Dorsett Kwun Tong, Hong Kong

Calvin at the concierge desk gave us great tips on local snacks, and everyone we met on staff was friendly and professional. The desk was so tiny it was hard to sit there and work for long, and I wish the amenities included lotion. The gym is small, and the pool was closed for maintenance while we were there. I picked the hotel because it was near family, where I’d left some luggage. The taxi ride from the airport took about an hour and cost around HK$360. Check-in went smoothly, with three people at the front desk. I was given corner Room 1505 with one double bed, which was smaller than I’d expected from the word “double.” The room felt cramped, even by Hong Kong standards. Wi-Fi was dependable, and the bathroom had good pressure and steady hot water. The Elemis toiletries were a nice touch. Housekeeping is offered daily, but I didn’t use it. We skipped breakfast too. I did appreciate that the TV had a few international news channels, which helped me keep up with the tensions involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran.

The staff were polite enough, though they didn’t seem interested, and the cleaning was decent. Water pressure was very good, Elemis toiletries were nice, even if they came only in dispensers, and the area felt safe despite being far out. The room itself was tiny and oddly shaped, with a narrow triangular shower instead of a proper cubicle and no bath. There was just one drawer for both of us, hanging space for five items, and no sofa or chair. The furniture looked worn. Our double bed felt meant for one person: it wasn’t a king, sagged badly in the middle so we rolled together, and I could feel the springs. The air conditioning was very loud. Getting around took 45-60 minutes by public transport to reach places in the city. I really can’t see how this qualifies as a four-star hotel.

Kwun Tong puts this hotel near shopping malls and the MTR, though you’re a little beyond the main tourist areas. It has a seasonal outdoor pool, a gym, and concierge service. Rooms are clean and well kept, with free WiFi, work areas, comfortable beds, and modern amenities. Guests often mention the friendly, helpful staff. In Kowloon East, it’s a contemporary, practical option for business or leisure trips to Hong Kong. The price seems reasonable for a dependable mid-range stay with clean rooms and solid facilities, if you don’t mind being farther from central Hong Kong.

We liked having a water refill station, a dehumidifier, an air purifier, and that black adaptor beside the bed. The cleaner responsible for level 27 was also really friendly. Check-in and check-out were quick. The room was roomy enough for two of us to open two large suitcases and still walk around comfortably, and the AC cooled it well. Both the bedroom and bathroom were clean when we arrived.