Where to stay in HKG

[Cynicor]

Hi,

I'm going to Hong Kong in late Jan 09 as the final leg of my Iceland trip, and was wondering where people recommend staying, in terms of areas or even specific hotels.

I only have 4 nights there so want to be in a nice accessible area close by to as much as possible, especially night life (hopefully walking distance) and some shopping or museums/other attractions. Not sure of the budget yet, but I'm thinking reasonable standards, around $300-400 a night but maybe less.

I've tried searching the various threads but they are mostly about airport accom for stopovers, and I can't really find anything much on the various guides on the net.

Thanks

Jon

 

[vt]

depends what you are in to, nightlife for westerners is LKF over on HK side. Street shopping is mainly on the TST side.

With a budget of 300 to 400, its pretty easy. Decent hotels include.

TST - Holiday Inn, Mira.
HK - Park Lane, Holiday Inn Express

 

[serfty]

... around $300-400 a night but maybe less. ...

Is that HKD or AUD?

 

[vt]

Is that HKD or AUD?

unless your a backpacker, I dont think you would want a 300 to 400 HKD hotel.

 

[serfty]

Perhaps you could have a look at the Flyer Talk Hong Kong Forum?

There could be some useful information there ...

 

[Skyring]

Is that HKD or AUD?

To the OP: You probably want to walk to and from the nightlife rather than the museums, but public transport in Hong Kong is excellent anytime. Me, I'd be looking to find a room in TST with a balcony view of the harbour, because the nightly light show in the early evening is one of the world's great free spectaculars. Star ferries are frequent and cheap for harbour crossings - one of the world's great public transport bargains.

Taxis are cheap and plentiful. Many cabbies speak English, but if you can get your destination written out in Chinese characters that would be a help. Hotels give out cards for this purpose. Otherwise the cabbie will ring an English-speaker on his cellphone, hand the phone to you, you give your destination and give the phone back to the cabbie for the translation.

Get an Octopus card on arrival. Much like London's Oyster, it stores value and gives you the best fare on ferries, trains, trams. You can cash it in when you leave.

But I say hang onto it. You'll be back.

 

[Cynicor]

Thanks for the replies guys, and for the link Serfty. I'll have a bit of a click around there now.

The nightly rate was definitely AUD, and I was thinking of walking distance to nightlife but close to other attractions. Sort of the HKG equivalent of Orchard Rd- a few nice bars, some high end shops, tourists and close to the main places with good transport.

I'm not even sure if such a place exists but I've been looking at the Hilton Conrad, the Sheraton and the Intercontinental so far- only thing is I have no idea where each is.

Jon

 

[2muchplastic]

My preference is Tsim Sha Tsui rather than Hong Kong island itself. There's a few nice hotels around the southern end of TST (and if you get the right room - overlooking the harbour), try looking up the following: (in order of okay and within budget to pretty damn nice)
Marco Polo Prince
Marco Polo Gateway
Marco Polo Hong Kong (all three within Harbour City shopping center)
Sheraton Hong Kong
Renaissance Kowloon
and finally
The Peninsula

 

[Evan]

For a cheaper budget than mentioned.. try "Royal Plaza" Its near Mong Kok, all the markets etc... but a long way to the good night life.
Or Intercontinental Grand Stamford is also available at goot rates.. not bad location either...

Can't comment on a lot more than that since i usually stay at one of the IC's.

E

 

[superchris]

My preference is Tsim Sha Tsui rather than Hong Kong island itself. There's a few nice hotels around the southern end of TST (and if you get the right room - overlooking the harbour), try looking up the following: (in order of okay and within budget to pretty damn nice)
Marco Polo Prince
Marco Polo Gateway
Marco Polo Hong Kong (all three within Harbour City shopping center)
Sheraton Hong Kong
Renaissance Kowloon
and finally
The Peninsula

The Peninsula!!!....be still my palpitating aorta!. Rates start at about USD725/night. I have just got back last week from Hong Kong and had a great stay at the Sheraton Towers across the road from the Peninsula. Great service from the Towers staff and an awesome harbour view I could never get tired of.

 

[pyffii]

Can highly recommend the Grand Stamford..Stayed there many times and the harbour view rooms are spectacular...added with the king size beds,fluffy pillows and strong shower pressure makes for a great stay...The buffet breakfast is awesome and the GS being 10 minutes from TST makes for a slightly quieter and less hectic environment...Lots of good restaurants nearby and a supermarket for all those necessaries

 

[sng1971]

For a great boutique hotel, try JIA in Causeway Bay. Designed by Phillippe Stark, we got a suite last weekend for just under AUS$300 (you get a better deal if you book closer to the time, as long as there is availability).

I've been there 3 times - I don't even consider anywhere else now. Great personalised service - as opposed to the anonymity of a big hotel chain. There's even a kitchenette if you feel like a home cooked meal (although I don't know why you'd bother with great restaurants like the private kitchen Le Marron 2 minutes walk away). Rooms are fantastic - trendy chic with plasma screens et al.

You'll have a ball. Enjoy.

 

[Keith009]

For walking distance to nightlife, try Hotel LKF. As the name suggests it's right where LKF is, just up the stairs from the bars. It's located on Hollywood Rd itself. I've 'unofficially' stayed there oops and it's a pretty sleek, contemporary place - even a little bit hip.

You also have to get a drink at Felix Bar, top floor of the Peninsula. It's super trendy (pity same can't be said of the rest of the hotel...) and the 'in place' atm. Great coughtails and v glamourous setting. Designed by Phillip Starck, the highlight for me was the glass urinals so you can enjoy the views outside whilst you pee.

Legal Drinking Age Check

 

[Evan]

HK seems to have hotel rates that are up and down a lot... and even when a usually cheaper hotel will be stupidly expensive, even more so than the usually expensive 5 star ones.
Shop around !
E

 

[straitman]

Thanks for the replies guys, and for the link Serfty. I'll have a bit of a click around there now.

The nightly rate was definitely AUD, and I was thinking of walking distance to nightlife but close to other attractions. Sort of the HKG equivalent of Orchard Rd- a few nice bars, some high end shops, tourists and close to the main places with good transport.

I'm not even sure if such a place exists but I've been looking at the Hilton Conrad, the Sheraton and the Intercontinental so far- only thing is I have no idea where each is.

Jon

Cynicor,

Here is a HK map that is very useful with a little playing around. Click on the word 'English' near the top left to get the English version.

Hong Kong Map

 

[Cynicor]

Thanks guys

So no one recommends the conrad in central? It seems to have good reviews, and the name "central" gives me the impression it's close to nightlife and shopping... is this the case or is it a business centre?

Jon M

 

[Keith009]

Thanks guys

So no one recommends the conrad in central? It seems to have good reviews, and the name "central" gives me the impression it's close to nightlife and shopping... is this the case or is it a business centre?

Jon M

Paging simongr for reviews of the Conrad.

Central is the area where LKF is, as well as some shopping. The SoHo area in general has v good nightlife and eating places. And as you guessed Central is also the financial district.

There are also other pockets of nightlife, such as in Wan Chai (I'm sure you'd find your way to Dusk Till Dawn in no time after acquiring some new drinking buddies in LKF ) and across the harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui (sp??), Kowloon.

As well, there is also good shopping in Kowloon (Nathan Rd area, near the Sheraton and Pen) as well as Times Square, a huge shopping mall in Causeway Bay which is 2 stops away from Central on the v easy-to-navigate subway system.

A friend of mine swears by the Renaissance above the Exhibiton Centre, which is located in Wan Chai and within staggering distance of some v good pubs - though personally I reckon WC is more of a "after party" kind of location and I'd rather start out in LKF or something like that Felix place i mentioned above.

 

[straitman]

Thanks guys

So no one recommends the conrad in central? It seems to have good reviews, and the name "central" gives me the impression it's close to nightlife and shopping... is this the case or is it a business centre?

Jon M

Cynicor,

Unless my memory is failing (and it is) the Conrad is on HK Island. Great Hotel but doesn't sound to be where you are looking for.

 

[Keith009]

I believe Conrad is in v close proximity to Admiralty MTR station, which is only a stop away from Central MTR. From there only 5-10mins walk tops to LKF, with v clear signs leading the way.

 

[Evan]

All i can say is taxi's are not that expensive... so LKF is always within reach but easier not to be too far away if you into that night after night... tempting... some great bars and clubs there. On busy nights the whole streets are just full of people moving between bars.

Anybody tried the restaurants near the top of the street like the steak place on the corner ?

E