Comparison and Choices in Hong Kong Hotels in Kowloon

Most tourists to Hong Kong will find that their tourist dollar will go a whole lot farther, by choosing to stay in the District of Kowloon. Hotel prices in Kowloon are more reasonable than on Hong Kong Island itself. Personally, having been there a number of times for extended stays - if you want to know the "real" Hong Kong, it's the only place to stay.

Kowloon is the hub of the major shopping districts and the gateway to all the major sights to be found in and around Hong Kong. With Hong Kong's super efficient, user friendly, and extensive public transportation system -- Kowloon hotels are always convenient to anyplace you might wish to visit. Furthermore, Kowloon, like all of Hong Kong -- is one of the safest places to stay in the world, day or night.

The one primary things American tourists need to understand about hotels in Hong Kong, and throughout most of Asia, is that they are geared towards Asian tastes in accommodations. Except for a few very pricey Western style hotels, the rooms will be much smaller and compact than most American tourists have come to expect. This doesn't mean that they are not nice, just that square footage needs are perceived differently thru Asian eyes.

Secondly, choice of hotel accommodation is of course, subjective to individual tastes. My individual preference is based on the fact, that I don't travel to international destinations to stay in my hotel room. I want to my hotel to be comfortable, affordable, convenient, clean, and everything else is "icing on the hotel cake" - i.e. great, but not necessary. I prefer to spend my money on seeing the sights, enjoying quality meals, and bringing home something truly magnificent, that I can enjoy for years to come.

Most tourists will stay in the area of Tsim Sha Tsui and East Tsim Sha Tsui, (aka Nathan Road Golden Mile District) which is the "tourist district" in terms of the local mass transit system.

There are many good reasons to stay in that area, these are:

• Closeness to the Star Ferry & popular Chinese Junket boats;
• Handiness to getting to Macau;
• Convenience to getting to Cheung Chau Island;
• Closeness to Lantau Island;
• Easy access to Victoria Peak;
• Nearness to Hong Kong Island;
• Being virtually in the heart of getting to all of the major shopping locations;
• Being directly across the road from the Hong Kong Cultural Centre;
• Being directly across the road from one of the most picturesque night time views of Hong Kong and on the water on Victoria Harbour;

On the down side of choosing a hotel in this area, you need to gauge your comfort level with:

• Being constantly harassed by street hawkers trying to sell you everything under the Eastern sun. These typically aren't Chinese or Hong Kong residents. Most of them are either from the Middle East, India, Pakistan, or Africa. While harmless, they can be very aggressive. The majority are trying to entice you into visiting stores that will give you a really good bargain on a custom made suit or sell you knock-offs.
• As with any tourist district, including here in the United States, you will pay more for virtually everything you purchase, be it food or souvenirs, you will definitely pay more than a few blocks away.

My personal recommendations for this part of Kowloon are:

Don't be put off by the fact that this is a YMCA. It is not what most Americans think when they see "YMCA" attached to a hotel. It offers world class hotel and services with a view of Hong Kong Harbour and the Hong Kong Peninsula. It's a sixteen story hotel with 363 lavish rooms, including sixty-two suites. Important in Hong Kong, a place where the climate can be hotter and more humid than Florida, each room has it's own air conditioning control.

Amenities are: Refrigerators, coffee makers, color television with remote and cable, in-room safe, telephones with voicemail, mini-bars, and wireless internet connections. This hotel has and extremely nice indoor swimming pool, comfortable bar, and lounge. It has a Western menu cafeteria, that can be relied upon to offer a modest priced meal on a fair level western standards in terms of cleanliness and quality.

Additionally, it's concierge services offer laundry services, babysitting services, administrative services, car hire services, and accommodations for the disabled. The concierge is one of the most reliable and best places in and around Hong Kong to book day tours to Macau, Lantau, and other tourist destinations.

Address: 41 Salisbury Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Telephone Number: +852 226 8788

In terms of location, the YMCA Salisbury has just about everything you could want in terms of convencience. Also, keep in many that many day excursions booked at other Hong Kong hotels, actually will pick up in the lobby of this hotel. It has a Christian book store and gift shop, with modest prices.

In the same neighborhood as the YMCA Salisbury Hotel, it is 45 minutes by car and 30 minutes by rail from the Hong Kong International Airport. It has 733 rooms with great views of the city and is often a choice for business travelers to Hong Kong. It contains three restaurants, each offering a specialty of it's own: Pizzeria; The Window Café (a buffet); and Middle Row Restaurant and Bar (snacks and drinks). It doesn't have a pool, but guests use the YMCA pool. Very contemporary with all the amenities anyone would want or expect.

Address: 19-21 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Telephone Number: +852 2929 2888

This Salisbury Road hotel has 492 guestrooms, including 53 suites, is a favorite with business travelers. It was formerly known as The New World Renaissance Hotel. It has an outdoor swimming pool.

Amenities include:

Sauna, exercise room, jogging facilities, dry cleaning service, laundry, child care, secretarial services, barber, beauty salon, 24-hour room service, and a hotel doctor. It houses The Dynasty restaurant (Chinese cruisine); The Panorama; In-V (bar) and The Patio, which is famous for its international cuisine. It's a Marriott Corporation owned hotel.

Address: 22 Salisbury Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Telephone Number: +852 2369 4111

A new hotel with standard amenities, concierge, restaurants, tourist desk, currency exchange, shuttle to airport, and limited medical services. This nineteen story high rise hotel has 141 all well equipped rooms guestrooms . The very modern Olympic Café caters to both Asian and Western palates.

Address: 46-48 Anchor Street, Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon, 1 Hong Kong

Telephone Number: +85 2380 2223

Another great area of Kowloon, the part of Kowloon that I personally prefer, due to it's proximity to the heart of the shopping district, lesser touristy atmosphere, and absence of street hawkers is along the MTR stops of Jordan, Prince Edward, and Mong Kok East.

Prices are better, you'll get a better bird's eye view of everyday Hong Kong life, and it's still convenient to everything you will find in the tourist district of Tsim Sha Tsui and East Tsim Sha Tsui, (aka Nathan Road Golden Mile District).

My personal recommendations for this part of Kowloon are:

This thirty-three story, 262 guest rooms and suites hotel, has somewhat larger rooms than most Asian hotels. Excellent services, good rates, great amenities, the food can be trusted in terms of Western palates and cleanliness. This is a pretty standard hotel, but one of my favorites due to its location.

It has a nice European style pastry shop and you'll get quality service from its hair salon. Expect such small surprises as lengthy scalp, shoulder, and neck massages - all a routine part of the inexpensive shampoo and blow dry. It's also a good place to book tourist excursion trips.

Address: 22 Lai Chi Kok Road, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Telephone Number: +852 2398 8125

This two hundred guest room hotel is a very stylishly decorated hotel with all the expected amenities. It features a complimentary scheduled shuttle bus to different locations. Pretty basic, but in a good location.

Address: 118 Soy Street, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Telephone Number: +852 2781 1881

Recently renovated and located in the Jordan MTR area of Kowloon, it's an ideal choice for both business and tourist travelers. It has 189 guestrooms and suites. All rooms are more than adequate.

The hotel has more of an Indonesain, flavor especially in it's open air bar at The Bali on the top floor. This hotel has a great gym for it's guests.

Address: 378 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Telephone Number: +852 2388 5141

Great location, convenient to Ladies Market, Flower Market, Bird Garden and major shopping areas.

Rooms are comfortable and offer a good deal of amenities. It's a great moderately priced hotel.

Great views from many of the rooms. The pool is very nice for this part of town.

Address: 380 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Telephone Number: +852 2782 1818