4 years ago
OK, where to start. Lets start with the positives....
OK, where to start. Lets start with the positives. There is a free bus that runs daily & regular to Tsuen Wan MTR station where you can catch trains to most of the tourist sights. However, this hotel is in the Northern territories so you are out of the way somewhat and it will cost you about 120 -140 HKD in a cab to get to this train station.
The breakfast was included in the room price, you will get a ticket to hand to the receptionist as you arrive for breakfast each morning. However, the breakfast room is packed full and you may need to share a table with people you dont know who dont have good table manners. The breakfast has a running buffet however it is pretty basic and set out in 3 different places within the room. The chef does not make poached eggs. The baked beans were of an inferior brand and poor cereal choices. There was often only one choice of jam for toast. There were muffins however there were no Danish pastries or croissants or honey. The cutlery was often dirty, so please be prepared to clean your own or bring your own down from your room.
There is an over spill breakfast area, that's a a marque in the carpark area out at the back of the hotel, which during your breakfast time you will be witness to may delivery trucks coming and going. There is no delightful view at all in the marque just dirty laundry being taken away.
Another positive that I must mention before I forget. The front entrance is pretty with its fountain that doubles up as a roundabout for vehicles. There is a beautiful small grassed area with herbaceous borders. However, there is nowhere outside for children to play or anywhere to just sit and have a coffee and read or just chat. Unless you want to sit in the carpark marque or stay in your own room.
Talking of rooms. We had 3 rooms over our 10 day stay, believe me when I say I was not truly happy with any off them however I had paid via a website and my hotel booking was none refundable so even if I left I would have lost all that money and I wasn't wanting to loose it all to stay somewhere else. So we made the best of a bad job. The first room was nothing like the pictures on the web page with pretty bedding. The bedding was a basic white. You could not walk around the bed as the bed was pushed upto the window. So not at all like the photo shown. The shower room was very small and there were mark's/ stains on the carpets and ceiling. Although there was a sea view it was the shipping harbour with shipping containers coming in and out all the time. Not really romantic unless this is your thing.
The beach called Lido beach is a fair walk away and down steep steps to get to it & although young families used it, I'd be concerned about the quality of the water considering all these boats. Having said that, there is a cordoned off area where no boats came near & there was a life guard present at the main times families were there during the day. The families with children all seemed to enjoy their time there. I would say some people are easily pleased.
The other beach which is within walking distance does have a lift down to it. The lift smelled strongly of urine. However, this beach was not really used by families an no provisions were made for hiring sunbeds or sun umbrellas. Again this beach had a view of container ships coming in and out.
So we arrived late on our first night after 10pm due to our flight and was told that room service was not available after 10pm. What star hotel is this? Oooh 4 star I keep forgetting.
After rearranging a room swap to a room where you could walk around the bed, we settled for the night. The view was ok of the shipping lane, but no balcony or anywhere really to sit and read unless you did so on your bed. The wardrobe space was not large or long enough to hang dresses only short items and it had a light inside that seemed useless. There was a usable safe for passports and money to be kept securely. However there were only two small draws to place other clothing items. 4 stars - someone is having a laugh when they rated this hotel.