Hong Kong hotel lends guests a smartphone with free calls, data
By David Flynn, April 28 2016
Now that we've moved from maps to apps, and embraced social media as the easiest way to connect with family and friends when travelling, smartphones have been upgraded to almost must-have kit on overseas trips.
Affordable roaming deals such as Vodafone's $5/day plans have taken the sting out of staying in touch, but Hong Kong-based Marco Polo Hotel group has come up with a novel alternative: guests at any of its three harbourside properties are handed a free smartphone to use during their stay.
It may be a relatively basic Android model but it comes with unlimited 3G data and unlimited local calls (plus free calls to China, the Philippines, Japan, the USA and the UK).
You can also fire up the device's 3G-to-WiFi mode to create a hotspot which your own non-roaming smartphone or tablet can tap into.
The phone comes with popular apps including Google Maps, Skype, Facebook, Twitter and WeChat, along with a handy currency converter and translator, and of course you can easily connect to your GMail account with a few taps.
You can also load your own choice of apps from the Google Play app store – just be sure to remove them or wipe & reset the entire smartphone before you check out of the hotel!
Also loaded for your convenience: a guide and trip planner for Hong Kong's MTR metro system, visitor guides, links to activities such as city tours and special offers for shopping and dining.
All up, this is a pretty great set of apps for the traveller, although the phone itself is a tad slow when it comes to loading and switching between apps.
People can also dial your smartphone to ensure that no important business calls are missed while you're out and about.
The on-loan smartphone is available to guests at Marco Polo's HongJong Hotel, Gateway Hotel and Prince Hotel, all of which are located in Tsim Sha Tsui's Harbour City complex on Canton Road.
Also read:
- Hong Kong Airport lounge guide for Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Oneworld
- How to get fast-lane access at Hong Kong airport
- The best prepaid SIM cards for Hong Kong
- Grab an Octopus Card for Hong Kong trains, buses and more
- Insider tip: a hidden Hong Kong gem for a great deal on glasses
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Jun 2014
Total posts 37
This is in no way exclusive to Marco Polo. It is now the norm in Hong Kong. Nearly all 5 star hotels in Hong Kong offer this - for example the Grand Stanford Intercontinental and Hotel Icon - to name two I have used. Users just need to be prepared to sign their life away for more than the cost of the phone if they use it, and I doubt travel insurance would cover you. Personally, I'd pay the personal roaming fee deal with my provider.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Feb 2014
Total posts 144
I've had it at W hotel and shangri-la
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Dec 2011
Total posts 11
Yes, I agree with davar98, it's pretty much a standard for 4* and 5* hotels in Hong Kong these days, it takes out the needs for travellers to get mobile or internet plan first thing they arrive...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 May 2015
Total posts 19
Just to add to the list, I've also had it at Cordis (used to be Langham Place). I wasn't asked to pay or sign anything special to use it.
08 Aug 2013
Total posts 14
Same at the Intercontinental Grand Stamford
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Apr 2016
Total posts 6
Have also recently stayed at the Sofitel in Macau and had access to a free phone. Was a handy tool to have. I was travelling with family across 3 seperate rooms. It super easy to get in touch when everyone was off doing there own thing.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jan 2015
Total posts 71
I've also had it at Hotel ICON @ TST East/Hung Hom.
08 Aug 2013
Total posts 14
Hey that's the same one i stayed at when i was visiting some relatives back in September.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Jan 2013
Total posts 240
It's a nice feature and (despite what their PR team may have told you,) it is not that new. I've used similar services in Seoul and Teipei a few years ago. It was so useful, not only for everything noted here but also for using them like intercoms to stay connected with my co-worker.
Call me Sir Buzz Killington, but I'm always skeptical when I read 'free unlimited data'. It must be only a matter of days now until a guest tries to download a whole season of GoT, it won't work cause it's a mobile and they'll run down to reception to make a scene of biblical proportions.
I don't know why Aussie hotels don't offer this service.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Oct 2013
Total posts 702
I know why...
Aussies think haha it's free lets download GoT and then the hotel gets a $500 bill from the Telco.
In Hong Kong unlimited data can be had for a few dollars (AU$) a day which allows them to offer this service to customers.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Jan 2013
Total posts 131
I have had it at the Intercontinental and the Hyatt Regency HK TST too
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jun 2011
Total posts 70
Not just Hong Kong - The Holiday Inn Atrium in Singapore offers Handy as well, So it is around a bit.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Mar 2014
Total posts 219
Crowne Plaza at Causeway Bay has been offereing phones for years now for local calls etc. It is handy to grab one to give the other half to find out where my plastic card is having a meltdown.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Jun 2015
Total posts 24
Cosmopolitan Hotel Wanchai had it. We only used it for the wifi hotspot and calls! Excellent idea and was super helpful for what we used it for. It did cut out when we went to the mainland for obvious reasons. Found the battery didn't last all day though.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Mar 2014
Total posts 567
The Butterfly group also do this. I looked at staying there, I believe they're 4 star.
10 Sep 2014
Total posts 1
The 4* Eaton Hotel (Langham Group) on Nathan Road has had them for a few years.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2555
Good feedback on other hotels with this, but just to clarify: we've never claimed this was exclusive to the Marco Polo hotels, it's just a feature of the hotel which we chose to write up after a recent stay there. The more hotels offering this or similar, the better! :)
17 Jun 2011
Total posts 64
In fairness the title says 'Hong Kong hotel' singular as well as 'Hong Kong-based Marco Polo Hotel group has come up with a novel alternative' insinuating no other hotel has this product.
29 Mar 2014
Total posts 78
It's been around for a long time at the Hyatt Hong Kong.
British Airways Executive Club Gold
25 Jun 2015
Total posts 20
Charterhouse Causeway Bay also offer this.
17 Jun 2011
Total posts 64
I used one of these phones over Chinese NY as a guest of the Intercontinental HK - I was sceptical at first but used it for data as well as tethering for my partner and had no issue over 5 days of serious data usage. I think on day 5 we got a data usage warning but never had an issue.
08 Jun 2015
Total posts 2
I also enjoyed this service at the hotel Icon. Great HTC unit with unlimited data and calls. Good story but it's been around for years already.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Sep 2011
Total posts 7
I had the same in London at Montcalm London (Marble Arch)
CX
23 Sep 2014
Total posts 9
These phones have been in the ICON hotel for many years. It is about being a market leader that had them in the ICON first. When I first stayed there, that was one of the first things introduced to you by th ehotel staff. That and the free mini bar. That is right, they had a free mini bar. So it was often I sat there at night having a free mini bar beer and using their cell phone. It was also super handy to find places around HK.
Good Hotels have Good Equipment and Service. This is what I have found with my nearly 20 years on international travel on my own dime......
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 Apr 2016
Total posts 4
Mira in kowloon. Another hotel that has been doing this for years (and more).
So why highlight Marco Polo?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Jan 2015
Total posts 2
This is not new but rather a very common service provided by 4-5 star hotels in HK.
Personally I do not like Marco Polo (I have stayed both Gateway and Prince before) the rooms are smaller and it is right above the Harbour City which are usually packed with shoppers and tourists, fair bit walk to Tsim Sha Tsui Station as well (through Haiphong Rd which are pretty much packed 24/7).
My personal favourite hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui in The Langham on Peking Road, much bigger suites and best concierge staff I have seen.
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