Auberge Discovery Bay

My ocean-view room had a huge bathtub with a waterfall shower head, a king bed, and a really spacious sofa lounge area. It felt worth every penny, and I’m definitely coming back. Auberge Hotel is one of my favorite places in Hong Kong when I need to reset. It’s well away from the busy city and far from most things, so it suits an escape more than a convenient base. There are convenience stores and plenty of restaurants nearby for whatever you need.

The sea breeze and the view made me fall in love with this place. It’s a great spot to slow down and relax. My husband and I also really enjoyed the refreshing, delicious food at the lobby café. The staff were professional, friendly, easy to talk to, and always willing to help. We appreciated the free shuttle to Disneyland, too. Discovery Bay North Plaza is only a few meters away, with more restaurants and a marketplace to explore, and D’Deck is there if you want to relax.

The big rooms had beautiful views, and I liked the rooftop pool and well-equipped gym facing the sea. Discovery Bay has a real island-resort feel, with a genuine holiday atmosphere. The sea location is extraordinary, and northern Discovery Bay is beautiful, recently built, well planned, safe, and close to groceries, restaurants, and the airport. Disneyland is nearby, though not close enough to walk to. The hotel is clean and well designed, with a clear effort to create a brand. For a stay of almost three months, the free laundry service was convenient and high quality. Breakfast had a very comprehensive selection, and housekeeping was great about cleaning even when I left my room after 3 PM. I did often notice an unpleasant toilet smell after cleaning, possibly because the same cloth was used on the floor. The shuttles to Hong Kong, Disneyland, and Sunny Bay were useful, especially for Disneyland day trips. One woman on the shuttle team and the blond-haired driver were particularly friendly and professional. Other hotel staff could be less pleasant, with some not smiling or saying hello or goodbye. The breakfast shuttle timing was awkward for Disneyland: departures only ran in the morning, and the evening return often came before the show ended. There’s also only a small, damaged, littered beach beside the hotel, not a proper beach. The biggest problem for me was cigarette smoke. Around 7 AM each morning, my room filled with smoke smell from the air conditioning. There were no windows to air it out. I reported it several times, but nothing was done. They offered to move me, but the other floors smelled worse. The smoke seemed to come from guests and staff, and I personally saw employees smoking on the second floor. This is a serious issue in a family hotel with children. The smell disrupted my sleep. I woke several times a night, sometimes as early as 5 AM, and it was strong enough to cause nightmares. Even floors without obvious smoke sometimes had it coming through the air conditioning. This had a big effect on my stay and was its main downside.

The check-in went smoothly, and the staff member was very polite. Check-out was the opposite: Leo was unfriendly and impolite, didn’t return my greeting, and after checking our room details only said “ok.” The Mountain View room was quiet and could be comfortable for a short stay if its problems were fixed. The bed sloped noticeably to one side, and the pillows were cheap, uncomfortable, and unsupportive. There’s a glass window from the bathroom into the bedroom, and its privacy blind was completely covered in black mould. Definitely not a five-star hotel. Three stars at best.