ALVA HOTEL BY ROYAL

The rooftop pool and gym were great, and there are three restaurants on site. They’re not the cheapest, but the seafood buffet was good; they also serve dim sum, and there’s a Japanese restaurant. The hotel is a 5-10 minute walk from either City One or Shek Mun train stations, and it also has a shuttle to Shatin Train Station or Kowloon Station. Getting to and from HKIA was easy. A direct A41 express bus stops in front of the hotel and costs HK$23.4. The bus station across the hotel is the second stop from the terminal in Shek Mun. Best 4 stars hotel in Shatin area.

I arrived at noon on 7th September, soaked from walking in heavy rain, with wet shoes and socks. I was cold, uncomfortable, and exhausted, but the front desk told me to wait another one to two hours because “this is the policy.” I sat in the lobby for about 1.5 hours before asking again, and only then did I get a room. The staff’s expression and tone made me feel looked down on, like I was a nuisance instead of a paying guest. This was my first night at Alva Hotel by Royal, and my last. For a hotel claiming to be five-star, I found the lack of compassion unacceptable. I understand check-in policies, but hospitality should still mean treating guests with dignity and respect. On that day, Alva Hotel by Royal failed to show even basic courtesy.

At 9 AM, drilling and banging began on the floor above my 15th-floor room, and it made it impossible to rest. I’d hoped for a quiet, relaxing morning at the ALVA Hotel, but the loud construction continued and ruined it. I can’t believe a hotel of this supposed standard schedules such disruptive work while guests are still in their rooms. A complete failure to provide a comfortable stay. Very disappointed 😔

We had a really nice stay. The room was clean, and the staff were friendly and helpful. The hotel is close to the train station, and getting to and from the airport was easy.