This is part of the Trip Report The Visa Run Keeps Running (October 2014) and So Long Mongolia, Hello SE Asia (December 2014-January 2015)
Getting There: From the airport purchase a one-way ticket for the Airport Express train. Take the Airport Express to Kowloon. Take the elevator to the ground floor and then take the free bus to the Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui. This is a free ride into town even if you aren’t staying at these hotels. The whole trip takes about an hour and a half.
The Hyatt Regency Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui is a refuge whether it be from a botched visa run or too much time in Mandalay. It is also located in one of the tallest skyscrapers in Kowloon. The Hyatt Regency is a Category 4 hotel so it qualifies for a free night stay using the annual certificate if you have a Chase Hyatt Visa. I used the cash and points option which was a bit expensive at $100 + 7500 points + a 10% service charge. The room rate is around $250 so I’m right at my threshold for 2 cents per point for Hyatt. The value of cash and points diminishes if you are a peasant platinum member like me which gives you basic benefits (2PM checkout, free Wi-Fi) compared to diamond where you are treated like a king (amazing breakfast, suite upgrade).
Still whether you have a stopover in Hong Kong or a getaway [from Myanmar] weekend, the price of luxury is worth it. In October 2014, I was upgraded to the deluxe room which had a partial view of the harbor. At the time, I thought the room was a bit small until my next trip to Hong Kong when I was not given an upgrade.
The benefits of the Hyatt Regency are as follows:
- Excellent location in Kowloon conveniently next to Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station
- Excellent dim sum right around the corner
- Starbucks next door
- Plenty of bars, restaurants, and shopping
- Included wireless phone which includes data and voice
- A comfy bed and hot shower, features not to be discounted compared to other hotels in Hong Kong and SE Asia in general
As you can see, everything at the Hyatt Regency is nice but what if you want to see another side of Hong Kong or what if you think that the points+cash value isn’t as great as other award redemptions? Then read on for the review of the Chungking Mansions, a city within a city.
It’s time to choose your adventure:
For The Visa Run Keeps Running (October 2014) you can:
<==Return to Shanghai Travel Guide – Move onto Guns & Butter: Hong Kong Travel Guide==>
For So Long Mongolia, Hello SE Asia (Dec 2014-Jan 2015) you can:
<==Return to Bargaining Abroad, I Lost the Battle – Move onto Chungking Mansions==>
If you don’t even bother rotating your images, why bother writing?
First, I did rotate the images that I chose to rotate. The images of the tallest hotel in my opinion look better horizontally and don’t take forever to load. The elevator pic is an example of vertical.
Also why do you have to be a not so nice guy about it?
Finally, if you are on iphone it doesn’t show my rotations.
Thanks, for the nice comment.
Hi Alex. This trip report brought back great memories. My wife & I spent 4 nights at this Hyatt Regency on our first visit to Hong Kong. Loved the location, convenient transportation options and the general vibe of the area. We too are Hyatt Platinum and were upgraded to a deluxe room an loved every minute of our stay.
BTW… Mr Rotate Image is a nobody.
Thanks for the comment. It’s definitely a great value/location.
Luckily I got to return and stay 2 full nights instead of the abbreviated one night.
Agreed on your last statement.
Hey Alex, Nice trip report, keep up the great work. I stayed there last month with my son and it was a terrific stay with tremendous customer service. K2 mall below is a huge benefit (good pizza). I’m platinum as well but with the current 20% Hyatt point discount I think it’s worthwhile to upgrade to the Club level. The club itself is very busy but you get lots of food morning and night, plus its a nice place to have drinks and watch the evening light show of HK harbor. Btw, which dim sum place are you referring to?
I think went to that pizza place too. The one that you have to take the service elevator up to get to?
Thanks for reminding me of the 20% off, I need to see if I got back for my last Hyatt stay!
The dim sum place was recommended by the Holiday Inn as the one the Hyatt said was closed. I don’t have the name because I didnt take a pic of it (sloppy blogging) but if memory serves me correctly it is the first right out of the holiday inn at the end of the street facing a mountain?? Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.