Holiday Inn Golden Mile in Hong Kong (HOTEL REVIEW)

[@Leo_nora_1]

Great review as always, thank you! I love your jolly style. I stayed in a HK hotel room that was about a third of this size with a view of an air conditioning unit (work booked it). The bathroom was all glass, 2 walls made of glass - and inside there was a button to change the glass to opaque!

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your great comment, made me chuckle. I was surprised by the size of my room, I like the idea of a button to make the glass walls opaque, very fancy.

[@diamonddave2622]

Been to HK 12x. Usually stay in the North Point / Quarry Bay area of HK island - nice and quiet and just a short metro ride from all the action...

[@mygreygapyear]

I think there's a lot to be said about just staying a short metro ride away.

[@twentyrothmans7308]

I hope that you are hammering the CX lounges while you are there. * I've seen plenty of hotels in Europe with the look-in bathroom. The Westin in Sydney, too. * - oh, bad news

[@mygreygapyear]

Thank you for your comment and support, the Cathay Lounges are superb at Hong Kong. I've tried some of the paid lounges too, they are dreadful.

[@oldFltAttndnt]

Hey Phil, great video as always. This was our crew hotel in HKG for many years. It was always a bit of a dump !! Brought back many memories of who could see the biggest rat in Stanley market 😮.

[@mygreygapyear]

What a fun way to spend an overnight layover, Rat Spotting. What did the spotter of the biggest rat win?

[@ahumpage]

LOL so near and yet so far. Had you asked about an IHG in TST I would have recommended the Intercontinental Grand Sanford. BUT... closer is the Kowloon Shangri-La which I practically lived in for a few years and I LOVE. If you ever go back get a club harbor view room and you will be a very, very happy camper. BTW, congrats on your latest DT article, which I think was a re-do, but who cares?

[@mygreygapyear]

Thank you for your support and thanks for the tip, either the Intercontinental or the Shangri-La next time I'm there for sure.

[@faithg9766]

The hotel is in a super position & the room looked really comfortable. Noise is a huge issue for me in hotels, glad you moved. Shame about the weird check out & staff attitude.

[@mygreygapyear]

I agree it was a good hotel until it came to checkout time, if the bar had been open it would never have come up.

[@deltachris]

I stayed at that hotel a few times in the early 1980s. Fabulous location for TST and reasonable value. Interesting to see inside it now in your video. Again those bathroom windows are pretty common in asia. Cheers

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment, I'm surprised to hear lots of people telling me this is common, but apart from watching your partner in the shower (which I admit is better than perching on the edge of the loo) no one has given me a satisfactory answer to the question "Why?" 😊

[@HaiderAlDelfi]

In answer to your question, it’s because it’s sexy AF to watch a bear on his gap year showering 😛

[@mygreygapyear]

I've missed my little pick me ups from you, glad to see you again, thanks.

[@HaiderAlDelfi]

@@mygreygapyear oh you would have enjoyed more than a pick me up if we ever had the chance!

[@TC.C]

Love Nathan Road, always buzzing there. Did you find that you’ll end up buying Evian in Hong Kong because the locally branded mineral water tastes so different? Those were fine hotel rooms you got there , except the noisy neighbours and the water on the floor, and the suggestion of Starbucks 😅 Is that glass window to the bathroom an actual door? Ie a shortcut? Lol

[@mygreygapyear]

Now if it was a shortcut to the shower it would make sense but alas, no it's just a glass panel. I did buy Evian in Hong Kong but I don't remember other bottled water tasting funny, I am just a slave to brands I guess. Go sit in Starbucks was a new one on me and it really irked me... 😊

[@andrewj3296]

The bathrooms are designed for a great view out and a great view in! I can’t remember a premium hotel in Asia that doesn’t have full length bathroom glass! They usually have shades though 😊

[@mygreygapyear]

In fairness I did keep the blind up 😊

[@jimmyjames6492]

Thanks for the info + video!

[@mygreygapyear]

You're very welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@justinehayward2553]

Good Lord. Since the 80s, the parties I have been to in there. Brilliant place. Water from the mains is safe to drink, thank the Brits and the now Water Dept. Boiling is recommended due to water tanks for larger buildings. I used to live just up the road. An old university friend has the Rolex shop below. As for the window, crumpet viewing.

[@mygreygapyear]

"Crumpet"? I haven't heard that for a while 😂 I think that is the only logical explaination. Thanks for your comment, very much appreciated.

[@frostysfreeway2320]

I like the view. It’s just a typical Hong Kong view which is iconic.

[@mygreygapyear]

They should totally put that in the brochure, "with iconic views of Hong Kong" 😊

[@LisaAnderson-fe3uj]

The YMCA Hotel in Hong Kong is a great hotel. Harbor facing room with floor to ceiling windows for $95/night.

[@mygreygapyear]

That is a great shout, thank you. I imagine that many people are put off by the YMCA part of the hotel name. Thanks again, Phil

[@RobinPhillips]

HK has some of the highest rated clean tap water supplies in the world, drinking it depends on the age of the building you are in because of the age of building pipes and roof top water tanks.

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment, that's good to know if I get the chance to go again.

[@yvr2002rtw]

The glass window in the bathroom is to discourage companies from having their employees share rooms when travelling and instead book separate rooms. Some companies are known to be cheap and make their employees share rooms when travelling on business.

[@mygreygapyear]

Well thanks for that brilliant comment, that's very sneaky isn't it. I certainly wouldn't want to share a room with a colleague on a business trip though, glass panel or no glass panel.

[@smadrie]

I had always assumed in HK the glass panel was to make the space feel bigger and let light in. Space in HK minimal. I've it in China as well, so I could be wrong.

[@mygreygapyear]

Ah, now that makes sense, the room looks and feels bigger, like using a large mirrored panel. Thanks for that, much appreciated.

[@StefanoDomellicalo]

Cracked my head on the toilet in my room there after a pretty lively night in Ned Kelly's in Ashley Road 😂

[@mygreygapyear]

Ha ha ha, I love those kinds of travel stories

[@alanwheeler3696]

I’ve seen quite a few hotels in Madrid (whilst searching for one to book) that have clear glass into the bathroom, guess it must be becoming fashionable! It is a bit weird to me too.

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment, funny to see this trend widening

[@stevecraven3502]

Phil. loved the review. Don't think I would stay there after watching this though. As for that shower set up, I have come across it before. I think it was in the Park MGM Vegas but don't quote me on that. The difference was, it was Frosted glass to clear glass at the push of a button. Weird yes, unless you like to watch your partner whilst they are showering. Each to their own Steve. C.

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment Steve, even after the dust settled only a competitive price and the devil you know would take me back to that hotel. Not a bad hotel by any means. I do like the idea of a glass panel that frosts on the touch of a button though, simply because it's very fancy 😊 Thanks Phil

[@richardstreet7518]

Valued guest...😂 interesting vlog Phil!!

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks 😊 Glad you enjoyed it.

[@retro_103]

wow i went in there in somewhere at july

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment, I hope you had an amazing trip.

[@red.guevarra]

Ugh, clogged drains are the worst. Maybe a well-drafted email to IHG will yield some compensatory points into the jar? POOOKE!!!

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for the comment, Red, always good to hear from you. A few points in response to a complaint is the IHG way usually 2000 to 5000, something pretty small. In fairness to the hotel they did send someone up and did move me when I complained about the noisy neighbours. It was the finish that really bugged me, "sit in Starbucks" indeed.

[@carried7223]

That hotel sounds appalling for Asia which are normally pretty amazing, The glass window & blind is pretty normal in Asia even though i have no idea why haha! never have i ever had any problems except frogs in Balinese bathrooms ( which security did remove ) and large lizards that lived in the eaves and sounded like donkeys .. but overall a very small problem, anyway another great video so thank you 🙂

[@mygreygapyear]

Frogs in the bathroom, that's an interesting story and an interesting call to reception. No one seems to know why the glass panel is there 😊

[@scollyb]

I'm guessing it's so couples can watch the other shower. It's becoming a common feature, was looking for rooms to share with a friend and had to pay particular attention to bathroom pictures

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment and support. I imagine it's more comfortable than watching perched on the edge of the toilet, but that is surely a small subset of customers to add that feature for.

[@ahumpage]

On the glass bathroom: I stayed at the Mira once (Where Edward Snowden stayed) and their bathrooms are the same. That hotels was OK but not my cup of tea -- I would call it a young person's hotel.

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment and support, it's really appreciated. Interesting to have stayed in the same hotel that Snowden camped out in, I might have to try that one day.

[@exlagerer]

Fashion hotel Amsterdam has the window it is much smaller than that one though. Stayed a few years ago with a mate. Was pretty awkward tbh

[@mygreygapyear]

Sharing with your pal would be uncomfortable 😂. I don't think I could watch my best friend in all the world take a dump and ever look at him the same way

[@exlagerer]

@mygreygapyear You'd need a bit of effort to see him dump with the height of the window, but you could see in the shower. We had a deal to leave the room when the shower was being used. If I stay there again, I'll pack a black bin bag to cover the window, lol.

[@mygreygapyear]

@@exlagerer 😂

[@richardpym5346]

Debbie Harry once sang … “ I will give you my finest hour … The one I spent watching you shower “ Maybe this was your chance to shine Phil 😂

[@mygreygapyear]

Ha ha ha, I don't have the bod of Debbie Harry, but I have done a few seconds of me in the shower on the Emirates A380 if you're interested. Lots of views thought it should have come with a warning 😂

[@adamingleton8529]

Very useful videos

[@mygreygapyear]

Thank you for your kind comment, glad your enjoying them

[@CalXIX]

Can I say you dont send an ‘engineer’ to unblock a shower. You send a repair guy.

[@mygreygapyear]

Fair enough

[@SahilSharma-lt1gx]

Is there jet spray facility in washroom

[@mygreygapyear]

In the shower there's a smallish fixed shower head coming out of the wall and a separate second shower head attached to a hose so you can clean your nooks and crannies.

[@SahilSharma-lt1gx]

@ im asking is there any attach jet spray with pot

[@mygreygapyear]

@@SahilSharma-lt1gx Sorry, I'm not sure what you mean

[@SahilSharma-lt1gx]

@ is there water facilities for shit cleaning?

[@mygreygapyear]

@@SahilSharma-lt1gx 😂😂😂 So to clean your bum but not in the shower, a hose next to the toilet, let me have a look

[@bigfellathanks86]

Clear glass in the bathroom is useful if you are paying for "company" you can use the shower and make sure they aren't stealing from you

[@mygreygapyear]

I would love to have been in that design meeting, "...and why do you think that a big glass panel is a good idea Martin?" "Well, er... " 😂

[@simonnlaroche5438]

It is another very poor IHG Hotel, what more did you expect?

[@mygreygapyear]

Holiday Inns are very hit and miss, there is no brand consistency, but I was very happy with the room when I first checked in, the biggest problem was the noisy family across two rooms.

[@charliebrown5]

News Flash. Quit staying at Holiday Inns. 🙁

[@mygreygapyear]

I should take my own Holiday Inn advice, shouldn't I.

[@hespro3523]

Bathrooms with windows onto the room is very common in Asia.

[@mygreygapyear]

I'm hearing this I just can't figure out why... Why would anyone want to watch me take a dump?

[@cyuen005]

@@mygreygapyearmust have been a “trend” by certain designers in the region during that period

[@mygreygapyear]

@@cyuen005 Apparently it is, lots of people commenting that it's common.

[@gerardolramos]

That glass window isn't weird. They designed it that way, so you can see your bedroom while in the shower or toilet. You don't know who's going to sneak into your room.

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment and support. I'm not sure if you've thought that through... I can see the room but if I'm getting robbed while I'm naked I'm not going out there to confront them "tackle out", I'd be quietly locking the bathroom door and lowering the shades 😂😂😂