Rosedale Hotel Kowloon, Hong Kong
| 4.3 out of 5.0 stars |
Comfortable, Modern Hotel Stay Hong Kong
This was a family trip to Hong Kong and I originally wanted all of us to stay on Hong Kong Island as I did the year before when I was there on my own, but as it worked out staying on the mainland close to Mong Kok was a good idea. During a routine doctor’s visit I mentioned Hong Kong to my GP and as a frequent visitor to Hong Kong he gave me some pointers. He prefers to stop over in Hong Kong instead of elsewhere in SE Asia or in the Gulf states when he travels to Europe and back. He said he enjoys staying in Kowloon surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the more ‘authentic’ locals instead of the more business-likes on Hong Kong Island. I actually did consider Mong Kok the year before when I looked at staying at the Hilton Garden Inn, but then decided on the Ibis Hong Kong Central & Sheung Wan because of price and accessibility to the Airport Express Hotel Shuttle bus.
Location
Located in Tai Kok Tsui, in the district of Yau Tsim Mong, the hotel is situated on Tai Kok Tsui Road west of the well known shopping mecca of Mong Kok. The surrounding area opposite the hotel to the west is slowly being redeveloped. The old dilapidated residential buildings being vacated and replaced by luxury high-rise apartments and shops.
How To Get There
From Hong Kong International Airport the hotel can be reached directly by taxi in approximately 30 minutes. By train on the Airport Express it is about 20 minutes to Kowloon MTR station and then a further 10-15 minutes by taxi depending on traffic.
Alternatively still with the Airport Express, one can alight at its first stop at Tsing Yi and then change to the Tung Chung Line, catch the train to Hong Kong and alight at Olympic from where it will take approximately ten minutes or so to walk to the hotel (see directions in Getting Around in reverse order).
The hotel is also serviced by the free Airport Express Hotel Shuttle bus from Kowloon MTR station. It’s the last hotel on the K5 route, so take into consideration how long this might take as the route is not direct to the hotel.
The hotel has its own complimentary shuttle and was informed at time of booking. We didn’t have the opportunity to use it, but should be considered depending on time of day and your destination. Check their timetable at reception or on their website.
We took the taxi from Kowloon MTR station to the hotel as our flight from Singapore, SQ2 was delayed at Changi Airport because of a thunderstorm. We arrived just after the last Airport Express Hotel Shuttle had left. The cost for four of us was around $HKD50.00.
On departure we opted for the Airport Express Shuttle bus. The bus stop is in Ivy Street twenty metres from the Rosedale round the corner from the Dorsett Hotel. We were fortunate on this occasion to get onboard. We were the first waiting for the bus but then two other ladies arrived. These buses have a passenger limit and all must sit down as no one is allowed to stand. Being a gentleman after my family had boarded I let the two ladies board before me. The driver then wouldn’t let me on as there were no seats left. My family couldn’t leave without me so there was a moment of confusion and heated discussion. I had to ask the two ladies to get off. Not sure if they understood me but it wasn’t a comfortable moment. In hindsight a better option was to take the hotel’s shuttle. The Rosedale Hotel and the Dorsett Hotel being the last two hotels on this run will be subject to this situation on a regular basis if there are too many people wanting to use this service. So I think consider the hotel’s shuttle first and also leave for Kowloon MTR station and airport with extra time up your sleeve. The Dorsett Hotel also have their own shuttle.
Getting Around
The closest MTR station is Olympic on the Tung Chung Line. Getting there from the hotel takes ten minutes walk down Tai Kok Tsui Road, right into Pok Man Street, left at the Corner Stop Bar, cross the street, through the large glass doors into the HSBC Centre, up the escalators, out the doors into the garden and then onto the overpass to the station concourse. This is the station’s entrance/exit B. If you continue straight down the walkway you will end up at the Olympian City 1 shopping mall from where you can also go to Olympian City 2 and 3. The Tung Chung Line runs from Lantau Island to Hong Kong. Central is a further 10 to 15 minutes walk along the underground passageway. This is another reason why it was perfect staying at the Rosedale because of the easy access to Disneyland, The Big Buddha and the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car on Lantau Island and Hong Kong Island on the Tung Chung Line.
The Mong Kok MTR station to the east is about 20 minutes walk. It’s an interchange for two lines, the Tsuen Wan Line (Tsuen Wan to Central) and the Twun Tong Line (Tiu Keng Leng to Whampoa).
Accommodation
Rooms tend to be small in Hong Kong where space is a premium so I wasn’t expecting anything out of the ordinary with the two rooms we had. The Deluxe Rooms were on the 22th floor facing east towards Mong Kok. There is enough room for small luggage (cabin cases best see pics). If you have large cases (70 litres upwards) you’ll find it hard to lay them down anywhere without them getting in the way so it is best to open them up at the entrance where there is more room to move and then store them standing up length-wise. The room was clean and orderly. The Queen size bed was of good quality with a firm mattress. At the sides of the bed are two small side tables with flexible lamps with switches and power points situated just above.
Directly opposite the bed there’s a small narrow glass table top that runs along most of the wall. Above fixed to the wall is a flat panel 32 inch TV. The usual international English channels are available together with Cantonese, Mandarin and several other languages (German, French and Spanish). Below the table top near the window is a small fridge, big enough to store some food and drinks. Two bottles of complimentray water are supplied. Above there is a drawer containing a kettle, coffee, tea bags, creamer and sugar. Along the window is a narrow couch built into the recess. Good to relax on or just use to place your smaller bags, such as backpack or a laptop bag like I did.
The shower cubicle is interesting as it uses the same door as the toilet. So if the ensuite door is closed the shower is open and when it is closed the toilet and wash basin are exposed to the outside (just like in the photos). The ensuite glass is atomised. At a push of a button it goes opaque hiding who’s inside.
Further along the wall opposite the bathroom are two full length mirrors hiding two wardrobe alcoves. Hangers are supplied. Below is a drawer for storing clothes. An ironing table, hair dryer (in its own bag) and a safe to store valuables are also available.
As already mentioned if you have a large bag or case there’s little space where it can be stored, but depending on the size you can place one in the wardrobe.
Breakfast & Drinks
Breakfast buffet style is served in the Sonata Restaurant on level two from 6:30am until 10:30am. Food is well laid out and caters for Asians and Europeans. If you want fried eggs and omelettes it is best to request them as the omelette chef is not always out if you are an early riser. The restaurant also serves lunch, tea and dinner but we only had breakfast and ate out. For after dinner drinks, the hotel offers the SkyZone Deck and Lounge, a bar and terrace on the 30th floor. It offers great views to the west of the surrounding highrise buildings and partial views of Victoria Harbour.
Noise
As we stayed on a high floor, the 22nd, there was no street noise. There was the occasional sound of people talking in the hallway and doors closing. Normal in most hotels. The restaurant was reasonably quiet too although not far from the flyway and road below just outside the windows.
WiFi
WiFi reception was good. Used for updating apps and the usual checking of e-mail and general browsing. The kids next door didn’t complain. They spent a lot of time on their iPads.
Shopping, Dining & Entertainment
For shopping Mong Kok is well known with a mixture of stores and vendors selling all sorts of things: assorted knickknacks, novelties, souvenirs, toys, figurines, clothing, sports gear, tools, electronics and food. If you prefer malls, Olympian City is in the opposite direction on the west side of Olympic MTR station. We didn’t have time to visit the Olympian City but rather other malls on Hong Kong Island (IFC Mall), Harbour City (Tsim Sha Tsui) and New Town Plaza (Sha Tin).
The famous local street markets: Ladies Market (Tung Choi Street), Temple Street, Jade Market (Yau Ma Tei Jade Hawker Bazaar), Fa Yuen Street, Flower Market (Flower Market Road) and Goldfish Market (northern end of Tung Choi Street), all offering the tourist a real ‘local’ experience, are all in the vicinity of the hotel some with a little walking others like the Jade Market and Temple Street better by hotel shuttle.
Mong Kok also provides a variety of entertainment, among which includes the cinema, for young adults and teenagers.
Within ten minutes walk from the hotel there are many local eateries and restaurants. If you are into fast food, McDonald’s is across the street, while Pizza Hut is ten minutes away in Metro Harbour Plaza to the north of the hotel. Also in the same shopping complex KFC and a 7-Eleven. Closer are Starbucks and Subway a short walk south along Tai Kok Tsui Road in the New Kowloon Plaza where you can also find a bakery and a 7-Eleven.
Reservation, Check-in & Check-out
Booked directly with the hotel after researching on HotelsCombined, Agoda, Trivago and Booking.com. Wanted to stay at the Ibis Hong Kong Central & Sheung Wan (where I’ve stayed before) but was unable to get a good price so looked for another hotel in the same category. In the end the Rosedale had a better price and deal. We stayed five nights in April 2018. Check-in and check-out quick and efficient. Reception staff all spoke english.
Value
Overall I found this hotel to be good value. I contacted the hotel, negotiated and got a better price and deal. I recommend all travellers to do the same, especially if you travel regularly to the same city. The Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) don’t always give the best value. They occasionally may give a better price (because of agreements/clauses), but not the best overall deal. There is a difference. So always check with the hotels and see what they have to offer before booking with an OTA.
Last Word
The rooms were clean and comfortable although small. The staff was nice and the breakfast ample and of good quality. We didn’t use the hotel shuttle service so couldn’t give an opinion, but will try it if and when I’ll be back. Do I recommend this place to others? If you don’t mind staying away from Hong Kong Island, walking a bit to MTR stations and like the hustle and bustle of an older district and of course the shopping at Mong Kok then I would say go for it. Call them and negotiate a price and if not better than the OTAs then get something thrown in, perhaps a room upgrade or complimentary drinks.
Update: The Rosedale Hotel Kowloon has closed permanently. The property has been acquired by investors and will be turned into residential apartments, shared spaces and other amenities. Previously the hotel enjoyed success in the prosperous Hong Kong tourism industry until the political and social unrests of 2019, but the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020 in particular hit the hotel hard. For information on other Rosedale Hotels visit the Rosedale Hotels Group website.
All photos © Carlo Irlitti
| Ambiance | 3.5 out of 5.0 stars |
| Cleanliness | 4.5 out of 5.0 stars |
| Comfort | 4.5 out of 5.0 stars |
| Facilities | 4.0 out of 5.0 stars |
| Food | 4.5 out of 5.0 stars |
| Location | 3.5 out of 5.0 stars |
| Noise | 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0 |
| Service | 4.5 out of 5.0 stars |
| Staff | 4.5 out of 5.0 stars |
| Value | 4.5 out of 5.0 stars |
| WiFi | 4.5 out of 5.0 stars |
