IceTrojan

In a short time, I'll be on an MR with an 18-hour turn in HKG, arriving at ~6pm and departing ~1pm the next day. No luggage involved, just a backpack carrying my laptop and other assorted electronics for traveling.

I've been blessed with previous opportunities to explore the city, and while there are still plenty of things to see, I have no real need to do the main attractions (e.g., Star Ferry, Temple Street, TST). I have a couple of ideas in mind, so I would appreciate feedback on logistics and/or new, creative ideas. I do like food

The "hole" in my plans is what to do between 12-7am. Are there any places to hang out all night that's not a bar or club? A 24-hour coffee shop would be perfect, especially if it had WiFi.

- Arrive and take AEX into Central Station.
- Head to Tim Ho Wan at Central/IFC for dinner.
- After dinner, maybe find a late-night movie theater.
- (Someplace to hang out all night?)
- Take AEX or a bus (N11?) back to HKIA, hunker down at Plaza Premium Lounge in Arrivals for a couple of hours (if necessary), head into security and lounge hop until departure.

If I can find a reason to stay in the city at night, I'll just have breakfast somewhere in town before heading back to HKIA.

Is Macau similar to Las Vegas for gambling, or is it wildly different? I definitely can kill some time there, but not if it's $25USD minimums and there are no eateries open there. But if I can kill some time there, I'd be interesting in exploring the architecture there in the morning before heading back.

Letitride3c

I'll kickoff some ideas for you for as you got plenty of time doing your MR. Why not take Airporter bus into town instead of the AE as you aren't in a big hurry? A21 into TST/Hung Hom and then do dinner somewhere nearby - checkout some of the local eateries, i.e. Whampoa or Harbour Plaza Metropolis Mall? Hop onto Public MiniBus out to TST and catch the late movie at the big screen Ocean Theatre (it's been here since the late 1960's, LOL) behind Ocean Terminal. http://www.goldenharvest.com/cinema....=eng&section=1 (last showing 9:45 PM or 10:10 PM at OT but as late as 11:45 PM or 12:15 AM at WP)

Starbucks & even Pacific Coffee aren't 24 hours and I think they are closed by 11 PM or midnight (weekends, maybe a bit later ??) PCCW has WiFi hotspots around town or just get a cheap local prepaid Sim card with 4G data. Or, instead of Central/LKF - head over to Causeway Bay shopping & pig out (eat, I mean) late night. There are many "local" eating places open 24 hours but none of them offer WiFi, sorry - maybe the "resident" FT's know better http://www.openrice.com/english/rest...rticle_id=1820

Perhaps, then catch the N11 bus back & hunker down, etc. If you have the energy & still alert (??) ride the Macau ferry & checkout the casinos - for sure, they have 24 hours eateries inside - if you timing is good, a few hours inside with some action will get you a comp ferry ticket back and food comp's with the player's club card & rated playing. To play slots, you feed as little or as much as you wanted to. Table game limits vary and are higher at the "big" ones, especially on weekends but the smaller ones - depending on the game - start at $100 HKD & up.

rkkwan

Starbucks at check-in hall and at Gate 21 are 24-hrs. But none in the city. Seriously, other than bars and clubs and places you may want to visit, HK is quite dead in the middle of the night.

IceTrojan

Sounds like I might be at that Starbucks in the check in hall in the wee hours. I'll see how I feel, but in rethinking I'm not sure I'd be up for taking a ferry ride back/forth after a 16hr flight in Y and a return in Y to look forward to (I know I know... what self-respecting FTer would fly in Y :P)

Will the wait be long for Tim Ho Wan 7-9pm? I'll look into those food courts as well. Also, a midnight movie showing doesn't sound too bad, it just means I take the bus back and not the AEX.

dtsm

Is there a difference?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hong-...yover-hkg.html

IceTrojan

Huge difference, I'm there PM-AM. The other poster doesn't have to deal with an overnight. Plus I have a basic plan in place.

rkkwan

Tim Ho Wan shouldn't be busy in the evening. Locals don't eat dim sum for dinner.

moondog

Should he go to dragon i instead?

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

For around USD45 you can get a small hotel in Central in Hong Kong (Mini Hotel). That includes wi-fi. Might be worth it considering the cost of a couple of coffees at starbucks?

VirginDelta

If you have the time to spare, I would suggest going to Macau and have a stroll through the casinos than oppose to saying overnight at HKIA's Starbucks.

moondog

The hkia starbucks idea is the most depressing thing I've read on ft during the past year, but a hotel in wanch can cost less than the Macau ferry, so that's how I would play it.

IceTrojan

This Dragon you speak of intrigues me. Any more details on that?

That's not too bad of an idea, I'll research it. Do you have a certain one you recommend?
Macau could definitely lighten my load... or pay for my trip, and another one after

Starbucks is depressing, yes, but unfortunately I have to (should) get some work done sometime during this MR, so it's not a complete loss for me to get some productivity time in. Let's call that my fall-back plan.

I appreciate all the info so far.

eponymous_coward

Dragon-i is a fancy LKF club.

http://www.dragon-i.com.hk/#/home

I am guessing this is not your speed since you didn't want bars or clubs.

IMO, I would get dim sum at Tim Ho Wan in the AEX Central station on the way back to your 1 pm flight (when you should be getting dim sum, it's not a dinner thing, a lot of those places will close in the evening), and get dinner in town somewhere else. See what interests you on Openrice, maybe?

I also wouldn't waste time going to Macau- that's an extra 2 hours of boat ride and $50 USD of expense, for really not a lot of gain on a short stopover. There is some low-limit gambling, but a lot of high table limits as well (and you'll see a lot more baccarat and sic bo than blackjack/craps).

LHR/MEL/Europe FF

It's actually called 'Mini Hotel Central'. It's around a one minute walk from Lang Kwai Fong. usually has rates around HDK300 for the night (but it really is no place other than to have a shower and sleep)