Harbour Grand Kowloon

The corner room, 1739, gave us the best harbour views we’ve ever had from a hotel. Windows on two sides looked over Victoria Harbour, with beautiful sunrises, boats, and city lights. We even left the curtains open on our last night. The gym also has harbour views, and the changing-room sauna was clean and properly hot. The rooftop pool was closed for the season, but we could still go up to enjoy the view. We booked through Qantas Hotels with a Harbour Club upgrade for my wife, our 17-year-old daughter, and me, asking for a king bed and an extra bed. At check-in, we were told the room had two twin beds and a made-up sofa bed. Our daughter found the sofa bed quite firm and moved to a twin from the second night; my wife and I were comfortable sharing the other one. The room had good air conditioning and blackout blinds. The bathroom was great, with strong pressure and reliable hot water. We weren’t sure whether the tap water was drinkable, and there was no complimentary bottled water, so we’d bought some at 7-Eleven at the airport. The Harbour Club lounge doesn’t overlook the harbour, but its evening food selection was good and alcohol was self-serve. Tiffany at the Club was lovely and attentive. Club breakfast was adequate; the ground-floor buffet had more variety and excellent harbour views, so we’d recommend that. Getting around was easy with the MTR nearby. For the quickest walk to the station, turn right at the hotel entrance and then take the first left, rather than following the signs straight ahead. The taxi ride from the airport took about 45 minutes. We had a memorable stay, thanks to the view, convenient location, and friendly staff. We haven’t stayed elsewhere in Hong Kong to compare, but we’d happily return and recommend it.

Three days felt like enough time to stay in Hong Kong. The hotel is right by the harbour, with a pleasant walk along the bay to some nice bars. Breakfast buffet was really good at £15, though dinner buffet, at over £30, felt a bit pricey. There’s also a cruise-ship-shaped shopping centre over three floors that’s worth a look. If Chinese food that doesn’t resemble English Chinese dishes throws you, there’s a place inside that does good burgers.

I compared Harbour Metropolitan Hotel Shanghai, Kowloon Harbourfront Hotel, and Harbour Grand Kowloon after returning to Hong Kong for the first time in eight years. This one was the best of the three. Room cleaning was efficient and good, and the Concierge Department felt closer to five-star service, with professional dress and manners. The front desk was a different story during the busy Chinese New Year period. Staff seemed rushed and unwelcoming, with no eye contact or smiles, as if they just wanted to finish one transaction and move to the next guest. It felt like standing at a supermarket checkout. That typical Hong Kong manner wasn’t welcoming. Front desk staff need better training for handling pressure and should dress better, in suits. Nothing is impossible.

The room’s view was stunning, and waking up to it was the best part of the stay. I also liked the pleasant location by the promenade, handy for a morning jog or evening walk, and thought the property was decently presented. But for a pricier hotel, the experience didn’t match what I paid. The Wi-Fi was very slow, around 15 Mbps, which wasn’t good enough for work or streaming. There was no drinking water and no practical alternative such as floor water coolers and reusable flasks. 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 watching a set from the 1990s. Tea, coffee, and the other in-room amenities also felt cheap for the price.