China Travel Forum

[mishal]

Hi all,
Will be stopping over in HK on our way to the UK for two nights during September. We will be arriving in HK from Australia at 11:35pm on a Tuesday night and then are due to depart at 11:30 on the Thursday!! As this does not give us a huge amount of time to explore the city I thought I would try and get some ideas of what is not to be missed for a true HK experience...
Some of my questions are:
As we are arriving at 11:30 (probably later once through customs) will we be able to leave our luggage at the airport at such an hour?
A good accommodation and transfer package anyone is aware of that would make our life easier at that time.
Which is the best location in the city to say have the best access to everything!
All the must see and must eat tips that people can give us.
The best place to go for electrical good shopping (cameras, digital stuff) is it reliable and cheep?
Distance/ travel times from the city to the airport to catch our flight to London.
Cheers.

[kamal]

http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/aguide/baggage.html
A secure left luggage service, including short-term luggage storage is available inside the Meeters and Greeters Hall. It operates from 05:30 hours in the morning to 01:30 hours after midnight from Monday to Sunday.
LEFT BAGGAGE RATE HK$ / Piece
Up to 3 hours $35
3 hours to 24 hours $50
24 hours to 48 hours $120
Thereafter each subsequent 24 hour period or part thereof +$80
I hope it will help your tour

[jangliang]

Have been living here for 14 years, so can answer a few of your questions!
Not too sure about late night leaving your luggage - check out www.hongkongairport.com or www.hong-kong-hkg.com - some info for you there.
You will have top choose your own accommodation as I don't know your budget, but if you go over past Thorn Tree topic you will find information on cheap and not so cheap hotels.
Getting to and from the airpot is easy and quick. You can take the airport express train which gets you to Kowloon in 25 minutes or so, or into Central in 30 minutes. From there there are free buses to a number of hotels and areas. Those websites I gave you will help a bit.
Best location to see everything? Central or Kowloon/Tsim Sha Tsui probably. Cheaper in Kowloon.
Must see? In the time you have, you should go up the Peak on the peak tram. Bring camera. Ride the Star Ferry and walk a little bit up Nathan Road (in Tsim Sha Tsui) at night. Have a drink in Wanchai (your fault if you go to Lan kwai fong - pretty but v. expensive and not much going for it) in a girly bar - do NOT buy anyone else a drink except a beer for yourself! Good restaurant? LOADS! Depends what kind of food you want, but you will find all sorts in Wanchai area too. Central also for more Europe market stuff.
Good electrical shopping in HK refers to reliable and a guarantee that is valid. I have recently bought a digital camer and a digital video camer from one shop in pacific Place shopping mall. The salesmen know what they are talking about, and can explain it in English. If you choose to go to Mongkok and similar places, you face non-English speaking people who's honesty cannot be guaranteed. There are for course good and bad places to try but I cannot give you any names - sorry. (2 shops in Pacific Place - NOT the one next to McDonalds but just up and opposite from it)
That'll do for now. Let me know if you have any more specific questions. Good luck. HK is a decent enough place and is very safe. Just keep your eyes open. Oh yes, there are buses to/from the airport too that are a bit cheaper but at that time of night that you are arriving.... depends where you are going to head to for a hotel really. Lots of tourist information at the airport too.

[trisa]

To be precise, the last train from the airport is scheduled at 00:48. You should have enough time to get on it, unless your flight is late or baggage delayed.
BMTA: Use of the 12-hour clock does not imply ignorance nor any special nationality. It is a custom in many countries. Also, the Mass Transit Railway in Hong Kong is called the MTR, or Airport Express.

[Guest]

Most tourists enjoy visiting a night market for imitation handbags, and touristy souvenirs. Even if you can't find anything worth buying, the atmosphere is fun for the first time visitor. I prefer the Mon Kok market to the more touristy (and expensive) temple street. However my favourite HK restaurant is near temple street market. Fresh seafood from a tank, noisy, formika tables, rude waiters, slippery floor and dirt cheap.