1. Location
Bus A11 stops at the terminus outside the hotel. Bus ride took about an hour.
MTR stop is just a hop away from the entrance of the hotel, but I've tried taking bus from the street behind the hotel and it is just as convenient.
2. Service
Much as I understand that standard check in time is 2pm. But most places I go to make an attempt to check if the room is available and allow you to check in earlier if the room is available. Regardless of that, at least they did offer guests the options of leaving their luggage behind and coming back later to check in.
Service was clearly lacking in some of the staff, or it could have been just a Hongkong thing. I read about the lack of service standards in some reviews but thought it was purely objective until I have experienced it. As the staff who was attending to my check in seems pretty curt, I have attempted to make small talk and asked if there was any international exhibitions going on in HK that weekend. His reply appalled me. His comment was that, HK is always crowded and I should not expect too much out of it. Before I could recover from the unfriendly retort, I was faced with a keycard which does not work. Bear in mind that lifts in this hotel is pretty slow (which is of no fault to the hotel), I have to lug my luggage down to the reception to change the keycard. Once again, another staff changed my keycard with no apology. Surprisingly, it was the housekeeping staff who saw me struggle with the keycard, and she kept apologizing for the inconvenience caused.
With my first day of the trip affected, what impressed me most was the GM's prompt reply to my grievances. His service recovery was excellent and definitely something his staff could learn from.
3. Room
Basic. No frills. Much as I've read reviews that the mattresses were hard, I've basically slept very soundly for the 3 nights I was there. Harbour view was amazing. Water pressure excellent.
Check out was fast and efficient. Pity I did not see the name of the guy, but at least it was friendlier. Took a cab to the HK Airport express station, which costs about 50HKD.
Would I stay here again? For the price/ location, perhaps. For the GM's dedication to guests' satisfaction, yes.
- Ibis Century Hotel
- Ibis Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Ibis
