Royal Plaza Hotel — Hotel in Hong Kong

I've stayed at the Royal Plaza in Mongkok East, twice before, though not for several years. This time a few issues, that should be avoidable in a 5 star hotel did impact my enjoyment of the stay. Progress is progress and things change as technology improves and becomes a bigger part of the hospitality sector. Royal Plaza is trying to implement new technology for check in and check out and there are two major problems. Firstly the software is flawed and is still being fine tuned. Secondly hospitality needs to be about people and personal connections and the Royal Plaza seem to have forgotten that. The day before check in, we received an email, with a link to enter all our details to speed up the check in process. After entering everything, we received a Q code. Check in was at 3pm and at 3.40pm we arrived with our code and were directed to a machine. The machine was unable to read our code and so we were moved to a second machine. Here once again we had to re-enter all the details we had filled in online the day before, before the machine threw us out again. Finally after a third attempt we successfully completed the process and were told our room wasn't ready yet. This was totally unacceptable in a 5 Star hotel. Just to make matters worse there were a couple of the reception team close by. We asked for help and the offered minimal assistance before continuing their own conversation. I asked to see a manager and the Duty Manager called Jason came down to assist us. He was a very nice helpful guy and quickly sorted the room out and offered us a free bottle of wine. We opted for a free breakfast instead (more about that later). It's important to also mention that Jason was aware of some issues with the check in system so it's reasonable to expect a little more personal help on hand. A few positives, because it actually is a very nice hotel in a good location, with direct entry from a big mall and from the metro. Our room was great. A very comfortable bed, a modern bathroom, all the usual amenities and lots of space, hanging room etc. It was too cold to use the pool this time, but it's a nice big pool in a good space. We booked directly with the hotel and therefore got a complimentary late check out for 2pm instead of 11am Now back to our complimentary breakfast. Oh my goodness it was terrible. It's a set breakfast but so little effort has gone into it, it's unbelievable. Unseasoned and overcooked scrambled eggs, burned but cold tomatoes, a tiny bowl of beans and some chicken sausage, all served on the same plate as a cold slice of ham and a piece of smoked salmon on a cracker. It looked a mess and the hotel should try much harder. So that's the reason for the low score. It's a lovely hotel and I'm not trying to discourage anyone from staying there, but they do need to fix the check in process quickly, to avoid stressing guests out with such a...

We needed a Hong Kong stopover so based on the reviews we decided that given its location and accessibility to Moko mall that Royal Plaza would meet our needs.

We arrived late in the evening, having already booked in online, we thought it should be relatively streamlined to get to our rooms. Firstly there were no bellboys to take our bags from the taxi into the hotels. Then the check in process wasn't that smooth - checking in online didn't seem to make it any quicker. Even though we were the only ones checking in at the time there was nobody to take our bags to our rooms, which at the time I didn't think was an issue.

Then at the elevators they have a lady demanding to know our room number before letting you access the lift. The lifts themselves require you room card to operate so have no idea what her purpose was. Noting that she wasn't there during the day only in the evening. We had received an upgrade to the executive floor which we thought was a bonus however the lift only went to the 18th floor, so we had to lug our bags up an additional two sets of stairs. There appeared to be a club members lounge on the 19th floor but that was 'closed'.

The room itself was spacious in comparison to the hotels we stayed in Japan. It felt dimly lit and the decor was dark and heavy. There were no real views over the city, even though we on the top floor. Luckily, we were only staying overnight. As we were hungry and thirsty after our flight, we were disappointed that there was no room service, no complimentary water bottles and not even any mini bar items. So, we headed back downstairs to see if there anything in the lobby or mall. Given the late hour then only place we could find was the 7 eleven store near the subway station and that was about to close. Once we purchased some supplies, we head back only to be stopped again by the very officious lady at the elevators demanding our room number - she had seen us leave earlier and it wasn't that she was even writing the room number down. I can't see the sense - maybe it was because I was tired.

In the morning, once again based on the reviews, we had included a package breakfast. Breakfast is served in the Lion Rock restaurant. We were expecting a high-quality buffet meal, based on the price and being in a 5-star hotel. No chance we had a choice of two set menus - either Western or Chinese. When it did arrive, not that they were very busy, the food was bland and barely lukewarm. It was one of the worst hotel breakfasts that I have - so much so we decided that to find something decent we'd go back to the mall to eat. The only problem being that most shops in the Moko mall don't open until aft 10am.

When we left we were actually glad to leave and relieved we hadn't booked to...

I stayed at the Royal Plaza Hotel in Hong Kong for 3 Nights and overall had a very enjoyable experience.

Pros: Prime Location: Situated within the MOKO shopping mall, the hotel offers direct access to the Mong Kok East MTR station, making transportation extremely convenient. The mall itself provides a variety of dining options and convenience stores. Luxurious Room: My room was modern, clean, and well-appointed. The bathroom featured a spacious shower with high water pressure and a large bathtub that comfortably accommodated my taller stature. The bed was comfortable, and the inclusion of an HDMI cable made connecting my laptop to the TV effortless. Efficient Housekeeping: Room cleaning services were prompt and consistently followed by quality checks, ensuring a high standard of cleanliness. Filtered Water Access: The provision of filtered water through a dedicated tap was a convenient and appreciated amenity.

Cons: Overactive Air Conditioning: The AC was quite strong, and I couldn’t adjust the fan to a lower setting, resulting in some noise disturbance. Inconsistent Hot Water: One morning, both the bath and shower water were only mildly warm. Although this improved later in the day, it was an inconvenience. Busy Lobby Atmosphere: The hotel lobby was bustling, lacking the calm and luxurious ambiance one might expect from a five-star establishment. Elevator Security Check: Guests are required to provide their room number to staff before accessing the elevators. While this is likely for security purposes and staff were courteous, it felt like a minor intrusion on privacy. Limited In-Room Information: More comprehensive details about room service and dining options could be provided within the room for guests’ convenience. Lighting Controls: Despite the aesthetic and versatile lighting options, some switches were inconveniently located, and there wasn’t a master switch beside the bed. Loose Fixtures: Certain fixtures, such as the cosmetic mirror and bedside lamps, were not securely attached to the wall, making them difficult to use comfortably. Empty Minibar: The minibar was empty upon arrival, which was unexpected for a hotel of this caliber.

In summary, the Royal Plaza Hotel offers a comfortable stay with excellent amenities and a prime location. Addressing the minor issues mentioned could elevate the guest experience to an even...