Crafa Harbour Hotel

The room had lots of space, a large toilet, high ceiling, and a nice harbour view. Causeway Bay Station is about a 10-minute walk away. But beyond the ground-floor concierge area, the place feels run down, especially once you get into the elevator. The room needs major renovation and a thorough clean to get rid of the dusty, musty feel. We also found a pair of used black socks by the old curtains as soon as we walked in.

The room was clean and the mattress was very comfortable. The view was amazing, it felt like good value, and there’s a bus to the airport just two blocks down the main road. The experience was spoiled by how checkout was handled. At exactly 12:00, we got repeated calls and knocks urging us to leave. It felt like harassment, and I’ve never had a hotel check me out that way before. On the second day, reception called asking where the towels were. They were in the closet temporarily because we needed space for our clothes to dry on the bathroom rack. That call made us feel our privacy had been invaded. Then, on checkout day, reception said we had to pay for stained sheets. We asked for proof, but nothing conclusive was provided. After a lot of arguing about something they said we’d done, they dropped the charge. It left us feeling accused of being dishonest and unclean, which we aren’t, and was the last impression we took away from an otherwise pleasant stay.

The hotel is a little worn, but that part was fine. What wasn’t fine was finding used contact lenses and false eyelashes along the bathroom edge, which I had to throw away. I had booked nine nights but left after two because the lift noise kept me awake all night. There was a notice in the lift about maintenance, and the sound was extremely loud, like a drum. I tried to discuss it with two staff members, but the language barrier got in the way. I emailed too and got no reply. Hotels.com, where I booked, wasn’t helpful either, so I had to find another hotel, which was much better. The staff didn’t help resolve the problem. I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

Finding the place isn’t the easiest, but once there, it’s convenient for Causeway Bay and Wanchai. The room size and what’s provided make it a good 3-star hotel, while the Victoria Harbor view feels like a 6-star place. For the money, that’s totally worth it. There’s also a $500 CASH deposit at check-in, plus $100 more if you need an extra card.