter to HKG for seven nights in February.
Their first time to Asia (I've done Seoul and Taipei 6-7 times but never HKG).
I'm planning on using points and can get all seven nights free here.

Opinions on staying here as opposed to the IC? At the IC I would be able to get 4 nights free and would need to pay for 3.

I'm sort of leaning towards the IC but the 7 nights free here really needs to be considered.

FWIW I'm Plat only.

demue

Hmm depends on your expectations or better your family's. Plat is as good as it gets at this place. Yes the IC HKG (not the IC GS) is great if you are RA. excellent but pricey for the 3 nights. IC GS is a mixed bag at bets and actually used to be a Holiday Inn in the old old days. For 7 days free I would take the HI GM. Location is very good close to MTR and so. When they assign you a room (using points usually gets you a not so great one) ask if there are any upgrades available. Can't hurt.

whitelightning

Russell745, you could consider joining Ambassador and use the BOGO (if it arrives in time) at one of the ICs. Then you're redeeming points for 6 nights.

I've not stayed at the HI GM before but for 5k points more I would consider IC GS. Had an excellent rewards stay there in Nov. Was upgraded and escorted to my room. IC HKG is nicer and more modern but seems like the staff there are more snobbish and don't really care.

allenkeys

I stay at the HIGM regularly, but have never stayed at either IC's, so a little difficult to compare. However, I did take my wife and daughter there recently for 5 nights, being 2 rooms on reward points. Both rooms were upgraded (from standard to deluxe) without asking ( I am Plat). Although some roomsdo have less than spectacular views, for us, the rooms were fine as we did not go on holiday to look through a hotel window! The big draw for us at this hotel though is the excellent location for shops, restaurants, MTR, and 5 minutes walk to the waterside. My wife and daughter just loved the hustle and bustle.

Please feel free to PM me if you want to ask more questions.