Rambler Oasis Hotel is a chic hotel accommodation in Tsing Yi Road, Hong Kong. It’s a member of the Habour Plaza Hotels and Resorts, which manages eight full-service hotels all over Hong Kong and some parts of mainland China. It’s located near Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and just about 15 minutes away from Hong Kong Disneyland. Hence, if you are planning to go to Hong Kong just to visit Disneyland, this is a recommended place to stay. Other than that, Rambler Oasis Hotel doesn’t get my stamp of approval. Here’s why.
Review of Rambler Oasis Hotel (Tsing Yi, Hong Kong)
Ambiance: ★★★☆☆
The hotel lobby had a sleek ambiance that contrasts with the laid-back “container port” or “pier” surroundings outside (picture large containers being transported one by one). Up to the elevator area, it’s decorated with simple but rich textures and daring architectural elements that seem to create a cosmopolitan comfort kind of vibe.
Compared to average hotel room sizes in Hong Kong, the room we got in Rambler Oasis Hotel was pretty okay. We felt satisfied with the electrical plug (for compatibility) given to charge our devices, satellite TV, no-noise air conditioner, electric kettle, hotel slippers, clean bedding and sheets, and clean bathroom complete with toiletries.
However, we were sad as the hotel didn’t have wi-fi connection for guests in the room; it’s only available in the lobby area (with added fee). Other misses were: (1) the mini refrigerator could only generate little coldness close to none (we thought it stopped working but the hotel staff confirmed it’s normal), (2) the light switches were far from the bed side so we had to stand up to turn off the lights when we go to sleep, (3) the bathroom doors can’t be locked because they’re the sliding type, and (4) we had to go to another hotel building (Rambler Garden Hotel) for breakfast which was about 10 minutes of walking distance away.
Our room was good for three people, but we sneaked in another headcount-my sister. It was great that two beds were already put side by side so we did not have to arrange them to be so. The bed ensured good nights of sleep for me. There’s no good view of Hong Kong we could see from the hotel room window, but that’s alright as I wasn’t expecting to see that anyway.
From the 21st floor, we saw how the swimming pool area on the ground floor was beautifully landscaped. Guests can dip into the pool for an additional cost.
Service: ★★★☆☆
The hotel’s reception area defies the standard hotel in look and service, offering a personalized approach to guest relations. Its setting had a combination of modernity and urban flavor, with a touch of laid-back hospitality. The staffs were professional and just quick to respond IF you know how to speak their local language, Cantonese. Well, Mandarin also works. Else, you would have to explain your thoughts in English with matching hand actions or common sign languages to help in the two-way communication. There was no one who guided us to our hotel room and no one to carry our bags, yet we ended up fine.
What got us annoyed mostly was the elevators. The elevator operator was only present once in the many instances we had to use the lift. Elevators were the worst as they were always busy. We readied ourselves to go into battle every time we had to ride the elevator up or down because of the volume of people in the hotel composed largely of Chinese mainlanders who took a 10-hour train ride to Hong Kong. If you plan to stay in Rambler Hotel, be warned that waiting time to get into the elevator at least is 15 minutes. There was a lot of pushing, squeezing and shoving, much like riding the MRT in the Philippines. 😆 Haiyoo.
Food: ★★★☆☆
As mentioned, the restaurant where breakfast of hotel guests is served is at the Rambler Garden Hotel (ground floor). The restaurant is called Café de Coral, which apparently is like the McDonald’s of Hong Kong but Chinese version.
It is run by a fast food restaurant group in Hong Kong that owns and operates several fast food chains and restaurants such as The Spaghetti House, Manchu Wok, Oliver’s Super Sandwiches, and Ah Yee Leng Tong.
With our complimentary breakfast vouchers, we could choose either one of the following: luncheon meat, sausage and ham. All choices are served also with egg and bread and butter spread. For drinks, we could get either hot tea or coffee.
Food tastes were okay but we had grown tired of eating the same ones for breakfast in three consecutive days. Also, Café de Coral not having food for vegetarians was a let-down. 😐
To order, we queued up at the ordering counter to have our marked vouchers taken and in return, the counter staff gave us a receipt which we should forward to another ordering counter serving food in trays. Café de Coral is like the epitome of fast food. You order, you pay, and 30 seconds later, you sit down with your meal handed out by staffs who don’t greet you “good morning” and whose faces are those that don’t seem capable of breaking into a smile.
Wrap Up
Rambler Oasis Hotel is not a tourist destination in itself and not one that provides guests much pampering, but it’s generally a good hotel if you’re staying in Hong Kong for only a short period and if you have a packaged tour service. If not, then traveling to places may be a hassle. Since the location is away from the city center, you need to take a 20-minute cab ride to go to the prime shopping areas because there’s also no nearby MTR (train) station. (Read the rest of our activities in Hong Kong and two-day trip itinerary here.)
Note
We booked at Rambler Oasis Hotel via our travel agency of choice, Happy Sun Travel and Tours, so I don’t know the hotel rates we had availed of. A quick check via their online booking facility suggested the following prices. For your reference, here are the rates for one night of stay: Superior Twin or Double Room – PhP 6,784; Business Double or Twin Room – PhP 7915; and Deluxe King or Twin Room – PhP 9,046.
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