TRAVEL BLOG
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Budget Accommodation in Hong Kong
If you are booking Hong Kong budget accommodation online you will notice a number of "Mansions" listed in the results. These mansions are great apartment blocks on Nathan Rd, the main road in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Mirador Mansion
If you are staying at one of these mansions (Chunking Mansion or Mirador Mansion) you might be taken aback by its outside appearance. The blocks are old and shabby, with air-con units and washing lines hanging from just about every window. The blocks are a mix of residential apartments, small businesses and guest houses.
Chunking Mansions
The quality of your budget accommodation guest house will vary widely once you are inside though as there as so many of them. I have stayed in guest houses in both mansions and they have been clean and presentable, but as space is at a premium my rooms have only been slightly larger than the bed itself.
Mirador Mansion
If you are staying at one of these mansions (Chunking Mansion or Mirador Mansion) you might be taken aback by its outside appearance. The blocks are old and shabby, with air-con units and washing lines hanging from just about every window. The blocks are a mix of residential apartments, small businesses and guest houses.
Chunking Mansions
The quality of your budget accommodation guest house will vary widely once you are inside though as there as so many of them. I have stayed in guest houses in both mansions and they have been clean and presentable, but as space is at a premium my rooms have only been slightly larger than the bed itself.
Labels: china, hong-kong, hotels, kowloon
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Friday, June 02, 2006
Hong Kong
Greetings from Hong Kong. It's good to be in the tropics. Upon arrival at 6am it was 26c/79f and 90% humidity. I love that feeling of tropical air hitting you as you disembark from a plane, especially from a flight that has come from colder climes.
I'm staying at this place called the Mirador Mansion on Nathan Road, the main shopping street of Kowloon. It is one of the more peculiar places I have stayed at.
The exterior is classic Chinese shabby concrete tower. It reminds me of the buildings next to the old Hong Kong airport that were always used in commercials.
Mirador Mansion
I must have gotten well and truly used to travelling on a budget because when I saw that the number of my building was were I was to stay, I was not in the slightest bit disturbed. What disturbed me more was that when I saw the building I was disturbed that I wasn't disturbed about staying there.
I like the old buildings of Hong Kong and the oversize signage hanging above the roads. One day I presume it will all be blandified with smooth glass towers that have no air con units and washing lines hanging out the windows.
My guest house accommodation consists of a room the width of the bed and a bathroom with a shower hose above the toilet. My room is about $25 USD and includes free wireless access so it worked out better than staying in a hostel. All this and right in the heart of the action in Nathan Rd.
Mirador Room
Come lunchtime I was a walking zombie with no sleep from the overnight flight. There was some heavy jungle rain for a few hours, so I took refuge in a cafe and read the South China Morning Post and the International Herald Tribune (you know you are back on the road when you are reading the IHT).
By then the rain had eased, so I spent the rest of the day wandering the length of Nathan Rd and its side streets and markets.
I'm staying at this place called the Mirador Mansion on Nathan Road, the main shopping street of Kowloon. It is one of the more peculiar places I have stayed at.
The exterior is classic Chinese shabby concrete tower. It reminds me of the buildings next to the old Hong Kong airport that were always used in commercials.
Mirador Mansion
I must have gotten well and truly used to travelling on a budget because when I saw that the number of my building was were I was to stay, I was not in the slightest bit disturbed. What disturbed me more was that when I saw the building I was disturbed that I wasn't disturbed about staying there.
I like the old buildings of Hong Kong and the oversize signage hanging above the roads. One day I presume it will all be blandified with smooth glass towers that have no air con units and washing lines hanging out the windows.
My guest house accommodation consists of a room the width of the bed and a bathroom with a shower hose above the toilet. My room is about $25 USD and includes free wireless access so it worked out better than staying in a hostel. All this and right in the heart of the action in Nathan Rd.
Mirador Room
Come lunchtime I was a walking zombie with no sleep from the overnight flight. There was some heavy jungle rain for a few hours, so I took refuge in a cafe and read the South China Morning Post and the International Herald Tribune (you know you are back on the road when you are reading the IHT).
By then the rain had eased, so I spent the rest of the day wandering the length of Nathan Rd and its side streets and markets.
Labels: hong-kong, hotels, kowloon
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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or Subscribe by Email
