Budget-friendly Hong Kong hotels for the frugal traveller

Located in the Western District of Hong Kong Island and conveniently within a five-minute walk of two MTR Stations, the Best Western Plus Hong Kong sets the standard for budget-friendly but comfortable stays. Leave street noise behind as you step into the opulent tiled foyer, then relax in the plush sanctuary of your room.

Climb into soft cream and chocolate-hued bedding and (in choice rooms) gaze out on famed Victoria Harbour. When it’s time for sightseeing or adventures, you can catch a super quaint tram – affectionately known as a Ding Ding Ride – for a cheap way of getting around. You’ll access the routes easily with a stop directly in front of the hotel.

Ride to Macau Ferry Pier and Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park, then on for a bite to eat and a spot of shopping at Western Market – a 30,000 square foot market building filled with cafés, boutique art, crafts and clothing shops. Bring your purchases back to the hotel and head up to the 5th-floor MTV lounge to chill out before dinner at one of the many eateries within walking distance. You can feast on dim sum at Chau Kee, or opt for an intimate night of drinks and music at Potato Head, which has its own sound-insulated, high-fidelity listening space.

Delightful visual surprises are in store for you at the Hop Inn on Carnarvon, which specialises in turning guest rooms into lived-in art. Each unit has been uniquely designed by a local artist or illustrator, creating unexpected and evoking spaces.

Check into your light-swathed room with kids in tow and watch them delight in the playful wall murals featuring dancing cats and comical baby chicks, or swirling wall-to-wall colours reminiscent of a nebula. At night, tuck your little ones into crisp white sheets and let their mural-fuelled imaginations lead them into fantastical dreams.

Smack in Tsim Sha Tsui amid the shopping and nightlife district of Kowloon, you won’t need to go far for food or entertainment. For a day of sightseeing, head to Victoria Harbour to take in the Hong Kong skyline or feel the sea breeze in your hair aboard the Star Ferry. Learn about Hong Kong’s past at the Hong Kong Museum of History, located within a five-minute walk of the hotel. You’ll also find the Space Museum nearby, where you and the kids can take in a dazzling sky show. For dinner, you’ll find casual restaurants along brightly lit Nathan Road, a two-minute walk from the Hop.

You’ll find Kowloon Mongkok 1812 Guest House in one of the liveliest parts of Hong Kong. Its low-cost rooms are compact and impeccably clean – a great place to kick off your shoes and slip into complimentary slippers at the end of an active day out. An easy half-hour drive from the airport and only 800 metres from Mongkok MTR station, this is a great home base for exploring the bustling city.

The famous Ladies Market on Tung Choi Street, between Argyle and Dundas Streets, is just two blocks from the hotel. Practice your haggling skills at more than 100 stalls filled with colourful bargains for men, women and children. You’ll find yourself immersed in the vibrant local atmosphere (for free!) while you search for treasures.

Walking, shopping and haggling will help you work up an appetite, and there are plenty of places to find a delicious and budget-friendly meal. One Dim Sum, a highly regarded dim sum and dumpling restaurant, is only 200 metres from the hotel. Try plates of steamed minced beef balls, savoury shrimp dumplings and springy, steamed Malaysian sponge cake.

Eco Tree in Sheung Wan punches well above its weight for a budget Hong Kong hotel. Open the door to your bright, contemporary room and drop your bags onto cushy marble-effect carpeting.

After a quick freshen-up in your striking ensuite, with black-marbled countertops and organic cotton towels, drawback the silvery curtains to breathe in the spectacular view over Victoria Harbour. You might just find yourself skipping dinner out in favour of ordering a Malaysian seafood curry from room service to slurp in bed while you watch a film on TV – and with bedsheets made of 300-thread-count cotton, who could blame you?

Sai Ying Pun MTR station is a five-minute walk away, so you can venture easily to bordering SoHo to ride the world’s longest covered escalator and pop into bars, restaurants and art galleries. Splash into Hong Kong’s last remaining swimming shed, Sai Wan (less than 15 minutes’ drive), or splash out at the hotel’s own Ocean Spa for some pampering after pinching your pennies. Finish your evening with a spicy Hunan-style meal at on-site HN Spicy Hot Restaurant, or head outside once more for delectable street food on the cheap.

The first thing you’ll notice about Hung Hom’s Sáv Hotel is the striking colour of the reception area, artfully lit in a different hue each day of the week. Arrive on a Friday and you’ll be greeted in purple for a royal vibe, while on Thursdays a green glow inspires freshness, relaxation and revitalisation. Once you’ve checked into your contemporary home-away-from-home, sit back with your complimentary fruit plate and welcome drink and gaze over the city or harbour through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Getting around is easy thanks to the hotel’s free downtown shuttle bus, which has drop-off points within walking distance of the Hong Kong Coliseum and the Science Museum. Bring along your kiddos to check out the world’s tallest energy machine, and have fun testing the interactive displays. When you’re done exploring, return to Sáv to savour freshly made dim sum and authentic Cantonese dishes at the on-site restaurant, Bauhinia Kitchen, or tuck into buffalo wings at American eatery, Moreish & Malt.

It doesn’t get more budget-friendly than a hostel, but Yesinn Causeway Bay hardly cuts corners. Grab some street noodles with sticky black bean sauce and head up to this hostel’s picture-perfect rooftop garden to kick back and connect with like-minded travellers. Whether you go for a private or dormitory-style room, you’ll be able to crawl into a super comfy bunk larger than the average hostel’s, what with the Yesinn’s self-professed ‘big size beds for taller people’, plus complimentary linen.

Exploring the city from the Yesinn is simple with Causeway Bay MTR station only two minutes away by foot. You can also stroll to Victoria Park in about 10 minutes for some time in a natural environment when you need a break from the city’s frenetic streets. If you feel inspired by the amazing cuisine on offer, you can prepare the next day’s meals in the hostel kitchen to really eat on the cheap. For a drink and a game of beer pong with locals, head to new-on-the-scene pool hall Breeze, only four minutes on foot from the hostel.

Butterfly on Waterfront in Sheung Wan is a sight that can’t be missed: its hot pink façade overlooking the ever-changing Victoria Harbour will catch the eye no matter how tired the urban traveller. You might find yourself double checking the bill when you’re shown to your modern digs – with industrial wall art, slick tiled ensuites and crisp white bedding that begs for an afternoon nap session, it’s hard to believe this is a hotel for the frugal.

You can begin your mornings with sparkling water views, sipping your home-brewed coffee with your feet up on your comfortable window seat. You’ll stay connected with high-speed internet and multimedia docking stations standard in each room, and you can rent a portable 4G pocket Wi-Fi device to use throughout your stay if you need some extra help navigating the city.

Rent a bike from Smooth Ride Bike Hires, a handy 200 metres away, and head out to explore twisty streets strung with paper lanterns and lit by vibrant neon signs. When the tummy starts to rumble, eat like a local at Kwan Kee Claypot Rice on Queen’s Road West, where you’ll savour wallet-friendly yet delectable delights like Chinese sausage clay pot rice – make sure to scrape out the delectable crispy rice at the bottom!

A getaway to a budget hotel in Hong Kong doesn’t have to be as fast paced as the city’s streets – and the beachside B&B Cheung Chau proves it. Right next to Tung Wan Beach and only a two-minute walk from Cheng Chau Ferry Pier, this relaxed 32-room B&B is a beachside retreat for budget travellers tired of the city bustle.

Check into your compact yet comfortable double, family or group room, then fix yourself a calming cuppa at your in-room tea and coffee station set with delicate blue-and-white teacups. You’ll greet the morning from soft white sheets in your uniquely wallpapered room before filling up on continental breakfast (a real money-saver).

Cheung Chau is a haven for windsurfing, so hire a board or book a lesson at Cheung Chau Windsurfing Centre and Cafe, a six-minute walk away. For swimming, Tung Wan beach is netted and safe, with locals on hand to supply beach comforts like umbrellas and chairs. To explore farther afield, rent a bike from the hotel’s reception or hike one of the trails winding along the coast – exercise is free after all! You’ll stay oriented too, with helpful maps posted around the island.

For dinner, you’ll want to try the hotel’s own Thai Food Restaurant on Pak She Street. Reserve a seat in the outdoor courtyard to dine under the descending dusk and look for the odd star that makes its way through the city lights. You can counter hot nights with a cold beer, also a great chaser to stir-fried mussels with roasted chilli paste.