Can someone suggest a hotel for a layover flight in Hong Kong. I will be arriving in the evening around 5pm and flying out at 9am the next day. I have never been to Hong Kong, so is there anything to see at evening/night? Thanks.

There is only one hotel at the Hong Kong airport and vicinity, the Regal Airport. It's always overpriced.

You would want to go into the city and get a hotel there. Many threads on this topic if you do a search, but we can also help if you can tell us your budget.

I am looking to spend < $100. I am able to get the Regal Airport for $158+tax. Is it worth the convenience of being so close to the airport?. Is it easy traveling from the airport to Kowloon and back? TIA

$158 is not bad for Regal Aiport. It's often around $300.

Let me explain the relative cost of staying at the Regal Airport and in the city:

- Regal Airport. $158 for room. Since you've never been to Hong Kong, I'm sure you'll like to go to the city for the evening. You can take the Airport Express train, which has a HK$90/100 (US$12/13) same-day roundtrip fare.

- Hotel in city. You should be able to get a decent hotel in Tsimshatsui for about $100, like the New World Renaissance or the YMCA. Roundtrip on Airport Express will cost HK$90x2 = $180 or US$24. Or take the Cityflyer bus, HK$33 x 2 = HK$66 or about US$9.

Depending on the airline and destination, you may or may not do a city check-in at the Airport Express station the next morning. Either way, for a 9am flight, you'll need to be at the train station by about 7am.

Hotel in city will be cheaper overall, and you can linger there during the evening. Just have to get up early to get back to the airport. On the other hand, if you want better rest, or have lots of luggage, then the Regal Airport is not bad for $158.

You may be able to check in for your 9 am flight as soon as you arrive on your 5 pm flight, check the airport’s website (hongkongairport.com) and also call to confirm with your airline. Most airlines allow early check-in up to 18 hours before departure, but not all US carriers or US-bound flights allow this. If you can do this, you will save a lot of time and hassle in the morning. First, you can check in your heavy luggage and just keep an overnight bag as a carry-on. Second, you will have your boarding pass, and therefore don’t have to be at the airport more than 45-60 minutes before your flight. (It can be a zoo checking in for a US-bound flight with everyone else in the morning.)

If you aren’t able to check in for your flight early, you can store your heavy bags at the airport. There is a staffed luggage room in the main arrivals hall, and the cost is about US$7 per piece per day. Take a look at http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/aguide/baggage.html

With only an overnight bag, you are pretty free in whether you stay at the airport or in town. The Eagle is actually a pretty good hotel, and you can’t beat the convenience. Taxes and service will add almost another 15% to the total. You can get breakfast at the airport, but if the price includes breakfast as well, that is a good deal.

Of course, being in the city and having the great views and access to good restaurants is a plus as well. In that price range, you might consider the following:

YMCA Salisbury Road
41 Salisbury Road Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon
www.ymca-hotels.com/

This is a great place, fantastic location, it gets good reviews on this site. It really is a nice 4* hotel disguised as a YMCA. They are very popular and often fully booked, so if you are interested, make a reservation soon (you can always cancel). I have seen standard rooms from $90 a night, and have suites from US$129.

2. Bishop Lei International House
4 Robinson Rd
Mid-levels, Hong Kong Island
Tel: 852-2868-0828
fax: 852-2525-1551.
bishopleihtl.com

The hotel is in mid-levels on Hong Kong Island. The rooms are small but very nice, and the location is good, in a residential neighborhood near the top of the escalator and on a bus route. It is just above the zoo in the botanical gardens and you can hear the orang utans in the morning, quite unusual in the middle of the city. . . Many of the rooms have great views over the city and the harbor. They have a pool and restaurant, and there are other restaurants in the neighborhood. I have seen standard rooms from US$73 and suites from $96.
I would pick the Salisbury Road Y for its convenient location and views, next would be the Bishop Lei. There are also other YMCAs on Kowloon and Hong Kong Island that would be in that price range, take a look at the main YMCA website given above.

The main activity in the evening would be walking along the Esplanade on the Kowloon side for great harbor views and taking the peak tram up to the Peak for stunning night views of the harbor and city. Have dinner at any of the great restaurants, run a search here. Most shops are closed in the evening. There are some night markets like the famous Ladies Market on Kowloon (which is just OK IMO), and local evening fruit/veg/meat markets which are interesting for people watching and the stuff on offer. In the latter category, go to Garden Lane, Cross Street or Tai Wong Street between Queens Road and Johnston Road in Wan Chai for the most colorful markets, lots of unusual fruit and veg, live fish, chickens (at least before the last Avian flu scare), butchers in the street etc.

travlr1: Very curious! Where were you able to obtain a reservation at the Regal Airport for $158?? We have not seen anything near that low on any of the internet sites, including Regal's own.

Thanks for all the tips everyone! I found the best price for the Regal Airport on this site: http://www.orientaltravel.com/

I just wonder if they can really find availability for you at this rate. This site doesn't look like they have direct booking capability. So, you give them all your info including credit card #, and then they may tell you in 24 hours that the rate isn't available, blah blah blah. Hate that.

Well, I'm not saying this must be the case, but my feeling is that you won't get a $158 room at the Regal, even for May.

Only because I am a senior citizen AARP memeber (age 55+) was I able to get a room in early June at the Regal HK Airport for $158. I must also carry along my AARP card as proof of membership. So, I guess it can be done ... if we wait long enough until we are old enough. ha ha.