Cathay Hotel

My room’s air conditioner was old and struggling to cool the place, but that seems fairly normal for an old budget hotel. I could still sleep through the night. The lift was useful with lots of luggage, though it smelled like an old sock to me, so it needs a proper clean. My key card wouldn’t open the room door, but a staff member came and fixed it. The location is near Alliance Bank if you need an ATM, as well as restaurants and Centre Point shopping mall.

The receptionist tried his best, but the owner needs to improve quality and customer care to compete with nearby budget hotels in a similar price range that are much better. The room itself was okay for a budget stay, but there was a piece of damp plaster from the ceiling on the bed and damp holes in the roof. Reception came to inspect and asked me to wait. About half an hour later the owner called to ask if I wanted to change rooms. I laughed and asked what he thought. He said he’d try to get another room ready. I’d already had to wait at arrival at 3pm while my room was being cleaned. The lift was under maintenance, so I carried my luggage up three flights of stairs, which I understood. Two hours after the owner’s first call, he asked me to bring all my bags down to reception to return the old key and get a new one. I suggested meeting at the new room instead so I wouldn’t have to drag everything around. He agreed and met me two floors down. It wasn’t a very pleasant stay.

Clean and comfortable, though the pillows are a bit hard and should be replaced with softer ones. It’s a safe budget hotel in the city centre, close to Asia City, Mcd, Pizza, CP, restaurants, taxis and banks. The bathroom has a “gayung and baldi”; the water hose is a bit far from the toilet seat.

We had two rooms. One was comfortable and fine, but the other had no towels or toiletries until we asked the receptionist, and its shower drain was clogged. Just an okay budget hotel.