lcuy

I haven't been to Hong Kong in 25 years, so this question is pretty basic....

It looks like we may have to fly home from Thailand via Hong Kong. Since my DH and kids have never been there, we were debating the idea of actually spending one or two nights there instead of just a few hours in the airport.

What do you think? Is it be fairly simple to go from the airport to a hotel with the idea we'll mostly just do some wandering and eating to get an unexpected taste of HK?

If we do, in which area should I be looking to stay, and how much time should I allot for actual transportation between there and the airport? This will be Jan 3 and 4, it the holiday time makes any difference.

I can do more research on specific hotels, etc., later but I have to make a fairly quick decision as to the air tickets. I'm hoping some of you regulars (or even you irregulars) can give me some fast imput!

Thanks,
Lucy

Kathie

lcuy, I'd do it! There is so much to do and see, and everything is so close, you can easily take a couple of days in Hong Kong and enjoy it.

My preference is to stay on the Kowloon side, near the Star Ferry. Everything is so convenient from there. Transport in Hong Kong is very easy, cheap and efficient.

Enjoy!

dperry

definately! we've been to hk several times, so rather than plan a week there when travelling, we 'overnight ' for two nights on our way back home. everytime i visit, it changes so much!

marya_

Hi, Lucy -- we met in Boston last month. Thanks again for the lovely coffee that you brought to all of us.

I agree with Kathie. Definitely go for it. Definitely. Hong Kong is perfectly suited to what you propose.

The Airport Express train link from the airport out on Lantau to Kowloon (about 20 minutes), then Hong Kong Island (about 4 more minutes), is very good. You can pay by credit card if you like and watch out for a discount on a group ticket. At the train station, you can then board a bus to many major hotels for no extra charge. Or you can hop in a cab. Typically this last part of the trip by bus or cab is much slower going than the efficient train service though.

Someone else can comment on the likely amount of congestion in early January since I don't know.

We like staying in Kowloon in TST mostly because the views of the HK skyline are sensational.

Good luck with your decision.

j_4tay

Agree with others. HK is very nice place to visit. There are many restaurants and things to see in HK. If you can stay longer than 2 nights, do it. You won't regret it.

My preference also in the Kowloon side. Eaton and Miramar are two good and convenient hotels.

Day 1.
- Have Dim Sum in the morning
- Take the bus to the ferry terminal
- Walk around the mall
- Take the ferry over to HK Island
- Take the Peak Tram up to the Peak
- Have lunch, enjoy the view, and take many pictures
- Take Tram down and walk around until 7pm
- Either have dinner there or take MTR over to Kowloon side for dinner.
- After dinner, walk around the Temple st.

Day 2
- Take Skyrail to see the big Buddha
http://www.np360.com.hk/html/eng/front/index.asp
- Come back to Kowloon for dinner
- Walk the ladies market
- Have some HK dessert

If you time, read rkkwan's hk/macau trip report.
http://fodors.com/forums/pgMessages....Text=hong+kong

hawaiiantraveler

So you haven't been there since you were a child.....alot has changed.

It's a very expensive city for a hotel room. I would want to stay on the Kowloon side. Linda and I have stayed at the Kowloon Shangri La and will be staying in the Sheraton next April but both are pricey. Here are a couple of boutique places we were looking at

http://digbig.com/4nnts

http://www.jiahongkong.com/

transportation from the airport is simple and easy to Kowloon, we hired a driver but there are taxis, buses and the train which are all faily cheap...see transportion

http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/index.html


airtickets at

http://www.kayak.com/

sqeeze a couple of more days in there, HK is well worth the time!

Aloha!

hawaiiantraveler

"transportion" is hawaiian for to and from the airport

kuranosuke

lucy, i was going to post this in my mini trip report later, but since you posted this thread, i decided to post the hk portion now.

i first visited hk in the mid 60s and found it facinating. i love hk. very exciting, lots of good food, entertainment, and cosmopolitan.

i've been back to hk numerous times, the last one being ten years ago. each time i've visited hk, i keep saying to myself how crowded it is, and how it can't get any more crowded, but each time i go there, i'm proven wrong.

my trip a couple of weeks ago after a ten year absence was an eye opener. i found hk to be rather expensive, and most of all, the air quality is very very bad. i've not seen this mentioned here on the asia board. the air quality is much more severe than la.

during my stay, there were several conventions/conferences, etc. that put a premium on hotel rooms. as others have posted here, oct. is a very busy month in hk.

thanks to cicerone, rkkwan, and others, i had pages of things to see, where and what to eat, but never went to any of them. i don't know where my three and a half days went. oh yes, i know i wasted a day going to macau and losing 100hk at wynns. lots of construction in macau. if you only have two days in hk, i would skip it.

sorry if i offended anyone about the air pollution, but as my good friend, who is a diamond wholesaler there told me, "this is the consequence of china being the factory to the world".

i rec you stay in kowloon in tst. the taxi from the airport to tst cost me $27us and took about 40 min.

ht, i hope you didn't listen to me last week. lol.

still, an exciting city. go and enjoy.

Kathie

kuranosuke, is the bad air in HKG a seasonal issue? I was last in Hong Kong 2 years ago in April, and the air was ok. It was a bit foggy, so the view from the Peak was a bit misty, but the air was certainly not LA quality... I know China in general has had a huge increase in air pollution.

kuranosuke

kathie; i was there for nearly four days this oct. and everyday, it was very bad. my friends told me that it partially clears up when there is a 2-3 day holiday in china when the factories stop operating.

i hope its a seasonal issue, and perhaps it is, as i'm the only one that has mentioned it here on the asia board.

rkkwan will be having his non gtg soon, and perhaps he can provide us with an up to date report.

kaneda

In your place, I would certainly spend a few days in Hong Kong (staying on Kowloon). There is a great Ocean World park there, a new Disneyland, a Science Museum, a tram ride to the top of Victoria Peak, go visit an island, even Macau, lots of markets and shops with great prices (Aberdeen Harbour and Stanley Market are forgettable).

BettyInToronto

I agree with Kuranosuke. I was in HK from Sept 28-Oct 8 and was amazed at how bad the air quality was. My previous visits were in 1993, 1997, 2001 and 2004 and I don't remember the bad air at all.

I had heard about this on the HK news as well as some forums on the internet and was kind of surprised but they were right on and it was very noticable.

I too am about to post a trip report when I get a chance. I posted my 12-day China tour trip report already but haven't had time to complete the one for HK. Maybe today.

W9London

I'm also in favour of staying in HK. Don't know how old your children are, but Star Ferry is a fantastic value for money as a fun ride. Also my young kids liked the zoo with tropical birds etc. For food, aside from the obvious dim sum, my favourite is a dessert parlor called Hui Lau Shan (incredible smoothies, mango jellys, though not a big fan of herbal or turtle jellies). It's a chain with stores all around. Also loved bubble teas (with brown-ish tapioca pearls) at various taiwan tea chains.

shellio

Icuy, we're doing the same thing on the same dates, stopping in HK January 2-4 on the way back to SFO from Vietnam. When I realized there would be a minimal cost to layover in HK, we jumped at the opportunity. Like you, we haven't vacationed in HK in decades, although I was there on business more recently for just a few days.

We decided to stay at the Intercontinental on Kowloon side to get the fabulous view. It's so close to the Star Ferry that it feels very convenient and easy to get to Hong Kong, and the ferry itself is great. I've taken the train from the airport and definitely recommend it...very quick and easy. I think your family will love the taste of HK they'll get in just a couple of days.

lcuy

Thank you everyone! I am hoping to book the tickets today, and Hong kong sounds like it will be a part of it!

Yes, I was but a child the last time ! Arrived about 5 months into my RTW trip- most recently from Greece, Jordan, and Bangkok (in the old sleepy days), so Hong Kong seemed just wild! The new territories were all farms, a train ride to Shenzhen (sp?) was a visit back in time, and the "Communists" were still something to be feared. We stayed at the Chunking Mansions, which tells you a lot about our budget and style on that adventure! (that and the fact that we thought Korean Air was a luxury method of "transportion".

Thanks again. Once I get these tickets purchased, I'll be able to get into the details!

PS- Ken and HT: which one of you referred me to Ohana doggy daycare? They asked me, and I couldn't remember which DOG referred us. I guess you'll get a thank you gift??? Our Charlie ((&amp) will be staying there for the first time over Thanksgiving.

kuranosuke

lucy, it was i. don't forget to tie a big ribbon on your dogs tail so you can see him on the internet having a good time with his new friends.

i think they will be having a big texas hold em tournament over thanksgiving, with lots of beer. lol.

paopei, dw dog, had a great time there, but of course, he was very happy to see mommy.

enjoy hong kong.

rkkwan

I am typing from Macau right now. The air quality in the whole Pearl Delta region is indeed very bad, and it's somewhat seasonal for Hong Kong. It's worse in the winter time when wind blows from the NW. It's usually a little better in the summer.

Last week I flew out of Shenzhen (SZX) on a clear morning. The air quality was so bad that when we were lining up for take off, I couldn't see the end of the runway.

This morning, I spent some time taking pictures in Central, and then took the ferry to Macau. The smog wasn't too bad, and I got some pretty nice shots.

lcuy

HI rkwan! Do you have a favorite dim dum place in Hong Kong? Or other favorite other restaurant?

We will be staying at the Salsbury YMCA, so someplace relatively easy to reach by subway, cab or ferry?

shandy

lcuy, if you haven't booked one of the rooms at the Salisbury with a view do make sure you do so. It is well worth the extra money. We all absolutely loved it. We were there just before Christmas 2 years ago and view of the Kowloon side was spectacular. Many of the skyscrapers had special Christmas themed light pictures which decorated their buildings and, if you were to tired to go out again, you get to see the nightly laser show from your room.

lcuy

I booked the harbor view rooms- figured for the price it was well worth the upgrade!