Should I stay or should I go - Hong Kong [protests]

[drron]

Incredible election result in HKG this weekend.

Hong Kong elections: Pro-democracy groups makes big gains

Activists celebrate a major victory following a record election turnout and months of protests.

www.bbc.com

 

[get me outta here]

I’m not sure that it is actually incredible. The signs have been there for a long time that the local population in general support democracy. It’s only the older middle conservatives that are pro Beijing.

 

[zenyattamondatta]

And when one side doesn't place all that much weight on the democratic process, I'm not sure what difference it will really make. Just underscores how many people are going to be unhappy with the inevitable.

 

[get me outta here]

I think vindication will help calm things down a bit. They just need to peacefully get out those last people left in the Polytech Uni and then they should all take a breather and stand back to work out what happens now the elections are over. As many of the election winners are callow novices and therefore unproved, it makes their wins even more impressive.

 

[Isochronous]

I think vindication will help calm things down a bit. They just need to peacefully get out those last people left in the Polytech Uni and then they should all take a breather and stand back to work out what happens now the elections are over. As many of the election winners are callow novices and therefore unproved, it makes their wins even more impressive.

Especially as they had to compete with the pro-government parties using Beijing's money to bribe older voters with free Seahorse pillows and other gifts, combined with a fleet of tour buses to bring in the grannies from the retirement homes to vote for them.

 

[Happy Dude]

The wife and I booked a short break for Feb 2020 back in May. It's our 10 year anniversary. We have SQ J/F flights.

After weighing up the reports in this thread, we have decided to continue with our trip and are looking at hotels etc. We are there for 7 nights and will stay first at the Hong Kong Golf Club for 3-4 nights, which means then 3-4 nights elsewhere.

I haven't been there in 15 or so years so would appreciate advice/recommendations. Obviously keen to reduce the likelihood of getting caught up in a 'situation'. I'm quite keen on hotels that have a sauna/steam room and the wife defines a luxury hotel as one that has bathrobes. So we're both easily impressed but not so taken with meal-inclusive offerings. Budget is AUD $300 per night.

We're on SQ1 which departs at 8am, which means a very early start from the hotel. I assume a cab/Uber at that hour will be the go but wondering if that should influence our hotel location?

 

[get me outta here]

Happy Dude, you may also find some useful information in this thread : Hong Kong for Solo Traveller. There should be some bargains in hotels available. And a couple of those options have been mentioned before as well.

 

[Lynda2475]

I've still yet to cancel, hoping things may settle a little over Christmas probably time to double check if hotel rates have dropped for that week yet. If i can get Pottinger under $400 that wouldbe ideal in casei get stuck inhotelat some point.

 

[Happy Dude]

Happy Dude, you may also find some useful information in this thread : Hong Kong for Solo Traveller. There should be some bargains in hotels available. And a couple of those options have been mentioned before as well.

Thanks for that @get me outta here. I see the Shangri-la is just on $200 for the lowest room class, which seems like decent value. Dunno where to look specifically for bargains - might try direct contact with the hotel.

 

[get me outta here]

If the protests are still on close to when you are going, I think there will be even more bargains galore as they have sadly lost customers across the board.

I've still yet to cancel, hoping things may settle a little over Christmas probably time to double check if hotel rates have dropped for that week yet. If i can get Pottinger under $400 that wouldbe ideal in casei get stuck inhotelat some point.

 

[Lynda2475]

If the protests are still on close to when you are going, I think there will be even more bargains galore as they have sadly lost customers across the board.

You'd think but so far the week between xmas and new years remains significantly higher than the bargains that have been available in Oct and Nov.

 

[get me outta here]

How are booking prices for the next few days, can you tell if they are waiting to reduce rates at the last minute?
I'm doing 'best rate guarantees' on my refundable bookings for HKG, but I'm not going for some months.

 

[Happy Dude]

You'd think but so far the week between xmas and new years remains significantly higher than the bargains that have been available in Oct and Nov.

Hi @Lynda2475, just wondering if you've seen this deal? [its probably better placed in your HK solo thread, sorry folks]

 

[Isochronous]

The wife and I booked a short break for Feb 2020 back in May. It's our 10 year anniversary. We have SQ J/F flights.

After weighing up the reports in this thread, we have decided to continue with our trip and are looking at hotels etc. We are there for 7 nights and will stay first at the Hong Kong Golf Club for 3-4 nights, which means then 3-4 nights elsewhere.

I haven't been there in 15 or so years so would appreciate advice/recommendations. Obviously keen to reduce the likelihood of getting caught up in a 'situation'. I'm quite keen on hotels that have a sauna/steam room and the wife defines a luxury hotel as one that has bathrobes. So we're both easily impressed but not so taken with meal-inclusive offerings. Budget is AUD $300 per night.

We're on SQ1 which departs at 8am, which means a very early start from the hotel. I assume a cab/Uber at that hour will be the go but wondering if that should influence our hotel location?

The Langham in TST has rates under $200 AUD a night through Amex FHR and includes the usual benefits of USD$100 dining credit, late check out, upgrade, breakfast etc. You won't find better value than that in HK.

Other options in your price range would be the Kerry and the Kowloon Shangri La (make sure to book the Luxury Circle rate). You could also try the new Hyatt Centric in North Point.

 

[harvyk]

Keep an eye on your travel insurance T&C's If you're about to book. Many have general exclusions for HKG for trips purchased after a designated date (TID was 7th Aug from memory, but I think most of them picked around that date)

 

[get me outta here]

Just wonder where you saw this LE deal, it doesn't pop up on the many emails I get from them? (Then, we'll go back OnT.)

Hi @Lynda2475, just wondering if you've seen this deal? [its probably better placed in your HK solo thread, sorry folks]

 

[Happy Dude]

Just wonder where you saw this LE deal, it doesn't pop up on the many emails I get from them? (Then, we'll go back OnT.)

Excellent question - glad you asked

I had this page bookmarked from a while ago. I noticed that it isn't in their current list and in my efforts to go straight to the hotels I thought I'd 'chat' with LE if they had this or anything in HKG (I wasn't sure if they do bespoke deals or not). This link was the reply.

It's not a goer for me because 1) the pool will be undergoing maintenance during my travel dates. I assume I'll still want a swim in February?, and 2) I have a few LE gift cards that I'd love to use but I don't think I'll see another HKG deal for a while. Seems like a good hotel/deal though.

 

[get me outta here]

Ok, right, yes I know about asking them for unpublished offers. It's still quite cool in HKG in Feb.

Excellent question - glad you asked

I had this page bookmarked from a while ago. I noticed that it isn't in their current list and in my efforts to go straight to the hotels I thought I'd 'chat' with LE if they had this or anything in HKG (I wasn't sure if they do bespoke deals or not). This link was the reply.

It's not a goer for me because 1) the pool will be undergoing maintenance during my travel dates. I assume I'll still want a swim in February?, and 2) I have a few LE gift cards that I'd love to use but I don't think I'll see another HKG deal for a while. Seems like a good hotel/deal though.

 

[Lynda2475]

My original hotel booking was made back in March, but i cancelled that as a local friend said with all the trouble staying at Harbour Grand wasnt a good idea (aparently the main protest route bocks the road from there to Airtrain).

So i rebooked to stay in Central (fully refundable up to 48 hours before). If I chnage hotels again it also needs to be fully refundable in case I dont go, as I dont trust insurance now given trouble has been ongoing - they will say I should have known.

Havng not been to HK before I dont really know my way around.

 

[get me outta here]

How many nights do you have in HKG? Would you prefer to keep the flt bookings and just stay somewhere still in HKG but away from the 'troubles'?
My refundable hotel is at the Marriott SkyPlaza close to the airport. There's a few things of interest that way. Tai O has the stilt houses over the water and the Big Buddha etc close to the airport. You could email the Tousrist Bureau to plan out a visit around those things - I think they will be glad to know someone still wants to go.
I am only going for 2 nights this trip.