My daughter has a weeks holiday for the last week in August and has asked to go to Hong Kong. Her dad and I visited there in late December and loved it, but only did the Essential stopover package on the way to Australia. The only thing we did on our own was get the outlying island ferry to Lamma, where we walked around and had lunch.

I have used my ICH points (platinum member) points for the hotels and we are staying 3 nights in Express Holiday Inn (Causeway Bay), 1 night in Holiday Inn (Kowloon) and 1 night (last night and my birthday) in Intercontinental. I could change my hotel booking to stay 4 nights at the Holiday Inn, and still keep the last night at the Intercontinental (which I hope will be a real treat) but I thought splitting our time between the Island and Kowloon would be easier for transport, and the EHI includes breakfast but the Holiday Inn does not. Advice on this choice please?

My daughter is 23 and I am in my 50's. We know it will be hot and humid, pottentially rainy with the risk fo typhoon's, but that aside. We would love some recommendations of cultural things to see or do, the best way of travelling around, markets to see and how to get to them etc. Also, how to get to Causeway Bay from the airport and back to the airport from the Intercontinental.

Hi Kasyorks,

Our fellow Fodorite Cicerone has posted superb and detailed info an things to do/see in HK, and I recommend you search for her posts.

One suggestion that I'd make is to move only once -- stay at the HI Express in Causeway Bay and then move to the IC. There's nothing special about the HI in Kowloon, and it's ultra-simple and quick to get to that neighborhood from Causeway Bay (via subway) if you wanted to visit.

Here is the most important thing: you <i>must</i> get a harbour-view room at the IC. Without the h-v, you are merely staying at an excellent hotel. With a h-v room, you'll have a room that you will remember all your life. On a reward night, the IC will not give you a h-v room. However, if you e-mail the hotel in advance, you should be able to arrange for an h-v room (ask for a comtemporary deluxe room is best; contemporary superior is very good but smaller) by paying HK$1000. Yes, I know, but <b>it is worth it</b>.

For 3 people getting to/from the airport, a taxi is probably the most sensible transport.

If I were you, I wouldn't bother moving to the HI Golden Mile for that single night. Just stay at the Express for 4 nights.

To get from airport to the Express, three main ways I'll recommend. Easiest is just take a taxi. About HK$300-350, which is US$40-45.

Or take the Airport Express train to Hong Kong (Group ticket for 2 - HK$160), then transfer to a taxi (fare depends on traffic, but no more than HK$80).

To do it cheaply, you can take the Cityflyer airport bus A11. The closest bus stop is about 400 yards from the Express (with one main roadway and 3 small side streets to cross. Fare is HK$40 each.

From the Intercontinental to the airport, same three modes of transport. Taxi, about HK$250-300; Airport Express train (there is a free shuttle from the Renaissance Kowloon Hotel that is adjacent to the IC to the Kowloon AE station; or taxi to the station). Or Cityflyer A21 bus, which stops in front of the Renaissance.

Thanks Rizzutto and rkkwan for useful tips. I have taken your advice Rizzutto and emailed the IC and for the HK$1000s have an upgrade to the H V room (for a further HK$900s I have also been offered Club Intercontinental (breakfast, snacks, private rooms, business services, cocktails etc). As it will be my birthday I think it will be a real treat. We are booking treatments in the Spa at the IC as well. The bus info is great as there is only my daughter and myself this trip, my o/h is sadly at work!

If you decide to take the bus, here's the page for the Cityflyer A11:

https://www.nwstbus.com.hk/routes/ro...pe=D&company=5

Get off at Stop #13, Wan Chai Fire Station, that's just past the Canal St overpass. [You can see the picture of the bus stop from the above link.] Walk back a few yards, cross Hennessy Road, and continue walking south on Canal St E. Right after you walk past Time Square, it'll be Sharp St E where the Express is located.

Excellent work, Kasyorks. The club facilities at the IC are very pleasant, indeed. The breakfast spread is first-rate (amazing fresh fruits and berries, great breads, and terrific dim sum, in an atmosphere that's far calmer and more pleasant than in the restaurant. The late afternoon appetizers/drinks are the real jewel: it's enough for dinner if you've had a decent lunch.

When you arrive at HK, you can take the airport train and transit the MTR to Causeway Bay. You can also take MTR from Intercontinental to the Airport. Details about going back to the airport can be found at http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/interco...tions/hongkong.

You can also find loads of information about Hong Kong at www.discoverhongkong.com (the offical tourist website of Hong Kong Tourism Board).

Would you mind doing a survey for us about this website? The survey is short and just take a few minutes of your time. Please go to Please go to http://www.online-survey.net/survey-4117 to complete the survey.

Thanks in advance.

Airport Express train/MTR to Causeway Bay is a bad idea. It either involves the long walking connection between the AE Hong Kong station and the MTR Central station; or it involves switching trains at Tsing Yi, Kwai Fong, and again at Admiralty.

Similar situation back from the IC.

Which is why the Airport Express provide free shuttles from its stations to many hotels. AE/MTR connection is simply not convenient for most hotels.

If MLIM6201 works for the Hong Kong Tourism Board, then I am surprised he/she would give that advice.

Hi, My husband and I were in HK in May and going back this friday for 6 days. We have both been to HK many times. In May we stayed at the IC and decided to go for the cheaper non-view room and upgrade to the lounge. We ended up having a problem with our room and IC upgraded us to a view room. WOW, I forgot how wonderful that view is! So this time we just decided to spend the money and get the view. It is SO worth it!
The lounge was just wonderful! Breakfast-look at the menu- the corned beef hash was to die for and well worth the wait. Tea in the afternoon was fanastic. Usually we always go to the Pennisula for high tea at least once- which we will do this trip, just because it is special. Drinks at night- give me great champagne any day! In fact at least once or twice we didn't even go out to dinner we were so full, or was that we couldn't walk any where! At 25.00 per glass at a bar the lounge was well worth the price. The staff were all always so nice and friendly.
We always have a car pick us up and take us back to the airport- yes, it is expensive but I don't want to be lugging my luggage on and trains, subways, buses and have to figure out how to get here or there. Especially if its hot.

The IC was having a special that is still going on if your staying at the hotel- 15% off at the restaurants. We always have Peking duck- usually at Spring Deer but our last full day we asked at the lounge if it was possible to get the duck that night (usually have to order 24hrs in advance). They called us and said no problem. It was just wonderful! Although the staff I think thought we were crazy having a duck for just 2 people. We ate every bit! The staff was so nice- Spring Deer they can be kinda rude. I have heard that their Chinese food is some of the best in HK- so we plan on eating there twice this time. We also, ate at Spoon, which has gotten many fantasic reviews. Our friend had told us he thought it was very pretentious. We went anyway and the staff was great, friendly not pretentious at all. My husband had the set dinner with wine pairings. He wants to go back and eat there again.
Shopping- I liked the ladies market best. The night market was ok. Bargain...
In the Pennisula hotel I found a great jewelry store Oriental Arts Jewelry- manager Annie Chor. I bought a number of pieces all very resonable. At least at the Pennisula you know what your getting. The shopping mall attached to the IC has a shop called Kenki on the basement floor. Had great Chinese silk jackets very reasonable.
There is an outlet mall near the airport. Very easy to get to by train, you do have to change but it was just walking across and getting on the train next to it. It goes to the end of the line get off and its right there. Very large, nice, good prices.
It was SO hot when we were there. I am use to hot weather as I live on Guam but walking and walking, dripping sweat and breathing smog was not fun. Even if your underground sometimes getting to the station you need could take you 20 min. In the end we took a lot of taxi's and they were not expensive at all.
Usually we rarely eat at the hotel restaurants when we travel but these were so highly rated we thought we would try them. I do lots of research before we go on a trip trying to find shopping, resaurants, best restaurants.
HK is not cheap and probably never will be so enjoy.
Its discouraging seeing people on forums complain about how expensive things are.
I will update when we return.