Cosmo Hotel Hong Kong by Dorsett Hotels

Getting around was easy: bus stops for much of Hong Kong are just minutes away, and the bus to Hong Kong MTR station stops right outside, handy for the airport. Wan Chai and the Jockey raceway are nearby too. Times Square and Causeway Bay MTR are an 11-minute walk, while N Bouldering is 13 minutes away. The first night started with a bad smell in the room, mostly from the toilet, though the water looked clean. The shower and floor drain were another source. A few flushes and a couple of minutes running the shower made the smell fade a lot. The linens and pillows smelled a little as well, but seemed fine after one night. The carpets looked dated and had some stains, though they didn't feel dirty, and the other amenities were good quality. I could hear everything in the hallway because the doors could use better seals. I'd heard good things from family and online reviews, so I expected a lot, but things improved from the second day onward.

Keith Leung at reception made our last day much easier. We thought we'd carry our bags to a shuttle stop for Central station and then the airport, but he suggested a low-cost bus just outside Cosmo Hotel that went straight to the airport. No hauling luggage between a bus stop and train terminal. Our trip had nearly fallen apart before it began. My husband, son and I arrived for a vacation only to learn our third-party booking service had cancelled our two-week reservation without telling us. The reception at the Emperor hotel, our first choice, said nearby hotels were probably full because of a big competition. Cosmo Hotel was the second place we tried, and Catherine from security found space for our whole stay. She even pointed out that booking online could save us money. I searched on my tablet, booked from that day onward, and got the savings. We were comfortable there and had the amenities we needed. Catherine went out of her way from the start, and the staff helped us find discounts and made the trip easier. We'll book with Cosmo Hotel and its wonderful staff again when we return to Hong Kong.

The location was the one real plus, with lots of restaurants nearby and easy access around town. Still, I wouldn't stay again. We had a family room with two double/queen beds, but the hotel felt worn and dated, and the beds were uncomfortable. There was hair left from the previous guest in the bathroom. The sheets didn't look clean, so I slept in my clothes, which was disappointing. After checking in, we looked out the window and found a cemetery right behind the hotel. It hadn't been mentioned, and discovering it then felt unsettling. Worse, there was a condom over the smoke detector above the bed, apparently to keep it from going off. It was unsettling to have it hanging over us while we slept.

For New Year's in Hong Kong, this was one of the cheaper places I found. Check-in went smoothly, and the room was adequate, somewhere between the tiny and large rooms you often get in Hong Kong hotels. No frills, but it worked well for one night.