Hotel Indigo Hong Kong Island by IHG

The cleaning staff were fantastic, freshening my room each morning with great attention. The guest service experience, though, disappointed me, especially as an IHG platinum elite member at a four-star upscale hotel. On the third morning, cigarette smell drifted into my room, and it was also lingering in the sky bar during our visit. As a non-smoker, it's not a smell I want to wake up to or have with a drink. I arrived around 1:30pm for a scheduled 2pm check-in, but was told the room might not be ready until 3pm. They tagged my luggage and said I could wait in the lobby, which wasn't comfortable for a 90-minute wait after a long travel day. No alternatives were offered, even though platinum members are advised they can get early check-in and room upgrades without asking when available. I asked if I could wait by the pool or in the sky bar, but both were closed. Then I asked whether any other rooms were available, since check-in was at 2pm, not 3pm. They finally offered me a different room that was ready immediately. What shocked me was that, if I hadn't asked, I would have waited an hour past check-in despite rooms already being cleaned and ready, and despite my IHG platinum elite status. That wasn't the service I expected.

The location was great, with the metro, attractions, restaurants, cute cafés, and a coffee shop and small market right next door. I stayed five days and had a great experience. The room was spacious, clean, and well equipped, with good lighting, automatic curtains, and a big bathroom. You can look for good deals on the hotel's official website.

The main problem was the air conditioning, which for some strange reason was fixed at 18 degrees and couldn't be adjusted by guests. The room got very cold at night. When I mentioned it to the receptionist, they arranged for a heater, and that worked well. Still, it's unusual for guests to have no control over the temperature in a modern four-star hotel. Otherwise, I enjoyed my stay. The hotel is near an MTR station and several bus routes, with plenty of good restaurants and cafes a short walk away. My room was modern and in very good condition, the staff were efficient, and the hotel had very good soundproofing despite being in a busy area. I ordered room service dinner one night, and it was tasty and good value.

The team's care and attention clearly reflect strong leadership, and that made a positive difference throughout my visit. Everyone was friendly and accommodating, and nothing felt like too much trouble, so the stay felt relaxed and well looked after. Hotel Indigo Hong Kong Island is a stylish, genuinely welcoming base in Wan Chai. Its excellent location makes it easy to reach the MTR, shops, and restaurants, which is convenient for business or leisure. I'd happily recommend it.