Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui Guesthouse: Rainbow Lodge

July 16, 2023 119 Views

Personally, when I travel alone, I like to stay in a variety of accommodations to have diverse experiences. I usually start with the cheapest guesthouses or capsule hotels, then move on to regular hotels, and sometimes even try out special hotels.

For this Hong Kong trip, I followed the same approach. The first place I stayed was a guesthouse in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.

“Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui Guesthouse: Rainbow Lodge”

I stayed at “Rainbow Lodge” for three nights during this Hong Kong trip. The reason for staying here for three days is simple. Even though it was a 10-person dormitory, the price was quite affordable at around 20,000 Korean won per night. Plus, it’s located in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, which offers a strategic location. Right next door, I could find Kowloon Park.

“The Accommodation Exceeded My Expectations in Its Own Romantic Way”

I chose this accommodation for its affordability, but I ended up having a satisfying experience. While it wasn’t without its inconveniences, staying on the third-floor bunk bed was a completely new experience for me. It allowed me to feel a truly Hong Kong atmosphere. Waking up in the morning, I could enjoy the view of the Hong Kong skyline through the window from the middle bunk in the dormitory. Despite the time that has passed since my trip, this scene remains vivid in my memory. (Although I stayed in other, nicer accommodations, it was the first guesthouse experience that left the strongest impression.)

“Challenges on the First Night”

However, the trip that started off well took a turn on the first day. Due to my flight arriving late in the evening, I didn’t reach the Hong Kong accommodation until well past midnight.

When I arrived at the guesthouse for check-in in the early hours, a problem arose. Since it was late, the staff had left my dormitory key at the counter for me to pick up. However, someone else had taken my key and checked in with it.

This led to a series of complications, and I tried to resolve the issue by contacting the emergency contact provided by the guesthouse. However, it was already very late, and I was exhausted. With these overlapping issues, I found myself unable to locate my assigned bed in the guesthouse until the early hours of the morning.

In the end, the staff confirmed that someone else had checked in with my key. The solution was to receive a new key, approach the person sleeping in my assigned bed, explain the situation, and mutually agree to switch beds.

“A Sleepless First Night Due to Snoring”

I had barely slept on the first night. On top of the previous complications, I found myself sharing a room with someone who snored heavily in the room I had switched into.

Even when I tried my best to fall asleep, the loud snoring made it impossible. Those sharing the room seemed to be bothered by the snoring as well, occasionally giving signs of irritation by tapping the bed frame whenever the snoring got particularly loud. It was a rough first night.

“Relief After the Nightmare-Like First Night”

After a night with little sleep, I was in a state of exhaustion. As soon as the front desk staff was stationed in the morning, I went straight to them to explain the events of the previous night and requested to switch rooms back to my original assignment.

Initially, the staff firmly refused, but after strongly expressing my dissatisfaction, explaining that a significant amount of unnecessary time was spent due to their mistake, and mentioning that the person who moved into the room I originally had snored loudly, they told me to wait for a moment.

Fortunately, a bed became available in a different room. I moved there, and from that day on, I was able to sleep comfortably without being disturbed by snoring.

“Towel Rental: 20 Hong Kong Dollars”

Since it’s a guesthouse, complimentary services are relatively limited. Towels were not provided for free, so I had to rent one. The rental fee for one use was 20 Hong Kong dollars.

“Shared Bathrooms and Showers for Both Genders”

Since it’s a guesthouse, the bathrooms and showers are shared. In Korea, there’s usually a clear separation between men’s and women’s facilities, but in Hong Kong, both were used by both genders. It was a rather unfamiliar cultural aspect at first, but I quickly adapted after a few days.

“Check-In Counter and Accommodation on Different Floors”

In the case of Rainbow Lodge, the check-in counter and the accommodation are on different floors, which can be a bit inconvenient for moving around. However, as long as there are no special issues, you’ll only need to visit the check-in counter on the first and last days. For reference, the check-in counter is on the 5th floor of Hai Phong Mansion House, and the accommodations are on the 3rd floor.

If not for the issues on the first day, I wouldn’t have had to visit the check-in counter much at all. Despite the rough start due to a staff mistake on the first day and dealing with a heavy snorer on the first night, it’s the most memorable accommodation from my Hong Kong trip.

“Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, Rainbow Lodge HK”