What to do with approx 7 hour stopover at Hong Kong?

[Canada]

Would it be too stressful to try and go somewhere if never been there before and be back in time? Off-hand I can't remember the exact stopover time but it's cathay pacific into HK at about 5.50am and then out (to Perth) in afternoon, I think about 2/230 pm.
thanks.
Edited - date is 28 or 29 august 2015

 

[clazman]

Side trip to Disneyland through CX... or sure you can spend the 7 hours going through the shops at HK airport.

I will be going through there in a week, we normally pop into the lounge have a shower and breakfast and then explore the shops

 

[NM]

While its possible to get into HK or Kowloon in that time, your problem, is the early morning arrival. HK does not really come to life very early in the morning. So arriving before 6am, getting though immigration and onto the train would have you in HK by around 7:30-8am. Not much will be open then apart from the wet markets and Starbucks. You could take the Star Ferry over the harbour (that will be operating). But not many other tourist type things nor shopping will be open. Things start to come alive around 10-11am.

For a 2pm departure for which you are already checked-in, I would be planning to leave HK Station no later than midday.

 

[yohy?!]

i'd take the airport express to kowloon station and have yum cha at the W hotel, if you're feeling decadent then head up to the ritz carlton at ICC for a spa treatment (gives you a view of the whole of HK island from the 100th floor which beats the star ferry!).

you can then do some shopping around elements mall (which has a better range of shops than the airport) or even catch a movie or go ice skating.

there are also a number of western and chinese restaurants in Sky100 dining at the ICC that also give great views.

all within a 5 minute walk to the airport express train back which takes 25 mins on the return trip minimising your hassle in getting around whilst still getting some good r & r time in

 

[RooFlyer]

Not stressful. The airport train is totally reliable and integrated into the terminal; just make sure you are back at the airport 2 hours prior to your departure. Allowing for an hour through immigration (won't take that long), you'll have about 4-5 hours at liberty; 30 mins each way into town, so 3-4 hours to see stuff. Worth doing!!

I would get off the airport train at Central; walk round down-town a bit (no need for anything to be open) - you might get as far as Hong Kong Park. Then to the Star Ferry Terminal, catch the ferry across to Kowloon. Walk east along the foreshore where the elevated viewing platform is, as far as you want to, then loop back west to Nathan road; and further across to the Ocean terminal / Harbour City malls which should be open by that time. Large, and aircon!!

If the weather is hot, then you might just want to inhabit the many shopping malls.

A classic thing to do is the Peak Tram to one of the lookouts behind the city, but on a tight time frame that may be stressful and not worth it.

Lots more to see, but that's just the skeleton. Unfortunately its tricky to get onto the Airport Line from downtown Kowloon - Kowloon station for the airport is a bit to the west. May just jump in a cab (good and metered).

 

[Revolio]

shop till you drop

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Would it be too stressful to try and go somewhere if never been there before and be back in time? Off-hand I can't remember the exact stopover time but it's cathay pacific into HK at about 5.50am and then out (to Perth) in afternoon, I think about 2/230 pm.
thanks.
Edited - date is 28 or 29 august 2015

I'm with NM on this one. 6.30am is really early to be there for a wander about - lots of shops will be closed. However... if you're happy to grab a cup of coffee at starbucks, and/or have a McMuffin at MacDonalds, there'd be things to do like ride the tram on HK Island (from Central to Happy Valley and back), and the Star Ferry. You can go to the Peak fairly early (first tram is at 7am).

If you want to do a bit of 'fun' shopping, perhaps a souvenir of your time in HK, I'd recommend somewhere like G.O.D (goods of desire), a quirky shop with some interesting stuff: Bestsellers they have everything from cards to household items to furnishings and perhaps a browse around Shanghai Tang.

 

[Canada]

Side trip to Disneyland through CX... or sure you can spend the 7 hours going through the shops at HK airport.

I will be going through there in a week, we normally pop into the lounge have a shower and breakfast and then explore the shops

thanks for that link.
I notice you are Qantas FF member. Which lounge do you use? CX or Qantas? I am a Qantas FF member but not a CX member. Do you know if it's worth joining to get points for perth - toronto / new york - perth all on Cathay? I have to pay $50 to get points credited on cathay due to my 'group' booking status.
Plus do you pay for the lounge? I have 290000 Qantas points but no status points ( bronze).
thanks.

 

[clazman]

I notice you are Qantas FF member. Which lounge do you use? CX or Qantas?

I generally visit multiple lounges, QF for food and CX for showers. Clazgirl likes to drink Canadian Dry which on the last trip was only available in the CX lounge

I am a Qantas FF member but not a CX member. Do you know if it's worth joining to get points for perth - toronto / new york - perth all on Cathay? I have to pay $50 to get points credited on cathay due to my 'group' booking status.

I would have thought crediting to a QF FF number would be the best idea as you are based in Australia, saying that if you see yourself flying CX a lot it could be worth the effort. I am sure CX expert will add a comment

thanks for that link.
Plus do you pay for the lounge? I have 290000 Qantas points but no status points ( bronze).
thanks.

No, I don't pay for lounge access due to QF gold status, flying business (J) with CX and have a on hold QF club membership.

If you are a frequent flyer with QF I think a paid QF club membership is worth while, if not you have a few option

1. Day pass lounge , Clazgirl uses this at HK when I am not traveling with her
2. Ebay / Gumtree you can buy QF lounge passes about $50 per person (unsure if you can come and go like day pass)
3. Some credit cards give access -sure a expert will advise which ones

 

[clazman]

Sorry forgot to say

AFF membership @ $50, gives a discount on QF club membership, if that is the path you take

 

[MEL_Traveller]

thanks for that link.
I notice you are Qantas FF member. Which lounge do you use? CX or Qantas? I am a Qantas FF member but not a CX member. Do you know if it's worth joining to get points for perth - toronto / new york - perth all on Cathay? I have to pay $50 to get points credited on cathay due to my 'group' booking status.
Plus do you pay for the lounge? I have 290000 Qantas points but no status points ( bronze).
thanks.

If you are flying CX economy (or premium economy) you will not be able to access lounges without status. This includes any qantas lounge, even if you buy Qantas Club membership or an American Airlines lounge membership (which has access rights to QF lounges).

Your options are to fly business class, or purchase access from one of the third party lounges such as Plaza Premium lounges. These can be quite expensive however, with HKG starting at something like HKD480 for a block of a few hours.

 

[JohnK]

If you had Gold status and above then that's just enough time for a lounge crawl.

 

[Alanslegal]

Train to Central, taxi up to The Peak, enjoy the view for a bit and absorb Hong Kong's skyline (fingers crossed it's a clear'ish sky). Take a taxi back down to a very traditional yum cha place like Lin Heung Tea House on Wellington Street, Central. It's one of the craziest yum cha places that I have ever been to where its 'find your own seat or table if lucky, you share with others too, also when the odd food trolley comes out, rush to the trolley, fight for your food and be prepared that you might even get scolded by the waitress if you get too assertive with them'. Here's the tea house and there's more suggestions on what to do in HKG

Hong Kong: 10 Things to Do — 2. Lin Heung Tea House - TIME

After that walk down to the pier, catch a Star Ferry accross TST and then go to the nearest airport train station to get back to the airport.

 

[dajop]

Noticed some discrepancy in suggested times for return (2 hrs before flight either leave Hong Kong to come back to airport or be back at that time)


If you have through checked luggage and have boarding pass already (which I expect you will) leaving central Hong Kong 2 hrs before the flight should leave plenty of time still to clear immigration/security and proceed to gate.

I wouldn't bother about pay lounge access. Spend that money on Hong Kong on food and drinks.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

...taxi up to The Peak... Take a taxi back down

I would try and take the cable car at least one way (perhaps down is better that going up). Piece of HK history!

 

[harvyk]

If it was me, I'd catch a train into Kowloon and go have breakfast somewhere. As others have said, nothing opens before 10:30am / 11:00am, but there is certainly no shortage of decent cafes open at that time (one I tend to end up at is on Mody road, down near the Nathan road end)

I'd then take the tram to the peak (via the star ferry, dodging the Nathan Road hawkers) then heading back to Central I'd be catching the train out to the airport. You might also consider getting measured for a suit, it only takes about 30 minutes, and most places will send a suit back to Australia.

Yes it is possible to fit all that in in 4 to 5 hours and still have some airport lounge time.

 

[kelvedon]

The star ferry to Hong Kong Island and the tram up to the peak would be my choice. The view from the top is awesome if you have a clear day.