Going to Hong Kong!

Yippee, I am finally going to Hong Kong for the first two weeks of Aug! (It's going to be a scorcher, unfortunately!) It'll be my first time after many failed attempts when I was still in school, I am so very excited!

I'm going to book my flight tonight. Now I am in the process of finding a hotel - probably in Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui's, or Causeway Bay. Any favorite rec's or advice on hotels to avoid? Since I'll be needing a room for 14 days, I really don't want to break the bank. Ideally, I'd like to keep the average around $100/night. I came across the Cosmopolitan, Royal Garden, and Kowloon Hotels so far.

What are some not so obvious desitinations for food? I'll be traveling w/my aunt's family who goes back to HK every few years. They still have family over there as well, so I'll have help.

Pucca wrote:Yippee, I am finally going to Hong Kong for the first two weeks of Aug! (It's going to be a scorcher, unfortunately!) It'll be my first time after many failed attempts when I was still in school, I am so very excited!

I'm going to book my flight tonight. Now I am in the process of finding a hotel - probably in Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui's, or Causeway Bay. Any favorite rec's or advice on hotels to avoid? Since I'll be needing a room for 14 days, I really don't want to break the bank. Ideally, I'd like to keep the average around $100/night. I came across the Cosmopolitan, Royal Garden, and Kowloon Hotels so far.

What are some not so obvious desitinations for food? I'll be traveling w/my aunt's family who goes back to HK every few years. They still have family over there as well, so I'll have help.

I stayed one night at the Kowloon. The location is great but our room was really tiny, I'm talking two people could not pass by the bed at the same time tiny. On the other hand, we had a wonderful room service breakfast. I just would be hesitant to spend 14 days there. We stayed also at the Nikko and the Omni, nice hotels, but a little more money.

I would recommend staying on the Kowloon side. There is tons of stuff in the Tsim Sha Tsui/Nathan Road area. One of the coolest things to do is visit the park just east of Nathan Road VERY early in the AM and watch the alter-kokers take their birds out for a stroll or see the many groups doing Tai Chi. You can just wander around this area for days bumping into interesting shops, restaurants, etc. It is much more of the "real" HK compared with the glitz and glamour accross the bay. Also, the night market/hawker stands nearby are really a primo chow destination. You are very close to the ferry so it is easy to get to Causeway, Victoria and that stuff. The other things on HK island, like Stanley and Aberdeen are not hard to get to via public transportation or even tour operators. It is a lot of fun to take one of the tour boats off of Aberdeen.

Actually, are you really sure you wanna spend 14 days in HK. I was there for 6 days straight then another 2 days. I can tell you that after that first 6 days, I was ready to move on. In my experience (and remember this is pretty dated now 11 years), HK matched nearly all the cliches. It is very crowded and intense. The population is not particularly welcoming to tourists, etc. (but you will still love it). I would suggest that at a minimum, you break up your trip with a night on an outlying island like Lamma or something inland. We had a wonderful day/night on Lama BTW.

Also, we booked our trip thru the HK airlines, Cathay Pacific. The deal, with airfare and hotels was MUCH better than could be obtained singularly. If you can, you might want to look into those options.

My restaurant advice would be pretty useless at this point, except I do have one standby: Spring Deer. It is Peking style restaurant that has been there for years, think the Berghoff of Hong Kong (but with better food). Nearly everyone gets the Peking Duck, and it is a great way to try that dish.

I expect a full report!

Hong Kong is a great city but it might be difficult to find a really nice hotel for $100/night. Prices are going up and the weakness of the US$ isn't helping. Although artificially fixed against the RMB and HK$, it seems that hotels are arbitrarily raising their rates. I've always stayed at the Mardarin Oriental which is absolutely my favorite hotel in the world. But rooms are now out of sight and I'm booked at the Excelsior (owned by the Mandarin) for my next trip. I've heard good things about the Regal, but never stayed at one. You might try Tripadvisor.com for your search.

Food is fabulous! I have only two recommendations because (a) my mermory stinks and (b) I often just wander around, dropping into any number of nameless places which great food. Indochine 1929 for a wonderful French/Vietnamese experience on the relatively upscale side but not outrageous. Dinner will cost you about $25/person. If you like Scotch Whiskey, you should spend some time at the Chinnery Bar in the Mandarin. An unbelievable selection of single malts and also a nice bar menu. Being the Mandarin, if you want to order something from any of the house restaurants, the bartender will gladly accomodate you.

For a fun excursion, take a double decker bus (ride upstairs and in front) to Admiralty and hire any one of the numerous boats around the harbor. You'll go up and down rows of Junks that are all moored and are lived in. You can skip Jumbo, the floating restaurant. It's an interesting experience but way overpriced and the food is only mediocre.

There is one, and only one, place to stay in Hong Kong: the Kowloon YMCA. Trust me on this, absolutely.

Hong Kong was my R&R port when I served a couple of 'tours' in Wuhun PRC back In the Day. Location, price, and good quality: that's the YMCA. heh-heh it's right next door to some of the most expensive places in the universe (try, The Mandarin, for example).

You've got to go to Jimmy's, it's a kind of an ex-pat steak house, just full of olde tymey vibes. Food's not so bad either. There's a place called "something Antelope" or "Antelope something" that's incredibly REAL. A Chinese friend took me. In those days they didn't like Long Noses in there too much, but I'd bet things have changed. You'll get some real Chinese food there.

You can't lose in any of the dim sum palaces hulking around the Star Ferry pier. Even going to Jumbo is a hoot.

Check out the floating dinner option: you rent a boat and an oarer and paddle out into the bay and restaurant skiffs come up to serve you. I can't remember exactly how I did it, but it'll be in one or the other of the good guides. It's a hoot

And you should stop by Ned Kelly's Last Stand. It's an Ozzie ex-pat bar, and one of the craziest places in all Hong Kong. They keep it frigid, dark, loud, and frothing with beer; you can get all sorts of Australian bar food there, w/o having to travel the extra 8 hours.

Jeez, you just *can't* lose! Every back street in Kowloon's got some exquisite noodle shoppe or street bbq. Try EVERYthing!

And take the city buses all around the island. On the backside there are some interesting, rather quiet places, including some good beaches.

There used to be some excellent Indian food in HK, but I'm not sure it made it through the transition.

Hey, give us a FULL report upon your return.

Geo

Vital Information wrote:Actually, are you really sure you wanna spend 14 days in HK. I was there for 6 days straight then another 2 days. I can tell you that after that first 6 days, I was ready to move on. In my experience (and remember this is pretty dated now 11 years), HK matched nearly all the cliches. It is very crowded and intense. The population is not particularly welcoming to tourists, etc. (but you will still love it). I would suggest that at a minimum, you break up your trip with a night on an outlying island like Lamma or something inland. We had a wonderful day/night on Lama BTW.

I am kind of worried about getting bored in HK. I was finally able to touch base w/a friend in Singapore, so I will be visiting her during my last weekend in HK before returning to the US.

My parents also expressed interest in going to Macau for a couple of nights, and now I have Lamma to add to my list. Lamma sounds great. Thanks for the rec.

I will try to take pictures when I report back in late August.

Pucca wrote:

Vital Information:
Actually, are you really sure you wanna spend 14 days in HK. I was there for 6 days straight then another 2 days. I can tell you that after that first 6 days, I was ready to move on. In my experience (and remember this is pretty dated now 11 years), HK matched nearly all the cliches. It is very crowded and intense. The population is not particularly welcoming to tourists, etc. (but you will still love it). I would suggest that at a minimum, you break up your trip with a night on an outlying island like Lamma or something inland. We had a wonderful day/night on Lama BTW.

I am kind of worried about getting bored in HK. I was finally able to touch base w/a friend in Singapore, so I will be visiting her during my last weekend in HK before returning to the US.

My parents also expressed interest in going to Macau for a couple of nights, and now I have Lamma to add to my list. Lamma sounds great. Thanks for the rec.

I will try to take pictures when I report back in late August.

I spent 14 days in Hong Kong once and did not get bored at all. I managed to hook up with some British Ex-pats who took me to a night market near where they live. I could have easily spent the entire 2 weeks there without giving it a second thought. It was like Maxwell St. on Mega-Steroids.

stevez wrote:

Pucca wrote:

Vital Information:
Actually, are you really sure you wanna spend 14 days in HK. I was there for 6 days straight then another 2 days. I can tell you that after that first 6 days, I was ready to move on. In my experience (and remember this is pretty dated now 11 years), HK matched nearly all the cliches. It is very crowded and intense. The population is not particularly welcoming to tourists, etc. (but you will still love it). I would suggest that at a minimum, you break up your trip with a night on an outlying island like Lamma or something inland. We had a wonderful day/night on Lama BTW.

I am kind of worried about getting bored in HK. I was finally able to touch base w/a friend in Singapore, so I will be visiting her during my last weekend in HK before returning to the US.

My parents also expressed interest in going to Macau for a couple of nights, and now I have Lamma to add to my list. Lamma sounds great. Thanks for the rec.

I will try to take pictures when I report back in late August.

I spent 14 days in Hong Kong once and did not get bored at all. I managed to hook up with some British Ex-pats who took me to a night market near where they live. I could have easily spent the entire 2 weeks there without giving it a second thought. It was like Maxwell St. on Mega-Steroids.

Bored is not the word I used or would use. I talked about a break from the intensity--like the oppositie of boring . After a week in HK, boring is a nice respite.

Rob

Lamma Island is like a fishing village... small shops, great seafood, etc. Lantau Island is another place you might consider for a day trip. The main attraction at Lantau is the Giant Buddha. Climbing all those stairs (300? 500?) is tiring, but the view from up there is amazong. They also serve a vegetarian meal there for about HK$100+ (This was a few years ago).

For night markets, I guess that most popular one is Mongkok's Ladies Market. Mongkok in general is a great place for shopping and people watching. If you looking for electronics, cell phones, video games, action figures, pirated DVDs ... Mongkok is the place to go. It starts getting busy around 8 pm...

When we went in Feb, we paid approx $100 a night (inclusive of tax and everything). We stayed the Marco Polo Prince in Tsim Sha Tsui, in fact I always stay there when I am in Hong Kong. I booked the room through hotelkingdom.com.

Let me know if you need more info... Especially about shopping...

Sorry! You're absolutely right, I used poor word choice! I have never been away for so long in one place. Historically, I am anxious to return home after being in the same place for more than few days even if there is a ton to do. Lately, I have been bored w/the idea of shopping for things, but the food should keep me entertained. I can't wait to taste a real Macau egg tart!

Pucca wrote: I can't wait to taste a real Macau egg tart!

Macau has changed a lot since I have been there. All of the Western Casino companies have now established large operations there, according to a news piece I saw on TV a few weeks ago. Still, the trip there from HK is lots of fun if you take the jet powered hyfrofoil.

Ahhh... HK, the food heaven. I wish I could go back for a visit again *sigh* Anyways, most of the Japanese places is HK are fantabuluos! So if you're into the whole sushi scene, you're gonna have a ball! The wonderfully greasy and spicy dim sum in not to be missed! There's also this authentic, wonderful place that serves up Indonesian fare but I can't remember the name! Argh! But I remember it's near the downtown/Sogo area.

Oh, and avoid the floating Jumbo restaurant. It's very glitzy and showy with mediocre food and it's expensive! I thought the "private" floating restaurants looked more interesting, but I didn't get a chance to try it

marias23 wrote:Ahhh... HK, the food heaven. I wish I could go back for a visit again *sigh* Anyways, most of the Japanese places is HK are fantabuluos! So if you're into the whole sushi scene, you're gonna have a ball! The wonderfully greasy and spicy dim sum in not to be missed! There's also this authentic, wonderful place that serves up Indonesian fare but I can't remember the name! Argh! But I remember it's near the downtown/Sogo area.

Oh, and avoid the floating Jumbo restaurant. It's very glitzy and showy with mediocre food and it's expensive! I thought the "private" floating restaurants looked more interesting, but I didn't get a chance to try it

Great for Japanese food of all types, are the food courts in the Japanese deparment stores.

I have been to Hong Kong many times, at least 50 times. I think 3 or 4 days is more than enough in Hong Kong. Yes the seafood is great especially the prawns. Love drunkenb shrimp!

Dim Sun of course is the best in HK. Shopping used to be great, but not so much any more.

Macao has changed alot but worth a day trip. What about going to Canton/Guagzhou on the train or a 3 1/2 hour flight to Bangkok or Chiang Mai, someplace more interesting?

The Y is a great place with a wonderful location just down from the Pennisula in HK.

The big hotels have great buffets that have some specials, like seafood Friday.

I just can't imagine 2 weeks in HK without twidling my thumbs.

I am back to HK in a couple weeks. I lost my cheat sheet with the phonetic spellings.

Does anyone know the chinese name (phonetically spelled if you can) for the jellyfish cut into strips, with sesame oil and chile sauce? Looks like transluscent noodles, tastes vaguelly of the sea, and is just oh so very good with beer.

fishie wrote:Does anyone know the chinese name (phonetically spelled if you can) for the jellyfish cut into strips, with sesame oil and chile sauce? Looks like transluscent noodles, tastes vaguelly of the sea, and is just oh so very good with beer.

Hoy Jeet

Hi,

I have friends in Hong Kong right now. My friend's husband grew up in Hong Kong, so it is old home week for him. She indicated having her Chinese-speaking husband has allowed them to enjoy quite a range of food experiences. Most places they visited had no English menu, so he did all the ordering. Except for a dim sum lunch for 9 people cost $120, most of their meals for a family of 5 have been $12-$15 total.

So it is wise to bone up on the Chinese words for the dishes you desire at least from her experience. Of course, because her husband speaks Chinese they are probably not looking too hard for English menus!

I'm hoping she'll be posting a report on this thread when she returns.

Regards,