Kowloon or Hong Kong?

[Ansett]

Hi all taking Mrs Ansett in 2 weeks for a long weekend and cant decide whether to stay in Hong Kong or Kowloon and would like peoples opinions.

I would like to take her to the peak and also some shopping and a day cruise on the Harbour.

A further consideration is hotel budget for 3 nights of around $250 per night.

What can you recommend?

Many thanks in advance,

 

[cmon0005]

Kowloon is personally my favourite, however it is generally more expensive than the hong kong side.

Kowloon is a bit more tourist friendly and cleaner in my opinion. Hong Kong is only a short metro or ferry ride anyway, so you can explore that side during the day.
Kowloon hotel is in a great location and is cheaper than the other hotels around but rooms are very small, I usually stay at the sheraton. Enjoy.

 

[Limewood]

Can recommend the Cordis club floor in Kowloon (formerly the Langham), good size rooms for HK, floor 33 I think) fast check in/out and right into the middle of the shopping if Mrs Ansett likes that kind of thing.

We paid around AUD$350 a night stayed 6 April 2016, open bar 24/7 , inc breakfast and (limited) dinner, recon once extra's taken off was about $150 night.

 

[harvyk]

I typically stay in Kowloon, I tend to try and find somewhere near to Nathan Road, somewhere relatively close to either Tsim Sha Tsui station or Jordan Station.
From there MTR's will take you across the harbour within a few minutes.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

lol. This is like asking 'Sydney or Melbourne?' It depends whether you are practical (Kowloon) or one of those who insist they will 'never leave the island'. Personally I prefer the island - Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, peak, Stanley Markets, ding ding. But there's no right or wrong answer.

 

[andyhui01]

Hong Kong if you want to see the Hong Kong on Tourism Ads, see the newest and nicest shopping malls, great restaurants and pubs. It is the "nicer and wealthier" part of the city

Kowloon if you want to experience what most of the population live in, eat street food or local cuisine, shop in random stores and night market.

It doesn't really matter much as it is a 20min ferry or 5-10 Minute MTR ride to cross the harbour. There is less of a divide now, you still get very nice malls in Kowloon but you still feel a difference walking on the street.

 

[docjames]

Hong Kong if you want to see the Hong Kong on Tourism Ads, see the newest and nicest shopping malls, great restaurants and pubs. It is the "nicer and wealthier" part of the city

Kowloon if you want to experience what most of the population live in, eat street food or local cuisine, shop in random stores and night market.

It doesn't really matter much as it is a 20min ferry or 5-10 Minute MTR ride to cross the harbour. There is less of a divide now, you still get very nice malls in Kowloon but you still feel a difference walking on the street.

This.

I prefer the "less manicured" Kowloon, but as pointed out, 20 mins and you're on the other side (less by MTR but the ferry is fun too).

 

[yohy?!]

throwing a bit of variety in the mix but you may want to consider the New Territories - I've been staying at the Courtyard by Marriott Sha Tin.

It is is further out but has a lot going for it. It's hard to find anywhere in HK now where you can get take a breather from the crowds and noise.

I find Kowloon (and particularly Mong Kok) very crowded and polluted these days - now that I've moved back I won't visit them without an N95 mask to avoid the headaches from the poor air.

Hotel rooms are also bigger and the facilities at a higher standard (Exec lounge has great views of the mountains).

There is good shopping available at New Town Plaza with all the international chains you could want. Travel time to Kowloon is around 20mins by Taxi and 30 to HK Island - this hotel offers a free shuttle to Elements in around 25 mins. Uber and Taxis are also cheap and plentiful.

 

[RoMambai]

I stayed at the dubvious Chungking mansions the first time I backpacked through Hongkers many years ago and the place seemed to bend the will of space and time. It was the beginning of a Kowloon love affair. The island for me is a sideshow.

 

[OATEK]

I stayed at the dubvious Chungking mansions the first time I backpacked through Hongkers many years ago and the place seemed to bend the will of space of time. It was the beginning of a Kowloon love affair. The island for me is a sideshow.

Ah, Chung King mansions - I fondly remember my first walk through the main shopping arcades there in 1990 while staying nearly next door at the Holiday Inn Golden Mile.

I have only ever stayed in Kowloon so cannot comment about the Island. But as many have said there is only a short Star Ferry ride between the two. I buy the MTR card that includes airport trips and the metro for a few days, and add some cash on to cover buses (eg to Stanley), Star ferry and the ferries to the islands (eg Yung Shue Wan).

But as others have said AUD$250 may be a limiting factor as regards choice.

 

[Bodie]

Mrs Bodie and I have been to Hong Kong twice, both times we have stayed at Hotel Icon on Kowloon side. They offer free shuttle bus back Nathan Rd and near the ferry over to Hong Kong Island. Runs all day and into evening every 15 min.
We stay at club level, above Level 9, next door is fire station so above that level gives perfect view across to hong kong harbour. Pool level is on level 9 so also offers good view.
Club level is on level 28 - top floor afternoon drinks great view. They even cab off a Tesla pickup from ariport which we did for Valentines day this year. Worked a treat.

 

[bsb]

If you can get a deal on a room with a harbour view on the Kowloon side, then that is without question, your best choice. If not, stay on the Island as close to Central as your budget allows

 

[Ansett]

Thank you every one for the input Mrs Ansett has spoken and we are staying at the Novotel on Nathan Road.

 

[kpc]

Thank you every one for the input Mrs Ansett has spoken and we are staying at the Novotel on Nathan Road.

After a few trips staying on HK island as I needed to be at the HK conference centre, my last trip we stayed in Kowloon near Nathan Road which is much more interesting for the tourist