This hotel is incredibly basic. I was staying for two nights, and asked to be upgraded from a standard room to a better quality room. I was assured that I had been (Room 805). If that is the case, I would hate to see a standard room! This was by far the least comfortable and “unadorned” hotel room in which I stayed during four weeks in China.

The room was very small, the bed was rock hard, and the pillows were too thick. The shower was over the bath, with a curtain, and there was mould in a few spots. The towels were quite thin.

On a positive note, the bed linen was excellent, and there was no discernible noise from outside.

The air-conditioning worked well. However, it was freezing, and the only way to make the room any warmer was to turn off the a/c completely, as turning up the temperature dial had no effect.

The in-room wifi signal was weak, and dropped out frequently.

Reception staff were friendly, and the housekeeping staff were delightful.

When I asked if a late check-out was possible, given that I was catching the hotel’s 3.35pm shuttle to the airport, there was no hesitation in giving me a 3pm check-out. However, the shuttle bus did not arrive, and the reception staff, after a number of phone calls, organised for a taxi at no charge to me (5 times the cost of the shuttle bus), helped transfer the luggage to the taxi, and at my request, asked the driver not to drive too fast. And, he didn’t!

Would I recommend this hotel? It depends on what you are looking for. During the previous week, I had stayed for 4 nights in Hong Kong at CHI Residences 314. It was only $40/night dearer, and a far better proposition (see separate review), comfortable, spacious and only two minutes' walk from Jordan MTR.

On the other hand, if you just want a cheap room with a rock hard bed to crash in, and you don’t mind waking with a very sore back, then the Stanford Hillview might fit the bill!

Very centrally located hotel, not far from MTR. Yes, the final bit of the hill is a bit steep but do not let this put you off. Friendly, efficient staff at hotel, good room service, I would certainly stay here again.

I enjoyed my stay here for a conference. It is in Kowloon, not Hong Kong island but is very central: near Nathan Road, the Science Museum, the History Museum and the Star Ferry to Hong Kong island. The buffet breakfast is good, the rooms clean, comfortable and reasonably sized for Hong Kong. The fixtures and fittings seemed old but well kept. I got a great traditional Chinese body massage and foot massage from the nearby Chiba House on Kimberley - there were plenty of other massage places about but Chiba was perfectly respectable, safe and relaxing for someone just for a really good genuine massage. Really near TST metro.

My brother and I stayed two nights at Stanford Hillview. It was a very pleasant experience.

First and foremost, service was impeccable. We arrived at 10.30 am. Whether we were really lucky or that the receptionist was just pulling our leg, our room was ready way before the 2.00pm check-in time. One incident that I'll never forget is that right after I called the reception to ask if the tap water was potable (yes, it is), housekeeping was knocking on our door to bring us complimentary mineral water. Was it just coincidence or well-coordinated service?

It's the little things that the staff did that made our stay memorable. On our first night, they sent a plate of fruits. On our final night, they sent some peanut cookies with a note that bid us farewell.

Second, location was perfect. Behind the hotel is Knutsford Terrace, where groovy bars and restaurants abound. My local friend even labeled it as the Lan Kwai Fung of Kowloon. The hotel is also some 3-minute walk to Nathan Road shopping street and 5-min walk to the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station. Don't take the cab during rush hour, unless you want to get stuck in traffic.

Third, the room was spacious enough and good value for money in terms of Hong Kong standard. While not lavish in its furnishings, it was more than enough to provide for a pleasurable stay.

The only thing I didn't like was the receptionists not being friendly enough. Not that they were not courteous, I just feel they could be more accommodating and all smiles. But am I asking too much already?