Silka Far East Hotel : A Review

photo courtesy of m00nchildr0cks

Silka Far East Hotel
Address: Hong Kong, 青山公路荃灣段135 - 143 號135 - 143 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong

I decided to make a separate review regarding how our stay went at Silka Far East Hotel for the benefit of other travelers on a shoestring budget.

My sister and I learned about this hotel through the travel agency we chose to take care of our stay in HK. They arranged pretty much everything for us (accommodation, tour etc.) because we already booked our flight separately. They gave us the freedom to choose which hotel to stay at depending on our budget and they even ranked the hotels based on the star rating, nightly rate and by far this hotel offered one of the most competitive rates compared to the other hotels they're affiliated with.

twin beds photo courtesy 
of m00nchildr0cks

The hotel is quite far from the central area because it took us roughly 30-45 minutes from the airport. We marveled at Hong Kong's entirety en route to our hotel. It is btw walking distance from the Tsuen Wan MTR station which was really a good thing. We passed by Tsing Ma Bridge or HK's version of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. There were tons of sky scrapers and we learned later on that HK is not a fault line (not an earthquake zone) thus explains why they have a lot of towering buildings which are mostly residential.

mini bar photo courtesy of
 m00nchildr0cks

Check in was a breeze, the front desk speaks english which was good. They asked for a refundable deposit (cash or credit card) for incidentals most probably. They will hand you the keycard afterwards (one for each occupant) and you can just simply go right up to your hotel room.

photo courtesy of m00nchildr0cks

Our room was kind of small for two person but I can't complain anymore because all we need really is just a basic hotel room to sleep in since we'd be out for the most part, we'll be busy for sure. I mean who would stay in a hotel room when you're on vacation right?

Amenities (2 persons) :

• 1 tube of shower gel
• 1 tube of shampoo/conditioner
• 2 toothbrushes + 2 small toothpaste
• complimentary coffee and tea, 2 sachets of brown sugar
• coffee stirrer
• sanitary bag
• 2 complimentary slippers
• closet with few hangers
• mini bar but no complimentary water (the cost of each item inside the fridge/minibar is 8HKD)
• a lot of towels
• hot/cold shower
• hair dryer

bathroom toiletries; photo courtesy of
 m00nchildr0cks

photo courtesy of m00nchildr0cks

They have daily housekeeping whether you like it or not but don't worry they have trustworthy housekeepers. With other hotels, you have to hang a sign outside your door if you want your room cleaned, at Silka, they will clean your room if you won't be around the whole day regardless which was good on the other hand because every time you go back to your hotel room you have fresh toiletries and towels again.

Silka also offers continental buffet breakfast from 6:30AM-10:00AM (if my memory serves me right) at their onsite restaurant on the 6^th floor.

continental breakfast

the hair dryer; photo courtesy 
of m00nchildr0cks

I love the spring rolls, they were really tasteful. They have wide array of breakfast items to choose from (although mostly deep fried): They have croissants, wheat breads, franks, nuggets, siomai, siopao, congee (which you have to mix yourself), pancit canton or bihon on some days, coffee, milk creamer, juice and garden salad at their breakfast bar. If ala carte you have to pay extra 55HKD for breakfast instead so might as avail the rate which includes breakfast so it'll be hassle free.

elevator advisory photo 
courtesy of m00nchildr0cks

Overall, we enjoyed our stay at Silka Far East Hotel because as I mentioned, my sister and I are not finicky travellers, as long as the basic stuff are there no problem. For me, I personally just need a coffee pot in the room for both coffee and tea, easy to cook cereals for my high on fiber diet and I should be all set.

Will I recommend Silka Far East Hotel to other travellers? Yes why not. Make sure to always book ahead of time because they have few Non Smoking rooms at the hotel. The ones on the higher floors are the only Non Smoking rooms If I'm not mistaken and that would be the 15^th floor and up.

Generally, the fine for smoking on non smoking areas would be 5,000HK$ by the way once caught smoking may it be inside or outside the hotel premise. HK locals are mostly smokers in my observation.