royben

Going to visit Hong Kong in early April and need a hotel room for 6 nights. Any recommendation as to where to stay? I'm looking for an inexpensive place because I would rather spend my money on buying things than on a room and bed. Budget is around $100US per night or cheaper. Thanks.

Lia

Try the Salisbury YMCA. It's right next to the Peninsula in Kowloon - great location and the facility is much better than one might expect. Other nearby options are the Marco Polo Prince or Gateway Hotels. The Prince is usually less expensive and both hotels are part of the Harbour City/Ocean Terminal shopping center next to the Star Ferry. If you don't mind a less convenient location, you might want to try the Metropole or Eaton.

royben

Thanks for the ideas. Now my husband believes we should stay on Hong Kong side. He thinks we'll be going back and forth a lot if we stay on Kowloon side. Any suggestions for Hong Kong Island hotels???

rkkwan

Kowloon is the correct side of the harbor to stay at. I don't think you'll be on Hong Kong Island everyday to sightsee, and Tsimshatsui on Kowloon side is the area with the most restaurants and shops. The night markets are also on Kowloon side.

On Hong Kong Island, all the hotels in Central will be over your budget. Yes, you can stay in Causeway Bay (great shopping and dining too), but why? Or for cheaper hotels, there are plenty of 2-3* properties in Wanchai, North Point or the Western District, but those are not convenient for tourists.

Stick with Tsimshatsui on Kowloon side.

AAFrequentFlyer

Try <b>www.asiahotels.com</b>, a great booking site, but also has pictures and guest reviews of the hotels.

I do agree with <b>Lia</b>. You can't beat the price, location and the quality of the YMCA Salisbury Hotel. If you get the harbour view room you will have a gorgeous view of Hong Kong island and the harbour. You are within few minutes walk to the Star Ferry, the MTR, next door to the Peninsula. For the budget you are looking for, don't hesitate. Book it!

travelmug

Are you planning all of your trip on HK Island? If not then it is better to stay in Kowloon. There's great public transport so don't worry about it. The Timshatsui MTR is only stop away from Admiralty Station on HK Island.
If you want to save some money on hotel, then I would suggest the BP International. www.bpih.com.hk Click on &quot;What's New&quot; If you book for 7 days, it cost just HK$3000, service charge included, plus complimentary boardband internet, free local calls, 2 free tokens for laundry... I know you only need 6 nights but 3000/6=$500 That's only US$67/night! It's located next to Kowloon Park, 3 minutes walk to Jordan MTR. It's a nice stroll from the hotel to Timshatsui along the Parklane Shopping area on Nathan Road. The hotel was recently renovated. The room size is still the same but the new design makes space more practical, and feels more roomy and comfortable. There's a Yue Wah department store nearby which sells Chinese arts &amp; crafts.

rkkwan

BP International is a decent hotel, and that rate is pretty good. But it's definitely more than 3 minutes from the MTR entrance.

Many HK-China buses depart from there, which may or may not be a good thing for you.

travelmug

Oops! My bad. It's more like a 6-8 minute walk to Jordan MTR from BP. Shamrock Hotel is the one that's next to the MTR but it's not as nice as BP. Their weekly rate is also more expensive. BP is popular with mainland tourists because of it's location and price. There might be a slightly longer wait at the elevator if a tour group arrives, don't know if that's important to you or not. It doesn't bother me at all because more money saved = more money for shopping!

Peteralan

I agree with the advice people above have given you...stay on Kowloon side . Which ever side you decide on you will be travelling from side to side and the trip is not more than about 10 minutes and the Star ferry is fun. Enjoy!

royben

Thanks again for all the suggestions. YMCA Salisbury is booked up so I looked up BP International. They are at a rate of $140 US per night. Steep! Does anyone know anything about the Wang Fat Hostel? Another questions please...If you were going to stay on Kowloon side, in what order would yo place the districts, in otherwords, does Wan Chi top where the Salisbury is located? You see what I mean? Thanks again.

royben

Additional comments on districts and my confustion. We travelors must decide which district fits our need. We have the Tsimshatsui district, the Wanchai road and district, the Causeway Bay, Nathan road and so on and so on. Does anyone know of a on in one web map that will give me details as to where these districts are. I continue to appreciate all your help.

AAFrequentFlyer

Are you sure about the YMCA? Did you check directly with the hotel site? If not, try it here:

<b>http://www.ymcahk.org.hk/general_new_e/#</b>

Here is a nice collection of HK detailed maps and some other info:

<b>http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/mustknow/maps/index.jhtml</b>

rkkwan

Well, I was writing you a reply when I saw your newer post. So, let me start from scratch and explain the basic geography of Hong Kong.

Go download the pdf files from the Hong Kong Tourism Board, as linked by AAFF, of the main areas, and take a look at the MTR/tranportation map.

So, what areas?

<b>Central</b> is the downtown financial district of Hong Kong. That includes the MTR stations of &quot;Sheung Wan&quot;, &quot;Hong Kong&quot;, &quot;Central&quot;, and &quot;Admiralty&quot; on HK Island. Pro: high-end malls, easy access to Lang Kwai Fong and Soho, which have lots of restaurants/bars catered significantly to expats living in Hong Kong. Easy access to tourist sites on Hong Kong Island. Con: all the hotels there are high-end 5* types, quiet at night except for the two areas I mentioned above. That's where I would stay if I'm on a business trip and can afford the high-end hotels.

Another district good for visitors on Hong Kong Island is <b>Causeway Bay</b>. Many 3* to 4* hotels there. Major area for shopping and dining for locals. Now as you can see on the map, <b>Wan Chai</b> is in between Admiralty and Causeway Bay. It's a older area with not much appeal to tourists. The good thing is that it's just one or two MTR stops from Central or Causeway Bay. Or you can take a bus or the HK Tramway among those areas.

<b>Tsim Sha Tsui</b> is the area where we are all recommending. At the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula, you can get to Hong Kong Island easily by MTR or Star Ferry. Lots and lots of shops, restaurants and hotels there.

<b>Nathan Road</b> is not an area, but the major throughfare that runs N-S in the middle of Kowloon, and the MTR also runs underneath Nathan Road. Lots and lots of buses run between Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry and Mong Kok, or you can take the MTR. We usually seperate the areas roughly by the MTR station that serves it. So, a little to the North of TST is <b>Jordan</b>, where the BP International, the Eaton and Majestic are.

Further north is <b>Yau Ma Tei</b>, where you will find two cheap charity-run hotels (real hotels, not guesthouses in a mixed-use buildings) - Caritas Bianchi and Salvation Army Booth Lodge. Then you come to <b>Mong Kok</b>, a very busy district with lots of restaurants and markets. This is a very local lower- to middle-class area; very authentic Hong Kong, though some new highend stuff are appearing at the new Langham Place, with an &quot;affordable&quot; 5* hotel. Other lodging choice include the Standord.

So, basically, when you investigate a hotel, find out how far it is from a MTR station. The stations you really want to be close to are any one from Sheung Wan to Fortress Hill on the Island (Blue) line along the north shore of Hong Kong Island; and any one from Tsim Sha Tsui to Prince Edward on the Tseun Wan (Red) line.

[BTW, you mentioned the Wang Fat Hostel. It's a privately run guest house, occupying a few units on one or two floors in a residental apartment building. It's convenient in Causeway Bay, and it's a safe building. But it's not a hotel or a hostel you may usually think of.]

Spygirl

Royben, I was going to say, again, that the days of the YMCA Salisbury being a great travel bargain are over-the rates are going up up up. A harbour view room at the Salisbury goes for a minimum of $150 without tax, now, if you can get them, usually the rates are much higher in peak season. I don't even think one of their standard/no-view rooms goes for under $100 now, so it is clearly not the bargain it once was.

As for maps of HKG, go to asiatravel.com/hknutmap.htm. There you can click on each district, and see what hotels are located in the area.

rkkwan

Problem is the dates. 4/15-4/30 is the massive Guangzhou Trade Fair, and hotel rates around that time is always very high, even in Hong Kong, 120 miles away.

galiano

We have just returned from a trip to the Orient and spent 4 nights in Hong Kong. I've been there numerous times before and the best place by far to stay at a reasonable price is the New World Renaissance. You should be able to get a room under $ 100 US. Book through one of the online agencies like Asia Hotels.com The hotel is in an absolutely perfect location. Rooms are a bit small but stylish and immaculately clean with very good bathrooms. Don't eat at their restaurant as it's pricey. For breakfast go out the main door and on your right is a San Francisco Coffee shop with booths looking out onto the harbour which makes it an amazing bargain.

travelmug

Royben, I forgot to mention that the HK$3000/week rate must be booked directly with the hotel by email. Do not use the On-line Reservation link. Just email your date to them at [email protected] From my experience they usually reply in just 1 or 2 days. I also just checked on asiahotels.com and BP is available in April for $109/night. Where did you get $140?

Peteralan

galiano where is the New World Rennaissance? I have a feeling I've seen it but just can't picture what area it is in. Thanks.

Spygirl

Hi Peteralan. Yes you have seen it many times I'll wager-but just never bothered to take a closer look-it's the big white bldg. between the HK Cultural Center and the IC-in fact, it shares an underground passage to the shopping arcade with the IC. You probably didn't look at it because of all the construction going on there in that part of Salisbury Rd. It didn't look too appealing to me, but Galiano's postive report on the rooms and service makes it sound quite attractive. I know someone else who comes to HKG frequently for business and stays there. The hotel is definitely in an ideal location on the TST waterfront/Ave. of the Stars/HK Cultural Ctr. area.

DonTopaz

Many people prefer staying on the Kowloon side (lots of shopping on the streets, great harbour view), many prefer the HK side (more interesting neighborhoods near the tourist areas, more up-scale shopping).

If you're staying for 6 nights and it's your 1st trip, I'd suggest 3 nights on each side. You'll see and do lots more, and you'll have a much better idea where you'll want to stay on your next trip.