Holiday Inn Golden Mile Hong Kong [In-Depth Review]

Traveling with 3 kids is always a feat of strength, particularly when trying to find accommodations. While I typically prefer an Airbnb for extended vacations, the search results for Hong Kong didn’t seem to be a good fit for my family based on location, layout, number of beds, and/or budget.

I started researching hotels with either 2 connecting rooms or 1 family room, and to my luck, I landed on Holiday Inn Golden Mile Hong Kong. The hotel was reasonably priced and well-located for public transit and tourist attractions. The only downside was that my family of 5 would be in 1 room with 3 queen beds. Could my husband and I share a room with our preteens and live to tell the tale?

Booking the Holiday Inn Golden Mile Hong Kong

I booked 5 nights in a 3 Double Premium room (with 3 queen beds) at Holiday Inn Golden Mile Hong Kong. I paid a prepaid rate of $1,461.46 total, or $292.29 a night.

I tried to stack as many cash-back promotions as possible on this stay, including a 9% cash-back TopCashback offer on IHG stays ($119.57) and a 10% cash-back Chase Offer for IHG Hotels & Resorts, which reached the maximum return for the offer at $57. This brought my final out-of-pocket total to $1,284.77, or $256.95 a night.

I was also eligible for several stackable IHG One Rewards promotions, including a birthday offer (stay on a weekend, get 3,000 points), an anniversary offer for 15 years of IHG membership (3x bonus points per stay), and a promo to receive 8,000 points every 4 nights through August 31, 2024. With my base points and Gold Elite bonus points, I earned a whopping 49,638 IHG One Rewards points on this stay. We value IHG One Rewards points at 0.5 cents each, so these points are worth just under $250.

Hot Tip:

When traveling with kids, consider booking a rate that includes breakfast, as kids under 12 eat free at Holiday Inn hotels. We were offered a “deal” at check-in for HK$880 (about $112) per day, though the hotel advertised rates of HK$298 (about $38) per adult for the buffet. Had I booked a rate with breakfast in advance, the rate difference would have been around HK$300 (about $38), which would have been a much better price for breakfast for 5.

What Credit Card To Book With

I paid for the stay using my husband’s new Aer Lingus Visa Signature^® Card, as the Chase Offer was on that card. This card typically earns 2x Avios on direct hotel purchases, but he also earned an additional 1x bonus (on his statement, this was listed as “+1X Addl Avios for hotel purchases”), for around 4,400 Avios total. This larger purchase also contributed toward meeting the minimum spending requirement of the card’s welcome offer.

NEW OFFER

Aer Lingus Visa Signature^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Aer Lingus Visa Signature^® Card

Welcome Offer

Earn 85,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

85,000 Avios

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,062

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x Avios on Aer Lingus, British Airways, and Iberia purchases
• 2x Avios on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
• Priority boarding

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Doesn’t offer many bonus categories

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 85,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
• Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and LEVEL.
• Earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
• Every calendar year you make purchases of $30,000 on your Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card, you'll receive a Commercial Companion Ticket good for 12 months
• You and any authorized users on your account are eligible for Priority Boarding on Aer Lingus flights departing from and returning to the US from Ireland, subject to availability.
• Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad.
• Simply tap to pay with your contactless Aer Lingus Visa Signature Card. Just look for the contactless symbol at checkout. It's fast, easy and secure!
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.49% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

If you’re an IHG loyalist, consider using one of the co-branded IHG credit cards to earn up to 26x points at IHG properties, such as the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The perfect card for IHG fans, offering a free night every year, automatic Platinum Elite status, and your fourth night free on award stays.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

The perfect card for IHG fans, offering a free night every year, automatic Platinum Elite status, and your fourth night free on award stays.

Welcome Offer

Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

140,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$700

Annual Fee

$99

APR

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you regularly visit IHG hotels throughout the year, then the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is probably a perfect card to have in your wallet.

The IHG Premier card offers a great bundle of perks and benefits, including automatic Platinum elite status, an annual free night certificate, and travel protections.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 26x points per $1 on IHG stays
• 5x points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $99 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable points

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 140,000 Bonus Points
• Enjoy an Anniversary Free Night at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Plus, enjoy a fourth reward night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG^® hotel stay.
• Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier cardmember
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 ($120 starting 10/1/24) every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
• IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental^®, Crowne Plaza^®, Kimpton^®, EVEN^® Hotels, Indigo^® Hotels & Holiday Inn^®
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.49% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Holiday Inn Golden Mile Hong Kong Location

Holiday Inn Golden Mile Hong Kong is in Kowloon, in the Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) district.

Its narrowest side faces Nathan Road, which was known after World War II as the “Golden Mile.”

The hotel concierge suggested 3 approaches to the hotel from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG):

1. Airport Express Line — Take the Airport Express Line to Kowloon Station (HK$100 Octopus card or HK$105 Smart ticket, both around $13), then a public taxi from HK$80 (about $10) to the hotel from Kowloon Station. The hotel advised this station/taxi combo as the MTR station closest to the hotel only had stairs.
2. Taxi — Fare from the airport with 2 pieces of luggage is around HK$320 (about $41) and takes 35 minutes.
3. Private Limousine — The hotel could arrange for a 6-seat van or 4-seat Mercedes (also 35 minutes) for HK$850 (about $109) with a midnight surcharge from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. of HK$200 (about $26).

We had been advised that taxis only took cash, and I was concerned we wouldn’t be able to find a taxi that would fit our bags and all 5 of us, as many are only rated for 4 passengers. Thus, I booked an Uber from arrivals for HK$411 (about $53), and the ride took exactly 35 minutes.

We opted to return to HKG via the Airport Express Line from Tsing Yi station, which cost HK$11 (about $1.41) for adults and HK$4.90 (about $0.63) for kids for the MTR ride to the station and HK$65 (about $8) per adult on the Octopus card for the Airport Express Line (kids were free on a summer promotion). The total return trip for 5 was HK$166.70 (about $21).

Check-In

We arrived via Uber just before 6 p.m. at the Mody Road entrance.

The drop-off area was bustling with arriving and departing guests. The weather was rainy and humid, so we were happy to quickly rush inside toward the air conditioning.

While the lobby was buzzing with activity, there was no line to check in. I approached the general line and was motioned to go to the attendant at the IHG One Rewards elite desk.

The agent scanned my family’s passports, confirmed the details of my reservation, and handed me 2 key cards. He also informed me that due to a new Hong Kong law against disposable plastic products, we would be charged HK$10 (about $1.28) per person based on consumption of items such as water bottles, toothbrushes, and combs.

I later noticed that there were several stations for self-check-in, should the attended lines be too busy.

Elite Benefits

I have IHG One Rewards Gold Elite status, which confers virtually no hotel perks during a stay. The agent thanked me for my membership and asked if I needed a late checkout (I did not). A 2 p.m. checkout (subject to availability) is a benefit of all levels of IHG One Rewards (including base members).

He also gave me 2 tickets to redeem for welcome drinks at Hari’s Bar, typically a benefit of Platinum Elite status. I thought this might be a great treat for my kids while I checked out the hotel, so I asked if he could spare another 2 drink tickets, to which he happily obliged.

Lobby

The hotel does not have a tremendous amount of space for sitting or waiting. A few groups of chairs were directly across from the check-in desks, and 2 partitioned rooms behind this area had additional seating.

The room to the right had seats that were almost always occupied and 2 desks that looked like they had a former life as a concierge area or business center.

The other partioned area had mainly pairs of chairs with a small sofa.

First Impressions

With the exception of late evenings, the lobby was consistently busy. Large groups would gather, luggage would be stored off to the side, and it never felt like a relaxing space.

Once I headed up to the room, the first thing I noticed was how filthy the carpets looked the moment I stepped off the elevator onto the 12th floor. The black carpeting concealed nothing, and bits of fuzz, dust, and debris were evident on my entire walk to my room and in the room itself. This was not just a 1-time incident, as the carpeting remained visibly dirty throughout our stay.

Room

Our room, 1239, was on the 12th floor at the end of the hallway.

Upon entering the 3 Double Premium room, I felt confident that this room would be a good fit for my family.

I love open closets, and this one had a huge bottom shelf for luggage and ample hangers. Even though our reservation was for 5, only 3 robes and 3 sets of slippers were included. The closet also had an umbrella, and iron, and an ironing board.

We used the space where the slippers were as a landing pad for our shoes, and the drawer next to this area held a large safe.

There was no coffee maker, but the counter had a kettle for making instant coffee or tea, and a drawer below the counter held coffee cups and glassware.

All of the chargeable disposable plastic items were placed on the counter next to 4 water bottles and a note indicating we’d be charged for anything consumed. I quickly swept everything up to the top shelf so that my kids would not run up a bill by mistake.

The bottom of the minibar cabinet held a minifridge. We later realized that this had been left open before our arrival. Once properly closed, it took a while to reach a chilling temperature.

The blue carpet showed every crumb, dustball, and bit of fuzz left behind by previous guests that the vacuum couldn’t capture.

One of my favorite features of the room was these 2 sets of large drawers. They had plenty of space to unpack for an extended vacation, and the tops were great for our bags and to use as a makeshift table when we ate meals in the room.

Unfortunately, the only workspace in the room was the tiny ledge between the drawers. It was located directly below the TV and had a velvet stool. This was also where the hairdryer was placed. My laptop barely fit on this counter, and with the lack of space, I had to put my mouse and mousepad on the top of the drawers next to it. I later called down for a chair with a back and was quickly brought something similar to what you might find at a conference.

The room also had an air purifier that we kept on when we were in the room.

My kids loved that the hotel had English-language Nickelodeon, and I appreciated that the TV was mounted on an articulating arm to pull away from the wall and adjust left or right for viewing.

The 3 queen beds were quite close together, but overall we all had space to move around the room without knocking into each other. Each bed had soft and firm pillow options, but both felt like mush to me. I usually sleep with a firm foam pillow and I was constantly reshaping these pillows all night. The mattress was also quite firm, and while I loved this, my husband said he tossed and turned nightly.

The nightstand shelf between the center and right beds had a notepad and pen, a Type G outlet, temperature controls, and lighting controls.

The shelf between the left and center beds had 2 Type G outlets, lighting controls, and a phone. When not in use, this phone functioned as a clock in a screensaver-style mode. The room did not have any USB charging ports.

The view from our window was quite dreary, but we could at least tell if it was raining outside.

Bottom Line:

While the room fit our family, the lack of a proper work area made attempting to work on a laptop very inconvenient. We also brought breakfast and dinner up to the room a few times, and the lack of a table or additional seating made for messy meals.

Bathroom

The bathroom closed off to the room via a sliding mirrored door. This door could lock, though it never shut fully. There was always a little sliver of space peeking through.

While the space was compact, it had a large shower, a toilet, and a single-sink vanity.

I enjoyed having a makeup mirror (though my kids hung the hand towel off of it), and hand soap and lotion were from The White Company.

Even though our reservation was for 5, the room had been set with only 3 full-size towels, so I immediately called reception to ask for additional towels. When we had service during our stay, the towels were all replaced, but we only received 4 instead of 5.

In a room made for 6 guests, we also struggled with places to hang all of our towels. We utilized the shower door towel bar, laundry line, 2 hooks, and closet bar, but the bathroom would have benefited from more hooks or bars to dry everything.

The hotel did have families in mind for this room type, however, as it thoughtfully included a kid-size stepstool under the sink.

The shower had a fixed showerhead with a handheld wand. Shampoo, conditioner, and body gel were from The White Company. Water pressure and temperature were fine, but the shower pan quickly filled with slow-draining water, so the kids left a wet mess after every shower.

I appreciated the inclusion of a small shelf, a laundry line, and a grab bar.

Amenities

Executive Club

I would not normally have access to the Executive Club, but attempting to work on a tiny shelf underneath a TV blasting “SpongeBob SquarePants” had me at my wits’ end. I called the front desk and asked about a business center or any place I could quietly work. The agent advised me to try the Executive Club on level B2.

Lounge access is available to IHG One Rewards members who choose it as a Milestone Reward or those who book a club-access room. Access is via a key card, but an agent let me in after seeing me struggle. I explained my situation and she directed me to the “cyber stations” in the rear of the lounge.

The cyber stations each had 2 desks with computers (a Mac and a PC) and printers. I was able to hunker down in this space for a few hours across 2 days.

The agent advised me that due to my status, should I want to enjoy the lounge’s other amenities, the cost would be HK$550 (about $70) for 2 adults (children under 12 are free of charge) or HK$440 (about $56) for non-members. The lounge is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a happy hour from 6 to 8 p.m. The website also indicates a breakfast is served.

The lounge was spacious, with a variety of seating areas and coolers with beverages.

I left during happy hour, and hot and cold food options were on display.

Bottom Line:

While I appreciate that an exception was made to allow me to work from the Executive Club, the property suffers from a lack of space in non-exclusive areas to work or relax.

Fitness Center

The fitness center and pool were on the 19th floor. As the elevator only reaches the 18th floor, access is via a small flight of stairs. I did not see handicapped access to reach the 19th-floor amenities.

The gym was open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. I worked out in this space daily and also utilized the water cooler to refill bottles for my family.

The fitness center had 2 ellipticals, 4 treadmills, and 1 stationary bike. I visited in the morning and never had capacity issues accessing the cardio equipment.

The gym had 2 weight machines and equipment for hanging leg raises.

A bench and dumbbells were also available. I realized too late into my standing shoulder press that the ceiling in the weight area was a bit lower than the rest of the gym. Oops!

The gym speakers were playing an upbeat mix of dance music at a volume that made it clear that no one else should be playing their own music without headphones.

The only issue I encountered in the gym was from a few dads who brought their young children with them to goof around while they worked out. A large sign on the entry door clearly stated that children under 16 were not allowed, but at least 3 guests ignored this sign while I was working out.

Health Club

Up another small set of stairs was the “health club,” which had a sauna, steam room, shower, and toilet. The posted hours were from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Pool

I was looking forward to enjoying the pool with my kids, but it was closed due to rain and thunder the first few days, and when it finally opened, no one was interested in swimming.

When it is open, the pool hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. During my visit, 2 attendants issued towels and managed a small bar area.

The pool itself is somewhat small, but an area to the side had ample pairs of loungers with sun umbrellas.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi was easy to connect to, and our connection was consistent throughout the property. I achieved download speeds of 14.73 Mbps and upload speeds of 23.62 Mbps.

Retail

The hotel had a variety of watch and jewelry shops on the ground level and B1 level.

Meeting Space

The hotel’s bottom floor had 3 ballrooms and 3 meeting rooms, but when I tried to visit, the entire space was closed, with the access blocked and the lights out. More details on meetings and events can be found online.

Food and Beverage

Holiday Inn Golden Mile Hong Kong has 4 on-site restaurants, ranging from a sports bar to Cantonese fare.

Bistro on the Mile

Bistro on the Mile is the hotel’s all-day restaurant on the first floor. It serves breakfast (7 to 10:30 a.m.), lunch (12 to 2:30 p.m.), afternoon tea (3 to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays), and dinner (6 to 9:15 p.m.).

I was able to preview the breakfast buffet, and I regretted not adding breakfast to my rate. My kids would have enjoyed the plentiful options here more than the sad 7-Eleven pastries from across the street.

The buffet had plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Kids were eagerly lined up for this automatic pancake machine.

While there were standard Western options of eggs, breakfast meats, and beans, the dim sum looked delicious.

An Indian section offered options like aloo bhaji and masala omelets.

Hari’s Bar

Hari’s Bar is a sports bar on the mezzanine level. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 3 p.m. to midnight and has a daily happy hour from 5 to 9 p.m.

While I was checking out the property, my husband and kids headed here to redeem their welcome drink vouchers. The kids devoured the snacks like they hadn’t just overeaten at the airport lounge, and my husband enjoyed a Stella Artois while the kids slurped down Sprites.

Osteria Ristorante Italiano

This Italian restaurant on the mezzanine level is open daily for lunch from 12 to 3 p.m. and for dinner from 6 to 11 p.m. An à la carte menu is available online.

Loong Yuen

Loong Yuen is on the B1 level and serves Chinese and Cantonese cuisine daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to 11 p.m. An à la carte menu is available online.

Hot Tip:

The hotel offers vouchers for discounted dining when purchased through its eShop.

Service

From the gentleman who always opened the door for us to the staff who intentionally greeted us throughout our stay to the extra drink tickets on arrival, we felt very welcomed at Holiday Inn Golden Mile Hong Kong.

We don’t typically have our room serviced during a hotel stay and usually have the Do Not Disturb sign hung. As we would leave the room each morning, the cleaning staff would make a point to step into the hallway to see if we needed any trash service, towels, or other cleaning.

I also appreciated the use of the cyber stations in the Executive Center. During both visits, it was made clear to me that these were courtesy arrangements. On my second visit, I dropped my mouse by mistake, and someone immediately checked on me to see if I was ok.

Surrounding Area

The hotel is incredibly well-located in the Tsim Sha Tsui district and is within easy walking distance of Victoria Harbour, the Star Ferry, the Avenue of Stars, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

iSQUARE mall was just across the street, and the area around Nathan Road had plenty of options for dining and shopping. Kowloon Park was just a few steps away, and my twins enjoyed the flamingo lake, aviary, and Hong Kong Avenue of Comic Stars.

We also walked for soup buns from the nearby Cheung Hing Kee Shanghai Pan-fried Buns (a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant) and repeatedly picked up egg waffles from Hong Kong Traditional Food across the street.

Access to public transportation could not have been more convenient, with easy MTR access to the red Tsuen Wan Line and brown Tuen Ma Line — just pay attention to what exit to surface from!

Final Thoughts

We had a great stay at Holiday Inn Golden Mile Hong Kong, with its location being its strongest asset.

Having a family of 5 in 1 room complicated our plans a bit in ways we might have been a bit blind to. Neither my husband nor I could easily work from the room, which having 2 hotel rooms or a rental with a living room usually allows for. We also generally needed to enter lights-out mode when we put the kids to bed. That stretched bedtime out a little further than we would normally prefer, and the kids complained of the glow from our cell phones nightly. Getting everyone showered with only 1 bathroom to share was also a lengthy process each night.

The hotel itself would benefit from small attention to detail — such as ensuring that available towels match the guest count or more aggressive vacuuming to keep the carpets visibly tidier. It also needs more lounge areas to accommodate the swell of guests that congregate in the lobby (and parents escaping SpongeBob).

While I’d consider the property again on a repeat visit to Hong Kong, I’d likely consider adjoining rooms instead of a family room.