Akvo Hotel

Our premium city view room on level 12 was quite spacious, and the location was convenient, with lots of restaurants nearby and Sheung Wan station not far away. We were traveling with our six-month-old, and the cot we requested at booking was already in the room when we checked in. Among the hotels we stayed at in Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong, this was the only one that offered a baby bathtub. The lighting controls were odd. It took us a while to learn that the button for the light by the door had to be held down for about five seconds. The bathroom had some mold and rust, and my wife said the kettle was dirty, so she cleaned it before we used it.

The room's AC made a constant buzzing noise, and staff told me that was normal. The gym had been under maintenance since August, but I only found out at check-in, and no alternative was offered. It's already been more than two months, so why is it taking so long? Despite the problems with amenities and facilities, the staff were generally pleasant.

The water heater in our room wasn't working, and it was still broken when we woke up. When I called for help, staff casually said, "Yes! The water heater was broken down last night," as if it were a minor issue. I later learned the team already knew that all rooms on the higher floors had water heater problems, yet they still assigned us one. Guests should have been told at check-in and offered another room. Why knowingly put people in a room with a known, unresolved defect? We arrived at approximately 12:11 AM, but a system error delayed our room key until 12:45 AM. There was little proactive communication or assistance. Soon after reaching the room, the fire alarm went off and the elevators shut down without any explanation or notice from staff. My husband was stranded on another floor and couldn't get back to our room for an extended time. I called the front desk several times, but got no clear update or apology. During a safety-related incident, guests shouldn't be left without information, especially when access and comfort are affected. It was meant to be a restful night, but instead we dealt with a string of avoidable, poorly handled problems on top of travel fatigue. The lack of care, communication, and accountability was deeply frustrating. A hotel should provide a safe, functional, comfortable stay. I expect a sincere explanation and appropriate compensation for the disruption, and hope this feedback is taken seriously so others don't go through the same thing.

The room had plenty of space for Hong Kong, including a large bathroom and bed, AC, a mini fridge, and an espresso machine. It's very close to the metro, in a lively, walkable neighborhood where I felt safe. There are lots of food choices, cafes, and markets in the alleys. The facilities are small but useful: a gym, laundry, and lobby, plus very fast WiFi. The staff were friendly and helped me get a taxi right at the hotel door. They also store luggage before check-in and after checkout. There's an eco program to save water by not changing sheets and towels daily, but they'll happily change them every day if you ask.