V-Flyer

I'm looking to visit Hong Kong for the first time in November. Can anyone recommend a good central hotel convenient to the tourist sites. Would 5 nights be long enough? Any other tips would be appreciated.

Thanks
Daffodil

Five nights sounds ideal for Hong Kong. As long as you are by an MTR station then everything will be within easy reach. If staying on the island then Central, Admiralty and Causeway Bay are popular areas.

Try travel agents such as Trailfinders often deals extras for multiple nights
You've not mentioned budget ?
Have had amazing stay at intercontinental and others rave about MO and 4seasons
NH

The MO is my favourite hotel in Hongkers but it is difficult to go wrong with hotels if you do your homework (i.e. what class and how much are you prepared to spend). Also time of year as some of the time it is unbearably humid and liable to storms. Most decent hotels are central so just pick the area you want to stay in, be near an MTR station and you are all set.
Five days is fine for a taster although you wont find much time for going over to the other Islands the chances are that you will fall in love with the place and want to come back for more exploring as that is exactly what we have done. It is a fantastic experience.

For me there is only one Hong Kong hotel.
The Peninsula.
Fabulous.
'nuff said .
DL

A vote from me for the Mandarin Oriental...

Mandarin Oriental gets my vote, several times over.

Never had a bad experience in any of their hotels, from SFO, NYC, HKG or NRT or the many others I have had the pleasure of staying in.

I think you have some good hotel suggestions above - depending on your budget. The last time I stayed there it was at this place: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review ... _Kong.html . I had a club room and it was excellent - large, modern, excellent view and so on.... I'd happily go there again, in a club room. I suspect that (as with many in HK) the regular rooms are "compact".

As for five days .... I'd say it's nowhere near long enough. Having been there several times, and with the benefit of an itinerant friend who has lived there all her life - I've been places and seen things that tourists on a few-days' stopover would miss - and that's really "miss out on". Fascinating place - especially if you can get off the beaten track. My last visit was 12 days and we still didn't have time to make it over to Macau.

Five days will get you the atmosphere and some of the major tourist "things to do". And a new suit and some other shopping. Go for longer, and look deeper.

It's been four years, but we loved the Four Seasons when we were out there. Possibly one of the finest hotel experiences this humble correspondent has had the pleasure to indulge in.

I'm in with the 'Peninsula' vote - possibly the best hotel in the world....

Peter

I would avoid the Peninsula like the plague - a hotel with horrific double standards. I will never give them a penny of my own money.

5 Nights for a first trip sounds OK to me.

If you don't like it then it won't be too long to wait to come home and if you do then its an excuse to go back again in the future !

Read some of the TR reports too people often mention where they stayed and the things they did whilst they were there.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. It seems that the Mandarin Oriental is the favourite amongst fellow V-flyers. I'm able to get a good price on the MO with netflights, approx £650 cheaper than booking direct! I'm still mulling over one or two others also. I was hoping to book some G reward tickets but there is only one outbound for November and nothing for the return in Upper or PE, so it looks like I'll be travelling PE pilots strike permitting!

Thanks again

Daffodil

Update on flights. I have booked PE U outbound and Upper G inbound. They were showing a G for the outbound earlier this morning but when a ring to book it ( I needed to use two differrent accounts ) it was no longer available although still showing on the web site even after I refreshed the page a few times. n(

Daffodil wrote:Update on flights. I have booked PE U outbound and Upper G inbound. They were showing a G for the outbound earlier this morning but when a ring to book it ( I needed to use two differrent accounts ) it was no longer available although still showing on the web site even after I refreshed the page a few times. n(

I have found that when that happens it is becasue someone else has looked (and even yourself!) at them and it takes a couple of hours or so to release them back again; you can ask the agent to check or wait a few hours and re-book.

I'd vote for the Langham Place in Mongkok - right by MTR walk, to the night markets and cheaper as it is not by the water. Also imo a more local experience.

Been twice now, both in a club room, staff and service fantastic.

I haven't stayed elsewhere but when next we return to HK the LP will get our business.

BISHOP LEI INTERNATIONAL - yes I know it is a really awful name for a hotel and sounds like a run down guest house.
It is 3 stars (avoid the dining) BUT - it is right in the middle of Mid Levels on Robinson Rd and less than 5 minutes walk to the escalator that runs all the way between Mid Levels and Central (longest in the world).
That area is packed with bars, restaurants and nice local places. Not touristy (go to Kowloon if you want that).
It is a very nice area.
HOTEL: ok nothing special and the road side rooms are tiny and noisy. However, the other side of the hotel faces Central Hong Kong with great views of the Harbour, Kowloon, Botantical gardens etc. Plus all these rooms are suites (but only about HKD 1000 (GBP100). A suite with stunning view for Hong Kong for 100 quid !

Update on hotels for Hong Kong. Thank you everyone for your suggestions. We have now booked 2 nights at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, 2 nights Mandarin Oriental Macau and 2 nights at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental back in Hong Kong. We had an offer we couldn't refuse from Amex y) ( book one night at any MO and get a second free )which means we are only paying for 3 nights. Just over a week to go so getting quite excited.

If budget was not an issue it would definetly be the Peninsula for me, only stayed there twice but loved it both times. Langham also good. Always stay Kowloon side, more often that not stay at the Marco Polo Gateway, which is a goood standard business/tourist hotel. Worth upgrading to the Club Floor {or whatever they call it} so can enjoy lounge access which is good for breakfast and pre-dinner drinks.


oldboy

Have a great time Daffodil - Macau is great !!! Hong Kong not too shabby either - MO always a good choice - I like Langham Place in Mong Kok - only 10 minutes on the metro - great club rooms, rooftop pool and in the middle of the most colourful, most aromatic, chaotic area.

Just came back from 4 days in HKG - a great city, felt safe at any time, awesome markets, stunning food, superb sights.........very disappointed with the Symphony of Lights but maybe it had an off day! Manybthings to rave about but do try The American Restaurant, Lockhart Street - the most amazing, authentic Chinese cooking - order the duck and watch the old man come and carve it for you - awesome. Order the crispy shredded beef and be blown away!! Anyway, We stayed at the Harbour Grand Hotel in Hong Kong, not Kowloon. It was a short walk from the MTR which brought u close to everything.
Enjoy!

Hi Petmadness
Thank you for all you recommendations.I will certainly look up The American Restaurant, it sounds great.