Review of Larin’s Hong Kong apartment
Larin's communications after we booked this apartment were excellent. She sent a detailed file, including photographs of the subway exits. That made it very easy to find the apartment.
The apartment is in a very old building. Be aware that you take the elevator to the 16th floor and then have to walk up to the 17th floor. The stairwells are very dirty with open garbage cans and trash, including cardboard boxes that could be a temporary fire hazard. The stairs have crumbled in spots. We did not see any smoke detectors. There are personal items in the hallway, also a potential fire hazard.
The apartment itself was renovated but was very small for the two of us. It is barely wider than the bed. You can open only one suitcase at a time at the foot of the bed. The windows do not open; the only incoming sir would be via the air conditioning.
The bathroom area is about 3’ X 3’ and is also the shower area. So you will have to wear flip-flops every time you go into the shower/bathroom because it is wet on the floor, sink and toilet during showering and immediately after.
There is a small mini-bar fridge and a combination washer/dryer. The latter works well and is fairly quiet.
Several minutes after we arrived in the apartment, the air-conditioning started streaming water down onto the television and one piece of our luggage. We immediately turned it off and called Larin. The result is that we had to leave the apartment and move to a different apartment on a nearby street, for one night. Larin and her male friend took us there by car. The apartment we moved to was much more modern and we wanted to stay there but we weren’t allowed to. After travelling for over 12 hours, we were finally able to get to sleep at 1:30 AM.
However, the air conditioning wasn’t fixed on the first night so we stayed in the second apartment for a second night. We requested reimbursement of the first night's stay which Larin reluctantly provided after protracted discussion and reminders.
The repaired air conditioner is designed to drip into the floor of the toilet/shower. When the air conditioning is working, therefore, there is always a small bit of water on the floor there.
Thankfully, there are windows above the bed, facing the street, but with locks so that they cannot be opened. There are drapes. We have read that some hotel rooms in this city do not have windows.
We have booked over 200 nights on recent travels and this is by far the smallest apartment we have ever been in. Some might call it 'cosy' but we feel that we need bigger accommodation.
Larin was easily available through messaging on WhatsApp. The apartment is very close to the Austin Road subway station which conveniently takes you two other subway lines. You can quickly walk to the up/scale Elements mall which houses the Kowloon subway station terminus.
Be aware that the protests and rioting in Hong Kong continue daily and nightly. There is a strong police presence in some subway stations, shopping centres and on the streets. Some subway lines, stores and restaurants shut down early. It is rather tense in Hong Kong.
Tourist Tip: Jade Street is nearbye (accessible through an Austin Station exit) and has many jewelry stores. There is a large outdoor fruit and vegetable market (walk one block towards Battery Street; near the Ya Ma Tei Market). Flower Road is 2km near a pretty park. Beautiful Kowloon Park, complete with an aviary and cultural centre are a short walk away.