Hong kong, what to do, where to stay

[Sprucegoose]

My old favorite is the intercontinal on Sailsbury Rd Kowloon, near the star ferry. It was the old Regent, grand old dame!So many great hotels in honkers!

 

[Batesy]

Try the harbour grand on the island side. Get a club room. Its a great hotel in a location thats convenient to the MTR subway. Club rooms are great and the club access provides breakfast, all day food & drinks plus coughtails after 5 plus outstanding service from dedicated club floor staff, free wi-fi plus computers in the club. Amazing views of Victoria Harbour. Its not in the heart of HKG but only a very short MTR trip. Get an octopus card. I stayed 5 nights before Christmas with Mrs Batesy and made a great choice based on price and Tripadvisor reviews. Breakfast was good and there is a great range of restaurants both in the hotel & nearby. Plenty to do in HKG, try a day at the races if you like the nags.

 

[zig]

Just reading this thread has me itching to get back to HK, I love the place and I'm sure you will have a great time.

You have been given a lot of great advice already, so I won't repeat things, however my preference in the eternal debate of HK Island vs Kowloon is,,,,, Kowloon.

IC Hong Kong with a Harbour View room and Club facilities is hard to beat. I have also stayed at the Langham, in a convenient location, although the club has no views at all, infact no windows to look out. Langham Place up in Mong Kong is also very nice, but you have to be prepared to deal with the hustle and bustle on street level - whilst I didn't mind it, I know a lot of people don't find it appealing. If the budget allows it and Kowloon is your preference I would opt for the IC.

 

[dk4]

Puttin' on the Ritz

Another vote for the brand new Ritz-Carlton (right above the airport line's Kowloon station).

If you don' stay you should try a feed...

You may need a concierge service's assistance to book for a meal if you don't have local connections.

The best value option is high tea each day from 3pm-5pm.

 

[zig]

Great pics dk4. This place hadn't quite opened when I was last in HK, but I will certainly check it out when I'm next there, it looks very nice.

 

[Jasecoop]

Thanks everyone, awesome feedback. I'll have to spend a few hours getting my head around it and will let you know where we land

 

[cosi]

Would defintely recommend you take a "club room" at any of the hotels mentioned where you will enjoy a very high standard of personalised customer service and free eveening drinks and canapes.

For dining options, on my last trip to HK the wonderful staff at the Hyatt Regency club floor introduced me to this excellent web site used by the locals:

Hong Kong Restaurants Guide HK Restaurant - OpenRice in English

Enjoy the experience & the wonderdul J service on CX.

 

[Snowmoo]

I can't believe no one has said it yet! Or maybe I missed a post mentioning it.

Forget Nathan Road for shopping, take a day trip into China to Shenzen. It's where the locals go to shop. We went and the place is like MBK in Bangkok. Full of copied goods and I love my Brietling watch. The guy even offers a return service if it ever breaks down.

We went with a host who got us through customs at the Chinese border and knows the in's and out's of shopping in Shenzen. PM me if you want her contact details. Her husband is a pilot with Cathay so you can also talk aviation with her as well. She is well worth the value of having a dedicated personal shopper.

 

[vitagen]

I agree with Shenzhen!

I stayed at the Royal Plaza, adjoining the Mongkok East station, so it was really easy to commute to Shenzhen, just one train straight to Lo Wu. The 5 storey shopping complex (Luohu Commerical Centre/City) is just outside the train station on China's side.

If you are buying lots of stuff I suggest you stay at the Shangri La.

 

[kamchatsky]

I agree with Shenzhen!

I stayed at the Royal Plaza, adjoining the Mongkok East station, so it was really easy to commute to Shenzhen, just one train straight to Lo Wu. The 5 storey shopping complex (Luohu Commerical Centre/City) is just outside the train station on China's side.

If you are buying lots of stuff I suggest you stay at the Shangri La.

Not sure about Shenzhen, especially if you don't like being hackled. A lot of people will hassle and follow you around, and I don't find their stuff that cheap, especially with Remenbi going much higher than HKD these days, and of course you actually need to pay and take time to get Chinese Visa.


If you want really cheap stuff then go to Guangzhou. But of course it is a bit too far from HKG

 

[MAX_1]

In Shenzhen you will find a Theme Park - Window of the World.

YouTube - ‪Shenzhen Window of the World‬‏

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_of_the_World

I am taking the family to HK in Sept and will spend 3 days at Shangrila Hotel Shenzhen for the girls to shop. While they are shopping I will take the grandchildren to Window of the World .

Also in HK we will visit Disneyland.

 

[serfty]

...
Since you are flying Cathay, you can buy yourself the Airport Express ticket inflight and save HKD$20 per ticket if you are buying the ticket to central (HK Station).

Of course you can do this with a "Two Person" ticket available from the Airport Express booths at the airport.

(MTR > Airport Express Services > Latest Promotions > 4-person Group Ticket from $150)

Being inbound on CX, brings the "Yum Sing" discounts into play. All you need is your CX BP's:

Discounted Airfares, Holiday Packages, Promotions - Cathay Pacific US

 

[jukebox333]

Haven't seen this mentioned in this thread, but rather than use ATM's with the fee that Aussie banks charge, if you don't have an issue carrying cash, go to the Berlin Company Exchange in downtown Central to exchange your AUD for HKD.

They have a website posting rates here; Even with directions, the building is a little hard to find, but all legit and no hassle once you are there.

I've never seen such a small spread before! I exchanged a couple of thousand AUD here in May and it went a long way - just kept the bulk in my hotel room safe and carried what I was comfortable with.

 

[Neverlate]

It depends on your budget, I believe the best value is Langham Place Mongkok. I have stayed several times now, book a club room if budget allows, you won't regret it.Cheers

 

[Zippy7]

Haven't seen this mentioned in this thread, but rather than use ATM's with the fee that Aussie banks charge, if you don't have an issue carrying cash, go to the Berlin Company Exchange in downtown Central to exchange your AUD for HKD.

They have a website posting rates here; Even with directions, the building is a little hard to find, but all legit and no hassle once you are there.

I've never seen such a small spread before! I exchanged a couple of thousand AUD here in May and it went a long way - just kept the bulk in my hotel room safe and carried what I was comfortable with.

Seems you're a bit out of date with that link

They've changed their website - the new one can be found at www.bcel1985.blogspot.com

Yes, they are fantastic. Just make sure you avoid lunchtime and you should be fine.

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

Reading this thread, there seems to be some impeccable taste in hotels, but way above my holiday price level.

Has no-one any mid priced suggestions?

 

[tuapekastar]

Reading this thread, there seems to be some impeccable taste in hotels, but way above my holiday price level.

Has no-one any mid priced suggestions?

Plenty I'd imagine but the OP did specify 5-star.

So at the risk of going OT my only stay longer than 1 night in HK was at the Metropark Causeway Bay a few years back. It had 'long-stay' specials for 7 nights, 14 nights etc. (we had a 7-nighter in a suite) but was quite reasonably priced even without the long-stay rates, and was a pleasant and reasonably located property to stay at.

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

Plenty I'd imagine but the OP did specify 5-star.

Ah, apologies, I merely thought it was for a special occasion and hadn't noticed the 5* criterion.

 

[NM]

Reading this thread, there seems to be some impeccable taste in hotels, but way above my holiday price level.

Has no-one any mid priced suggestions?

Well I am typing this from the breakfast restaurant at the Holiday Inn Express at Causeway Bay. I am paying between HK$930-1300 (rate varies by day depending on demand) which includes Internet and choice of 6 set breakfast selections. I am on a AAA rate which is fully flexible with no deposit needed and about 10% less than "best available" rate.

Also Excelsior and Park Lane can be found at reasonable rates.

 

[Alanslegal]

I've returned to the W Hong Kong and will be here till Monday night.

I think my rate is around 1700 + tax per night (however this is a Best Rate Guarantee rate) though the rooms usually hover from 2600+

Located on top of Kowloon Airport Express Station (ease to get to/from HKG) and Elements Shopping Mall (restaurants, cafe, food court and many branded shops). Also the subway is only a stop into Hong Kong Island, or a free W shuttle to TST or taxi's are relatively cheap anyway.

The W is definitely a winner for style and cool .... and the service is there to match. Stay here and have your senses tickled.