When visiting Hong Kong, one needs to figure out whether they want to stay on Hong Kong Island or on the "Kowloon Side", just across the harbor. I much prefer staying on the Hong Kong side, but it is really a matter of personal preference. On a recent trip to Hong Kong, I stayed here for two nights, before moving to Central for five nights. If you are going to stay in Kowloon, this hotel is a very good choice.

First, my big negative: I really do not like the layout and the feng shui of the public areas. Located in a newly constructed mixed-use building, there are literally three "lobbies" to this hotel. Firstly, there is the small subterranean "lobby" where taxis and cars pick up and drop off; secondly, there is the street level lobby for pedestrian access, which is just a small lobby to catch the elevators up to the main lobby, and is manned by one or two doormen; and thirdly, there is the main lobby on the eighth(?) floor.

So, if you are looking for a grand lobby, or a great lobby bar and meeting place, this is not the hotel for you. Rather than have a lobby bar, they have chosen to have an informal cafe (with excellent food) as the first thing one sees when they get off the elevators; I did not like this at all. Additionally, they have functions on the other side of the lobby, directly adjacent to reception and the concierge desk. On two days of my stay, there were wedding-related functions in the lobby; it was all rather tacky, frankly.

On the other hand, the general design of the hotel is beautiful, and feels more like a Park Hyatt than a Hyatt Regency. Though the rooms are on the small side at about 300 square feet, they are among the most intelligently and beautifully designed rooms I have been in. The rooms are contemporary, and the use of space is brilliant. The bathrooms are large and gorgeous, though my room lacked a bathtub. The finishes are of the highest quality, again, feeling more like a Park Hyatt than a Hyatt Regency. (The one weird thing was the size of the "King Bed" felt like it was one and a half King beds: it was huge, and too big for the room). And though I did not have a "harbor view room", I did have a great view of the harbor. Additionally, all the technology was very modern, and very functional.

The service was first class all the way, as is usually the case in Hong Kong. The service was as good as the top hotels in Hong Kong that I have stayed at. The staff was young and very good, though slightly less seasoned than one might find at the Mandarin or The Peninsula.

This is a great option if you want to stay in Kowloon, and is a relatively good value as well.