Where You Stay Matters 

Where you stay in Hong Kong can make or break your trip.

I know that sounds a bit dramatic, but after staying in dozens of Hong Kong hotels over the years, I’ve learned that accommodation matters far more here than it does in many other cities. Hong Kong is hot, humid, crowded and surprisingly tiring on foot. After a long day of sightseeing, the last thing you want is a noisy room, poor air conditioning or another 20-minute walk from the MTR.

In terms of which area of Hong Kong to stay, I almost always recommend staying in Tsim Sha Tsui for first-time visitors. It’s the easiest base for exploring the city, with excellent transport, plenty of restaurants and easy access to the Star Ferry and harbourfront.

My Recommended Hotels

If you don’t want to spend hours researching hotels, these are the three I’d recommend to most first-time visitors. I have stayed in all of them at my own cost.

• The Kowloon Hotel – My best value recommendation. You can’t beat the location, with the MTR entrance virtually on the doorstep, making it incredibly easy to get around the city and to the airport. It’s comfortable, practical and an excellent first-time base.
• The Mira Hong Kong – My upgrade pick. Stylish rooms, a fantastic indoor pool and spa, excellent restaurants, and only a short walk from the waterfront and MTR. It’s the hotel I recommend if you want to treat yourself without paying Peninsula prices.
• The Royal Garden Hotel – My luxury recommendation. A quieter location in eastern Tsim Sha Tsui, spacious rooms, excellent facilities and easy access to the harbourfront. It’s ideal if you want a more relaxed stay while still being close to the action.

Choosing a Location

The right neighbourhood is almost as important as choosing the right hotel.

• Tsim Sha Tsui – My top recommendation for first-time visitors. You’re within walking distance of the Star Ferry, harbourfront, museums, excellent restaurants and several MTR stations. It makes getting around Hong Kong incredibly easy.
• Central – Best for visitors who want to be close to the financial district, rooftop bars, fine dining and historic attractions.
• Wan Chai – A good mix of local character and convenience, with plenty of restaurants and excellent transport connections.
• Causeway Bay – Ideal if shopping is high on your list, with department stores, malls and restaurants all on your doorstep.
• Hong Kong Airport – Only really worth considering if you have an overnight layover or a very early flight.

What I Look For in a Hong Kong Hotel

For me, the best Hong Kong hotels are the ones that make getting around and relaxing at the end of the day easy.

I always look for:

• A short walk to an MTR station.
• Good air conditioning (it’s more important than you think in Hong Kong).
• A comfortable bed and quiet room.
• Plenty of restaurants nearby.
• Easy access to the harbourfront and Star Ferry.

After enough disappointing stays, I’ve stopped booking the cheapest hotel I can find. I’d much rather pay a little more for comfort and convenience because it makes the whole trip more enjoyable.

Budget Hotels

Accommodation is one area where I don’t recommend choosing the absolute cheapest option.

Budget hotels in Hong Kong can mean very small rooms, poor soundproofing, uncomfortable beds and ineffective air conditioning. In a city that’s already hot, humid and physically demanding, that can really affect your enjoyment of the trip.

If your budget is tight, I’d still prioritise location over room size. I’d rather stay in a smaller room near the MTR than a larger room that’s a long walk from transport or the main sightseeing areas.

Airbnb and Guest Houses

I’ve stayed in Airbnbs in Hong Kong several times over the years, and my experiences have always been excellent. The apartments were comfortable, and the hosts were responsive and helpful.

However, the rules around short-term accommodation have tightened in recent years. Many ordinary residential properties can’t legally be rented out for short stays unless they’re licensed, so some properties are now advertised or operated as guest houses instead.

I won’t get into the legal details here, but it can make the booking process less straightforward than it appears. On my most recent stay, I felt quite nervous beforehand because I wasn’t entirely sure what sort of arrangement I was walking into. It turned out to be completely fine, and the host was excellent, but there was more uncertainty than I’d want when arriving in a new city.

So while an Airbnb-style stay can work well, check the listing and recent reviews carefully, make sure you understand how check-in works, and confirm that the property is operating as legitimate short-term accommodation. For most first-time visitors, I think a good hotel is usually the simpler and less stressful option.

Serviced Apartments and Longer Stays

If you’re planning to stay in Hong Kong for several weeks or longer, it’s also worth looking at serviced apartments.

Hong Kong has a huge range, from luxury serviced apartments with pools, gyms and hotel-style services to much simpler, more affordable options. They usually offer more space than a standard hotel room and often include a kitchenette and laundry facilities, making them a practical choice for longer stays.

I’ve stayed in a serviced apartment for five weeks myself and found it a great balance between having the convenience of a hotel and feeling like I had my own place to come home to.

Another option that’s often overlooked is booking a hotel on a long-stay rate. Many hotels offer discounted weekly or monthly rates, particularly outside the busiest travel periods. If you’re staying for more than a couple of weeks, it’s always worth checking whether the hotel has a long-stay package before you book, as the savings can be surprisingly good.

Where to Stay on a Layover

If you’re arriving late at night, the Regal Airport Hotel is a very convenient option. I’ve stayed there myself, and its location is easily its biggest advantage: you can walk straight to the hotel from the terminal without needing a taxi or shuttle.

The hotel is a little shabby in places, but it’s perfectly fine for an overnight stay. You can get some sleep, catch the Airport Express into the city the following morning for a few hours of sightseeing, then return to the airport in time for your next flight.

If you’re arriving earlier in the day, I’d stay in the city instead so you can make the most of the following morning. You can simply step outside your hotel and already be in the middle of Hong Kong, rather than spending part of the day travelling in from the airport.

My top pick for an affordable overnight stay is The Kowloon Hotel. It’s conveniently located beside the MTR and right in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, making it easy to fit in some sightseeing, a walk along the harbourfront or a ride on the Star Ferry before heading back to the airport.