1st Hong Kong Trip!

My partner %26amp; i will be holidaying in hong kong in December 2009 for about 5 full days.

We plan to see the main tourist attractions that most ppl talk about - eg. the peak, giant buddha, disney land, ocean park, shopping at markets - ladies market/stanley/shenzhen?/nathan rd//citigate outlet, 10,000 buddha temple, chi lin nunnery? %26amp; what ever else people would suggest!

we need a bit of help with the following things:-

accommodation - where to stay (we wouldn%26#39;t be keen on spending more than $100usd per room per night, coz we are planning to spend a bit on macau accommodation)- is it best to change accommodation during our stay to be closer to things on different islands or stay in the one place? - we would like to be somewhere where u could easily walk to markets or places to eat (particularly at night)

could someone also please give us an idea of a rough idea on what main attractions/markets/sightseeing places are close/group together so we could do those things on the one day?

thanks!

1st Hong Kong Trip!

perhaps i should mention - we will be in hong kong for 2 full days then going to macau %26amp; then back to hong kong for 3 full days before flying out.

thats y i asked about staying at different accommodation coz we will be checking out %26amp; back in.

1st Hong Kong Trip!

Don%26#39;t bother changing hotels. No matter where you are you will be within range of markets and places to eat. Not only that, but the Hong Kong public transport system is a dream come true. Buses and trains about every 2 to 3 minutes, going just about anywhere you might want to. There are markets in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island, I doubt if you can find a hotel where you couldn%26#39;t get to one within 15 or 20 minutes by train or on foot.

As said before, the HK public transport is very good. There are really a lot of Hotels which a lot you can find on www.hotels.com.hk

If going to the big buddha you really need a day for that, because it is quiet far away on Lantau Island. You could go there from Tung Chung with the bus to the big Buddha and back with the Ngong Ping 360 cable car. Great view over the airport!

If you go to the Wong Tai Sin temple you can go that same day also to Chin Lin Nunnery and maybe after that go shopping in Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong. See http://hong-kong-travel.org/KowloonTong.asp ... a great shopping place with nice restaurants too ...

In kowloon-side there are many night markets, and between Mong kok and Tsim sha tsui it is always quiet busy at night.

Parklane Hotel is next to the big victoria park on Hong kong island and is great to relax ... and in the middle of causeway bay shopping district.

Watch out for Mong Kok at night at midnight. Please don%26#39;t go to the night outdoor shops as the local triad gangs are preying on tourists. Great night life just before midnight. No, buses do not come every 2-3 minutes. Try 5-10 minutes is more realistic.

Hi, month of Dec shall be a pleasant month to visit HK.Jacket %26amp; sweater are recommended,particularly for visit at the Peak, Giant Buddha.

Suggest,stay put in one hotel,negotiate for the best rates;take only what is necessary for your short stay in Macau,and balance of luggage, safekeep in HK hotel,which you will be returning to.

As hotel room rates could be volatile in view of prevailing economic slowdown;you still have enough time to consider various options;compare prices before committing.

As public transportation are well integrated,one can stay in one place;however as you have mentioned you wish to be in a locality where markets(and eateries) are easily accessible by walking,then look at accommodation -for Kowloon- Mong kok/Yau Ma Tei area

HK island:- Wan Chai/Fortress Hill area.

Moving from one hotel to another hotel,just takes up time in packing/unpacking and familiarizing one to another new locality.

Few hotels with rates lees (or just slightly above) USD100,and considered strategic and saving time in transport(so I have omitted those in Tsuen Wan,Tsing Yi,NT etc) are:-

(a).Imperial hotel-close to Star Ferry pier, on Nathan Road,and close to Tsim Sha Tsui MTR.Well, I did stay there,way back in 1988,and I have seen that the entire building had been refurbished,with a nicer exterior facade. Nevertheless, room views are not so great,and room size is also small;but having been active the whole day,it is just the bed and a clean toilet to unwind.

You may wish to check reviews in TA,and make your own decision.

b). YMCA Salisbury,also on Tsim Sha Tsui,and locality is as convenient as above (a).

c). Metropark Mongkok

d). Metropark Wanchai

e). Ibis NorthPoint(an Accor hotel)-few yards away from North Point MTR,across the road from North Point bus terminus,with buses going to Stanley(#63), Peak(#23), Causeway Bay(shopping-18P) etc.

Stanley,Peak, Ocean Park are located on HK island

Giant Buddha is on Lantau Island; if using MTR,you will reach Tung Chung where Citygate mall is located.

10,000 Buddha tenmple is located in lush hillside in Shatin;whilst Shenzhen is across the border from last MTR station of LoWu in the North.

Chilin nunnery is located at Diamond Hill in New Kowloon.It is on a vast ground,so half a day also.

(note:- one needs visa,which is available on arrival,at RMB150 for Shenzhen).

For a full optimum trip experience and soaking in the atmosphere, Ocean Park will require at least half a day;similarly for Giant Buddha(and also CityGate).

If plan to take the Ngong Ping cable car,try to arrive there early to minimise queue time.

Christmas decorations are lovely in HK,and it is very much a livelier experience. well, you will be there,and you will be the best judge.

Other:- Macau- you can check out Hotel Sintra, or Hotel Royal(which is located in quieter side of Macau,and close to Guia lighthouse)which are close to Senado Square,which is focal point to visit some of the heritage sites during your time there.Furthermore,hotel like Sintra,is close walk to outside eateries.

tip:- during my recent visit to HK,I had already made a confirmed booking,and two weeks before my arrival,I check some sites,and found cheaper rates,and I got the hotel to match the rates,which they did,but when I checked in-not only the rates were matched,but my room was upgraded on complimentary basis,and even came with a General Manager welcome fruit basket-with more than eight varieties of fruits,including a fruit known as dragon fruit.

can someone tell me where these attractions are (even just the main island location is fine)

the peak

giant buddha %26amp; disney land i know are on same island (lantau)

ocean park

shopping

- ladies market

- stanley

- shenzhen?

- nathan rd

- citigate outlet

10,000 buddha temple

chi lin nunnery

wong tai sin temple

is there anything on this list u would give a miss for something else? or that i should cut out coz i couldnt see all this in 5 days? any other places worth going to/must see for seesighting, shopping, etc?

Hi,

the peak-HK island

giant buddha %26amp; disney land i know are on same island (lantau)-yes,Lantau Island

ocean park- HK island

shopping

- ladies market - Mong Kok,Kowloon

- stanley-HK island

- shenzhen?- across the border,

- nathan rd-Tsim Sha Tsui,Kowloon

- citigate outlet-Tung Chung,Lantau island

10,000 buddha temple- Shatin

chi lin nunnery-Diamond Hill,New Kowloon

wong tai sin temple- next to Diamond Hill

Choose only one;either Disney or Ocean Park;as each require at least half a day,by then you will be exhausted.

Shopping at Causeway Bay-HK island.

Shenzhen- well, IMHO,I do not feel comfortable and safe here,and shopping environment is not my cup of tea.Air quality is also not good.

thanks heaps mKiaratravel! all that info is greatly appreciated!

do u agree with an earlier post that mongkok is dangerous at night (after midnight)?

oh %26amp; where is temple st night markets?

do u suggest any other shopping places or to skip any of the ones i have listed (other than shanzhen)?

Temple St night market is at Temple St, stretching from Jordan to Yau Ma Tei. You can reach the market from Jordan MTR station exit A. See link below (north is to the left in this map):

www.mtr.com.hk/jplanner/images/maps/jor.pdf

Keep in mind that Temple St is basically a flea market and so is Ladies Market at Mong Kok. If you want shopping malls:

Tsim Sha Tsui: Harbour City and Canton Road area

Causeway Bay: Times Square, Sogo

The above two has everything you%26#39;d need from budget to luxury and there is no need to go to another mall.

Some small shops are Scattered around TST%26#39;s Granville Road and Cameron Road, and similarly at Causeway Bay%26#39;s Lockhart Road and sidestreets behind Time Square.