Discussion
Hello fellow PH'ers
Myself and the better half are off on our travels next month.We have 5 days in HK and i'm after any info on the good worthwhile places to see in the short time we are there.
I'm 36 so i'm no young greasy backpacker trying to 'find' myself.i'm happy to look and act like a tourist,because i am.
We are there during chinese new year so i know there will be lots on,as we lucky enough to spend the new year in singapore a couple of years back.
Although we are on a budget,its not poverty spec so im happy to pay for quality services.I'm not into shopping either,which is just as well as most will be shut i'm led to believe.
Any help from locals greatly appreciated.
Myself and the better half are off on our travels next month.We have 5 days in HK and i'm after any info on the good worthwhile places to see in the short time we are there.
I'm 36 so i'm no young greasy backpacker trying to 'find' myself.i'm happy to look and act like a tourist,because i am.
We are there during chinese new year so i know there will be lots on,as we lucky enough to spend the new year in singapore a couple of years back.
Although we are on a budget,its not poverty spec so im happy to pay for quality services.I'm not into shopping either,which is just as well as most will be shut i'm led to believe.
Any help from locals greatly appreciated.
When I last went there, I stayed in the YMCA on the recommendation of a Hong Kong colleague. I was a little sceptical as I suspected it might be a bit, well - backpacky. I was quite wrong though - it was a very good price (by HK standards) and was a very nice hotel. I thoroughly recommend it if you're looking for somewhere to stay. Here's the address for their website:
http://www.ymcahk.org.hk
In terms of places to go, I've only ever spent the odd day there here or there, so sadly can't give any specific names of places but it's an amazing place to visit, and one I definitely intend to go back to. If you happen to head to anywhere around the Central district (where the HQ of HSBC is IIRC), the amount of money there is simply astonishing. Some great car spots to be had!
Hope you have a great time!
http://www.ymcahk.org.hk
In terms of places to go, I've only ever spent the odd day there here or there, so sadly can't give any specific names of places but it's an amazing place to visit, and one I definitely intend to go back to. If you happen to head to anywhere around the Central district (where the HQ of HSBC is IIRC), the amount of money there is simply astonishing. Some great car spots to be had!
Hope you have a great time!
Honestly..
Get down to WH Smith / Amazon - get a copy of this..:
http://www.amazon.com/Eyewitness-Top-10-Travel-Gui...
Best few quid I ever spent - having spent many many weekends in HK break from business, as a tourist.
Ferry / Peak / Happy Valley / Stanley Market / Hollywood road ... and many more
5 Star review for this guide.
Get down to WH Smith / Amazon - get a copy of this..:
http://www.amazon.com/Eyewitness-Top-10-Travel-Gui...
Best few quid I ever spent - having spent many many weekends in HK break from business, as a tourist.
Ferry / Peak / Happy Valley / Stanley Market / Hollywood road ... and many more
5 Star review for this guide.
A good website to have a look through http://www.discoverhongkong.com/uk/index.jsp, there a a few trips that I've done that are good value for money that you can book through here.
Been there 3 times now, absolutely love the place and I hope to be back at the tail end of next year. Get a good pocket guide like the one that's been recommended to take out with you, easy to carry and full of decent info. There's a whole load to do out there, your 5 days will be busy! In no particular order -
Peak - go up on the Peak Tram during in the afternoon and stay up until nightfall, awesome views, walk around the peak itself to see some of the other 280 odd Islands that make up HK!
Big Budda - biggest sitting outdoor Budda in the World, touristy but well worth it just for the cable car ride to and from!
Symphony of Lights - there's a show every evening, be on the mainland Kowloon side for this looking across Victoria Harbour to HK Island
Catch a tram to anywhere! - HK Island, very easy, just get on at the back and drop 2HKD (20p) in a pot at the front whenever you decide to get off regardless of length of journey!
Star Ferry - my favourite way of crossing Vic Harbour, very cheap, go on the lower decks with the locals.
Metro - very easy to use, clean, reliable, very busy in rush hour!
Happy Valley - never got around to it myself but supposed to be a good night out, though you'll have to check that there'll be racing when you're out there.
Food - Luk Yu Teahouse on Stanley Street HK Island for Dim Sum, Cicada in SoHo (you *must* try their marinated steak chunks with cracked black pepper and basil), Rainbow on Lamma Island if you like seafood. There are loads of places to eat, these are the first ones that come to mind. Also the Jumbo Floating Restaurant but it's expensive and you'll have to get a cab or bus there.
Markets - night and day, mostly in Kowloon IIRC
Bars - SoHo, Lan Kwai Fong and Wan Chai (HK's Red Light District, seedy but can be good fun) are the busiest areas, though Aqua Spirit in the Peking 101 Tower on Kowloon is probably the best bar I've been to period, cocktails are a tenner but the views....
I *think* that these guys also do a night time Junk trip around the Harbour with a decent bar.
Kowloon Park - great if you want to chill out for a bit, popular place for a spot of Ti Chi, also has a mini bird sanctury(sp?) but I wouldn't go there just for that
Get a foot massage - Temple Street Kowloon has a great little *proper* foot massage place, nothing neon lit about it unlike some others
Walk - you'll see, hear and smell sooo much, night time walk along Kowloon waterfront offers great views
Afternoon tea at the Penn - *The* grandest hotel in HK, the Penninsular is quite spectacular
Don't know where you're staying but it's worth knowing that the ferries and Metro stop sometime around midnight though cabs are easy and cheap if you find yourself out late at night, you can still get from one side of the Harbour to the other as there are tunnels that pass between Kowloon and the Island.
If you like cities, you will *love* HK!
Been there 3 times now, absolutely love the place and I hope to be back at the tail end of next year. Get a good pocket guide like the one that's been recommended to take out with you, easy to carry and full of decent info. There's a whole load to do out there, your 5 days will be busy! In no particular order -
Peak - go up on the Peak Tram during in the afternoon and stay up until nightfall, awesome views, walk around the peak itself to see some of the other 280 odd Islands that make up HK!
Big Budda - biggest sitting outdoor Budda in the World, touristy but well worth it just for the cable car ride to and from!
Symphony of Lights - there's a show every evening, be on the mainland Kowloon side for this looking across Victoria Harbour to HK Island
Catch a tram to anywhere! - HK Island, very easy, just get on at the back and drop 2HKD (20p) in a pot at the front whenever you decide to get off regardless of length of journey!
Star Ferry - my favourite way of crossing Vic Harbour, very cheap, go on the lower decks with the locals.
Metro - very easy to use, clean, reliable, very busy in rush hour!
Happy Valley - never got around to it myself but supposed to be a good night out, though you'll have to check that there'll be racing when you're out there.
Food - Luk Yu Teahouse on Stanley Street HK Island for Dim Sum, Cicada in SoHo (you *must* try their marinated steak chunks with cracked black pepper and basil), Rainbow on Lamma Island if you like seafood. There are loads of places to eat, these are the first ones that come to mind. Also the Jumbo Floating Restaurant but it's expensive and you'll have to get a cab or bus there.
Markets - night and day, mostly in Kowloon IIRC
Bars - SoHo, Lan Kwai Fong and Wan Chai (HK's Red Light District, seedy but can be good fun) are the busiest areas, though Aqua Spirit in the Peking 101 Tower on Kowloon is probably the best bar I've been to period, cocktails are a tenner but the views....
I *think* that these guys also do a night time Junk trip around the Harbour with a decent bar.Kowloon Park - great if you want to chill out for a bit, popular place for a spot of Ti Chi, also has a mini bird sanctury(sp?) but I wouldn't go there just for that
Get a foot massage - Temple Street Kowloon has a great little *proper* foot massage place, nothing neon lit about it unlike some others
Walk - you'll see, hear and smell sooo much, night time walk along Kowloon waterfront offers great views
Afternoon tea at the Penn - *The* grandest hotel in HK, the Penninsular is quite spectacular
Don't know where you're staying but it's worth knowing that the ferries and Metro stop sometime around midnight though cabs are easy and cheap if you find yourself out late at night, you can still get from one side of the Harbour to the other as there are tunnels that pass between Kowloon and the Island.
If you like cities, you will *love* HK!
Edited by CardShark on Wednesday 29th December 00:31
I'd recommend staying Kowloon side as you get a lot more for your money hotel wise.
One of my favourite things to do there was walking around the hills. Not something you associate with Hong Kong's sky scrapers and shopping centres, but there's some lovely parks fairly accessible from the subway, they're usually quiet, and there's a good chance of seeing monkeys - which always puts a smile on my face.
I'd recommend eating duck as well. I like food, and I've never tasted anything that can quite compare to barbequed duck in HK.
One of my favourite things to do there was walking around the hills. Not something you associate with Hong Kong's sky scrapers and shopping centres, but there's some lovely parks fairly accessible from the subway, they're usually quiet, and there's a good chance of seeing monkeys - which always puts a smile on my face.
I'd recommend eating duck as well. I like food, and I've never tasted anything that can quite compare to barbequed duck in HK.
Fantastic place, as Cardshark says.
Victoria Park is worth a visit for the views and photo opportunity. If you get a chance, pop over to Macau for the day and get a rick-shaw thingy around the sights...brilliant! Oh, there's also loads of casino's there, you know...just in case you get bored!
Do you wear suits to work? If so you may become a shopper. I had 2 made with a load of shirts & ties for about 50p....ok, it was 800 quid, but try that in Saville Row.
Victoria Park is worth a visit for the views and photo opportunity. If you get a chance, pop over to Macau for the day and get a rick-shaw thingy around the sights...brilliant! Oh, there's also loads of casino's there, you know...just in case you get bored!
Do you wear suits to work? If so you may become a shopper. I had 2 made with a load of shirts & ties for about 50p....ok, it was 800 quid, but try that in Saville Row.
Hi
Thanks for all the info,i forgot to say in my original post we already have a place sorted,its the Harbour Grand hotel.And i have bought the insights guidebook too.
Looking forward to going,i dont think i heard off anyone who doesn't like it.
As we don't have much time there i'll avoid the casinos and shopping,although,luckily for me most of the shops will be shut for new year.
Thanks again
Chris
Thanks for all the info,i forgot to say in my original post we already have a place sorted,its the Harbour Grand hotel.And i have bought the insights guidebook too.
Looking forward to going,i dont think i heard off anyone who doesn't like it.
As we don't have much time there i'll avoid the casinos and shopping,although,luckily for me most of the shops will be shut for new year.
Thanks again
Chris
chrisgtx said:
Hi
Thanks for all the info,i forgot to say in my original post we already have a place sorted,its the Harbour Grand hotel.And i have bought the insights guidebook too.
Looking forward to going,i dont think i heard off anyone who doesn't like it.
As we don't have much time there i'll avoid the casinos and shopping,although,luckily for me most of the shops will be shut for new year.
Thanks again
Chris
Hahaha shops shut. I can tell you've not been here before!Thanks for all the info,i forgot to say in my original post we already have a place sorted,its the Harbour Grand hotel.And i have bought the insights guidebook too.
Looking forward to going,i dont think i heard off anyone who doesn't like it.
As we don't have much time there i'll avoid the casinos and shopping,although,luckily for me most of the shops will be shut for new year.
Thanks again
Chris
I can promise you nothing will be closed.
fieldl said:
chrisgtx said:
Hi
Thanks for all the info,i forgot to say in my original post we already have a place sorted,its the Harbour Grand hotel.And i have bought the insights guidebook too.
Looking forward to going,i dont think i heard off anyone who doesn't like it.
As we don't have much time there i'll avoid the casinos and shopping,although,luckily for me most of the shops will be shut for new year.
Thanks again
Chris
Hahaha shops shut. I can tell you've not been here before!Thanks for all the info,i forgot to say in my original post we already have a place sorted,its the Harbour Grand hotel.And i have bought the insights guidebook too.
Looking forward to going,i dont think i heard off anyone who doesn't like it.
As we don't have much time there i'll avoid the casinos and shopping,although,luckily for me most of the shops will be shut for new year.
Thanks again
Chris
I can promise you nothing will be closed.
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