Tuesday, April 30

Hong Kong Accommodation

USA HOSTEL

We were surprised to learn that Hong Kong offers a reasonable range of accommodation from cheap hostels to 5-star hotels located both in prime and rural areas of Hong Kong. Of our 5D4N stay in Hong Kong, the first three nights were spent in a cheap hostel at Mirador Mansion named USA Hostel. I'd admit it was the tiniest room we've gotten into, but the fact that it has two large windows, on the side and right in front of the beds, the room became a little bit larger and pleasant to the eyes. The chandelier is quite big for the room but  it gives the room warmth and a little cozy feel.


the i-Square Mall right in front of our window


isn't the chandelier nice? :)

Our room is a little lovely box with nice view of Nathan road, aircon, cable TV and a private bathroom with hot and cold shower. Total hotel charges for 4D3N stay is US$154.62 ( Sgd $185.54, around Sgd$62/night) which is a real steal the fact that its location is literally in the middle of the city where Avenue of the Stars, Tsim Sha Tsui MTR and shopping malls are just within walking distance.

Gil overlooking Nathan Road




USA Hostel is located inside Mirador Mansion situated along one of the busiest streets of Hong Kong, the Nathan Road. Beside Mirador Mansion is the more famous Chungking Mansion. Both of these buildings housed independent low-budget guesthouses, inns and shops. 

the entrance of Mirador Mansion at night 

All our Hong Kong activities were scheduled on the first four days of our stay so we were out on the streets most of the time. But there were times that we come back to our room in the middle of the day to take rest and take a nap since the location of this hostel is very convenient. For some reasons, comfort and convenience do not necessarily mean expensive. 

USA Hostel also offers rooms for large group and families. I suggest you get the room with windows as their rooms can trigger claustrophobia due to limited spaces. Over all, we won't mind staying again in this hostel in the future! :)  



USA Hostel
Flat F1, 13/F, Mirador Mansion 
58-62 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
00852, Hong Kong

ROYAL PLAZA HOTEL

On our last night in Hong Kong, we decided to stay in Mong Kok area so we could visit the famous Ladies Market for souvenirs. Inspired by the saying 'Save the best for Last,' we reserved the last 2D1N at Royal Plaza Hotel- a five star hotel with swimming pool (No picture taking allowed in the pool).

Based on readings, Royal Plaza Hotel is just within walking distance from Mong Kok station (MTR Kwun Tong Line). Little did I know that it's actually at Mong Kok EAST (MTR East Rail), a different MTR line. It was a long and tiring walk finding the hotel. Finally, we passed by a shopping mall and found the hotel right at the back of the mall. 







the bottled water, coffee and tea are free, all others are not

We booked Superior Room with buffet breakfast but to compensate for the noise due to the undergoing construction on some part of the hotel, we were upgraded to Deluxe Room with two double beds. Total hotel charges for 2D1N stay via agoda.com is US$178.64 (Sgd $236.08), more expensive than than the 3-night stay at USA Hostel. 

at the elevator area


the lobby from the La Scala Restaurant at Mezzanine floor 

The buffet breakfast the following day was served at the Mezzanine floor overlooking the lobby. Honestly, the lobby's interior wasn't impressive at all, so as the breakfast. 










 After the breakfast, we just went out to have last-minute shopping (again) as pasalubong, as if we didn't spend the our last night at the Ladies Market the whole night. True enough, Ladies Market is just within walking distance but a little farther than we expected.

Over all, we had a nice stay at Royal Plaza Hotel but I don't think we will be staying in this hotel again in the future. The room is nice but the hotel's interior and the limited selection of buffet breakfast is not at all impressive. Location is quite far from the main roads as well. Imagine how much we have saved if only we extend our USA Hostel stay for that last night! *wink*


Royal Plaza Hotel
193 Prince Edward  Road West, Kowloon 
Mongkok, Hong Kong

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

pwede po malaman ang contact details niyo? regarding po sa usa hostel. I want to talk to you personally. please text me. 09157110795 or 09295663043

mishi said...

hi,

please drop me an email at mitzpelaez@yahoo.com. We're currently based outside the Philippines. Thanks for dropping by! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi maam mishi. ask ko lang po condition ng usa hostel sa mirador mansion hongkong.

planning to be there on Oct. 24-27, 2013 with my daughter 5'11'' and my son 5'5" by the way I'm 6'2", magkasya po kaya kami sa room na katulad ng sa inyo. esp po yung bathroom nila. yung twice na visit namin, nag hotel kami kaya wala silang reklamo. this time tight budget kami kaya mag hostel kami.

Ano po pala room type yung nakuha nyo? maganda kasi sa paningin ko.
meron pa po ba na ibang babayaran aside from the balance? walk-in lang po ba kayo or nag book online?kumusta naman po ang treatment nila sa customer? marami kasing negative reviews kaya undecided pa ako.
If may kulang pa po sa questions ko, kayo na po bahala magdagdag base sa observation ninyo


I will wait for your reply

maraming salamat po

Arnold
Laspiñas City

mishi said...

Hi Sir Arnold,

If you just want a room for the night, I mean basic necessity, ok nmn po USA Hostel. Maliit lang po rooms nila, as in maliit na konte lng space to move around esp sa CR. Our room po is Standard double room pero 2 single bed lang sya na pinagtabi. I don't think na komportable kayo sa katulad ng room nmin given na kulang bed nila. They have triple and quadruple rooms nmn po. Please check pics and videos on their website.

Back to CR po, we were not comfortable with it kasi mas malaki pa lababo kesa sa space for shower. As posted CR pic po sa blog ko, yun na yun..lababo, konteng space with shower then bowl. I'm not sure about the other CR sa ibang rooms pero every room nmn po have CR.

Ang worry ko po is naexperience nyo na hotel sa HK. I don't think your kids will like this hostel comfort-wise. By the way, USA Hostel is just one of the hostels located at 13th flr of Mirador Mansion...marami pa pong ibang hostels, as in share share sila sa space within each floor. In addition, may oras po yung elevator. May instance na late kmi nakauwi then we need to use the back elevator. If you've been to old buildings sa Manila, Recto or Divi, Mirador Mansion for me is like that.

In fairness to USA Hostel, I've read a lot of blogs and reviews din before we decided to stay there kasi it is the most decent hostel so far among hostels located both in Mirador and Chungking Mansion. If you will still pursue staying there, be sure to book rooms with window. We were mistakenly led to a room without window (Non USA-Hostel, same floor) and it was really like a match box. The window is actually a glass wall lang, wala ding fresh air pero atleast you wouldn't be facing mere wall... the glass wall gives an illusion of added space. =)

I remember paying only the balance upon check-in. With aircon, hot-and-cold shower, cable TV and everyday room cleaning.

Please watch their videos so you'll have the idea of their rooms. Bottomline, if you'll be spending your entire day outside the hostel and that you just need the hostel to spend the night, ok lng po to choose hostel. Big built din po kmi ni Gil, other than CR na super sikip eh, we won't mind staying at USA Hostel again.

Hope these help. Nice meeting you po and thank you for reading my blog! =)

-mishi&gil

Anonymous said...

thanks for that info maam.
I hope hindi ako magkamali. nkakahiya kasi sa mga anak ko.
maam, nasilip nyo po ba yung superior rooms nila? yun po kasi ang balak kong i book...
sensya na po sa damin ng questions ko.

Arnold

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