HongKong guided tours

[trio leo]

We're off to HK soon, has anyone had experience of the guided tours? read about a 3 hour guided tour of the Mongkok area for £78, but it doesn't include food.

Any HK experiences would be appreciated :)

cheers Al

[Tim]

Let me get back to you later Al, I know Hong Kong reasonably well, but I have never been on a guided tour. Just about to sit down for lunch at the mo'.

[Techno Commander]

It is just as easy to walk around Mongkok and save the money. Get the MTR there and walk back to Kowloon. Lots of shops and markets to keep you occupied.
Do visit the Victoria peak restaurant though. It is excellent. The giant buddha at Ngong Ping is a good day out. Get the train to Tung Chung and then the cable car. Street food is also really good, tasty and cheap.

If you need to impress the missus, visit Opal Mine (http://opalmine.com/) in Kowloon for some shiny trinkets. :)

[Tim]

I echo the above, I'm not one for guided tours personally and I'd rather discover stuff myself on foot. Buy a guide book and take the MTR (Mass Transit Railway - the subway) to either Prince Edward or Mong Kok station and walk around. It's only a 2 mile walk back to Kowloon along Nathan Road, which I think you would enjoy and you can take your time. The only slight snag with Nathan Road, which I hate, are the hawkers trying to sell you a suit, watch, jewellery or other crap. They are not even locals either! They tend to congregate more at the southern end of Nathan Rd.

Other things I and my friends have enjoyed whilst in Hong Kong are below, but depends on what type of person you are and what you want from your holiday, so YMMV. But some suggestions;

The Peak - a must do really, great views if the weather is good. Go up by taxi or bus, come back on the train/tram. The restaurant is really good too.

Wan Chai & Lan Kwai Fong are where the ex-pats go out, great pubs and atmosphere. Lockhart Road in Wan Chai is where it all happens mostly. There is a great bar called Amazonia on the junction of Luard Road and Jaffe Road, live music every night (loud) from Philippino bands, it's packed and popular amongst the ex-pats and there are a lot of 'friendly' girls in there too, so if that makes you uncomfortable, then maybe it's not the place to go. It's a lot of fun though and I have often left there when it's getting light outside! :) If you're not a party person it might be a bit too full on here, but worth a look. The bands are normally great fun.

The Wanch around the corner is more sedate with good local bands and visiting artists, their acoustic nights are very good. It's a small bar though, so it's busy when a good band or artist plays.

Stanley market, get the bus over to Stanley - fantastic way to see more of the island and with a different and quieter perspective. This is the place to buy your holiday souvenirs too IMO, cheaper than central.

The Globe pub, great food and atmosphere, their home made pies are to die for and they have an extensive range of micro brewery beers.

Grappa's Cellar - first Saturday of the month they have a jazz/swing band (The Stray Katz Big Band), it's wonderful, especially when the local semi-pro dancers get up and give it a whirl. Food is OK (Italian mostly), but you don't go there for the food. Book early if you are going as it's chocker block every single time, a truly fantastic night out, but they are only there first Saturday of the month.

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Afternoon tea at The Peninsula Hotel - wonderful, ala tea at The Ritz style and a hark back to colonial days.

Aqua Spirit (http://aqua.com.hk/?oid=5) bar is rated as one of the top bars in the world, due to the view. It's at the top of the One Peking tower, Peking Rd, Kowloon. Go there at dusk and watch the show on the island - drinks are not cheap, so order one, enjoy the show and move on ;) Not easy to find either, go into the building and up the escalators, the lifts are to the right on the wall. The buttons inside indicate where the bar is. I recommended you don't miss this bar, especially at night. The restaurant below is also very good, but also not cheap.

Try some street food too, it really is very good and I have never been sick eating HK street food.

The Felix Bar, also in The Peninsula Hotel, very small, but awesome views again - whatever you do, if you go to the Felix Bar, don't miss going to the gents toilet, maybe one of the best loo's in the world? I have no idea what the ladies are like?

Don't miss the Star ferries going across the harbour, dirt cheap and run every few minutes. If you can, sunset by the Star ferry port on Kowloon side is fantastic looking toward the island.

The Jumbo Kingdom floating restaurant is also worth a trip, it's been in a Bond film and the food is really good too, traditional Chinese fare. I had my 50th birthday party meal there.

Get an Octopus card ASAP, essential for easy travel and cheap. Taxis are abundant and cheap, don't be afraid of using local taxis and the drivers normally know the island pretty well.

Travel the escalators around Central, great fun and a good insight into life there, especially around lunchtime. There are masses of great restaurants around there and they all do lunchtime special menus which I have yet to be disappointed by.

One of the best meals I have had anywhere in the world is at The Blue Butcher in Central, the steaks are out of this world, especially the 32oz Tomahawk - a hammer of a steak from elite 1842 Australian cattle, 2/3 people needed though, you would struggle to eat this alone and it's meant to be for sharing. Food heaven, but it's priced accordingly.

Take a trip to Macau for the day or maybe overnight it, at one of the hotels - if you do go, don't miss Lord Stow's Bakery and the egg custard tarts - also to die for. The casino's are good to visit too, even if you don't play - The Venetian is just like Vegas.

If you have time it's also worth going over to the Tai O Fishing Village on the Western coast of Lantau Island - the entire village is on stilts. Good food there in the local restaurants.

Big Budda of course everybody goes to see it, except me lol. I seem to miss it everytime, next trip I'll do it!

One things for sure Al, if you like travelling and have an open mind, there is plenty to do in HK and you will struggle to see everything in one trip. I've been over loads and still have lot's to do and see.

It's not that cheap anymore though, you'll get about 10/11 HKD to the pound. However, transport is cheap. Unless you are paying top dollar, Hong Kong hotel rooms and quite small on a global scale. Very good, very clean and functional, but space is a premium on the island, so something to be mindful of. It never bothers me though, how much time do you spend in your room anyway? Regarding money, I always take a few hundred HKD to get me started and then change sterling at the currency exchange vendors (they are everywhere) you'll get a much better rate than you do in the UK.

If there's anything specific you want to know, fire away and I might have an answer?

I think Hong Kong is one of the world's great cities. Any of my suggestions are easily found by doing a Google search ;)

[Techno Commander]

Wan Chai & Lan Kwai Fong are where the ex-pats go out, great pubs and atmosphere .....and there are a lot of 'friendly' girls in there too,
Yep. Be careful as it is far too easy to end up buying expensive drinks for pretty girls. :) :)

[struth]

Yep. Be careful as it is far too easy to end up buying expensive drinks for pretty girls. :) :)

your not from the north, .. are you? ;)
:D

[trio leo]

Thanks fellas,
that is very helpful, lots to go at there Tim, thank you for your great and knowledgeable post, we are going for 4 days on our way to Oz and 6 days in Phucket on the way back. plenty to look forward to. :)

cheers Al

[Tim]

No probs, I can talk about travel all day ;)

4 days isn't long so take your pick. Macau is not really an option with that time. If it were me I would probably do these;

Big Buddha
The Peak
Aqua Spirit bar
Tea at Peninsula
Sunset in Kowloon (can combine with Mong Kok and Aqua?) You could do Mong Kok am, walk back along Nathan Rd to have afternoon tea in The Peninsula, watch the sunset harbour side, then have a drink in Aqua.
Stanley Market really needs a day for journey over, so consideration needed, but it's worth it I reckon for the bus ride there to see the sights - sit on the top deck of a double decker.

Enjoy :)