Best area to stay in Hong Kong?

Old Jul 29th, 2007, 12:36 PM
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Best area to stay in Hong Kong?

Hi there - we've got a 2 night stopover in Hong Kong on the way to New Zealand for our honeymoon.

Our travel agent has recommended that we stay on Hong Kong Island rather than Kowloon, but I'm seeing the opposite advice on this board!

Getting really confused now. I don't know Hong Kong at all and so, bearing in mind the length of our stay, what do you all think? Kowloon or Hong Kong Island .. and any recommendation for hotels? As its our honeymoon, we're prepared to splash out a little.

Thanks in advance.
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Old Jul 29th, 2007, 01:00 PM
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From Kowloon, you'll have the fabulous view of KOng Kong. For a honeymoon, you might consider the Pen or the Intercontinental. The Island Shangri-La also is lovely and has harbor-view rooms.
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Old Jul 29th, 2007, 01:24 PM
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What's the "a little" you willing to splash out? And what specific dates?
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Old Jul 29th, 2007, 01:26 PM
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Hi,
I stayed on Hong kong island when i had a stop over on the way to Australia last sept.
Knowing which area i now prefer,i am staying on Kowloon when i return with my Daughter in 7 weeks time.
There is alot more to do in the evenings on the Kowloon side,lots of markets,and the light show ,which is brilliant.
It is so easy to travel from one side to another,that its really not a problem whichever side you stay on .
Have a lovely honeymoon,
Best wishes
Suzi
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Old Jul 29th, 2007, 05:58 PM
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I live in Hong Kong and far, far prefer it to the Kowloon side. Firstly and most importantly for you, the man tourist sights like the Peak, the Peak Tram, Stanley Market, the Hollywood antique district, the interesting local markets, the Central business district, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay are all on Hong Kong Island. The ferries to the outlying islands all go from the Hong Kong Island side. All the fun bars, jazz clubs and venues like the performing arts centre are all on the Hong Kong side. Also, the better restaurants are on the Hong Kong Island side (including Soho and Lan Kwai Fong which have dozens each of every cuisine imaginable) other than about 2-3 which are along the waterfront on the Kowloon side and you can easily get to at night from the Hong Kong side. There are some excellent and easily accessible walks and hikes on Hong Kong Island, from easy to more challenging depending on your fitness and keenness.

The Kowloon side absolutely has The View, no question. It’s the one in all the postcards that you see. However, unless you have a room with that view, then IMO there is no reason to stay there. If you can get a harbour view room at the Peninsula, the Intercontinental, the YMCA Salisbury or the Sheraton, then by all means consider staying on the Kowloon side. Otherwise, I don’t’ see any point. You can take the Star Ferry over and see the view during the day and at night.

Kowloon has some tourist spots to be sure, but they can be seen in one day IMO. They have several very good museums, but with only 2 days I am not sure you are going to be concentrating at all on those. There is some good hiking but you have to go further out into the New Territories and it is not as easily accessible as the walks on Hong Kong Island, and if you want to do it you can access that just as easily from the Hong Kong Island side. The night market mentioned by the poster above is one of the things I most avoid in Hong Kong. You can find the exact same stuff for sale elsewhere in Hong Kong, esp someplace like Stanley where you can have a fun bus ride over the mountains to the beach and a nice meal all as part of shopping for the tourist junk. Or you can walk in Wan Chai and find the discount bins and the souvenir stalls. There are MANY things to do at night in Hong Kong besides going to that night market. I have a very long thread on this subject at “Cicerone’s Reccos for What the Locals Do for Fun in Hong Kong (Hint: We DON’T Go to those Awful Night Markets....)”

Otherwise, unless you want to be constantly assaulted by touts trying to make you a suit or sell you a copy watch, shop in big shopping malls selling the same stuff you can get at home, and eat at average tourist restaurants, then don’t stay in Kowloon…

What hotels is your agent recommending? Agents don’t always know what they are talking about. Also, when is your trip, there may be a public holiday or festival which may be worth attending.

The light show mentioned above is fine, IMO nothing to plan your schedule around (it is at 8 pm and lasts around 20 minutes) and can be seen from both sides of the harbour. IMO the best place to see it is from an elevation on Hong Kong Island, as many of the buildings for many blocks BEHIND the Kowloon waterfront participate in this show (which people standing on the waterfront in Kowloon probably not realize), and to see it from an elevation is rather interesting as the lasers and lights are all coordinated. A good place to see it may be Bowen Road, certainly the Stubbs Road lookout would be a very good place to see it. The Peak may be a bit too high in elevation to appreciate it. Barker Road would be perhaps a good choice.
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Old Jul 29th, 2007, 07:07 PM
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I have said this a hundred times here. I'll get the best hotel for the money on the day you want. Not where it is. Well, unless you want that famous harborview from your own room.

Hong Kong Island is 4 minutes away from Tsimshatsui by MTR, and about 5 minutes on the Star Ferry. It's really no big deal which side of the harbor you stay.
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Old Jul 30th, 2007, 12:57 AM
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Further info: we'll be staying on the nights of 22 / 23 April 08. Are there any festivals or similar happening at that time? thanks so far for your advice!
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Old Jul 30th, 2007, 04:29 AM
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Second half of April is during the Canton Fair - the twice a year trade show in Guangzhou that attracts major buyers from all over the world.

Historically, rates of highend hotels in Hong Kong are at their very highest during those periods.
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Old Jul 30th, 2007, 04:35 AM
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Right now, most hotels haven't released rates for those dates yet, but the top hotels are asking for about $450-500 a night for your dates.

Or you can look at 10/22-24 this year for reference. That's also during the Canton fair. Kowloon Shangri-La is asking $499 for harborview room, Peninsula is asking $614 for city-view, Island Shangri-La is asking $537 for Peak view, $614 for harborview.
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Old Jul 30th, 2007, 06:46 AM
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Hi rkkwan. Sorry - I assume your rates are in USD? I'm from the UK, so just wanted to check! thanks.
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Old Jul 30th, 2007, 07:01 AM
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Yes, US Dollars. Sorry, I forgot to specify that.

See what your travel agent can offer you. Throw us names of possible hotels and prices and we can tell you which to take.
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Old Jul 30th, 2007, 06:01 PM
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No holidays during that time, at least no public ones. You will find plenty to do, however, and you trip is during weekdays which is nice for things like limiting lines for places like the Peak Tram, etc. As for hotels, it’s Hong Kong and good hotels are expensive at most times of the year. I would not stress too much over it. You will find something, even for a honeymoon. I would be curious to know what your agent is recommending, and why you are using an agent unless they are getting you some kind of good airfare rate. You can book the hotels directly yourself at similar rates or use http://www.asiahotels.com which a lot of people on this board seem to use with success.

It’s going to be fairly hot and humid in Hong Kong in April, different from what you will find in NZ. Take a look at weatherbase.com for temps.
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Old Jul 30th, 2007, 11:30 PM
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I have always preferred the island.....
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Old Sep 7th, 2016, 11:13 AM
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We are going to HK in January. Is it true that the Kowloon side is very hectic and crowded for staying vs. Central is quieter, but has less to do at night? We have read conflicting reviews. Are there any holidays or special festivals during January 16 to 19?
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Old Sep 7th, 2016, 11:45 AM
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kmatsui, if you want an answer to your question, I highly recommend that you start your own thread (orange button at the top of the page that says "start a new topic"). You have brought up a thread that is more than 10 years old.
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Old Sep 13th, 2016, 03:08 AM
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kmatsui, I've stayed in Mongkok and I've stayed in Central. I'd say your statement was true. Central area feels much more modern. Business oriented. And it did feel quiet at night.

Kowloon is a big area. The point there near the ferry and leading up Canton Rd (Harbour City) seemed to stay active later. Upscale there, lots of high end fashion and dept stores. Mongkok much more a jumble of signs and little 4 seat eateries, once you get away from Nathan road. By the time you get up near the Diamond Hill stop, it's a lot of modern residential high rises (but also the fantastic Nan Lian Garden). And way more areas of Kowloon I don't know. So depends on where you're thinking.
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Old Sep 13th, 2016, 08:31 PM
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We stayed on Hong Kong Island again and it was not quiet at night. Lots foing on, bars, restaurants, etc
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