With Hong Kong in the grip of another anorexic binge of economic gorging, reasonable hotel space is hard to come by. Evicted suddenly by my own domestic troubles one night I discovered a rare find, a reasonable three-star.
The iClub Hotel on 211 Johnston Rd. in the heart of Wanchai is a true find. Its nineteen floors hold 99 rooms. It’s a Regal Hotel, so management is careful to offer exactly what they want to: a minimum of service. This is fine as long as their expectations are met.
iClub does not disappoint. The lobby is simply a desk, with two staff and two computers. The twin elevators are tiny, fitting maybe 4 or 5. The halls are white, bright and hospital-like. My first indication of more-than-expected-results was the carpet: off-white, rich and densely woven, it was immaculate and unlike countless cheap hotel carpets in China had no stains or cigarette burns, and you could not feel the uneven concrete floor beneath the carpet.
Finally, the room: A large room with everything you would need, plus a new, hard bed and German down blanket. Everything done in minimalist white, with clear glass tables and glass walls showing every action taking place within the bathroom. That seems to be what people expect of minimalism today: voyeurism.
The rooms all have free wifi, safes, ironing boards, and cable TV. The rooms are, in a nutshell, fabulous.
Big drawback? The breakfast lounge. The hotel emphasizes it is a “simple” breakfast. The reality is it is underwhelming. The lounge has five or six tables and a laughable buffet with cereal and a few bananas. They would be better advised to simply provide coffee.
The lounge is functional, however: Its two free computers are useful for occasional use, and the lounge is a great place to meet someone for a quick talk.
Overall, I liked this place so much I hesitate to share it with anyone. Yet I know it’s only a mater of time before prices there will match those of other chains. How long before word of good deals gets out? Six months? Two? Right.
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