The Novotel Century Hong Kong in Wan Chai on Hong Kong island is an older property with small, well maintained but dated rooms. You get access to a large pool and gym and have a restaurant, bar and lounge on site. The service is very friendly. The location is not great but central enough. If you don’t mind the location and the dated decor, you get very good value at prices much lower than other 4-star hotels in Hong Kong. As an Accor LeClub elite member, you get decent perks.
Location: The Novotel Century Hong Kong is located in Wan Chai on Hong Kong island, a 5-10 minute walk from the Wan Chai MRT station and two stops from the Airport Express station and Hong Kong Central. That puts it in easy reach of many of the tourist sights of Hong Kong. The train & shuttle or MRT from the airport is about 75-90 minutes.
There are a few convenience stores and fast food places near the hotel, but it’s on the “wrong side” of Wan Chai with many of the nice, independent restaurants of Wan Chai or the shopping of Causeway Bay a lengthy walk away. It’s not an ideal location for your first visit to Hong Kong, but ok if you are a return visitor and comfortable with public transport and taxis in the city.
Service: The front desk staff at the Novotel Hong Kong was friendly and attentive. Staff changed the pre-assigned room to the preference noted in my Accor profile without asking. He personally inspected the room to make sure it was ready, while we were resting in the Executive Lounge.
Staff in the lounge was just as friendly and helpful throughout our day, assisting with questions and requests politely and quickly.
Housekeeping was on top of their game and cleaned our room quickly and thoroughly each day, replacing towels and toiletries as appropriate.
Check-out was quick and without problems as well.
Room: We received an upgrade to an Executive Room on a higher floor. It’s a compact, older room with dark carpets and a dark purple accent wall behind the queen bed. The bed had a low red-brown headboard, comfortable matress and sheets. In front of the window is a narrow desk with task chair, so you can get some work done. You’ll also find a nespresso machine on the desk and a TV in the corner
Two small nightstands next to the bed and a small closet with the safe complete the furniture in the room.
The bathroom has a single sink with a large countertop for your toiletries on the right with a mirror filling the wall and good lighting. The toilet is in the center with accent tiles behind it. The large, walk-in shower is to the right and fully glass enclosed. Standard Novotel toiletries are provided and the towels are thick and large.
The free WiFi internet was very fast at an average speed of 80.4 Mbps, ranging from 27-161Mbps and reliable. The only available (universal) power outlets were near the desk, none near the bed.
The Novotel Century Hong Kong is an older property and it shows. The rooms are small and the furniture is dated. Everything is well maintained, clean and in good working order, but still well past the due date for a major renovation to bring it up to the latest design standards of Novotel!
Restaurant & Amenities: The Novotel Hong Kong has a large pool with one deep, rectangular pool long enough to swim laps and a shallow kiddie pool in the front. There are a few loungers around it and trees planted to make it a little more inviting.
Facing the pool is a large gym with modern cardio and weight equipment for a full workout.
The hotel bar is located on the median level, away from the lobby, making it a little nicer than the average hotel bar.
The main restaurant offers a large breakfast buffet with a large selection of fruit, yogurt, breads and pastries, cold cuts and cheese, as well as a number of hote Asian and Western dishes as well as a make-to-order egg station. The quality and taste of the food were good. The restaurant was crowded with tour groups, so the atmosphere left something to be desired. Overall, I’d consider the restaurant, the selection and quality of food and service as average for the category.
The Novotel Century Hong Kong has an Executive Lounge. While the service was very friendly, the space, food and drink offerings were disappointing for Asia (still better than what you’ll find in Europe or the US). Past the reception desk is a small conference room, followed by a small space with a sofa and TV, and a separate area with a few bistro tables and the buffet
During evening happy hour, wine and beer as well as a small selection of cold cuts, cheese and snacks were offered.For breakfast, a similarly small selection of fruit, pastries, cold cuts and cheese was offered.
As an Executive Club guest, you have a choice of breakfast at the restaurant or lounge. While I generally prefer the peace and quiet of a lounge over the larger selection at the restaurant, at the Novotel Century Hong Kong I’d recommend the restaurnant due to the limitations of the lounge.
Value & Rewards: I booked the Novotel Century Hong Kong through the Accor website with the AccorPlus discount of 10% and also earned 8% in Accor LeClub points. I consider the rate of $137/night very good value – compared to a rate of $240/night at the (nicer) Hotel Indigo. You can find the current prices here!
As Accor LeClub Platinum member, we received a welcome drink, a (partial) upgrade to an Executive Room and access to the Lounge with free breakfast. The Novotel Hong Kong delivered the benefits according to the program terms, but didn’t do anything beyond what’s required.
Bottomline: The Novotel Century Hong Kong is an older property with small, well maintained but dated rooms. You get access to a large pool and gym and have a restaurant, bar and lounge on site. The service is very friendly. The location is not great but central enough. If you don’t mind the location and the dated decor, you get very good value at prices much lower than other 4-star hotels in Hong Kong. I wasn’t excited about my stay, but given the price I’d return, especially considering the Accor LeClub Platinum benefits. Without the elite benefits, a recommendation is tough and boils down to the price you can find for your dates of travel – check current prices here!