Read article : REVIEW: Accor Hotels in Hong Kong: Novotel Century and Novotel Hong Kong, Nathan Road Kowloon
I’m packing my bags for Korea, Japan and Penang. The last 2 weeks of October promised to be stimulating, fun and busy.
From bulgolgi to sashimi to Penang char koay teow, I’m ready for the ride! š
I took out my stuffs from my luggage (yes I don’t unpack much, I have a travel set of everything, blame it on the frequent travels I do) last week since I’m packing for the cold, with Korea and Japan at 16-25 celcius. As I dug out Hong Kong instant noodles, HK dollars and maps memories came flooding back.
Oh, the craziness of the Hong Kong es-capers Scavenger Hunt by Accor Hotels! Fun, adrenaline packed and an experience like no other!
We were hosted in 2 Novotels in Hong Kong, 1st night at Novotel Hong Kong, Nathan Road Kowloon and the next night at the Novotel Century Hong Kong.
Oh the comfy beds. The clean and functional accommodation. Bliss!
Accor group of hotels in HK are the ibis and the Novotel, the former leans towards economy but never sacrificing comfort and the latter is contemporary and practical. One thing is for sure, locations of these hotels are faultless; situated right in the middle of a busy/popular part of Hong Kong or in the case of Novotel Citygate, merely 5 minutes from Hong Kong International Airport.
On my first day I only managed to check in NovotelHong Kong, Nathan Road Kowloon at 6pm after day 1 of the Hong Kong es-capers race. I have uploaded a video weeks back (here it is in case you would like a 3-D presentation of the room) and now let’s get into details of my one night stay.
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Novotel Hong Kong, Nathan Road Kowloon is a modern 4-star hotel centrally located in the heart of Kowloon’s famous shopping and commercial district.
In Hong Kong, it’s crucial to be near a MRT station, especially for those who are here to explore the rich cuisine and innumerable shopping districts. The Jordan station is 5 minutes away, and attractions such as the Temple Street Night Market, Ladies Market and Jade Market are all within walking distance.
Since I only had one night here (yea, pretty much a night stand LOL!), I’m able to tell you that the WIFI is strong, the bed is comfortable (in fact I was so tired I was dead as a fossil the moment I hit its sheets), a pillow menu is offered, the amenities and the bathroom were fine and the view was well, the city.
The fact that I only managed to check-in so late didn’t help for photography, but here’s the standard 24 sq metres room.
Space is narrow, as expected of Hong Kong. But thoughtful details like a full length mirrors, overbed table and ample powerpoints makes up for it. Yes, I need powerpoints. Hotels with 2 powerpoints per room and none near the bed gets negative points from me!
See my phone (red colour, on the floor) next to my bed? I would need another for the laptop. The overbed table is just marvelous. I don’t have to pile up a mountain of pillows over my legs as a shaky make shift table.
One powerpoint near the bed means I need a 3 way plug/adapter. Which was supplied as well, in this drawer right beside the Pringles (sorry late in the evening and I was really tired by the time I started taking photos of the room, didn’t think of including it in this picture!).
Now, how’s that for convenience? š
Another powerpoint was conveniently located at the drinks making counter. I didn’t make any drinks, but used it instead for charging my battery pack.
As you know we were tweeting, Instagram-ing, FB-ing, taking pictures throughout the day during the race. An iPhone has only that much juice.
The mini bar, which no hotel guests in their right mind would ever touch unless of course, they aren’t the one paying for the items.
The work desk has more powerpoints. Thank god. These were for my camera and spare battery, which takes about 4 hours for a full charge so these were pretty much occupied for that sole purpose. So you get me when I said I need MANY powerpoints in my hotel rooms right?
Other than electricity (and O2), I breathe and live on internet connectivity. Thankfully WIFI wasn’t any issue here.
Here’s how the internet works:
Via the cable – provided as pictured below. Or via WIFI.
Under the desk I spied 2 waste baskets; one on either end of the desk. The green one is for recyclable materials/wastes and the brown one is for normal waste.
An environmentally friendly hotel? More brownie points from me! š
Other standard amenities include the iron, safe, laundry bag, slippers and dress robe.
The 2-seat sofa bed in the room can double up as a bed for a small child, which in this case was me. Anyhow I only had time to sit on it and pose for this picture.
Trust me, I barely warmed the seat.
In case you haven’t noticed, each side of the bed came with an overhead reading light. Again a nice touch. If you’re traveling with someone and he/she decides to snooze earlier, he/she can turn off the light on his/her side.
I had the room to myself (even better!) so there wasn’t a problem. I stayed up late for updating my social platforms, work matters and some pictures transferring and back up (sigh, the life of a blogger) so the overbed table and the powerpoint at the bed side was god-sent.
Fully automated controls makes life simpler. Everything at the touch of a button.
I love pillow menus. Not many hotels offers this and if they do my choice would always be for the firm pillows. I have a perpetually nagging neckache.
I requested for additional Pressure Relieving Pillow and it was delivered to my room promptly. And ah, now I know what are those orange pillows in the wardrobe earlier – they are medium soft feather pillows.
Next, the washroom.
Small, clean, everything works as it should be and I have no complaints for a hotel of this standard. Again, environmentally friendly packaging plus quality bathroom amenities deserves brownie points.
The amenities – soap, sanitary bag, nail file, cotton pads and cotton buds, gel scrub, body milk, shampoo and shower gel.
You can drink straight from the tap.
Hairdryer. A good powerful one too. I’m sure there are some of us who had stayed in hotels that provides hairdryers with as much energy as a battery operated fan, which then you’ll probably have better luck drying your mane next to the kitchen oven than via using that piece of useless equipment.
Towels – hand towels, body towels, face towels. And a towel for the floor, which is to me is a very important detail.
A separate shower stall for the shower with a choice of rain shower (top) or the usual showerhead from the wall. There’s heater of course.
The welcome fruits, a bottle of wine and the chocolates was much appreciated. Thank you Novotel. Nothing like a personalized message to make you feel welcomed.
That, and some freebies. I can’t complain.
After a good night’s rest I woke up the next morning looking forward to breakfast. Hotel breakfasts are one of my favourites – the variety, the ability to eat as much or as little as you wish for hours (not that we have hours during this trip) and the opportunity to sample (hopefully) quality or uncommon food/drink.
The Square, the coffeehouse is located on the 1st floor and serves daily buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner, healthy options for kids, as well as an ala- carte menu with options of organic produce.
NOTE: You do not need to touch your keycard to any sensor at the lift to access your room floor.
And consider it a good start to the day when you meet some ‘happy’ people.
While the quality is there, there were nothing out of the ordinary here.
Novotel Hong Kong, Nathan Road Kowloon is a popular hotel with both leisure and business travelers. The morning buffet was bustling with kids to teens in K-Pop attire to businessmen in suits.
Food was decent and well, there’s plenty of pork.
Breakfast is priced at HKD140.80 (RM70) after taxes. Thank goodness it was complimentary.
If you have access to the Premier Lounge, then you have another option for breakfast. Selection are understandably less, but it is also more private and less busy.
Free internet access through 7 iMacs in lobby are available for guests. There is also a 24-hr gym and a play area for kids with Xbox games. Yes, for kids. Thought no one is going to drive away if you were to plant your butt here.
Lobby.
No hotel is complete without a bar yes?
Whew. All that photos for one night stay.
I barely had time to see the pool or the gym (inBalance). I don’t even know where are the meeting/function rooms are. According to their site, there are massage services as well.
Well, there’s always a next time. Our next night was at Novotel Century, Hong Kong. Click to read/view the pictures –> HERE.
Oh, say hi to the GM of Novotel Nathan Road, Mr Olivier Moies-Delval! š
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Novotel Nathan Road Kowloon
No.348 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China (Jordan)
Hotel Manager : Mr Olivier MOIES-DELVAL
GPS: N 22° 18′ 25.73” E 114° 10′ 18.13”
I must thank the wonderful sponsors for this trip again – Cathay Pacific, Accor Hotels and Hong Kong Tourism Board for the experience and hospitality.
Next, please read about the Novotel Century in Hong Kong.
**Photos + video taken with the Sony NEX 5T.
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