Maharaja Guest House

We booked this place for 4 nights. Then we experience the worst ever in my traveling History. First dissatisfaction was about how they answer our inquiry before check in date. We were asking 3 questions, and they answer with one word "by bus" without telling the bus number (how to get to the hotel). Long story short, we then re-phrase our question and they still answer with short letter by telling us Bus number and where to stop. We woke up early in the morning due to early flight to Hong Kong and after 5 hours flight plus emigration clearance queue arrive at the hotel at about 16:00. Reception door was locked and close, we knock with no respond. There is a phone there to call the staff, it got answered after 4th attempt. We were so desperate, exhausted and call for no result. Staff come to see us only to keep us waiting. We just found out our room has been sold to other guest regardless we paid already for 4 nights. No explanation given only intimidating face and telling us "i am contacting my boss" The boss he refers was neighboring hotel where we finally moved to. It took us total 2 hours and by that time it is already dark outside, we miss our first plan to visit a place nearby. On the third day, Maharaja insist i must stay back with them (they do not want to lose money if we stay at their neighbor guest house) regardless we are telling them we prefer stay at existing place due to inconvenience for repacking and moving our things, but they insist us to move and they even help us doing 'dead move' by taking our luggage from this hotel and bring it to their place (as agreed). When we arrive in the evening exhausted after very long tiring day tour, we found out we were assigned two different room instead of one room for 3 persons. The staff very rude and speak in our language saying that "it is good that they did not cancel our room but only arrange". Too bad they arrange the room 1 in 4th floor and 1 in 6th floor. If it is on the same floor maybe we would accept it. How can we sleep in different room while the three of us share same charger, same luggage, etc. Due to his rude and intimidating face, i said no more words and we accept the keys and we finally only use the room in 4th floor only for 3 os us and we never enter the room in 6th floor. Why do they insist us to move if they do not have 3-person room ready. I think they should let us stay in previous hotel because on the last day finally they have their 3-person room available. The only good thing about this hotel is on the last day we see a very polite and nice grandpa who see us upon checking out. I think the staff in this hotel need to learn hospitality from this old grandpa.

I had booked online at Safari guesthouse and Maharaja, 2 different nights (due to availability). First time at Safari, what I encountered were cockroaches, spiders, and a flooded bathroom floor (when they do the laudry, the drain overflows into the room). Next day, having another room reserved and confirmed at Maharaja, i went there to get away from the cockroaches, but the reception told me they have no rooms and did not care about anything. They just unilaterally cancelled my booking, knowing i spoke to them in person the previous day and that I will be coming to change the room. Very unprofessional and unreliable, they ruin it for the rest of the good places around.

This review is for both Safari Lodge and Maharaja Lodge, as they are essentially the same place and used interchangeably. First of all, I love Chungking Mansions. I've stayed in different places there multiple times. I know what to expect and I like its "character." The guy was nice during check-in. He said that Safari Lodge (where I booked) was full, and that Maharaja downstairs had rooms. The room was tiny (like everything in Hong Kong), but nice. During my second night, my jeans had fallen off of the clothes hanger and onto the floor, which was COVERED with water. It was 1am, so I figured I'd deal with it in the morning. I called the reception at 10am and explained what happened. He said the whole floor was flooded overnight, and that he was mopping the lobby at 5am. I asked if he had a washer, or at least a dryer. He said no, that I could use the coin laundry on the first floor. I said, "Wow. Well I'm going to need a little extra time then. I need to wear these jeans when I leave." He yelled at me, "NO! YOUR JEANS, YOUR PROBLEM! I WAS MOPPING AT 5AM! IF YOU CHECK-OUT LATE YOU HAVE TO PAY!" Needless to say, I would never stay at either of these two places, or recommend them to anyone.