Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui [In-Depth Hotel Review]

When searching for a hotel for a recent 3-night stay in Hong Kong, my wife and I had a small checklist for narrowing down our options. The hotel needed to be within walking distance of sites we wanted to visit, have easy access to the metro to get further afield, and be bookable with points and free nights we had available. That small must-haves list led us to the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, in the Kowloon area of Hong Kong.

I’ll be blunt right away: We really enjoyed this stay. From friendly service to a nice lounge for elites, the hotel offered great perks inside its doors to match the fantastic location and views outside.

Here are the many positives and few negatives from our 3-night stay in June 2024.

Booking the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui

The Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, is a Category 4 property in the World of Hyatt program and was using standard pricing during our stay. Thus, award nights were available for 15,000 points apiece.

We used the Pay My Way option to combine points and a Category 1-4 free night award, paying 30,000 points plus a free night for our 3-night stay.

The cash rate for our stay was $285.75 per night, so using 15,000 points per night provided a redemption value of 1.9 cents per point — well above our average valuation of World of Hyatt points at 1.5 cents apiece.

Hot Tip:

If you’re going to pay for a stay at a Hyatt property, your best bet is using The World of Hyatt Credit Card or the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card. Either will provide up to 9x points total on Hyatt stays: 4x bonus points per $1 on qualifying purchases at Hyatt hotels and 5x points for being a World of Hyatt member.

Location of the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui

The Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, is in the Tsim Sha Tsui area of Kowloon in Hong Kong. After multiple visits to Hong Kong over the years, I’ve realized Kowloon is the area most people think of when they imagine Hong Kong, and this property’s location put us within walking distance of the harbor, subway stations, shopping, restaurants, and more.

The hotel also had convenient access from within the Tsim Sha Tsui station on the metro’s Tsuen Wan line, entering into the underground level of the hotel so guests didn’t need to go outside. The location was also convenient for catching a quick taxi ride, short walk, or metro transfer from the Airport Express train.

Taxis (cash only) were also available from the airport, costing $30 to $40, depending on traffic. The Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, also offered a car transfer service, ranging from vans to cars and limousines. Regardless of the option, expect your trip from the airport to the hotel to take about 40 minutes to an hour.

Checking In

When our taxi pulled up in front of the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, around 10 p.m., we noticed the hotel’s service aspect immediately. A bellhop materialized out of thin air to help with luggage and offer a warm greeting, asking if we were checking in.

We entered the hotel’s jump lobby on the ground floor as the bellhop led us to the elevator, all the while insisting that we stop trying to help him push our luggage into the elevator. He sent us up to the main lobby with a warm smile and wishes for a pleasant stay.

As we exited the elevator on the fourth floor, we immediately noticed the size of the lobby and how busy it was. A wedding party was in full swing in the ballroom just past the reception desk.

Wading through the crowd of people, we arrived at the reception desk, where 2 smiling faces greeted us. The employee who checked us in was the definition of an ideal hotel front desk agent. She was friendly, knowledgeable, efficient, and conveyed all the important information without rambling or taking longer than necessary.

While performing tasks like scanning our passports or printing a welcome letter, she engaged in friendly chitchat that made us forget the passing of time. In a word, she was fantastic.

She confirmed our upgrade to a room with a better view and on a higher floor while apologizing that there were no suites available for upgrades, as the wedding party had booked all of them.
The friendly agent also explained the location of important hotel amenities, how to use the elevators (which required tapping your key card), and indicated a price list for amenities we could purchase if needed during our stay. These included things like earplugs, a shaving kit, and even a thermometer.

Elite Benefits

We enjoyed several benefits during our stay, thanks to my Hyatt Globalist status. First, we received an upgrade to the best room available at check-in, which was a 1 King Bed Harbour View Room. Additionally, we received free breakfast each morning during our stay. We could eat at the Regency Club or at the restaurant adjacent to the lobby; having options was a nice touch for this guaranteed benefit.

During check-in, we were offered a 4 p.m. late checkout, but we said we wouldn’t need it. Moreover, if needed, we would’ve received free parking and waived resort fees as Globalist perks, though this property doesn’t charge a resort fee, and we didn’t have a car during our stay.

The Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, also offered a benefit I’d never seen at a hotel: Globalists could use a meeting room for 1 hour per day at no charge. Advance reservations were required.

1 King Bed Harbour View Room

We stayed in room 2021 on the hotel’s 20th floor. Guest floors had a brown and tan color palette from wooden walls and a patterned carpet.

Each room had a doorbell, an easily identifiable room number, and a digital “Do Not Disturb” sign next to the doorbell.

Inside the room, we found a small hallway with the bathroom on the left and the bedroom in front of us. The hallway had artwork and floor-to-ceiling mirrors.

While not large, the bedroom was a fair size and contained everything we needed. To the right of the bed, in the corner, was an armchair and ottoman.

A comfortable king-size bed sat in the middle of the room, and there were 4 pillows that provided 1% of the support you might want when shopping for pillows.

On the bed, there was a note about conservation efforts at the hotel.

Each side of the bed had a nightstand with a lamp that had 2 USB-A charging points.

In the other corner of the room was a desk with a glass top, a rolling chair, and a lamp. The desk also had a phone and outlets, including an adapter with different types of inputs.

On the desk, we found a note about window cleaning to avoid surprises and ensure privacy.

We also found a note with a QR code to a webpage providing information about the hotel and the surrounding area.

Across from the bed, a TV hung above the minibar and drawers, and a welcome gift was waiting for us here. Along with a note from the general manager, we had several pieces of fruit that were a nice, light snack to overcome our hunger from a long day before going to sleep.

Opening the cabinet doors below, we found a small safe, 2 empty drawers, and several drawers full of items for purchase.

One drawer held a teapot, kettle, and supplies for making tea or coffee. These were complimentary.

In another drawer, chips and miniature bottles of alcohol were available for purchase, along with a price list.

Another drawer had a bottle opener, while the minifridge had sodas, beer, and liquor for purchase.

A unique feature of this room was the sliding door in the wall between the bathroom and bedroom, which was a nice way to quickly grab something off the bathroom counter or talk to each other while getting ready in the morning.

Bathroom

This bathroom was spacious; there is no other way to describe it. Entering the bathroom, there was a large tub immediately on the left.

Next to this was a shower area with both rainfall and handheld showerheads.

The shower had pump bottles of Pharmacopia products.

One odd element of the shower-tub area was the glass door that could close off the shower from the main area of the bathroom. The tub remained open in way that I can only describe as a weird half-closed, half-open setup. With the shower door closed, you could step into the tub and then step out into the center of the bathroom, bypassing the door.

Past the shower, there was a toilet with numerous controls for flushing, heating the seat, and more. In front of the toilet, there was a convenient towel hook, plus a phone.

To the right of the bathroom’s entrance, a large counter provided space on both sides of the sink to hold our toiletries. The counter also had a box of tissues, bottled water, and washcloths.

I wasn’t a fan of the faucet’s low water pressure or square construction, but those rank pretty low on the list of negatives you might encounter at a hotel.

We had a large bottle of hand lotion in a recess in the wall next to the sink. Below this shelf was a box of toiletries that included a toothbrush, cotton swabs, and makeup remover pads.

Along with the sliding door between the bathroom and the bedroom, a small door in the bathroom also provided access to the back of the hallway closet.

Closet

In the entrance hallway, there was a closet with sliding doors. Along with hangers, we found a pair of bathrobes, an iron, and an ironing board.

Along the wall, pockets held fluffy slippers, a laundry bag, and a price list.

Views

As the room’s name implied, we had views of Hong Kong’s harbor. However, it was an obstructed view because of several tall buildings between our window and the harbor.

We did enjoy the padded bench along the window, though. If you want to sit at the window looking out, this is a nice touch. We also found it to be a great spot for our suitcase during the stay.

Amenities

Outdoor Terrace

An outdoor terrace on the ninth floor provided a chance to get fresh air or have a cigarette.

There also was a small garden here, which surprised us.

Pool

We found the steps to the pool on the outdoor terrace. Unfortunately, due to continual lightning storms, it was closed during our stay.

Standard pool hours were 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. from March to November (with a pause for cleaning from noon to 1 p.m.) and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from December through February (with a cleaning pause from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.).

Fitness Center

On the 10th floor, the hotel’s fitness center was available 24 hours a day.

Turning right from the entrance, there was a room with space for stretching and several racks of free weights. Turning left, the other side of the gym had cardio machines and views from the windows.

In the middle of the gym, we found a pair of water coolers.

The cabinets under the water coolers had mats and exercise bands for guests to use.

Internet

Complimentary Wi-Fi was available throughout the hotel. It was reliable and provided average speeds of 40 Mbps. That’s fair for a hotel, but nothing special.

Elevators

The hotel used 2 sets of elevators. From the ground floor and underground levels, a bank of 3 elevators could take you to the third floor (the location of the Chinese Restaurant and bar) or the lobby on the fourth floor.

From the lobby floor, guests needed to tap a key card to use the next elevator bank, near the reception desk, which had access to guest rooms. This bank also had 3 elevators, which were spacious and had a mirrors-plus-wood design.

Waiting areas on guest floors had 2 seats at the far end but were mostly empty.

An interesting feature was that the elevator waiting areas had recycling and trash bins.

Meeting and Event Spaces

The Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, had 2 options for hosting events and meetings. The first was the main rooms on the lobby floor, where we saw a wedding party on our first night. These rooms provided up to 6,350 square feet of space in total, with the largest room offering up to 3,605 square feet.

Additionally, a small meeting room was available within the Regency Club. Those with club access could reserve the meeting room for 1 hour a day at no cost, but this had to be coordinated in advance.

The meeting room was upstairs on the lounge’s second floor, accessed through steps between the buffet area and the computer station. Outside the meeting room, there were 2 small tables with chairs if you wanted an isolated space for a chat, but the meeting room itself wasn’t available.

Parking

Valet parking was available at a steep cost. As of July 1, 2024, the cost for parking was HK$120 per hour (about $15), with a minimum charge of 2 hours.

The hotel doesn’t list a nightly rate, so be forewarned that the parking cost adds up quickly. It is possible for Globalists to avoid this charge on points stays, however.

Airport Transfers

The Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, provided several options for airport transfers. A Mercedes Benz S-Class was available for HK$1,150 (about $150) per trip, fitting up to 4 people. For HK$1,450 (about $185), you could order a van for up to 6 people. Note that the hotel adds a HK$200 (about $25) surcharge for trips between midnight and 6 a.m.

Food and Beverage

The Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, had multiple food offerings across the hotel’s lobby floor (fourth floor), the third floor, and even up on the 23rd floor. Here’s a look at your options:

Regency Club Lounge

Those staying in rooms with club access or those with Globalist status have access to the Regency Club on the 23rd floor. Key cards for eligible guests allowed you to tap your key in the elevator and then push the button for 23; otherwise, you couldn’t activate this button.

A staff member was at the reception desk in the lounge during breakfast (7 to 10:30 a.m. daily) and evening hors d’oeuvres (5:30 to 7:30 p.m. daily). Do note that children can only access the lounge when accompanying an adult.

Immediately inside the lounge was a large seating area with several sofas and coffee tables.

And the outer wall of the lounge had floor-to-ceiling windows, providing great views of the harbor.

Further into the lounge, we passed a computer station with a printer that guests could use for free.

Making a turn past the computer, we entered the first seating area, next to the breakfast buffet. A center island held pastries and fruits, some of which rotated every morning.

A U-shaped buffet along the walls started with breads and cold cuts on one end.

Next to this, there were 8 to 10 hot dishes daily, which changed each morning but always included some type of potatoes, a soup, some type of noodles, and both Western and local dishes.

In the center of the U, a cooler held pitchers with several types of juice, cans of soda, individual servings of yogurt, additional cold cuts, and several types of milk, including soy.

Moving to the right, there were glasses, mugs, several types of tea, a dispenser for seltzer water, and an espresso machine with a frother.

Closing the U at the other side was a small salad station, though it was simply lettuce and a few dressings.

Guests could also request cooked-to-order eggs and wonton noodles, as listed on a small menu at each table.

Past the buffet, there was another seating area in the rear of the lounge with extra tables and chairs.

Bottom Line:

We found the Regency Club breakfast and quiet atmosphere to be great, so we went here every morning, even with the option for a bigger buffet at Café.

Café

Located on the main floor between the arrival elevators and the reception desk, Café was another option for breakfast in the mornings. Globalists could enjoy their daily breakfast benefit at the lounge or at Café, which is a nice option.

While checking in, we were told that we could try both but that most guests wound up returning to the lounge because of its quiet atmosphere, compared to the noise of the general public at Café’s buffet during the mornings.

Café served 3 meals a day, with breakfast from 6:30 to 10 a.m. Beyond this, the lunch buffet was available from noon to 2:30 p.m. and a dinner buffet from 6 to 10 p.m. daily.

Hugo’s

Located on the lobby level, Hugo’s originally opened in 1969 and served steak, seafood, poultry, and desserts from set menus. Hugo’s was open for lunch from noon to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays and brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. Dinner was available from 6:30 to 10 p.m. daily.

In-house hotel guests could receive a discount of up to 40% for being World of Hyatt members.

The Chinese Restaurant

On the third floor (1 below the lobby level), The Chinese Restaurant offered local fare and provided the same discount for World of Hyatt members who were staying at the hotel. All-you-can-eat dim sum was available from 10 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. daily.

Lunch was available from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, while dinner was available from 6 to 10 p.m. each evening.

Chin Chin Bar

Also on the third floor, Chin Chin Bar had an outdoor terrace and also provided a discount for in-house guests who were World of Hyatt members. Happy hour lasted from 5 to 9 p.m. every evening. The bar itself was open from 5 p.m. to midnight on holidays and Sundays through Thursdays. On Fridays and Saturdays, the bar remained open until 1 a.m.

Chin Chin Bar also hosted live music, with bands from 8 to 11:45 p.m. on Monday through Thursday (as well as holidays) and from 9 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and public holidays. On Sundays, there was a piano performance from 6 to 8:45 p.m.

Room Service

Room service was available around the clock, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner items such as pancakes, lasagna, rack of lamb, and more.

Service

Service was excellent throughout our stay, with only 1 minor issue. From the moment we arrived, staff proactively worked to meet our needs. This started with a bellhop jumping into action to greet us and help with our luggage and continued through the friendly, efficient check-in process.

Whenever we passed staff in the hallways, they were friendly in their greetings. And staff routinely pushed the elevator button when they saw us heading that way, reducing our wait times.

Our most common staff interactions occurred in the Regency Club, where staff provided consistently positive service each morning. From clearing plates to offering additional services and maintaining a clean, stocked buffet, staff here were excellent.

On the final morning, we were also impressed with staff who helped send us on our way to the airport. From start to finish, the team deserved high praise.

We also loved the space the hotel created for taking Pride Month-themed photos near the elevators, using Hyatt’s “Stay as You Are” slogan.

And we appreciated the note under our door from housekeeping saying they’d come but saw our “Do Not Disturb” sign. This also provided notice that they would try to enter later, as the hotel had a policy of doing safety checks in each room every 24 hours.

The only ding against staff was the hair and fuzz on my pillow when we arrived in our room. Given that we had multiple pillows on the bed, we simply put this one aside.

Final Thoughts

On our last morning at the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, checkout was a breeze. We had no bill to settle, and staff showed us the clean bill before closing the account and accepting our key cards.

We inquired about a taxi to the airport, wondering if it would be difficult to find a taxi on the street (it was just after 7 a.m. at this point). Staff directed us to the underground area, where we’d previously connected to the subway station. This also served as a taxi waiting area.

When we stepped out of the elevator, a taxi and driver were waiting. The friendly bellhops picked up our luggage while inquiring about which airline and terminal we were heading to. They communicated this to the driver since he didn’t speak English. As they closed the taxi doors, they wished us a pleasant onward journey and said they hoped we’d return to the hotel soon. I’m hoping to take them up on that.