Hong Kong overnight layover
 

We have a layover in Hong Kong starting at 3:00 pm on February 24; our plane to the states leaves at 11:00 a.m. on Feb 25. We'd like to get at least a taste of Hong Kong. Is there a neighborhood that would be fun to explore in the evening? Recommended hotel and restaurant in that area? It's such a short time, but that's what our frequent flyer miles got us.

I would choose either TST (on the Kowloon side) or Central (on the Hong Kong Island side). What is your budget for a hotel?

If you are looking to stay somewhere that is moderately priced, I'd recommend the Salisbury YMCA. It's like a US Holiday Inn, and has some rooms with Harbor Views. If you are interested, reserve immediately. This place is always full! It is located in TST, so lots of shops and restaurants, interesting places to walk.

Unfortunately the Salisbury is closed for renovations. Yes--moderately priced hotel is what we're looking for.

Moderately priced is hard to find in Hong Kong. Do you have any hotel points you can use?

And if you tell us your per night budget, someone might have a recommendation.

We liked the JW Marriott. It's adjacent to a lovely park area that leads to the cable car area for Victoria Peak. If it's a clear night, it might be fun to head to the peak.

I don't think anyone would call the JW moderately priced. It is a lovely location right at Hong Kong Park.

Yes, Kathie, I know I was stretching the "moderate" terminology a bit on JW. However, that area is quite nice, and there are several hotels there. Genoise, what is your budget? Do you have any hotel points?

I don't have any hotel points. I am hoping to spend no more than $150. We have so little time in Hong Kong that it seems crazy to spend a lot of money on a hotel.

The "usual suspects" are all more than double your price for that date, and places like the JW Marriott are three times your budget or more. I don't have the time to search right now, but use one of the booking engines to see if you can find anything for that price for your date. Then you can come back and ask if anyone has stayed there.

Good luck.

Genoise, may I suggest the following:

1. Look at hotels in the Rough Guide. They do a great job of going across the price spectrum, and I have found their recommendations to be quite good.

2. Try posting on ThornTree (Lonely Planet). The posters there are younger, and more rugged. They may have a good suggestion for you.

3. Try AirBNB. My son has started using it for travel, and he was thrilled with his rentals in Georgia and Armenia.

Also, are you flying on a One World award on Cathay Pacific through LAX? If so, there are three flights a day, and you may be able to change to the HKG to LAX evening flight at the last minute, if you want to go straight home. Last year, when I was returning from Malaysia, I had an 11 hour layover scheduled in Hong Kong. I asked my son to keep checking availability for me, and 72 hours before departure, he was able to change my flight, with no charge.

I stayed at the Sheraton in TST but if returning, would choose for Central across the water. Someone on Fodors swears by the Butterfly hotels. There are several in that chain, much closer to your price range, on the HK Island side of the harbour.

However,IF it were me, with an overnight stopover, I'd stay at a proper airport hotel. Search for hotels at HK airport.The Regal and the Marriott pop up, the first is $131, the next $164 on hotels.com. you'll get off the flight, check in, then can easily get transport into HK, and back in the evening. Since your flight out is at 11:00 am, being essentially at the airport already would save early morning stress, especially as you;;have to be at the airport well before your 11:00 departure

Thank you all. Yes--I think I will stay in an airport hotel, after all. So then the question is what is best to see (and eat!)in the strange time frame we have?

By the way, I've already tried getting a later flight to the states, but my American Airlines miles only allow me a 24 hour layover and there aren't any other flights that work. Plus I live in Chicago and the flight from Hong Kong is direct to Chicago which I prefer.