hotel | Nomadic Notes

I’m always interested to see what Stelios is going to do next with the easy.com brand. So when the easyHotel started in 2005 I knew I would have to try it out one day.

The easyHotel is touted as being the cheapest hotel in London. Rooms start at £25. It is important to note that this is a no frills hotel, just as easyjet is a no frills airlines. If you understand that the hotel is a cheap and comfortable place to sleep for the night then you will be fine.

The rooms are small. Very small! The bed takes up the length of the room and then there is a small pace to the door with the bathroom next to that. If you have large bags you will find yourself dancing around the bags on the limited floor space.

I stayed at the easyHotel located in Victoria where all the cheap (for London) bed and breakfasts are clustered. It is certainly the cleanest budget place I’ve ever stayed at in this area. The matresses at easyHotel are great too.

[easyHotel Hallway]

[easyHotel Room]

[easyHotel Bathroom]

Greetings from Hong Kong. It’s good to be in the tropics. Upon arrival at 6am it was 26c/79f and 90% humidity. I love that feeling of tropical air hitting you as you disembark from a plane, especially from a flight that has come from colder climes.

I’m staying at this place called the Mirador Mansion on Nathan Road, the main shopping street of Kowloon. It is one of the more peculiar places I have stayed at.

The exterior is classic Chinese shabby concrete tower. It reminds me of the buildings next to the old Hong Kong airport that were always used in commercials.

[Mirador Mansion]

I must have gotten well and truly used to travelling on a budget because when I saw that the number of my building was were I was to stay, I was not in the slightest bit disturbed. What disturbed me more was that when I saw the building I was disturbed that I wasn’t disturbed about staying there.

I like the old buildings of Hong Kong and the oversize signage hanging above the roads. One day I presume it will all be blandified with smooth glass towers that have no air con units and washing lines hanging out the windows.

My guest house accommodation consists of a room the width of the bed and a bathroom with a shower hose above the toilet. My room is about $25 USD and includes free wireless access so it worked out better than staying in a hostel. All this and right in the heart of the action in Nathan Rd.

[Mirador Room]

Come lunchtime I was a walking zombie with no sleep from the overnight flight. There was some heavy jungle rain for a few hours, so I took refuge in a cafe and read the South China Morning Post and the International Herald Tribune (you know you are back on the road when you are reading the IHT).

By then the rain had eased, so I spent the rest of the day wandering the length of Nathan Rd and its side streets and markets.