Hong Kong
May 22nd, 2004 | 02:22 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,412
Likes: 0
Hong Kong
Planning a first trip to Hong Kong. Any suggestions as to hotels to stay in , transportation,tours or independantly. My wife and I are well traveled so independant travel is nice to us. But would consider a tour if cheaper or smarter for a first trip. Thanks
May 22nd, 2004 | 06:04 PM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
I know of no reason to go to Hong Kong with a tour, and lots of reasons not to. If you've traveled elsewhere independently, you'll find Hong Kong easy.
You'll need to decide whether you want to stay on the Kowloon side or the Hong Kong Side. I like the Kowloon side especially for the waterfront promenade. There are many, many hotels that are an easy walk to the Star ferry. There are also a number of lovely hotels on the Hong Kong side, but only a few that are walking distance to the ferry.
You'll need to decide whether you want to stay on the Kowloon side or the Hong Kong Side. I like the Kowloon side especially for the waterfront promenade. There are many, many hotels that are an easy walk to the Star ferry. There are also a number of lovely hotels on the Hong Kong side, but only a few that are walking distance to the ferry.
May 22nd, 2004 | 06:24 PM
#4
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Do a search on "Hong Kong" on this forum, and you'll find plenty of recommendations about what to do, where to eat, where to stay, etc...
For hotels, you need to tell us your budget. There are some of the best hotels in the world in Hong Kong - Inter-Continental, Peninsula, etc - but they are of course not cheap.
For hotels, you need to tell us your budget. There are some of the best hotels in the world in Hong Kong - Inter-Continental, Peninsula, etc - but they are of course not cheap.
May 22nd, 2004 | 06:32 PM
#5
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
And I agree with Kathie, there's little need or reason to take a tour. Well, except perhaps for a tour of walled villages and obscure sites in the New Territories. Public transportation may not get to right to the spot, and they may be relatively infrequent. It'd be nice to be transported in a mini-coach with A/C for that kind of trip. Or if you want to tour some remote islands like Tung (East) Ping Chau, which a tour will make sense.
But for basically anywhere else, just do it on your own, at your own pace.
But for basically anywhere else, just do it on your own, at your own pace.
May 23rd, 2004 | 12:58 AM
#6
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 0
Hi
My wife and I went to Hong Kong in March last year and we stayed at Kowloon hotel at Tsim Sha Tsui. We stayed there for about 4 days. I have posted a trip report with pictures from our trip on my personal homepage www.gardkarlsen.com
. Here you will be able to read more about the hotel, what we saw and did in HK etc. I hope that it can be of some use to you. Have a great trip
Regards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway
My wife and I went to Hong Kong in March last year and we stayed at Kowloon hotel at Tsim Sha Tsui. We stayed there for about 4 days. I have posted a trip report with pictures from our trip on my personal homepage www.gardkarlsen.com
. Here you will be able to read more about the hotel, what we saw and did in HK etc. I hope that it can be of some use to you. Have a great tripRegards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway
Trending Topics
May 23rd, 2004 | 02:52 PM
#8
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
I have never stayed at a hotel in Hong Kong, though I've lived there for 17 years. But HK$300 should be enough to get the best out there, and I'd pick either the Peninsula or the Inter-Continental.
The Peninsula is a legend, and it's been rated as one of the top hotels in the world for decades. The Inter-Continental used to be called Regent, and sits right on the water, with the best harborview in the world, and has also rated extremely high since it opened about 20 years ago.
The two hotels opposite each other in Tsim Sha Tsui, very close to the Star Ferry. Both have harborview and city-view rooms, with the harborview ones costing more. I think that's absolutely crucial if you're spending that much money already. [I just checked the IC's website, and there harborview superior room starts at about HK$1,700 or US$220; I think that's a steal.]
After those two, there are some nice ones in the Central district, including the Ritz Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, the Conrad, the Island Shangri-La. Or the Kowloon Shangri-La in Tsim Sha Tsui East.
Closer to $150, I think the Marco Polo Hong Kong (next to Star Ferry in Tsim Sha Tsui) or the Sheraton Towers should be solid choices.
All of the above hotels I mention have harborview rooms. I think that's a real treat to have a view of the Victoria Harbour.
The Peninsula is a legend, and it's been rated as one of the top hotels in the world for decades. The Inter-Continental used to be called Regent, and sits right on the water, with the best harborview in the world, and has also rated extremely high since it opened about 20 years ago.
The two hotels opposite each other in Tsim Sha Tsui, very close to the Star Ferry. Both have harborview and city-view rooms, with the harborview ones costing more. I think that's absolutely crucial if you're spending that much money already. [I just checked the IC's website, and there harborview superior room starts at about HK$1,700 or US$220; I think that's a steal.]
After those two, there are some nice ones in the Central district, including the Ritz Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, the Conrad, the Island Shangri-La. Or the Kowloon Shangri-La in Tsim Sha Tsui East.
Closer to $150, I think the Marco Polo Hong Kong (next to Star Ferry in Tsim Sha Tsui) or the Sheraton Towers should be solid choices.
All of the above hotels I mention have harborview rooms. I think that's a real treat to have a view of the Victoria Harbour.
May 23rd, 2004 | 03:39 PM
#9
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
I've stayed at the Kowloon Shangri-La before. It was lovely. But depending on when you are going, I wouldn't stay there before the fall. When were in in Hong Kong at the end of April, there was still construction down by the Kowloon Shangri-La. They said everything would be done by some time in August. I would also seriously consider the Island Shangri-La.
May 23rd, 2004 | 04:31 PM
#10
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,530
Likes: 0
Hi hawaiiantraveler. As suggested don't do a organised tour..not necessary for anyone , especially as you are seasoned travellers.Great ideas for places to stay ( although above what I can afford). If I could afford it I think I would try the Intercontinental as the view as mentioned is fabulous day or night.If it is your first visit I recommend you stay on Kowloon side for a better flavour. Have a great time!
May 26th, 2004 | 04:36 PM
#11
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Hawaiiantraveller~
I have a slightly different opinion than the previous replies. When we travelled to Hong Kong our first time 7 years ago, it was actually cheaper to go with a package. This may vary and depend upon the time of travel and city of departure, but for us, the package that included roundtrip air, hotel, one or two meals, and three or four half day tour groups, was cheaper than when I priced the airfare and hotel separately.
If your travel dates are very restrictive or if you don't like the choice of hotels offered in the packages, or if you travel to and from a secondary location, the add on fees may make it unworthy.
We took most of the included tours that time because it was new to us and the tours were free. Three years later we did the package trip again to Hong Kong, but opted out of most of the tours in order to do as we pleased, which, as the other posters mention, is very easy to do.
Two companies offering packages at similar prices are Pacific Delight Tours and Gate 1 Travel. There are probably others that I don't recall. They usually offer two or more hotels in different price categories, and may offer two or three different airlines for slightly different prices and length of stays. You can also extend your stay for an additional fee, mainly for the cost of the hotel. Ask what other add ons are needed, however, if you plan to stay longer.
On Frommer's web site reader question area, there are more replies about similar questions to yours.
Whether this will work for you, depends on your individual plans, but I advise that you check out their web sites if you have the time.
Have a great trip. Hong Kong is a wonderful city to visit. We are going again on June 3, taking a package, staying at the New World Renaissance with extra nights. We will skip most of the included tours again and do most things on our own.
retired
I have a slightly different opinion than the previous replies. When we travelled to Hong Kong our first time 7 years ago, it was actually cheaper to go with a package. This may vary and depend upon the time of travel and city of departure, but for us, the package that included roundtrip air, hotel, one or two meals, and three or four half day tour groups, was cheaper than when I priced the airfare and hotel separately.
If your travel dates are very restrictive or if you don't like the choice of hotels offered in the packages, or if you travel to and from a secondary location, the add on fees may make it unworthy.
We took most of the included tours that time because it was new to us and the tours were free. Three years later we did the package trip again to Hong Kong, but opted out of most of the tours in order to do as we pleased, which, as the other posters mention, is very easy to do.
Two companies offering packages at similar prices are Pacific Delight Tours and Gate 1 Travel. There are probably others that I don't recall. They usually offer two or more hotels in different price categories, and may offer two or three different airlines for slightly different prices and length of stays. You can also extend your stay for an additional fee, mainly for the cost of the hotel. Ask what other add ons are needed, however, if you plan to stay longer.
On Frommer's web site reader question area, there are more replies about similar questions to yours.
Whether this will work for you, depends on your individual plans, but I advise that you check out their web sites if you have the time.
Have a great trip. Hong Kong is a wonderful city to visit. We are going again on June 3, taking a package, staying at the New World Renaissance with extra nights. We will skip most of the included tours again and do most things on our own.
retired
