Kowloon or Hong Kong Island

[astonishedXpression]

This will be our first visit so do we stay on Hong Kong Island or in Kowloon, your recommendations of which & why would be appreciated.

As a general rule of thumb, I usually first determine what I want to see or experience, establish their locations and then decide - based on geographic clustering - the area most convenient from which to access them. There is a good distribution of sights and tastes on both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. My primary consideration in visiting Hong Kong was the famous skyline, which prompted me to opt for Kowloon as a base. Evening walks along Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and the Avenue of Stars definitely swayed us!
We really liked the area around the 1881 Heritage complex and found Salisbury YMCA excellent value with superb views towards the HK skyline.
Have also stayed at the Ritz-Carlton, which has an excellent subway connection in the basement to the airport. Checked in our bags for the flight at the station and went off to explore before flying out.
Another winner for me on the Kowloon side was the Temple Street Night Market - the food was delicious!
Hong Kong infrastructure is good and it was a breeze jumping on the ferry at Tsim Sha Tsui Pier for the journey over to the island.
Have a great time!

 

[oh_lol]

Used to live in HK, and since then I prefer to stay Island Side.

 

[yohy?!]

Has anyone on AFF experienced Le Meridien Cyberport?

I haven't stayed there but in several years of living in HK I never ventured to that part of the island aside from driving by, wouldn't recommend it for tourists. The area is more of a business park with MSFT and others headquartered there.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Mmm. I used to stay Island side till I got to know the place better. Now it's Kowloon for me.

But not TST, that's a bit Kitch. More flavour in Hung Hom, Mongkok, Sham Shui Po or similar.

MTR convenience is very handy on steamy days

Cheers skip

 

[JohnK]

Anyone have recent experiences using buses to/from Hong Kong airport and more specifically N29 from Hong Shin Garden?

I am staying in Kowloon East and have an 8:00am departure. I think I will struggle with the MTR and Airport Express and there are 3 departures with N29 from Hong Shin Garden at 3:50am, 4:20am and 4:50am that should make it in plenty of time.

This information is from Hong Kong International Airport - Your Regional Hub with Worldwide Connections and Gateway to China so assuming is current. I am there Saturday night so need the transfer Sunday morning.

Any advice welcomed.

 

[kamchatsky]

Why not stay at Regal HK Airport the night before? Much easier this way. That was what we did on my last trip before flight taking off at 7:25am.

 

[JohnK]

Why not stay at Regal HK Airport the night before? Much easier this way. That was what we did on my last trip before flight taking off at 7:25am.

Because I have a booking at Holiday Inn Express. Wasn't expecting to be flying so early as originally this was just an overnight stay flying QF127 in and QF128 back the next night.

Now it's a 7 day trip after hefty change fee paid.

 

[ermen]

This is the route... think it will be at least 90mins given it seems to be going around the block!

If i were you, i would rather take a taxi / Uber


CityBus & NWFB

 

[get me outta here]

Edit, I think i was thinking of the wrong part of Honkers.

Anyone have recent experiences using buses to/from Hong Kong airport and more specifically N29 from Hong Shin Garden?

I am staying in Kowloon East and have an 8:00am departure. I think I will struggle with the MTR and Airport Express and there are 3 departures with N29 from Hong Shin Garden at 3:50am, 4:20am and 4:50am that should make it in plenty of time.

This information is from Hong Kong International Airport - Your Regional Hub with Worldwide Connections and Gateway to China so assuming is current. I am there Saturday night so need the transfer Sunday morning.

Any advice welcomed.

 

[OATEK]

Anyone have recent experiences using buses to/from Hong Kong airport and more specifically N29 from Hong Shin Garden?

I am staying in Kowloon East and have an 8:00am departure. I think I will struggle with the MTR and Airport Express and there are 3 departures with N29 from Hong Shin Garden at 3:50am, 4:20am and 4:50am that should make it in plenty of time.

This information is from Hong Kong International Airport - Your Regional Hub with Worldwide Connections and Gateway to China so assuming is current. I am there Saturday night so need the transfer Sunday morning.

Any advice welcomed.

You do seem to have a penchant for making it hard for yourself JohnK. MTR/Airport Express is my preferred mode, and I just catch a cab from the hotel to Kowloon Station to begin the journey, checking in baggage there and then off you whisk to HKG.

 

[kamchatsky]

Because I have a booking at Holiday Inn Express. Wasn't expecting to be flying so early as originally this was just an overnight stay flying QF127 in and QF128 back the next night.

Now it's a 7 day trip after hefty change fee paid.

Can you reduce HIX stay by 1 night? The N29 does its milk run around and with such few buses at that time, it is certainly not the best time to travel long distances. Regal HK Airport is definitely much easier for your body especially there is an all weather footbridge linking the hotel to the airport. You would have to wake up so early on that day your rest of the day would be ruined ..... Or if Regal is too expensive, look at staying at Novotel Tung Chung ......

 

[JohnK]

This is the route... think it will be at least 90mins given it seems to be going around the block!

If i were you, i would rather take a taxi / Uber


CityBus & NWFB

If it's a 90 minute trip then that is suitable. Should get into airport ~6:00am at latest?

You do seem to have a penchant for making it hard for yourself JohnK. MTR/Airport Express is my preferred mode, and I just catch a cab from the hotel to Kowloon Station to begin the journey, checking in baggage there and then off you whisk to HKG.

All part of the challenge I like to set myself.

Can you reduce HIX stay by 1 night? The N29 does its milk run around and with such few buses at that time, it is certainly not the best time to travel long distances. Regal HK Airport is definitely much easier for your body especially there is an all weather footbridge linking the hotel to the airport. You would have to wake up so early on that day your rest of the day would be ruined ..... Or if Regal is too expensive, look at staying at Novotel Tung Chung ......

Only staying 1 night and if I didn't make a mistake booking back in May which I managed to change to this date then I wouldn't bother with a hotel and simply stay the night at the airport. Should be at hotel ~9:00pm and awake at ~2:30am and more than enough sleep.

 

[ermen]

If it's a 90 minute trip then that is suitable. Should get into airport ~6:00am at latest?

Yeah if you catch the 430am bus you should be fine... HK is a small place anyway. That bus really goes around the block though... won't have much traffic at that time.. but still!

 

[JohnK]

Am I able to use in town check-in tonight for CX flight tomorrow morning? Any pre requisites? Have Octopus card not return ticket.

Or can I check-in airport? Don't want to carry golf clubs and luggage to Kowloon East.

Thanks.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Am I able to use in town check-in tonight for CX flight tomorrow morning? Any pre requisites? Have Octopus card not return ticket.

Or can I check-in airport? Don't want to carry golf clubs and luggage to Kowloon East.

Thanks.

looks like you can use a kiosk at the airport and head to bag drop. Available up to 48 hours before departure (not that I'd be leaving my luggage at the airport for 48 hours...) https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_AU/about-us/contact-us/faqs/check-in/check-in-kiosk.html

 

[JohnK]

Excellent MEL_Traveller.

Departing at ~8:00am and bussing from Kowloon East early tomorrow morning and golf clubs keep insisting on going every trip.

Wish I knew where I put my Octopus card from June trip. Have to buy another.

 

[yohy?!]

Am I able to use in town check-in tonight for CX flight tomorrow morning? Any pre requisites? Have Octopus card not return ticket.

Or can I check-in airport? Don't want to carry golf clubs and luggage to Kowloon East.

Thanks.

Yes - octopus fine you must use the same card to enter ITCI and board the train

 

[JohnK]

Yes - octopus fine you must use the same card to enter ITCI and board the train

Have to go same way tomorrow? I want use bus from Hong Shing Garden at 3:50am but not with luggage. Perhaps kiosk check-in tonight is best option.

 

[yohy?!]

Have to go same way tomorrow? I want use bus from Hong Shing Garden at 3:50am but not with luggage. Perhaps kiosk chevk-in tonight is best option.

No you don't have to but you still pay the train fare even if take the bus (deducts from octopus when you enter ITCI)

 

[yohy?!]

I used to always take a taxi to tsing Yi then keep the receipt for a discounted airport express ticket (can't check in obviously but does avoid luggage via mtr) - not sure if they still offer this

EDIT - this offer is still available and applies to ether Kowloon or tsing Yi stations where is taxi is used http://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/tickets/ael_taxi.html