After 10 days of wandering the streets of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Beijing I’m back with plenty of tales to tell and a few new videos in the works as well as lots of photos to share.
Home to many a rich banker, Hong Kong is not a cheap city by any standard. A while back I saw a list of supposedly affordable HK hotels but at $1400 HKD per night, I’m not sure whose idea of “cheap” these were. For me, budget options would be more in the $200-300 range (without it being a Chunking Mansions dive) of which there are plenty to be found if you don’t mind sleeping in somewhat basic accommodation.
Based on the recommendation from a friend I recently stayed in the Hong Kong Holiday Guesthouse (Argyle Street) in Mongkok, Kowloon for two nights. At only 2 minutes walking distance from the MTR in a vibrant part of the city it’s pretty convenient and for only $200 HKD per night cheap by any standard. It was a little hard to spot as there were no obvious signs outside but once you’ve navigated your way to the 6th floor of the building you should be OK.
There are some caveats I have to point out; what you basically get is a windowless box to sleep in for the night with a tiny bathroom and little else. The room was clean with air conditioning and internet access but the building it’s located in is pretty old and dingy (not the sort of place you’d want to be if it ever caught fire). This is not for the claustrophobic or those looking for panoramic views but for the intrepid traveller on a budget it’s ideal. It may not be the Marriott but I guarantee it has more local character – once you turn out the lights you won’t notice the difference anyway!
Another similar option nearby is Ka Wut Villa (Sai Yee Street) but it’s on a busy road so if you’re a light sleeper you may want to avoid it. If you have a larger budget of around $700-800 per night then The CityView in Yau Ma Tei is a good option (3 stars), providing a more spacious experience in comfortable surroundings. Please leave a comment below if you can recommend any other reasonable places.
Space in Hong Kong is limited so the price of decent hotels is always going to come at a premium but if you’re prepared to be flexible then it’s still possible to stay in the centre of the city on a reasonable budget.
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