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I’m currently running a weekly competition where readers can win prizes (including the chance to win a Grand Prize of 2,000 Norwegian CashPoints worth ~£185) just for sharing tips on the InsideFlyer forum about destinations I’ll be travelling to soon!
Week One was all about Madrid and Week Two focused on Shanghai – the advice offered has been brilliant so far, so many thanks to everyone who has contributed!
I’ll be picking a winning entry from Week 2 later today (so you’ve still got a chance to enter if you haven’t already!), but won’t announce any winners until the end of the competition, so as not to discourage anyone from sharing tips about other destinations too (you can only win one week 😉 ).
All of which brings me to this week’s destination: Hong Kong.
The last time I was in Hong Kong was a couple of years ago, but this time I’m taking my parents for a whirlwind 24-hour trip en route to somewhere else, so really want to pack in as much as possible.
All tips are very welcome – but particularly things like:
- Recommendations on what to see/do/eat/drink
- Thoughts on the best hotels (particularly sweetspots using points! Any suggestions for somewhere central would be highly appreciated).
- Tips on how to get around
- Best airport lounges and other airport info
- Best ways to fly there using points/miles
- Amusing/interesting stories about the destination/travelling there
Win Prizes
At the end of each week, I will pick my favourite comment from the forum thread (most useful, funniest, etc) and the author of that comment will win a small prize!*
More excitingly, the winner from each week will also be entered into the Grand Prize Draw, where one of them will be randomly selected to win 2,000 Norwegian Reward Cashpoints (worth ~£185 off any Norwegian flight).
The destination for Week Three is Hong Kong- head over to the forum page now to help me, share your knowledge, and be in with a chance to win!
*Limited Edition InsideFlyer bag tags most likely, but possibly something else depending on what I can get my hands on.
Klook has discount Hong Kong express tickets that work from ur phone via qr. https://www.klook.com/invite/QUQ87?c=GBP gets a 25hkd discount coupon. Also has good value car transfers and wifi etc.
If you use uber from the airport to get to your hotel book it till its close and wait before you go wait outside for it; last visit spent 15 minutes in a hot backlot carpark waiting for it.
If you are staying at the IC and your budget stretches to a suite beg for room 305 or the rooms around it with a balcony; https://www.flickr.com/photos/u07ch/43565865515/in/dateposted/
Visit the the Ritz Carlton ozone bar to see the view from above rather than than sky 100
Many thanks Chris! – I’ll take a look at Klook now.
Sadly I don’t think the budget stretches to a suite at the IC this time, but that view is pretty damn tempting…
More Hong Kong tips and conversation on the forum here
Many years ago, I grabbed an early morning coffee and ran to catch the Star Ferry. It was a moment in time that made me feel that “ yes, I could really be good at this world traveler thing”. I was part of the Hong Kong scene, not just looking at it..
I can’t recall EVER going between Kowloon and Hong Kong without taking the ferry. Just one of those iconic things to do in Hong Kong…
Flying with Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific and staying in Hong Kong for minimum three nights qualifies you for various free sightseeing packages. Particularly recommended are the ‘Deluxe Hong Kong Island Combo’ which includes a visit to Victoria Peak and Aberdeen Fishing Village, and the ‘Old Hong Kong Experience’ which includes a guided Old Town walking tour and a dramatic evening sail around Victoria Harbour in an authentic Chinese fishing junk – all for free in conjunction with your flight booking! And for book lovers, a visit to Swindon’s bookshop is a must – one of the best bookshops I have been in anywhere in the world.
Cheers Graham – I had no idea about the Cathay sightseeing packages and love a good bookshop so will definitely try to check Swindon’s out!
Hi Joe,
A couple of links here to point you in the right direction:
The Cathay sightseeing packages:
http://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_GB/offers/collection/your-little-piece-of-hong-kong.html
Swindon Bookshop:
http://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/shopping/swindon-book-co
Enjoy!
Cheers, Graham
Even better! -thanks again!
Personally I would try to move some of those Shanghai nights to Hong Kong, unless you’re doing a 23 hour layover in HKG on a PVG-HKG-elsewhere paid flight.
Aye – I probably would too given a completely free choice, but there’s a few factors in play:
1) I haven’t been to Shanghai (or ‘proper’ China actually) as an adult, so I’m really quite intrigued, even if it’s not super easy.
2) I’ve got an AA Cathay award booked with a 23 hour stopover in HKG (though I suppose it wouldn’t really be a meaningful amount of points/miles/cash to change that).
3) My parents are arriving in Shanghai a few days days after me, before we continue on to HKG and elsewhere together. Given the early morning arrival and the potential for difficulties/stress, I’d rather be in town to sort things out if required, rather than stick them straight on another flight.
I would recommend the Cordis hotel on Kowloon side. (Formerly Langham). This hotel is by far the best value of the 5 star hotels in Hong Kong. It’s attached to a huge mall with everything. You can eat in the decent food hall there and also it has a supermarket and also m&s food shop if you felt like an egg sandwich!!
So gives you an option to not pay through the nose for meals and also it’s air conditioned and also it’s right near the Mong Kok mtr and you can get to the markets. This is a very authentic area of town. I feel that staying in central is like staying in the cbd.
I noticed the cordis has some quite good cancellable rates on their site but depends when you are going. It could range from $1160hkd to $2000hkd per night.
If you join the 1865 Langham club you maybe able to get up to the next tier with just three stays. Need to research whether your parents room stay would count for your 1865 account.
Anyway there aren’t too many hacks I could discover for HK. It’s an expensive place no matter how you plan it.
For harbour view someone recommended YMCA Salisbury but still not cheap. Also we went to have a look at it today and the area doesn’t look as convenient as the Cordis for amenities.
CX premium awards for EUR-HKG via AS USED to be a sweet spot but they have been totally clamped with CX not releasing anything at all since mid June.
Sorry I posted this in the wrong place, I’ll repost on the forum thread.
Thanks Lesley!