General Information » Places To Stay » Hotels

Most of Hong Kong’s hotels are grouped in the business and tourist areas around the harbour. In Kowloon, that means Tsim Sha Tsui, while on the island it’s the strip from Central through to Causeway Bay. Recent years have seen hotels popping up in more remote areas; their rates can be cheaper, if you don’t mind the extra travelling.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board claims that there is no need for any hotel star-rating system, as ‘the laws of supply and demand have ensured that Hong Kong’s hotels maintain the highest standards’. Dig a bit deeper and you’ll find that internally they divide hotels into four categories – but don’t make the results public.

Even within the same hotel you’ll find a wide range of prices depending on the season, the size of the room, and the view. Ah, the view! If you are staying in one of the fancier hotels, it’s worth paying the extra to get the harbour view – it’s something you’ll certainly remember from your trip. Make sure you get a room with a full harbour view though, as on lower floors you may just be getting a glimpse of the sea.

You should expect to pay less than the advertised nightly rate (rack rate). Booking as part of a package will often reduce costs, as can booking in advance through a hotel’s website. Some websites adjust prices upwards as you get closer to the arrival date, and rooms get scarcer. It is also worth checking prices on third-party websites, though they often work in the opposite way to hotel websites, ie. their prices drop if you can take a last-minute deal. Finally, if you have to walk into a hotel to find a room, the sign showing the rack rate will probably give you a shock. Ask the staff what ‘walk-in’ specials they have on offer; unless they are absolutely full you’ll usually be given a better price. And don’t forget to check if quoted prices include the 13% tax.