Parsilady

My husband and I (wife 60, husband 58) are spending 4 nights in HK. We are stopping in HK on our way to Mumbai, India from the U.S. Although we aren’t total novices at travel, this is our first trip to HK.

I have been reading the boards and valuable suggestions from everyone. Cicerone thanks for all the detailed posts.

We arrive in HK on Monday May 4, at 5:25 a.m. After a 36+ hour flight from LAX, we would welcome your input for a not so hectic 1st day itinerary. Of course any other suggestions for the next 3 days will be welcome. Should we take some tours, eg Hong Kong Park, Victoria Peak, Stanley Market, Ocean Park, Aberdeen. We also wanted to go to Lantau.

Our booking is at:
THE MIRA HONG KONG HOTEL (Formerly ' Hotel Miramar Hong Kong')
118-130 Nathan Road,
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: 852-23681112

What’s everyone’s opinion on this hotel. Heard there was constuction going on, but not sure to what extent. Is the location ok, and any ideas about the rooms--pretty decent? Anyone aware of that? We got a good rate through Priceline ($115 US), and were told it’s a 5 Star hotel, within easy reach of the MTR and the ferry. Getting quite nervous as we won’t mind changing the Hotel, if it’s not a good choice. Thanks everyone for any and all help and suggestions. Looking forward to reading the responses.

rkkwan

Don't know how good it is, but it went through a major renovations from the Miramar, so interior should be all new. I don't think you should be expecting Peninsula or Four Seasons level, despite PL calling it 5*. But the price is good.

MTR's TST station is close by - its super-crowded entrance is 1.5 blocks away. Star Ferry is about a 15-minute walk because of the crowded sidewalks. [To get to the Star Ferry quickly, walk along Haiphong Road on the south side of Kowloon Park to Canton Road; instead of walking down Nathan Road.] Or jump on one of the buses for 3 stops to the Star Ferry. You'll get a #2, #6, #7 bus that come that way every minute or 2.

BTW, how come it takes 36+ hours to get from LAX to HKG? If you're taking Cathay Pacific's non-stop, it's about 14.5 hours.

Parsilady

Thanks rkkwan, for the the transportation info near the hotel. That will help. You are right, the flight is 14.5 hrs. but I added the day that we'll miss when you cross the International Date Line. Do you know of any good tour operators for 1/2 day or day tours? Thank you.

Kathie

You really don't need a tour in Hong Kong. Transport is easy and almost everyone speak English. Just choose the palces tou want to go and do it.

Kathie

PLease excuse my garbled typing... I hit post too soon.

By the way, you regain the "lost" day on your return, arriving in LA before you left Hong Kong. So how long would you consider that flight to be?

rkkwan

No tours needed or recommended in Hong Kong.

Well, another Fodorite MSheinberg went to HK recently. I kind of recommended "The Land Between Tour" which visit a taoist monastery, some villages and the New Territories area north of Kowloon. Only reason I recommend it is that doing it yourself with public transportation is kind of a hassle for those places.

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/...d-between.html

MSheinberg mentioned it in his trip report, and he's not that impressed with the guide. And you can see that they enjoyed going all the places in HK by themselves:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...t-204483-3.cfm

filmwill

Kathie, that would be a -4 hr. flight.

I wish I could take those more often...especially when in coach!

rkkwan

Getting OT, but some flights in the Pacific will arrive the day before you depart. For example, CO's GUM-HNL departs 6:10a and arrives 5:35p-1. So, you can celebrate New Year at GUM, take the 7-hour flight next morning to HNL, arrive and then go to another New Year's Eve party.

As for going LAX-HKG, if you don't like a particular day in life (birthday, wedding anniversary, etc), then you should take the late night departure from LAX and then arrive HKG the morning+2. You can basically "skip" that unhappy day.

PeterN_H

I've stayed at the hotel since its renovation, and it's modern, efficient, attractive, comfortable, if a little self-consciously trendy and (forgive me) perhaps a little young for you, not that the noise from the restaurant-bar in the lobby will reach your room.

There was construction still going on when I was there (September 2008) which made for a bit of distant thudding and banging, so if that is still continuing (as they renovate the remaining floors) don't plan for a lie-in. But then that probably isn't what you're going to Hong Kong for anyway.

Peter N-H