Hong Kong - what to do in and around the area?

[CC07 PEU]

I'm planning a five night trip to Hong Kong as I have the first two weeks off in November. I'm flexible on dates within these two weeks so I'd like PHer's recommendations on what to do in and around the area.

Specifically, would you recommend stopping off somewhere on the journey there rather than a direct flight? If so, where's the best place to stop?

Once in Hong Kong, is there anywhere further afield, and into China that you'd recommend going to and if so where?

All touristy recommendations appreciated too as I've never been there before.

[CardShark]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... to do in Hong Kong

[NickXX]

Couple of recommendations from my visit last week.

- Go and visit Stanley Market and Repulse Bay on Hong Kong island (you can catch the bus from Central, the 6X iirc).
- If you like Dim Sum, go and visit the Tim Ho Wan restaurant, the world's cheapest Michelin starred restaurant (cost £11 for lunch...for two!!).
- Visit the Buddha on Lantau island (cable car is nice, but the queues are long, I took the bus this time).

I have been many times before, and didn't fit them into my trip last time, but two things you must do are:

- Go up to the peak on Hong Kong island.
- View Victoria Harbour at night.

[MaxMX5]

Guangzhou is about 1hr 30min train trip from HK, but you will need a visa (£90) to get in. There are a group of parks run by Chimelong, and they have a water park, theme park, safari park in circus. We did the safari park and circus and it has to be on of the best safari parks I have even been to. If you go, make sure you see the elephant show, go on the safari train and see the Pandas as soon as their enclouses open, (around midday) as thats when they are at their most active as thats when they get fed. We fed giraffes and stroked a baby tiger. Food in the park is awful, but in China thats what I came to expect (in those sort of places anyway). We spent 2 nights in Guangzhou before heading to HK, ( we had done a 25 day trip in total, going to 7 cities across China). Highly reccomend the safari park and circus and if you are happy to pay for the visa, they are a must do in Guangzhou. The animals seem very happy and well looked after. Plenty of other places to go to in Guangzhou, if you want anymore info about the place, then I can send you my research I did before I went.

[CC07 PEU]

Where is the best area to stay in Kong Kong for a first time visitor? I would imagine somewhere fairly central to all the action would be best but I'm not sure where that would be...

[mattdaniels]

It's a long way to go just for five days. Guangzhou is a long day trip even on the express train (I work for a client who has a software team there - I hope the parks etc are nicer than the town which is a hole).

If you like walking and sea food I'd suggest a ferry over to Lamma island for the day. Nice beach, stunning scenery, nice seafood, and not very touristy. Fascinating place.

And do the peak. Pref. at night.

[MaxMX5]

yeahGuangzhou isnt too pretty, but there is plenty to keep you entertained for 2 days. The parks are excellent, look at the reviews on trip advisor.

[CardShark]

In the 3 times I've been 2 occasions were for 6 nights but the flight landed early afternoon and the return was just before midnight, great to maximise the stay, check flight times as you don't want to be leaving on an early am flight and potentially miss a chunk of a day out there. I've stayed in Wan Chai once (HK Island) and TST twice (Kowloon, mainland HK). If you're likely to be out late each night then HK Island will be a good bet, there are more bar and restuarant areas and getting a cab back to your hotel, if you don't walk, is easier than getting back to Kowloon. At around midnight the MTR (Underground) stops and so do the Star Ferries, you can still get a cab from HK Isl-Kowloon/Kowloon-HK Isl through the tunnels that pass under Victoria Harbour but it'll cost more. HK Island also has more to do and see on it, and it's easier to get elsewhere as all the ferries to Lamma/Lantau etc leave from HK Islands quay. Try the Wan Chai and Causway Bay areas for hotels and check out how close they are to MTR stations.

[pokethepope]

CC07 PEU said:

Where is the best area to stay in Kong Kong for a first time visitor? I would imagine somewhere fairly central to all the action would be best but I'm not sure where that would be...

HK Island, look at Central and Wan Chai areas.

Things to check out:
Victoria Peak (don't bother during the day, even if you're lucky and its not hazy, the view sort of blends into one big mush of buildings, at night its awesome),
If the horse racing is on at Happy Valley thats good fun having some beers and a cheeky flattur
Lamma island for a relaxing day, theres plenty of good hiking trails there and HK Island with some great views
Ride the tram across HK Island
As mentioned above go to the cheapest Michelin starred restaurant in the world, a new branch opened last year because of the constant qeues at the original, but i'd advise trying the orginal in Mong Kok, it seats about 20 people but is a great atmosphere in cramped surroundings sharing a table with random locals.

[superpippo]

for night fun go to LKF...you can't beat that, you'll enjoy it if you are single

[maser_spyder]

mattdaniels said:

It's a long way to go just for five days. Guangzhou is a long day trip even on the express train (I work for a client who has a software team there - I hope the parks etc are nicer than the town which is a hole).

If you like walking and sea food I'd suggest a ferry over to Lamma island for the day. Nice beach, stunning scenery, nice seafood, and not very touristy. Fascinating place.

And do the peak. Pref. at night.

^^ this.

GZ is a hole otherwise, SZ not much better.

I'm in Qingdao right now, nice here.

Recommend the Eaton Smart in Kowloon, where I normally stay, nothing fantastic but cheap, central and clean. Nice rooftop pool/bar too.

Quick tip, for 5 days, get some of the jet lag out of the way before you leave, very early UK mornings, early nights etc.

[Wanchaiwarrior]

superpippo said:

for night fun go to LKF...you can't beat that, you'll enjoy it if you are single

Also Wan Chai - (start 5-6pm ish saturday night)
The Bridge
Makati
Laguna
Neptunes (midnight ish) /
Joe Banana's /
Dusk til Dawn / Any order, mix/rinse and repeat
Fenwicks (if still there) /
Neptunes /
Strawberry's (or whatever its called now) last thing (6am)
The Bridge (7-7:30am)
Old China Hand (breakfast)
Pool bar on corner (opposite Laguna) cant remember name begins with "S"
Laguna (3pm ish) /
Makati /
Boracay / Any order, mix/rinse and repeat til 9pm
Neptunes /

[scorp]

Wanchaiwarrior said:

Also Wan Chai - (start 5-6pm ish saturday night)
The Bridge
Makati
Laguna
Neptunes (midnight ish) /
Joe Banana's /
Dusk til Dawn / Any order, mix/rinse and repeat
Fenwicks (if still there) /
Neptunes /
Strawberry's (or whatever its called now) last thing (6am)
The Bridge (7-7:30am)
Old China Hand (breakfast)
Pool bar on corner (opposite Laguna) cant remember name begins with "S"
Laguna (3pm ish) /
Makati /
Boracay / Any order, mix/rinse and repeat til 9pm
Neptunes /

I definitely wouldn't recommend bringing the mrs to most of those.

I thought the Bridge is under renovation / shutdown ?
Pool place is Scratch I think ?

[mike80]

If you can stretch until mid November, get the ferry over to Macau and watch some racing!