Hotels in Hong Kong

Assuming you're talking about the Tsimshatsui side, on Expedia and other sites, the Langham, the Sheraton, the Rhombus Panorama and the Kowloon Shangri-La all have rooms under $250 for 1/2-1/4, in increasing distance from the Star Ferry. All good hotels.

The Marco Polo Gateway as well, which is closer to the Star Ferry than all the above, except for the Langham across the street.

I also assume that you mean near the Star Ferry pier on the Kowloon side for ferries between Central or Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island and Tsim Sha Tsui at the tip of Kowloon, as there are other Star Ferry piers in other locations. With that budget, you could get a harbour view room or even possibly a suite at the Salisbury, which will offer The View which is not otherwise possible in that price range generally. It is a YMCA, but not really, it’s like a good 3 star or possibly 4 star hotel. Can’t beat the location, even if it is in Kowloon, it’s practically at the Star Ferry pier. One issue would be that it is frequently booked, and you are talking about Christmas week, but for a suite you may find that there are rooms still available. They have smaller rooms and no view rooms for less. See http://www.asiatravel.com/hongkong/ymcasalisbury/index.html or www.ymca-hotels.com.

Otherwise, if you don’t have a view, I don’t see any real need to stay on the Kowloon side, esp. as you seem to want to be near the ferry so you can go over to Hong Kong. Just stay on the Hong Kong side. For $250 I would look at Hotel LKF, see http://www.hotel-lkf.com.hk/ which is about as close as you are going to get to the Star Ferry pier in Central in that price range on the Hong Kong side; it’s also in a fun area of bars and restaurants and walkable to many sights. Or a harbour view suite or duplex suite at the Bishop Lei (rooms here would have a nice view as well), see http://www.bishopleihtl.com.hk, although I have to say that is not “close” to the Star Ferry (but is close to the escalator and good restaurants/boutiques).

I should note that the Shangri-La Kowloon, which is mentioned above and is quite a nice hotel (although personally I find it out of the easy walking range of anything) is across the street and about 100 yards from a hotel/mall complex (the Renaissance Kowloon) which is in the process of being torn down, so there may be noise issues, and the view is somewhat obscured by scaffolding currently. (I was on a boat in the harbour about 2 weeks ago, and could hear the noise of the cranes puling down the building from the middle of the harbour, so think that the noise at the Shangri-La hotel could be quite loud. They probably do not work at night, but I can’t say this for sure. They do work Saturdays.)