You both deserve lots of praise for all the help you have given here and in the past. I took a look at Four Seasons website, which includes detailed information about their pool..(why don't all top hotels give this information?) which looks lovely and very swimmable!

I have been in HK a few times, but not in years; last time I stayed at the Regent, which gives you an idea of the time frame..(there was certainly no metro!) But from what you both are saying, staying on HK Island is preferable... Can I get some general opinions on the pros and cons of Kowloon vs HK?

This all came about due to a post by RKKWAN about lower cost airfares during holidays. I should say that I am a single female traveler and in the past, have enjoyed trips to Asian cities where I can wander around aimlessly during the days, come back to the hotel to swim in late afternoon, and stuff myself with great food at night. I did this in Beijing and Shanghai last year and loved it. Hong Kong seems an obvious candidate for a future trip. Please let me know your thoughts, particularly on the eating solo issue...

Also, are there any good shopping buys these days in Hong Kong?

I wouldn't worry about Hong Kong Island vs Kowloon. Both sides are lots of places to roam around, and it's just a few minutes on the MTR or Star Ferry to cross the harbor.

Actually, the MTR opened in 1979, though originally only between Shek Kip Mei and Kwun Tong. However, Tsim Sha Tsui service started late 79 and Central in early 1980.

And unless I remember wrong, the Regent didn't open until the early 1980's, so there should be MTR service already.

I stand corrected..I was last there in the 80s and there WAS MTR service..I am remembering now!!

I also stayed once at a hotel named New World which was in the same area, I think...guess that one is no longer there..

New World Hotel became New World Renaissance and now just Renaissance Kowloon. It's still right there next to the InterContinental!

i I was telling ekscrunchy on a different thread that Continental always have good business class fare to Hong Kong during Thanskgiving, Christmas and Chinese New Holiday.

Ah, thanks RKK and EK. We're looking at going around Tgiving this year but I've always done SA or CP. Guess I should look farther afield this time!

Ek, I spent two one-month periods there in my college/early 20s and have been back periodically since. (Helps to have family there!) For me, HK is all about the shopping (and eating). I don't mean high-end shopping, but just picking up things I can't get easily in the U.S. like Japanese makeup, Japanese toys for my DH, boutiquey clothes, obscure Asian DVDs, green tea Kit-Kit, Milo candy bars, etc. There are no real bargains but if you have a particular interest in items non-American it definitely would behoove you to do some research as to whether or not you can get them in HK.

Northwest now even have Easter sale:

http://www.nwa.com/features/wbcasia2....twd1a.wbcAsia

Thanks, Rkk. Unfortunately Easter will not work for me. But if you receive any advance information about November, please post! Many thanks for all of your help and thank you also to PegS!

Rkkwan: I just checked fares for November on Continental and they are more than $9,000 from EWR.
Any idea when they might offer those low priced holiday fares? Thanks again!

They come out around early October. They are for last-minute vacationers. They don't sell cheap tickets this far ahead.

Thank you, thank you!

Still thinking about another destination to combine with Hong Kong...some places in Yunnan perhaps..??
Or Burma....

I am bringing this up because I have managed to book tickets for next March and Hong Kong will be my final stop, afgter Pandaw Burma and after Shanghai.

What are the prospects for outdoor swimming in HK in mid- to late March? Is this considered high, medium; or low season?

I have not planned our final itinerary yet, but it is likely that I will have about 5 days or so in HK. Are there any updates on the hotel scene since I began this post?

Swimming pool for lap swimming will be a huge plus.

Weather in Hong Kong in March is generally not outdoor pool swimming weather. It is cool, damp and often foggy. See weatherbase.com for temps (you will see only the high 60s F for March), but which does not show how damp and foggy it can be in March. (Honestly, it is the worst month here weather-wise. I try to schedule vacations for that month to be out of Hong Kong. As I noted above in an earlier post, some hotels close their pool during the “winter” here (which includes March), so even if you had a pool at your hotel it may be under service in March. I think you had been looking at the Four Seasons which at least heat their pools, but you may not really want to be outside swimming in March in any event. An indoor pool would be useable, they are hard to find, esp. in lap length. Other than the ones already mentioned, the Landmark Mandarin has an indoor pool, a bit on the small side but OK for laps.

Cicerone, thanks for the bad news!!! Seriously, I appreciate all of the time you take to respond to me, and others, here on this forum.

I had no idea that the weather was generally so grim. Well we will have to make the best of it, as my friends will not likely take another Asian trip.

We are planning to take the train to HK from Shanghai and then spend some time in HK.

I will write to the Four Seasons and inquire about the pool situation. The Landmark Mandarin has an 18 meter indoor heated pool (almost 60 feet, which is very good for me) so perhaps I should focus on that. I stayed at the Mandarin Hotel on my first trip, in the early 80s--is that the same hotel? I remember the location as good--would you still agree with that?

Many thanks!

Whew! I just checked random dates at Mandarin Oriental for next March on the hotel's site:

Cheapest room is 620$US! (5200 HKD)

I know that there is a way around this---where can I find decent prices for this hotel?

Decent price = corporate rates. For the MO Hong Kong expect the rates to be around HKD 2,100. Pretty sure the pool is heated as well!

Hanuman: You scooped me, because I was just about to hand out the assignment. You don't think I will reserve without having one of my thermometer-wielding agents do the appropriate investigation, do you? And a brief look at your schedule tells me that you just may be the one to nab this plum assignment. Especially since Jack is reportedly tied up somewhere in a coma..

Ok..the next question: That isi an immense price difference!

How do I get corporate rates? Can I pretend to work for a corporation? Can a travel agent get these? (You can tell that I am a near novice when it comes to these kinds of hotels..)

Help!! Help!! I am drowning here!!

They are different hotels. Mandarin Oriental is the original one. Landmark MO is inside one of the two office towers at the Landmark, with entrance on Queen's Road Central. Very close to each other, but different hotels.

Thanks, Rkkwan.

Apparently both of these hotels have indoor pools. Can anyone give me info on the MO pool?
Their site says it is a "lap pool."

More important, how can I get the corporate rate?

Eks,

I normally ask my bankers to make the reservations for me at their corporate rates which they kindly do for their customers.

Hanuman you are a genius!

I will contact you regarding the new assignment.

Please try to remember the secret handshake this time around.