By Kent Ninomiya
Empire Hotel in Kowloon
The Empire Hotel is located in the Kowloon district of Hong Kong. It markets itself as a four star business hotel but also caters to many international tourists. The Empire Hotel is in the middle of the Tsim Sha Tsui business and shopping district, close to Nathan Road, and just a few minutes walk to public transportation. It was built in 2001 and has modern architecture and decor. The Empire Hotel in has 315 rooms. All of them have Internet access, satellite television and IDD telephone service. The Empire Hotel has a business center, meeting rooms, fitness center, indoor swimming pool and sauna. Its restaurants serve Chinese, Japanese and Western food.
Insider Tips
You can save a lot of money on a room at the Empire Hotel in Kowloon by booking your reservation on the Internet and paying in advance for at least three consecutive nights. Rates through the hotel's website range from $70 per night for a cityview room to $175 per night for an Empire luxury suite. This is an excellent price for a luxury hotel in the middle of Tsim Sha Tsui. Be sure to ask for a room on an upper floor to take full advantage of Hong Kong's amazing city views. It also gets you away from the considerable street noise that can be heard on the lower floors.
Pros and Cons
The Empire Hotel in Kowloon is in an excellent location in Hong Kong. It is close to businesses, shopping, and public transportation that can take you anywhere in the city. The Star Ferry to Hong Kong Island is a leisurely 15 minute walk. It is also very reasonably priced for a Hong Kong luxury hotel. The rooms are quite small by western standards. Most of it is taken up by the bed. The only other furniture in the lower priced rooms is a nightstand and a wall mounted television. Higher priced rooms also have a desk and a chair. The closets, bathrooms, and showers are likewise small. Larger individuals can have trouble navigating these areas of their rooms.
Bottom Line
It is hard to beat the Empire Hotel in Kowloon if you want to be in the middle of Hong Kong and don't want to spend too much money. It is modern, clean, and convenient. However, it not especially luxurious. The amenities are nice but you wont feel pampered there. If you want to be treated like a millionaire it is better to head to a 5-star luxury hotel and pay hundreds of dollars per night. If you are going to stay at the Empire Hotel in Kowloon, book your reservation in advance since it does sell out on occasion.
Resources
About the Author:
Kent Ninomiya is a veteran journalist with over 23 years experience as a television news anchor, reporter and managing editor. He traveled to more than 100 countries on all seven continents, including Antarctica. Ninomiya holds a Bachelor of Arts in social sciences with emphasis in history, political science and mass communications from the University of California at Berkeley.
