Harbour Grand Kowloon

Our corner room, number 1739, had the most stunning harbour views we've seen from any hotel. Windows on two sides gave us panoramic Victoria Harbour vistas, with spectacular sunrises and mesmerizing city lights and boats at night. We were so taken with it that we left the curtains open on our last night. The room also had excellent air conditioning, blackout blinds, strong water pressure, and reliable hot water. We weren't sure whether tap water was safe to drink, and there was no complimentary bottled water, so we brought water we'd bought at 7-Eleven at the airport. My wife, our 17-year-old daughter, and I had a wonderful stay at Harbour Grand Kowloon. We booked through Qantas Hotels with a Harbour Club upgrade and requested a king bed plus an extra bed. At check-in, we found two twin beds, with the sofa bed set up for our daughter. She thought it was quite firm and switched to one of the twins from the second night. My wife and I were comfortable sharing the other twin. The Harbour Club lounge has no harbour views, but the evening food selection was good and self-serve alcohol was available. Tiffany at the Club was lovely and attentive. Club breakfast was adequate, though the ground floor buffet has more variety and spectacular harbour views, so I'd recommend that. The gym also has harbour views, and the changing-room sauna was clean and properly hot. The rooftop pool was closed for the season during our visit, but we could still go up for the views. The location is excellent for MTR access. For the quickest route, turn right at the hotel entrance and then take the first left, instead of following the signs straight ahead. The taxi ride from the airport took about 45 minutes. We had a great time and would happily return. The views, convenient location, and friendly staff made for a memorable stay, though we can't compare it with other places in Hong Kong.

The hotel is right by the harbour, with a pleasant walk along the bay to some nice bars. The breakfast buffet was really good at £15, while dinner felt a bit pricey at over £30. There's a nice three-storey shopping centre shaped like a cruise liner, worth a look. If the Chinese food doesn't resemble the English Chinese dishes you're used to and leaves you phased, there's a place in there serving good burgers. Three days is long enough for a Hong Kong stay.

After eight years away from Hong Kong, I tried three hotels from this group: Harbour Metropolitan Hotel Shanghai, Kowloon Harbourfront Hotel, and Harbour Grand Kowloon. Harbour Grand Kowloon was the best of the three, and the room cleaning was efficient and good. I stayed during Chinese New Year, when the hotel was extremely busy. The Front Desk was overwhelmed, and the service felt bad and unwelcoming. It was like dealing with a supermarket cashier: no eye contact or smile, just a rush to finish with one guest and move on to the next. That's typical Hong Kong style manner. The Concierge Department gave more of a five-star feel, with professional dress and manner. I suggest Front Desk Staff dress better, wear suits, and get proper training for working under pressure. Nothing is impossible.

The room had a magnificent view, the clear highlight, and the hotel sits right by the promenade, a pleasant spot for a morning jog or evening walk. The property's overall presentation was decent. Still, the stay didn't feel worth the premium price. The Wi-Fi was extremely slow, around 15 Mbps, which isn't acceptable at this price, especially if you need it for work or streaming. There was no drinking water, and while I understand Hong Kong's rules on single-use plastics, other hotels offer practical alternatives like floor water coolers and reusable room flasks. This hotel didn't. The kettle had visible particles inside, which was disgusting and made me question housekeeping. The TV flickered and had such low resolution it felt like a 1990s set. The tea and coffee were poor quality too, and the amenities overall felt cheap for what they charge.