cadwex

Has anyone on this learned forum spent any time in Hong Kong in July? I know this is the height of their typhoon season so am wondering if we are crazy to spend a few days there. We are on our way to Bali to meet up with friends and our best award travel is on Cathay Pacific from Chicago to Hong Kong and then to Bali. We have to overnight in Hong Kong at the least and, since it's been years since we have been there, we thought it would be fun to stop in for a few days before continuing on. Any thoughts and/or experiences to share? Thanks in advance.

sandy_b

I'm from Texas and "know" hot . . . it's been many years since I went to HK but I went late July and thought I would die. It was HOT! We had to return to our hotel daily between 2-5 to cool off.

We loved HK, the shopping was terrific . . . we just never passed a 7-11 without stopping for a big bottle of water (and 7-11s were two to a block)!

Sandy (in Denton)

Hanuman

I've been there during July and August a few times and on a few occasion during a typhoon while I was there. IMO Hong Kong is a place where, if you want to, stay indoor for the whole trip if the weather outside is not nice. I would choose a hotel with direct access to the underground or connected to a mall or covered walkways during these stormy months.

So go why not! Cathay Pacific pilot seem to be able to fly during typhoons as well.

marmot

I'd say go for it. Hong Kong and Bali are a great Asian combination. The typhoon season is lengthy and unpredictable, so it's difficult to plan definitively around it, but the chances of being inconvenienced by weather in July is low.

hkchemsir

Hello,

Typhoon is unpredictable, and no need be afraid.
However, it will be very hot and humid in Summer time.
If possible, Just spend 2-3 days in HK will definitely enough.

Last year (2012), only 2 typhoons visited HK. Even in case of Typhoon when you visit, HK is a safe place.

Have a good time in HK.

Gavin

cadwex

Thanks All. Just purchased our Cathay Pacific tickets and we're going for it! Will be bringing a lot of extra tee shirts! Sandy, we will plan on an air conditioned activity every afternoon--probably the malls for me and napping for my husband! Next decision is hotel. We've stayed at Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental and Regent (now Intercontinental). All were wonderful but thinking of trying something new (to us). Harbour view is a key for us. Thinking about The Upper House based on reviews on trip advisor. Need to do more research but does anyone know whether that meets the sensible criteria Hanuman suggests?
Thanks again.

Marian

DonTopaz

I've never stayed @ Upper House, but I can recommend 1st-hand both the Island Shangri-La & the Conrad, in the same area as the Upper House and with direct access to the Pacific Place shopping mall & MTR. Excellent service at both, especially at the Shang. Shang also has slightly better harbour views (because of intervening buildings).

Cicerone

While July is usually very hot and humid, the one very good thing is that the air pollution is considerably better in the summer and thus harbour views, etc. are better. The wind shift pushes the pollution onto the PRC mainland, leaving our skies clear. (Unlike in winter, like today, you can barely see across the harbour – yuk).

We do have typhoons, statistically they come more often in September. I would not worry overly about that. Having said that the one <i>very</i> fierce #10 typhoon we had in 2012 did come in July. So it's a crap shoot. You never loose electricity (our cables are buried underground); it’s more than you could be stuck in your hotel for a day or so while it blows out. There is no flooding to speak of, at least in areas where you will go. They are not hurricane Sandy by any means. Having access to the MTR is not going to help in a #10 as they usually close the subways as well. But in a lower category typhoon, where you just have a lot of rain and wind, getting around by subway could help. But all the good tourist sites would not be fun in a heavy rain or wind in any event, as they are all outside. So the subway would be to get to a mall where you can stay inside and have a meal, go to a movie, etc.

The Upper House is a very good choice – really large rooms, great bathrooms, all the bells and whistles. They do not, however have a pool. In July you may want a pool. The other hotels in the same complex have pools. (Like the Island Shangri-La mentioned above, or the JW Marriott or Conrad) Since you have a nice budget, you might look at the Four Seasons, which has a huge nice pool and deck area. They have good views from the rooms and the rooms are very large. Like the Upper House, the Four Seasons is connected to the subway, and also by pedestrian overpass (covered) to most parts of Central and the escalator.

You could not go wrong with the Penn or the Intercon either, for views esp. The Mandarin only has a small indoor pool with no windows. You could also consider the Ritz-Carlton which has THE view, and in July these could be absolutely stunning. They have an indoor pool, but it is very large and infinity-type with huge windows overlooking the western harbour. So great for sunset. The location is not as convenient as the others mentioned, but they are connected to the subway and a very large mall in case you get a typhoon and want to stay indoors.

cadwex

Thank you so much for these additional recommendations. I will take a look at each of these hotels and try to make a decision. As an aside, I don't think I have ever had a better view than from our room (many years ago) at the Intercon--wall to wall windows and the entire harbour right in front of us. Probably hard to match anywhere and, yet, still thinking of something different.

And Cicerone, thanks for the typhoon stats and description. Hopefully the odds of a #10 two July's in a row are slim. Yet, knowing my husband, he would love to see one of those from inside a great hotel!