Recommended Cheap & Affordable Budget Accommodation in Hong Kong

Finding a decent accommodation in Hong Kong can be tricky, and I frequently get questions from friends and colleagues coming to Hong Kong and looking for a cheap and affordable budget accommodation.

I’ll start off by recommendations I recently got from three different friends coming in to visit Hong Kong and wanting to stay on HK island:

• Ramada Hotel (308 Des Voeux Road West, Sheung Wan) – from ~400HK$/night
• Bishop Lei International Hotel (4 Robinson Road, Mid-levels, Central) – from ~300HK$/night.
• A bit more upscale 4 stars – in the center of all dubious “action” in Wanchai – The Wharney Guang Dong Hotel – from 800HK$/night

But what is “budget” and “affordable” anyways? Obviously, it depends. Depends by what you mean by affordable and where you want to stay. Here are two examples from two Hong Kong based bloggers I follow with different definitions and different range of accommodation types.

Elmer – Living in Hong Kong (blogger “how to get there” instructions removed, check out his website for more info)

Recommended Accommodations

There are so many hotels and guesthouses in Hong Kong, ranging from claustrophobic squeezed “sardines” layout to spacious, luxury rooms with harbor views. The difference of course is the price. And if we’re talking about budgets, premium accommodation often does not come into the equation. So here are some of the cheaper options you can consider. Each of them are close to major transport links and shopping venues.

Cosmic Guest House - Tsim Sha Tsui

Sun Kong Hostel - Causeway Bay

Dragon Hostel – Mong Kok

Thomas Crampton – Cheap Hong Kong Hotels (Semi-affordable) (blogger description of the hotels removed, check out his website for more info)

Here’s a list of reasonably priced Hong Kong hotels that I recommend to my entrepreneur friends who prefer to deploy their company resources in places other than rooms with panoramic views of Hong Kong harbor that they never have time to enjoy.

Ice House 38 Icehouse Street +852-2836-7333

Biship Lei International House – 4 Robinson Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong. (852) 2868 0828

YWCA MacDonnell Road - 1 Macdonnell Road, Central. +852-2877-3737

Empire Hotel - 33 Hennessy Road, Wanchai +852-2866-9111

Rosedale on the Park -  8 Shelter Street Causeway Bay. +852 2127 8888

Harbour Plaza North Point MTR Quarry Bay Station Exit C, 665 King’s Road, North Point. +852 2621 3188

Lanson Place Hotel 133 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay. +852 3477 6888

The Excelsior Hong Kong +852 2894 8888

Lan Kwai Fong Hotel at Kwai Fong.  +852 3650 0299

Obviously, Thomas Crampton’s on a much larger budget.

On all my visits to Hong Kong before coming here for my studies, I’ve booked my hotel online based on the area I wanted to stay at, but it’s best that you call them up and make sure you’re getting the best deal. Personally, I think that unless you’re on a really tight budget or for a backpacker experience – do whatever you can to avoid to the Nathan rd. Mansions in Tsim Sha Tsui. It may very well ruin your whole stay and perception of Hong Kong. It did for me during my first visit ever to Hong Kong.

Other recommendations from bloggers I’m not very familiar with include :

Everything nice – Cheap accommodations in Hong Kong

HK Taisan Guesthouse – Store 1

Golden Crown Guesthouse

Hotel Benito

About.com – Best Hotels in Hong Kong on a Budget

Hotel Jen

Cosmo Hotel

The Charterhouse

Dorsett Seaview Hotel

Ramada Hong Kong

[UPDATE 04/10/2009]

I’ve been asked a few times whether I know of accommodations close to Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Since HKUST is a bit far off from the center, there aren’t that many hotels close by, and those that are closer are not that close and usually a bit far from the center. I’d actually recommend staying in Kowloon/HK island and making the trip with the above options, focusing on how close the hotel is to an MTR station. With that said, here are a few of the closer options :

Although City Garden Hotel (4 stars) is on HK island next to Fortress Hill station, I think it’s a convenient option to balance central HK and HKUST. Same for the much cheaper Ibis North Point Hotel (3 stars) next to North Point.

Newton Place Hotel (3 stars) is just next to the Kwun Tong MTR station, which is already in eastern Kowloon. You’d still need an MTR ride and a bus, but it’s already on the Kowloon side. Not much in the area for the average tourist, though, I’m afraid.

[end of UPDATE 04/10/2009]

Hope that helps somewhat (Helen – this was for you).

Let me know where you ended up staying and how it was.