Where to stay in Hong Kong?

[fmxa]

I'm passing through Hong Kong this Christmas on the tail end of my honeymoon and need a hotel recommendation! I'm looking for something with a view of the harbour and the hi-rise skyline (like you always see in the movies ). Not certain if Kowloon is better than HK island etc, so any advice is welcome!

[jimmybondi]

I'm passing through Hong Kong this Christmas on the tail end of my honeymoon and need a hotel recommendation! I'm looking for something with a view of the harbour and the hi-rise skyline (like you always see in the movies ). Not certain if Kowloon is better than HK island etc, so any advice is welcome!

Paul,

we stayed at the Conrad Hilton, which was OK, dunno about the view though...I think the Peninsula has the best view.

You should plan a trip to Victoria peak in the late afternoon to get a good view of the skyline when sunset begins...

Here is a pic from the Hilton Suite:

Is this what your lady is looking for?

(I don't give a *%$% what's outside of the window, but the spouse is insisting on sea/harbour views )

Edited October 24, 2006 by jimmybondi

[kccparis]

Htatt - Harbour - Breakfast on the 54 floor -good value for money!

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Hyatt?

[esprithk]

damn...you guys are rich....(reading all the hotel name...you only have not mentioned Four Seasons or Mandarin Oriental)

anyway, for view of harbour, this hotel is great!!

(1) try this web site

http://asia-hotel.net

(2) recommendation, because it is located at Causeway Bay!!

http://www.asia-hotel.net/excelsior-hotel-...ng-kong-island/

(3) for Kowloon side, you may consider this one (the best view)

**it was Regent Hotel, but now changed owner..

http://www.asia-hotel.net/intercontinental...loon-hong-kong/

Remember to PM me before you & your wife arrive HK...(My Esprit will be ready by Christmas)

**trust me, it is very hard to spot an Esprit in HK..

I am food-lover, so I can really give you recommendation on where to eat.

and I can give you a plan about where to go sightseeing...(including Macau)

**yes, you must add Macau to your Honeymoon....Macau is beautiful and has great food, too

If you really can arrange 2 days to Macau, try to make booking of the Wynn Casino (city-center)

http://www.wynnmacau.com/

but Macau, San-Diego Hotel is also very famous because it is a 130years old historical mansion!!

another great hotel is Westin Resort, Macau

Edited October 24, 2006 by esprithk

[bramble111s]

My advice would be find a reasonable hotel, I stay here http://www.hong-kong-hotels.ws/miramar-hotel/

'Miramar' - it is cheaper than most, but perfectly adequate, depends on if you want luxuary or spending money!

It is just off Nathan Road, a tourist strip in Kowloon, a 5 minute walk to the seafront and views of the Island skyline.

Penisula is great for afternoon tea, there is often a queue, about

[internets]

Grand Hyatt next to the Conference centre and Star ferry, expensive but worth it...mind you I've never had to pay Great resturant in the hotel called 'One Harbour Road' ...but again never paid

[fmxa]

Thanks guys this is fantastic - keep sending those recommendations and things to do!!!

[jimmybondi]

...

If you are feeling brave go in one of the local eaterys, can be found on the streets between Nathan Road and the sea front, they look pretty grotty, but good food and lots of green tea!

Things you will encounter -

Your green tea will be CONSTANTLY topped up, they usually start pouring from about a foot away, so watch your legs!

As soon as you put the last mouth full of food into your mouth, 3 people will snatch you plate away!

...Enjoy!

Yes, I remember those ones - full 3 course dinner finished in 10-15 minutes

There is a nice and decent seafood restaurant near the riverside, but can't recall the name right now - and you should definitely try 'Dim Sum' sort of Chinese Tapas...

damn...you guys are rich....(reading all the hotel name...you only have not mentioned Four Seasons or Mandarin Oriental)

No we are not, we are driving LOTUS

...you only have not mentioned Four Seasons or Mandarin Oriental)

We stayed at the Oriental in Bangkok this June (Girlfriend insisted to go there) and met Patpong, Chale and Low there

I have to admit, it's a nice place to stay...and still affordable (compared to European / Western Luxury Hotels)

Edited October 25, 2006 by jimmybondi

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Got to love the forum!

There's usually someone who lives wherever you're going (or near enough) and plenty who have been themselves!

[fmxa]

Well, I've spent the last week looking at hotels, web sites and general stuff to do in HK, and in the end I was so overwhelmed I ended up winging it and doing a Priceline "name your own price" thing (as I've had really good luck with this in the past, and we aren't planning on spending much time in the hotel anyway!). So we ended up with a five star hotel in Kowloon "The Langham Place Hotel" for just over a US $100 a night - can't beat that!

Eric, my wife wants to know where the best Dim Sum in HK is! Hope to see you in December.

[bramble111s]

OH NO!!! Not the Langham Place!!!!

Sorry! Only joking, I have no idea about that hotel, certainly a 'bargain'! Hope you have a great trip,

Just booked up my April 07 visit a few days ago...

[esprithk]

Hi, fmxa...

oh...Langham Hotel...(that's Mong Kok)

ok area for shopping but not for sleeping....(it's also located at the red light district, man)

well it is also above the MTR (subway) station, so it is very easy to get arround, and most kowloon buses must pass Mong Kok...you won't be paying too much on transportation, too

concerning Dim Sum, it is in Happy Valley (very expensive)

**have you tried US$12 for 2pieces of prawn dumpling? haha....(other restaurant is normal price only US$4 for 4pieces and already very good)

this TOP QUALITY restuarant is simply called "DIM SUM"

there are many good Dim Sum, you may consider

(1)in TST area, go to Peking Duck Restaurant for the "Peking Duck, of course)

(2)in Causeway Bay, go to the"Lee's theater" , many cantonese dim sum restaurant there.

(3)in Causeway Bay, find the Manulife building...next to it is a very famous Chiu Chow restaurant (Park Lok)

(4)there is a local Chinese BBQ restaurants called "Tai Han"...very famous BBQ porks and duck...very reasonable prices...but you can also get very good taste chinese BBQ from the fast food chain called "cafe de corel" **price is approx US$3 per dish of BBQ port with rice

(5)for Wanton noodles, you must go to Central or Causeway Bay

**in Central, only one name "Mak's Noodle Co Ltd (and need only to know one street, very near the escalator and the SOHO, LKF area)

**in Causeway Bay, there are 3 major "famous" Wanton noodle stores (inlcuding Mak's Noodle Co Ltd ). you can try all 3 if you want to taste the difference....(each bowl of wanton noodle is US$3.40, so this is not the normal grade....this is very high grade wanton noodle)

**the other 2 shops are ...Chi Kee Wonton Noodle & Hoi Hun Kee (behind Lee's Theater)

(6)there are also 2 very very good sushi/sasumi "train" in Causeway Bay

**expecting US$30 per person

names are "Mi-ne Sushi" & (the other one is behind the World Trade Center building next to the Exclesior hotel, Causeway Bay...so you won't miss it)

NOTE: the waiting is crazy in these japanese restaurant, you may need to wait one to two hour to get a table

HK people lover to wait for foods...I don't even understand this myself.

(7)for Shanghai food, you can find a very very good one (called "snow garden") **near the Mercede Benz dealer in Causeway Bay.. VERY VERY GOOD but also expensive.

http://www.snow-garden.com/

but for Shanghai style dim sum, there is one between the "radio city" building and the SOGO building in Causeway Bay (hennessy road) *name is Nang Shang Sho Rong

the pork dumpling is just excellent (the mother shop is in Shanghai..over 100years old so this tells you something)

(8)for very good roasted duck..real Beijing taste, you may visit the restaurant next to the "Wanchai Chinese Craftmanship department store" **very close to the immigration office

**mother shop is also in Beijing!! so they are the very best (136years old shop)

http://www.quanjude.com.cn/defult.html

Edited November 10, 2006 by esprithk

[fmxa]

DUDE! SWEET!

ok area for shopping but not for sleeping....(it's also located at the red light district, man)

[esprithk]

don't forget to visit Temple street and Lady's street between 6pm and 12pm.

it is a must do tourist attraction.

also, you may try the local egg tart (a desert cake), milk pudding, or egg pudding..

you will be gaining alot of weight by end of the trip...haha

**for romantic dinner, and be part of long history (high-society) of HONG KONG

you may book dinner (I believe it is French foods) at the Repulse Bay Hotel restaurant..*you cannot just walk in and expect a seat.... **the restaurant & hotel is over 130years old

after dinner, you can walk along the beaches of Repulse Bay..

**dinner, including wine is approx US$100 per person

also, you must visit the PEAK, and have romantic dinner in the evening at the CAFE DECO...(western, indian BBQ, Thailand)

for Thailand food, there is a good Thai restaurant called "CAFE SPICY" in Central district

**my British friend's Thailand wife recommand it to me, so it must be good....

Grand Hyatt next to the Conference centre and Star ferry, expensive but worth it...mind you I've never had to pay Great resturant in the hotel called 'One Harbour Road' ...but again never paid

hmm...there is a club called "JJ" in Grand Hyatt (great entertainment club)

I wonder if it still exists....I have not returned there for 10years already...mostly go to LKF now.

Edited November 10, 2006 by esprithk

[esprithk]

ok for the topic of what to do in HK

you are lucky to visit HK at Christmas time....

it will be the period of "HOT SALE" ...expecting up to 60% off on some of the European labels (I wonder if this will make them cheaper than the Paris shops??)

**good places to shop

(1)Time Square, Causeway Bay = Land Crawford

(2)Ocean Terminal, TST = over 1300 shops, including major top name like Cartier, YSL, Christian Dior, Channi, Fendi, etc..... (your wife will be very happy. bring all your credit cards with you, man!)

**I forget to mention there is a great Shanghai noodle shop and an excellent Japanese noodle shop (they make the noodle daily in limited supply)

(3)Mong Kok..."Temple Street", "Lady Street" and alot of funky shops that sell "japan fashion trend cloths and accessories" to young people..." (I won't recommand any restaurant in Mong Kok area....except those in the Langham Hotel/Shopping Centre, where you will be staying)

REMARK: your hotel is very very new, so don't worry!!! it is a good hotel, only the problem with location...

you will like it!!

(4)go to try "Live Sea Foods"...**yes, pick the fish you want to kill, and they will prepare the dish for you!

location = in Lei Yue Mun (take MTR to Nam Tin first and then take TAXI)

location 2 = in Sai Kung (this one is quite far, you must have someone to drive you there, but the sea foods are better. also you get to eat along the ocean bay area...the environment just suit better for seafood)

[esprithk]

sightseeing by walking

(1)Bowen Road

**see some of the night photo here

http://www.pbase.com/ediwan4/wanchai

**this road is also great for morning/afternoon walk.

besides the view of HK landscape from middle of the mountain. there is a "LOVER"S ROCK" attraction.

people who seek love will visit this ROCK and pray to GOD for "love (finding a wife)"

since you are newly wedded...you shall visit this LOVER'S ROCK and give thanks to Heaven..

haha...

way to get there **starting point (by taxi, start from Central, near the PEAK TRAM TERMINAL)

it's across from the HK park

REMARK: Bowen Road is also one of the "very expensive properties district, so you get to see how the richest lives in HK (it's part of the so called "mid-level district")

(2)Nathan Road

**yes, take a walk on Nathan Road after shopping or dinner at TST district... just like one has mentioned...

every once a while, people asking you to buy fake Rolex and copied LV bags on the street...

(Chung Heng Mansion building)

**after walk, you may go to the top floor of "Sheraton hotel" and has a drink and view HK's victoria harbor at the same time...beautiful sight!! (a recommendation to do)

expecting the drink to be US$20 per person ....(live singer performing, too)

(3)SOGO walk to PARK LANE HOTEL and then to Victoria Park

**heart of Causeway Bay

other things to remember

**always try to locate the closest supermarket (called WELLCOME or PARK'IN SHOP *some are 24hours)

to get daily supplies...

NOTE: hotel foods and drinks are crazily priced!!

(4) HORSE RACING

every Wednesday (evening race, happy valley of HK side) and every Saturday or Sunday (afternoon race, Shatin, New Territories)

entrance fee is HK$10...but you can get in FREE after the 4th race

(5) travel from Causeway Bay to Central by TRAM...it is the cheapest transport in HK (only HK$2.20 per person...for an ONE hour tour of HK island!!

(6) take the STAR FERRY in the evening from Central to TST

(7) IFC centre *the tallest building and financial centre of HK

NOTE: right above the "city airport check-in terminal

**for shopping, movie, and a walk to Central, LKF...

(8) LASCAR ROW street...and HOLLYWOOD road

LASCAR ROW street = cheap chinese antique (toward end of Central district, starting of Shan Wan district)

HOLLYWOOD road = major chinese antique (expensive and large size), art gallery **close to LKF

(9)temples to visit

**Repulse Bay beach (yes, there is a temple at the beach) *very large godness figures...)

**near LASCAR ROW street = there is an old temple for scholar (which means parents pray for the school grade of their children, to study hard)

**Stanley Market (yes, there is a temple at Stanley

(10)Stanley Market

**great for Saturday, Sunday lunch...(kind of like San Francisco fisherman's wharf.. people sit outside to enjoy weather and food...but you will be coming in Christmas time, that may be too cold to do it....

Edited November 10, 2006 by esprithk

[fmxa]

Eric, I can't thank you enough, this is amazing! I'll buy dinner in a restaurant of your choice!

Paul

[esprithk]

haha....so do I get to pick the restaurant, too (I would prefer that Repulse Bay one...haha..)

**anyway, for night life, you may visit

(1) Insomia **the security black guy is called James**......best music in town...located in LKF

(2) Dust till Dawn **there is no vampire in this club, don't worry(haha).....same restaurant group as Insomia but this one is in Wanchai

remark: do not go into the striper clubs in Wanchai area...they are ripped off (nothing to see due to the HK law, it's only Bikinis ladies) and they only want to get you to buy expensive drink...

(3) Joe Banana in Wanchai

(4) JJ club of Grand Hyatt in Wanchai (again, no idea if this club is still there)

(5) Manhattan club **called the "In's" before.... in the Renaissance hotel that's located also next to the Wanchai convention/exhibition centre..

other REMARKS:

HK's famous restaurant groups are these 2 giant cooperation (each owns more than 30 restaurants)

(1)King Parrot Group...their restaurants are mostly located in TST, Knosfort Road (I may spell wrong)

http://www.kingparrot.com/eng/index.php

(2)the Igors Group (which operates Ocean Park, too) , they are active in LKF

http://igors.com

by the way, I have gotten to mention to visit 2 big temples (unless you are christians or believers of other religion group)

(1) Wong Tai Sin Temple **it is also a MTR (subway) station

(2) the biggest status of Buddah in Asia, located at Lan Tau Island (that's the island of airport

other attraction :

(1)Disneyland Hong Kong **the smallest disney in the world. you will be able to finish everything in one day.

NOTE: personally, I have actually written a chinese guide on the internet to how to finish this Disneyland (including show schedule) in one day

(2)Ocean Park **they have a very great Aquarium.....those fishes are huge

NOTE: you can find some of those fishes in the chinese restaurant menu of HK...haha

(3)a 20 minutes ride of cable car to the "biggest Budda of Asia

http://www.np360.com.hk

(4)Tai-0 village..ok this is one of the very early settlement of local fisherman village..

very very interesting to visit (about 30minutes by bus from the "biggest Buddah of Asia")

but if you see both the Budda status and Tai-O village...the schedule of a day may be quite busy...

http://www.bighongkong.com/bhk-photo/taio/

Edited November 12, 2006 by esprithk

[fmxa]

Repulse Bay for dinner it is then, how about the Dec 21st?

[esprithk]

Repulse Bay for dinner it is then, how about the Dec 21st?

haha....don't get serious....I would never ask people to treat me a US$100 dinner...

anyway, here is the map of the subway (MTR) **including future planning route..

by the way, I have a plan to visit Korea between 12/23 and 1/3

therefore, please tell (PM) me your schedule so I can get ready to be your tour guide.

haha...

Edited November 12, 2006 by esprithk