Review of TWH - Tai Wan Hotel by kurisudecorpse (0), 5. Januar 2008

Happy New Year!

I have just returned from Hong Kong and I need to warn all on this Tai Wan Hotel Hong Kong Kowloon (http://www.twh.hk).
Despite that it was my 4th visit to HK over these years, I must say
that this so-call Hotel completely destroy my confidence to book
another hotel through internet ever again.

My friends and I had decided to celebrate our New Year in HK sometime
in August. As we need to travel to and fro Hom Hung for a few nights,
therefore we decided to settle for a hotel in Tsim Sa Shui instead of
Mongkok area which we normally stay. After checking through some
website and forum, and based on the pictures uploaded in the website,
we have decided to book 5 units, 6 nights stay in the Hotel stated. All
the booking and payment was done in September and the person-in-charge
confirmed our request on 5 rooms (3 Twins and 2 Single) on the same
floor and smoking floor as well.

The nightmares begin when we reach Hong Kong on 28th Dec 2007. There
wasn't any arrangement done at all! The lift was sickening, 8 of us
need to wait for 4 rounds in order to gather together in the 3rd floor
reception. The manager is a Chinese nationality who cares about only $
(insist on cash deposit / credit card / key deposit) when we reach.

The checking in alone took 1 hour, as the rooms to be allocated to us
was not prepared yet! And the most ridicules part was I was told by the
manager that instead of 5 rooms, he will give only 4 rooms and expect
the 2 single room occupants to bunk into a twin room! This totally
defeat the purpose! After much argument, he gave in (I should have
asked for a refund @ that moment). As we refused to take 4 rooms, he
was there complaining, stating that with their high occupancies rate
over the festive season, it will be impossible for us to find another
hotel at that point of time, and that we are wasting 1 room that could
increase the revenue for them. After questioning him, the fact is that
they are charging others 2x of what we pay for the room (we paid for
the rooms in Sep).

Allocation of rooms is a disaster as well.... as the lift is
functioning slow, we gotta hand carry our luggages down to ground floor
on stairs in order to proceed to the lifts of another block. Imagine
after that flight schedule and commotion.... The allocation of rooms
was not as promised, rooms was given in 3 different floors, and the
best part was, the rooms look more like a cell than a resting place.
The pictures placed in the website couldn't be found anywhere, we were
conned. Photo with bathtub and spacious hotel bedding was replaced to
us by a small toilet whereby one will need to sit at the side of the
toilet bowl in order to remove their bowel and stand in stationary
while taking shower. The nice looking bed was replaced by metal bed
with thermal blanket (I doubt the Hotel wash it upon each check-out)
and a S$1 Towel. All the bath liquid, hair-dryer, mini sofa.......etc
as stated in their website are nowhere to be seen. Anyway, we need to
rush to buy new towel and thick clothings as we don't dare to use their
blanket. I describe the room as a prison cell as it took me 3 steps to
walk from my bed to the door.

Just as we thought everything was settled, at 12am of the very 1st day,
the lady-in-charge of one of the floor (2 Twin Sharing), slammed on the
door of my friend's room and ordered them to shift out by noon!
As I was out drinking, the reason was unknown but my friends gave in
after some heat argument. Personally, I don't think the place is safe
for traveler, especially girls. I am not racism but that place is
occupied by mostly Indians or blacks.... and they will whistle at girls
while waiting for lift or even passing by. Btw, that building stinks,
the house-keeping sucks with lousy sound-proof. Jamming of doors can be
heard throughout the night.

As I have got some other group of friends over in Hong Kong as well
over that period of time, they recommended the hotel that they resided
to us. It is a trial-launched hotel called, Hotel Panorama (http://www.hotelpanorama.com.hk).
With most of my companions know that they cannot endure another 4 days,
staying in 'LITTLE INDIA', we shifted out to Hotel Panorama, as soon as
the rooms were secured for us. And I swear to you that although the
walking distance between these 2 places was 5 minutes, the difference
were great hell and heaven.

As we have already paid for the rest of the rooms over at Tai Wan
Hotel, refund is impossible , hence I have decided to leave my room
vacant for 2 of my friends to put their lugguage, as I mentioned all
the rooms are small. Nevertheless, on that very day I shifted out, my
friends informed me that it was been taken up by other people already
at night. This pissed me off but considering some of my friends (girls)
are still putting up there, I decided not to make a fuss out of this
matter.

In conclusion, I've learned my lesson not to believe in forum and photo
anymore. I appeal to all people to think thrice should this TWH is
under your list of consideration to stay while in Hong Kong. I highly
recommend Hotel Panorama, as I am very impressed by their services and
their management style of handling things.