Ah Shan Hostel

The owner was welcoming, and the price felt like good value. The room was clean, with its own bathroom stocked with shampoo and soap. They also provide adapters and power strips, plus there's a water dispenser, coffee, and a hairdryer. It's close to Mongkok MTR station, and bus A21 goes straight there from the airport. I felt the area was safe and not isolated, so it seems like a good option for solo women travelers. There are also two restaurants nearby that stay open 24 hours.

I paid €86 for one night in a tiny private room at Ah Shan Hostel, which felt far too expensive for what was provided. The shower had no separation, so using it soaked the whole toilet area. They also kept luggage unsecured in the hallway without tags. When I came back to collect mine and put some things I'd just bought into my suitcase, the older woman who owns the place started shouting and suggesting I might be taking other people's things. I calmly offered to show the receipts and asked her not to yell, but she stayed hostile. She then refused to let me charge my phone for a few minutes, even though it was at 3% and I needed to get to the airport, unless I paid an extra rental fee. She told me, "Go to a hotel next time." After that, she started yelling at the woman who had checked me in. I had booked this one night after a week in a hotel because I wanted to experience the local atmosphere and meet people. It turned out to be a huge mistake. One other thing for people who care about animals: the hostel is known for its resident cat, used as its WhatsApp profile picture. When I asked about him on arrival, the owner said he was sick but she wouldn't take him to a vet because it was "too expensive." It was heartbreaking to see a pet used for promotion while its health was being neglected.

We booked a double bed but were given the cheaper twin room. The rooms are small, though the pictures do show that. Each shower flooded the whole bathroom, toilet included. Our door lock was broken, and on the last day someone came into the room while we were lying in bed without clothes. They didn't apologize, and it left us feeling very uncomfortable. We also struggled to find the hostel because there were no directions, and had to ask several people where it was. Luggage storage is offered at 30 HKD per piece, which seemed incredibly expensive for hotel guests, so we took all our bags to the restaurant instead. We may skip Hong Kong next time or spend a little more on accommodation. Update: yes, we were at the right place. We saw the luggage price list during our stay at Ah Shan Hostel. The response we received didn't feel very understanding, given the wrong room, missing arrival information, and the intrusion into our privacy. We now give it one star.

For the price, I was happy with the stay. The bed was clean, the mattress decent enough for a good sleep, the room had no odd smells, and there was a private toilet. The room was clean over my two nights, and the owner was sweet, with good English. Don't expect Ritz Carlton, but she looks after the rooms. No bed bugs either. The location is excellent. The building has lots of elevators, with reception on the 14th floor and my room on the 15th. BOSS the cat is very friendly and hangs around reception. I'm a sucker for cats. Friendly staff too, thanks!