Hong Kong airport to hotel
Feb 28th, 2007, 09:08 AM
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Hong Kong airport to hotel
Hi, we're coming to Hong Kong for 3 nights in July and are staying at the 4 seasons hotel. We're a family of 4 adults and 2 children, so I'm wondering what's the easiest way of getting to the hotel from the airport. Also any top tips on getting the most out of Hong Kong in 48 hours?? Thanks!
Feb 28th, 2007, 11:52 AM
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I believe Cicerone - very knowledgeable Fodorite living in HK - said the Four Seasons can get porters to greet you at the Hong Kong Airport Express station, which is connected to the hotel. That'd be faster and cheaper than a van, hotel arranged or not.
Group of 4 can ride the AE for just HK$250 to Hong Kong, a hefty discount. Children aged 3-11 is $50 each.
Get the group tickets at the manned counter in Hong Kong station. Don't need to buy tickets before boarding train, which is just steps from the customs exit.
Group of 4 can ride the AE for just HK$250 to Hong Kong, a hefty discount. Children aged 3-11 is $50 each.
Get the group tickets at the manned counter in Hong Kong station. Don't need to buy tickets before boarding train, which is just steps from the customs exit.
Feb 28th, 2007, 02:38 PM
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We stayed at 4s in December and January. Loved the hotel, pool, service, expensive food, but they do not meet you at the Mall airport express station unless you call when you get there and then wait for them. We just took two cabs (we were also 4 adults, 2 kids). Our kids (7 and 10 yrs. old) LOVED Ocean Park. It is an amusement park but a real Hong Kong experience. Where else do you get Squid Express rather than Burger King??
Feb 28th, 2007, 05:21 PM
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When in July will you be here? July 1 is a holiday here (celebration of the handover to China and it’s the 10th anniversary as well), and there will be fireworks in the harbour which are always interesting. For other Hong Kong ideas, please search this board for my very long list of reccos called “Cicerone’s Reccos for What the Locals Do for Fun in Hong Kong (Hint: We DON’T Go to those Awful Night Markets....)” this should give you some ideas for what to do, including a list of walks and some sources for more walks. (But in July the heat will make some of these quite difficult unless you start right at sunrise.) For another of my favourite very easy walks on Hong Kong Island, see my posting called “Cicerone’s Favourite Hong Kong Walks II: Paradise Found! From Happy Valley to Stanley in High Heels! (Almost) The Tsz Lo Lan Shan Path”. Also check the Hong Kong Tourism Board website at discoverhongkong.com for other ideas.
Remember that it will be very hot and very humid in July, so do include some down time at the pool, esp in the afternoons, and drink lots of water. Mornings are quite pleasant if you can get moving. Ferry rides or hiring a junk or boat would be a good way to spend an afternoon as well.
You don’t mention how old the kids are, so I don’t know in particular what might interest them. Ocean Park as mentioned above might be good if it is hot, I would avoid on a weekend when it could be quite crowded, go to http://www.oceanpark.com.hk/f_index.html. There is a small zoo in Central as well and an aviary in Hong Kong Park.
To get to the hotel from the airport, you have several options. A taxi will cost about HK$350-400 (about US$45+) and will fit 3 people comfortably, 4 in a pinch, but the trunks are small. In any event you will need 2 cabs as you have 6 people plus luggage. I find taxi vans quite rare here, I can’t say I have ever seen one. There are private limo services that may be able to arrange them. For a private limo service go to http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/a...limousine.html. I have used Parklane for years and they are very good. The hotel can give you a quote for their car service. A private car service may actually cheaper than 2 cabs. Two good size mercs would hold everybody quite comfortably as well if you can’t get a van and may not be that expensive.
For the taxis, just follow signs to the taxi line which forms outside the airport arrivals hall. There are always guys waiting just as you come out of baggage claim/customs inside the arrivals area at the airport who will ask if you want a cab, I believe these guys will take you into town for a lower rate, I have never done this, but others may be able to offer advice on whether they are reliable and the going rate (I think something like HK$300).
You can also take the train, called the Airport Express. It costs about HK$100 (US$12) per adult one way, (there are discounts you can get as a family as mentioned above, and can combine this with subway passes, etc, but that is the basic price to give you an idea for price comparison). The train is actually interesting, you can roll luggage carts onto the train and offload bags, so not a lot of schlepping of bags, and the kids may find it enjoyable. The train takes about 28 minutes (about the same as the drive, maybe 5 minutes faster), and the benefit for the Four Seasons is that the last stop, on Hong Kong Island, is in the same shopping complex in which the hotel is located, about a 10 minute walk through the mall. The Four Seasons will apparently meet you at the train with porters to help with luggage. (Actually it was Elainee who mentioned the train meeting service, but it seems like a nice idea.) I imagine if you e-mail or fax them now with your flight arrival info, they can estimate your train arrival time; if you have a working phone for HK you could also call them from the train to confirm that they will be there.
Info on the Airport Express is at http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/a...airportex.html
I would say that with a lot of bags, kids, jet lag, not knowing the airport, etc taking a taxi or car to the hotel may be a better way to do this for the arrival flight, and perhaps take the train for the flight out. You can check-in up to 18 hours early at the Airport Express station, including checking in your bags, which is a nice feature (however this does not work for many flights to the US or on US carriers.) Or you can just go over to the Airport early and get boarding passes if you don’t want to check-in your luggage, which will save you time at check-in lines at the airport in any event. Check the Airport Express website for info.
Remember that it will be very hot and very humid in July, so do include some down time at the pool, esp in the afternoons, and drink lots of water. Mornings are quite pleasant if you can get moving. Ferry rides or hiring a junk or boat would be a good way to spend an afternoon as well.
You don’t mention how old the kids are, so I don’t know in particular what might interest them. Ocean Park as mentioned above might be good if it is hot, I would avoid on a weekend when it could be quite crowded, go to http://www.oceanpark.com.hk/f_index.html. There is a small zoo in Central as well and an aviary in Hong Kong Park.
To get to the hotel from the airport, you have several options. A taxi will cost about HK$350-400 (about US$45+) and will fit 3 people comfortably, 4 in a pinch, but the trunks are small. In any event you will need 2 cabs as you have 6 people plus luggage. I find taxi vans quite rare here, I can’t say I have ever seen one. There are private limo services that may be able to arrange them. For a private limo service go to http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/a...limousine.html. I have used Parklane for years and they are very good. The hotel can give you a quote for their car service. A private car service may actually cheaper than 2 cabs. Two good size mercs would hold everybody quite comfortably as well if you can’t get a van and may not be that expensive.
For the taxis, just follow signs to the taxi line which forms outside the airport arrivals hall. There are always guys waiting just as you come out of baggage claim/customs inside the arrivals area at the airport who will ask if you want a cab, I believe these guys will take you into town for a lower rate, I have never done this, but others may be able to offer advice on whether they are reliable and the going rate (I think something like HK$300).
You can also take the train, called the Airport Express. It costs about HK$100 (US$12) per adult one way, (there are discounts you can get as a family as mentioned above, and can combine this with subway passes, etc, but that is the basic price to give you an idea for price comparison). The train is actually interesting, you can roll luggage carts onto the train and offload bags, so not a lot of schlepping of bags, and the kids may find it enjoyable. The train takes about 28 minutes (about the same as the drive, maybe 5 minutes faster), and the benefit for the Four Seasons is that the last stop, on Hong Kong Island, is in the same shopping complex in which the hotel is located, about a 10 minute walk through the mall. The Four Seasons will apparently meet you at the train with porters to help with luggage. (Actually it was Elainee who mentioned the train meeting service, but it seems like a nice idea.) I imagine if you e-mail or fax them now with your flight arrival info, they can estimate your train arrival time; if you have a working phone for HK you could also call them from the train to confirm that they will be there.
Info on the Airport Express is at http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/a...airportex.html
I would say that with a lot of bags, kids, jet lag, not knowing the airport, etc taking a taxi or car to the hotel may be a better way to do this for the arrival flight, and perhaps take the train for the flight out. You can check-in up to 18 hours early at the Airport Express station, including checking in your bags, which is a nice feature (however this does not work for many flights to the US or on US carriers.) Or you can just go over to the Airport early and get boarding passes if you don’t want to check-in your luggage, which will save you time at check-in lines at the airport in any event. Check the Airport Express website for info.
Feb 28th, 2007, 07:28 PM
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One more idea...it had been arranged for the 4s to provide transportation from the airport on our flight from the US to HK. I do not know what it cost but we were met at the door of the airplane (yes, the airplane door), escorted up the ramp, thru the airport to immigration, he carried our carry-ons, continued with us to the limo lounge, introduced us to the driver, and off we went. Kinda like kindergarden but very nice. At the hotel we were greeted at the car door and taken to our room, papers signed in the room, tea immediately brought to the room. Maybe unnecessary but very nice after an endless flight.
