BP Hotel – Affordable Hotel in Tsim Tsa Tsui District HK
You really don’t need to spend over $100USD for a good clean 3 star hotels in Kowloon Hong Kong. I’ve been recommending BP Hotel since I first stayed there.
The first time I stayed in BP was about 6 years ago which I also did a review too. Since that time I’ve stayed there again for about three more times. BP International Hotel was built in 1993 and last checked it was renovated in 2007.
Today there are some improvements such as free internet Wi-Fi and softer beds. And the towels were cleaner and newer too. One of my biggest gripes awhile ago were the old towels. And there are these spiffy new flat screen televisions with Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, English and Japan channels.
The BP Hotel is located in Tsim Tsa Tsui on the Kowloon Peninsula or simply TST as the locals call it. If you don’t know already, Hong Kong consists of a peninsula called Kowloon which is connected to China as well as an island named Hong Kong.
What I like about BP Hotel
HK hotels are infamously expensive. Especially when you visit during the convention season. This time around I stayed at the BP mid February right after the Chinese Lunar New Years festivities.
I booked my rooms via Agoda.com when I found city vista category rooms for $65USD including taxes. Those are the cheapest rates I have ever seen. Six years ago I paid twice that price in the month of August which was HK low season rates.
We got some good rates at the BP Hotel and this view is priceless…
If you love a good view make sure you choose a high floor room. Our room was on the 27th floor…
Because right now is the best time to find hotel deals in HK due to political problems with China. Even the more expensive hotels have reduced their rates but still expensive in my opinion. While many more affordable hotels such as the BP offer guests considerable savings.
Rooms are small and compact but comfortable for 2 adults…
Bathroom is small but not so bad, but the shower is narrow..
A clean bathroom with a few toiletries…
I booked a city vista rooms and no surprise they are small but quite normal by HK standards, about 22 square meters. Just right for 2 guests in a room. Anymore than that and it’ll be a tight squeeze.
Also BP has at least 5 dedicated non smoking floors. So there’s plenty of smoke free rooms.
What I Don’t Like About BP Hotel
Checking in and checking out is a breeze at BP Hotel…
There really isn’t much that I don’t like about BP. No surprise there. But they have the worst elevator system I’ve ever seen so far. There are 4 elevator banks. Even though there aren’t as many mainlander Chinese visiting Hong Kong these days there’s still a lot. Plus all the other tourists around the country too.
So the elevators would get packed right before check out time which is 12pm. The size of the elevators are normal but if you include all the luggage and people you can imagine it’ll be tight inside.
Long wait times can happen during checkout time…
One day while heading out around 11am I had to wait about 10 minutes for an elevator that had enough room. I suppose elevator wait times are not in control of the hotel. However, one evening we were waiting for the elevator at the lobby. For some reason the elevators were super slow and we could see it was stopping on every floor.
There were a bunch of guests waiting too. One elevator finally came down to the lobby floor but we couldn’t get in because a hotel staffer was taking garbage down to the basement level. And then the elevator went all the way back up somewhere. About 5 or so minutes later it came back down to the lobby and when the doors opened it was the same staffer with another load of trash to take down to the basement. Maybe it’s not a smart idea to take trash down during peak hours.
The Location
BP Hotel is on Kowloon Peninsula in Tsim Tsa Tsui district on Austin Road about 200 meters from Nathan Road; a major avenue in Kowloon. This is the area to be if you’re not so familiar with HK. But overall, HK is a very easy place to travel around.
And there are lots of shops and especially restaurants to eat around the hotel’s vicinity. Kowloon Park is right outside too and it’s a nice spot to walk around and check out. Best time to visit and walk down Nathan Road in the TST district night time when the shops light up the avenue.
Close to Jordan MRT Subway Station
The nearest MRT station is called Jordan and it’s only a short 5 minute walk to reach it. Riding the subways is the quickest and cheapest way to explore other parts of Kowloon. You can even ride it all the way to Hong Kong island, Disney Land and Hong Kong International airport.
You can catch the A21 bus to the airport on Austin and Nathan Road intersection, a short walk from BP Hotel…
However I like taking the Airport Express Bus #A21. This particular #A21 bus makes trips from hotels along Kowloon with a final stop at HK international airport. As of writing the fare cost $33HKD. Make sure you have the correct change before boarding.
Hotel prices fluctuate according to season and demand. I don’t even know if I’ll ever get the same $65USD rate. But even if I visit HK again and find a price of $85USD to $90USD at the BP Hotel I would still think that’s a fair price. That’s just how much I like BP Hotel.
“BP International Hotel requires a 500HKD deposit upon check in.”
As much as I would like to make more Hong Kong hotel reviews I don’t want to spend money on hotel rooms I know I won’t enjoy. And the BP is always reliable. However, there are a few other names of HK hotels I’ve spent nights in that are good too but the price wasn’t right at the moment.
I have to say I’m not the sort of traveler that does a lot of pre-trip planning. I never even heard of Kawagoe (川越) in Japan before I googled “day trips near Tokyo”. And it was only on that day I decided on visiting Kawagoe when I discovered that it was just 30 minutes away from Tokyo where I was staying at the time via train at Ikebukuro Station on the Tobu Toju Line.
Kawogoe is a small city in Saitama Prefecture, with a population of around 340,000. Not a big city when compared to Tokyo but if you’re looking for that old world Edo Period charm than Kawagoe won’t disappoint you.
What to Do and See in Kawagoe
One of Kawagoe’s claim to fame is the Bell Tower located near Kurazukuri Street which is a popular section of the city famous for its old warehouse style shops. It’s an area made up of small alleys upon back alleys and a real fun to walk around and just get lost for awhile
There is supposed to be an area loaded with shops selling snacks and treats that is very popular with tourists and locals alike. But I missed it. I guess I should do a little more pre-trip planning (“my sarcastic inner child tells me”).
The Confectionery Row (菓子屋横丁 ) is where you’ll find the Bell Tower…
You truly get a sense of how things were back then during Japan’s classical Edo era. I truly appreciate Japan’s effort to recapture and retain their culture and not lose their identity among today’s fast paced world.
We visited Kawagoe during the weekend and yes it was packed full of locals and sight seeing folks like us. The weather was terrific, around mid 70°F and just a total pleasure to be outside with so many smiling folks out and about.
And even though there were a lot of people all around which I normally don’t prefer, being there on a busy weekend at Kawagoe was still very enjoyable.
I already mentioned Kawagoe is famous for it’s confectionary which I had not known about. Kawagoe is also very famous for it’s sweet potatoes too which I love eating. But again, I had no idea. Which could be a good thing as I’m avoiding carbs.
So my wife and I went around and about looking for some grub. After a bit of walking around and a whole lot of indecision we dropped into a very busy restaurant and was lucky enough to score two seats.
There was a simple menu in Japanese with pictures luckily. We just chose a set menu, not knowing what we really ordered but there’s buckwheat soba noodles. There was also some grilled sticky rice dumpling which I just discovered after some googling while writing this post called Dango.
The buckwheat soba noodles were delicious. Though I’m not sure if we were in a vegetarian restaurant or not. Because as far as we could tell everyone around us didn’t have any sort of meat in their bowls. And I have to admit I was expecting some sliced pork in my bowl of soba noodles, just digging around but there was only bamboo and Dango.
The Dango however we were not a great fan of. Now I’m not saying it’s not any good. I honestly do not want to insult the establishment. They have lots of happy customers dining on Dango. We just weren’t digging it.
Main street in Kawagoe…
After a little while of strolling and exploring the side streets it was about time for a little bit of rest. And a snack too while at it. And oh yeah coffee!
I wish that I could try all of their bagels…
Bread pudding made with bagels…
Shakerato… a shaken iced espresso drink…
We passed by Vanitoy Bagel shop and decided to drop in for some much needed afternoon coffee buzz. The first floor is the shop’s counter space display with dozens of varieties of bagels with the bakery in the back. The seating space is upstairs and it’s very cozy and comfortable. They do have English picture menus and two items caught my eye instantly, the bread pudding and the Shakerato. While my wife ordered a hot latte.
Our order was delicious. Do yourself a favor, if you’re in Kawagoe, drop by Vanitoy Bagel shop. If I’m ever back in Kawagoe Vanitoy Bagel shop is my go to pit stop.
Kitain Temple is located not far at all from the main street of Kawagoe…
Kitain Temple
There is a bit more to Kawagoe besides charming shops and possibly one of the best bagel shops in my book. You should also drop by Kitain Temple which is a short walking distance from the main street.
There is an entrance fee of 400 Yen at Kitain Temple. Besides the temple, there are smaller complexes which was a part of an old Edo Castle that survived a fire and was moved to Kitain in the mid 1600’s. That in itself is a good reason why you would want to visit Kawagoe. It’s not a big section however and you will get to see a classic example of a fine Japanese garden in the back.
A very nice view of traditional Japanese gardens at Kitain…
Back near the entrance where you purchased your ticket is a smaller courtyard filled with 540 small statues. Wander around these statues and you’ll see that each have distinctive features. You might even receive some good luck as the story goes.
Gohyaku Rakan statues at Kitain Temple in Kawagoe…
These statutes are called Gohyaku Rakan. You’ll find that coins are placed on these statues too as an offering for good luck in return.
Gohyaku Rakan statues…
Kawagoe is not a huge area and it’s great day trip kind of place because it’s only 30 minutes away by train from Tokyo. From my experience may times it’s great to get and explore such places away from the big cities. And even though Kawagoe doesn’t have too much to do I would still go there again. Especially for that bread pudding at Vanitoy Bagels. Okay enough about the bagels.
How to Get to Kawagoe from Tokyo
There are only three train lines that go from Tokyo to Kawagoe:
Tobu Toju Line – At Ikebukuro Station takes 3o minutes on an express train and cost 470 Yen one way. There is a discounted round trip fare you can buy at the station booth for 700 Yen. This is the train we took while we stayed at a hotel near the station.
Seibu Shinjuku Line – Seibu Shinjuku Station takes about 1 hour and fare cost 500 Yen one way.
JR Saikyo/Kawagoe Line – Shinjuku Station takes about 1 hour and fare cost 760 Yen one way. Kind of expensive luckily but this route is covered by JR Rail Pass.
Been to Kawagoe? Let me know about your experience. Make sure to comment below if you have any questions about visiting Kawagoe!
One of my favorite cities in another country to visit from Thailand is Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. It’s just a short flight from Bangkok and then a couple of train rides to a popular tourist hot spot called Bukit Bintang where I always choose a hotel.
Bukit Bintang – A Popular Tourists Destination
And there is a KL Monorail station right in the heart of Bukit Bintang so there’s no need to rely on taxis getting to the airport or anywhere else within KL proper.
That’s the KL Monorail leaving Bukit Bintang station.
I’ve stayed in various hotels all over Bukit Bintang that cost between $40USD to $75USD. On a recent visit to KL, I stayed in Sky Hotel Bukit Bintang for the very first time. This is a budget hotel located on a very quiet corner of Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Bintang.
Today it is evermore
This hotel is super easy to find. It’s about a 5-minute walk from the Imbi KL Monorail station. Alternatively, you can get off Bukit Bintang KL Monorail Station too and from there walk west on Jalan Bukit Bintang which requires a 10-minute walk.
Points of Interest Around Sky Hotel
One of the reasons why I like staying around Bukit Bintang is because there are lots of malls. Ironically I’m not a shopper. But I just like walking around and checking stuff out. Okay, occasionally I’ll splurge and buy a little something.
There’s the posh Pavillion Mall where you can find a lot of high-end fashion clothes, jewelry, and many sorts of goods and services. I usually chill out at a cafe called Coffee Coffea on the top floor almost every day. This mall is about a 15-minute walk due east on Jalan Bukit Bintang from Sky Hotel Bukit Bintang.
Pavillion Mall, a posh mall in Bukit Bintang area, just minutes away on foot from Piccolo Hotel…
Then there’s Sungwei Plaza. It’s kind of the MBK Mall in Bangkok where you find all sorts of odds and ends. Clothing, luggage, electronics, watches, and mobile phones are all there mashed into one giant shopping center. This mall is about a 10-minute walk to Sky Hotel and has a station connection to Bukit Bintang KL Monorail station.
Lot 10 is a medium-sized mall with brand names such as Zara and H&M. There is also an Isetan inside but as of writing, it’s undergoing major renovation. The upper floors of Lot 10 seem quiet with most of the big-name shops occupying the street level. Be sure to check out the food courts in the basement level where you will discover a lot of Malaysian good eats. Lot 10 is directly across Sungwei Plaza.
I forgot what this was called, but it was damn good…
Low Yat Plaza is the mall to go for gadgets and techs. I don’t know if the prices for computers, cell phones, and cameras inside are good or not but seems like a good place to go for those items.
Finally, there’s Berjaya Times Square. It’s the mother of all malls in the Bukit Bintang area. And it’s only a 5-minute walk to Sky Hotel Bukit Bintang. It’s all the malls I mentioned above combined into one. That’s how big it is. There’s even a small amusement park on the upper floor and you’ll also find a movie theater inside as well.
The Hotel Review
So now you know what’s around the hotel’s area. Sky Hotel is listed as a 3-star hotel. I rate it in the 2-star category. 2 stars is not a bad thing though. I booked a room with no windows for around $35USD a night with taxes included. No breakfast, however, but I don’t even think this hotel serves food anyhow.
18 square meter studio king room…
Upon check-in, I was given a choice of whether I wanted to stay on the lower floor or the higher floor.
I asked the receptionist which was better?
The answer was the lower floor rooms were in better shape. So I said okay I’ll stay on the lower floor.
Not a lot of channels on the television but what it had counts. There was the BBC and some Fox movie channels. A couple of bottled waters are complimentary every night and there is an electric kettle to make tea.
I’m guessing that’s where a refrigerator should go… but where is it?A nice decent bathroom…
When I got to my room it was what I expected. There’s no window but I knew that already before I booked it. There is a room safe in the closet with decent space and the bathroom was spacious too. Not bad though there were minor flaws in the room I’m not the type to go off about it.
The bum gun… out of order?
For example, on some nights my towels looked grey and passed its prime with old blotches of brown stains. A quick call to reception and the towels were replaced. The bum gun looked like it was missing an important piece. But I could live without the bum gun. You can’t complain because the room costs $35 a night. At least the bed was clean and comfortable.
Fitness Room
There’s a tiny room with 3 new-looking cardio machines. It looks way too tight inside but I have to give them an A for effort.
One big gripe that I have with the hotel however is the doors that join rooms together. Those doors were really thin. You could even hear the TV in the other room on. For a couple of nights, at least three guys were staying next to my room talking loudly. One of them even laughed like a hyena. No seriously, a hyena.
This is the entrance to Jalan Alor, a popular hawker food area in KL… a very short walk from Sky Hotel
The hotel should bulk up those doors for better soundproofing. I asked reception if I could move to another room but that was the only room type I booked that was available. Though reception offered to speak to the guests in the next room on my behalf I said it was okay as I found out they were checking out the next day. I could put up with the hyena for one more night.
The Verdict
Overall, Sky Hotel Bukit Bintang was satisfactory and certainly one of the better-budget hotels in Kuala Lumpur. Though I know that there are many hotels in the area that if you pay a little bit more you’ll get an even better quality room. But if I can’t get a good rate elsewhere I would certainly stay at this hotel again.
Because the Sky Hotel is certainly in a very good area, close to two KL Monorail stations of Imbi and Bukit Bintang. And there are so many restaurants nearby that are cheap and taste so good from Chinese to Indian cuisine.
The studio no window room I stayed in at the time cost about $ 35 USD a night. If you want a window room but the same 18 square meter size you will have to pay about $8USD to $12USD more. Still not a bad deal at all.
Read more guests reviews and find discounts for Sky Hotel Bukit Bintang here.
The Reiah Hotel Otsu Ishiyama – Just Right for a Visit in Kyoto
One of the biggest advice on saving hotels in Japan is to look for a hotel that is not in the center of whichever major city you are visiting.
For example while visiting Kyoto, I booked the Reiah Hotel Otsu Ishiyama. It’s a 2 star business hotel situated in Biwako, which has a train station that is only 4 stops (15 mins.) away from Kyoto Station via Special Rapid Train on the Biwako Line.
How to Get to Reiah Hotel
And the Reiah Hotel Otsu Ishiyama is a short 5 minute walk from Ishiyama Station. Once you get to the station I recommend asking for assistance at the station booth. Train staff know exactly where the hotel is and they’ll pull out a photocopied map and tell you which way to go.
One key landmark is a McDonald’s restaurant on a corner of the block. Once you see McDonald’s you’ll have no problem at all finding the hotel.
Not a Fancy Hotel – But It’s Comfortable and Clean
The Reiah Hotel Otsu Ishiyama is a 2 star business hotel. All over Japan there are many 2 star business classed hotels meant for local business travelers either in town for business or for white collared workers who missed that last train. Remember, Japanese trains stop service between midnight and 1AM.
Small rooms, but that shouldn’t be a surprise…
It is common that 2 star business hotels all over Japan have small rooms. And I have stayed in many around Tokyo and elsewhere and I can say most of these budget rooms are 15 square meters. I have to admit though with two people in a 15 square meter room such as the ones at Reiah Hotel Otsu Ishiyama it may seem way too cozy. But you do get used to it.
The bathroom… small but functional…
The bathroom at first sight is shockingly small. But you’ll soon learn to get used to it too. I’m 6 foot tall but there is clearance above my head. There is a bathtub but if I sit in it my knees would be sticking up. Soap, shampoo and even toothpaste and toothbrush are provided.
Even though the Reiah is a budget business class hotel we didn’t see a lot of local business guests. We mainly came across foreign tourists. These days, since travel to Japan is becoming more accessible to Southeast Asia travelers budget 2 star hotels like the Reiah are welcoming more neighboring foreigners.
This is the first budget business class hotel in Japan I stayed in that offered free breakfast…
What might also attract a lot of tourists to this hotel too is the free breakfast. They don’t have a huge spread. Though what they do have will definitely fill you up for a day of sightseeing.
Hotel cafeteria with free breakfast buffet…
Curry with rice, scrambled eggs with bacon. There’s also congee with pickles, a more traditional Japanese breakfast too. And of course there’s an assortment of breads and fruits.
This is a very clean hotel. It’s not big with only about 80 rooms. But it’s quite modern because it was renovated back in 2011. There’s even a small laundry room where you can wash your clothes at a very affordable price. So you won’t need to pack too much clothes on your trip.
The Reiah Hotel Otsu Ishiyama is a very good budget choice hotel for visiting Kyoto. But from this hotel’s location you can also conveniently visit other major cities such as Osaka and Kobe by taking the trains from Kyoto Station like we did.
There really isn’t much to do around the hotel’s area however. But my wife and I still enjoyed walking around. It’s peaceful, quiet and a lot less hectic than staying in the city.
If you are a big castle fanatic like I am, and you’re wondering which castle I would suggest you visit first in Japan, I would name HimejiCastle with no hesitation. Himeji Castle is one of the largest in Japan and easily visited as a day trip from Kyoto and Osaka in the Kansai region.
Before you read on you might want to take a look at my last post about Kansai region take a look here. It’ll give you an idea about traveling by train to the area’s points of interests.
Day Trip to Himeji Castle
Himeji is a city west of Kyoto. About 132 km with Osaka and Kobe in between. Himeji is not just any ordinary run of the mill city in Japan. If you are a castle fanatic like I am then you will want to go to Himeji Castle.
And it was a gorgeous day too. The temperature was in the high 60 degrees fahrenheit and partially cloudy. The air was so fresh and clean. One of the things I love about Japan is the clean fresh air.
Himeji Castle is also called the White Heron Castle…
How I Got There
From Kyoto Station I took the Special Rapid Train. The ride takes about 90 minutes to Himeji Station. Normally the train fare would cost 2270 Yen. But since I got the 4 Day JR travel pass I didn’t have to pay.
From Himeji station just follow the English signs. When you’re out of the station you will see the castle which may look far away but you can walk up the road to the castle in around 15 minutes. And it’s a lovely walk past many shops.
What’s So Special About Himeji Castle
To me, this is the mother of all medieval castles in Japan. It’s immense size and cultural significance has placed it rightly as a world heritage site and national treasure.
A map showing how immense Himeji Castle complex is…
We were here during October but the leaves haven’t fully changed colors yet…
But too bad we couldn’t get into the main fortress. Yup, just our luck we picked a time when the main structure was under major renovation and will be open to the public again March 2015.
So we walked around the castle grounds and made the best of it. Because Himeji Castle is so massive and filled with natural beauty there is still plenty to see. It’s amazing to see that this castle that is basically built during feudal wars has so much beauty surrounding it.
A small exhibition of Himeji Castle armory…
Through Japan’s feudal period, Himeji Castle was expanded through various clan controls. Which resulted in a lot of history. And because Himeji Castle was largely untouched by war and natural disasters what you see today is basically what it looked back then.
From up in Himeji Castle you can see the city below…
Wandering around the gardens you can’t help but admire the beautiful architecture. The way the buildings are combined with nature is amazing.
You’ll find some exhibits about castle life…
Take a look at the fake cat on the photo above… looks quite similar to this live kitty right?
Himeji Castle is also a museum of sorts. Throughout the castle surroundings you can find these nooks and crannies with educational exhibits. And you can learn all sort of things such as life during feudal Japan. There is even a nice little exhibit for the kids showing the methods of how the fortress was built and assembled.
But of the course the biggest treat is walking around the well kept gardens. And there are so many ponds filled with giant koi fish. I learned somewhere that Japanese gardens are all planned and designed. Certain stones and trees are carefully laid out to make a garden more pleasing to the eye.
A family enjoying a beautiful day in Himeji Castle…
You don’t have to be a total castle fanatic like me to appreciate the awesomeness of Himeji Castle. Anyone will appreciate the beauty and history surrounding the castle.
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