garykung

1. How important is TST Promenade to you? If not so much, I will take Airport Express to Kowloon Station and then transit to KMB Route 203E from Kowloon Station. There is a stop just opposite of the entrance of Ladies, known as "Mong Kok Station".

You can take this bus returning to Kowloon Station as well.

2. The closest MTR station for the Ladies' entrance is Mong Kok. The closest MTR station for the Ladies' exit is Yau Ma Tei.

3. Don't transfer at Tsing Yi. You can take MTR all the way to Tung Chun. Then you can take taxi or bus back to the airport.

It depends on if you will do lounges, eating, etc. at the airport or not.

It is not difficult to find, but will require a decent amount of walking (>10 minutes).

889

As a first-time visitor to HK on a rush schedule, the OP should stick to rail, not start venturing on the buses.

Getting to the airport via Tung Chung is cumbersome, though yes, I do it. The advantage is it's cheap. But that won't matter to the OP, who'll have a "free" return to the airport on her same-day ticket.

Finally, the Star Ferry and the view across the Harbour from TST just can't be missed on a first visit to Hong Kong. And I assume the OP has access to a map, which will show it really is just a light stroll from the Star Ferry to the MTR entrance.

kevincrumbs

I agree with this. As a first time visitor to any place that has both a rail and bus option, I always stick with rail as it is much easier to miss a stop while on a bus.

garykung

1. MTR is no longer as reliable as you think.

2. Star Pier, one of the places OP wants to go, is not really near MTR station.

889

How on earth do you know what I think? Yes the MTR has had more down time in the past couple of years but it's still an exceptionally reliable system.

And I know very well how to get to the MTR from the Star Ferry and it ain't a big deal. Not sure why you keep making it sound like it is. All the OP has to do is look at a map. Everything's clearly marked on Google Maps.

garykung

You have your right to insist.

I have my right to express my opinion.

Jacquelyn Hyde

Thanks again, everyone. I think I will stick to the MTR plan, and leave Ladies around 5:15. I figure that should allow for contingencies. Lounges / food are not a priority for me.

Jacquelyn Hyde

Hi, OP back in case anyone is interested in a very quick layover in Hong Kong. I saw everything I wanted to see, and made it back to the airport with plenty of time to spare. This is what I ended up doing:

1 - I took the Airport Express to Central. TIP: I bought the AE tickets from the machine, and did not wait in line at the ticket office. There were about 40 people in line, so this was a huge timesaver.
2 - I walked to Star ferry from Central, about 10 minutes, and took the ferry to TST Promenade
3 - I walked around TST for a bit and then walked to Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station (NOT East Station). I took the Tsuen Wan line to Mongkok Station, and Ladies Market was right there
4 - I spent at least an hour at Ladies, and then took the Tsuen Wan Line from Mongkok Station to Lai King. I transferred to the Tung Chung Line for 1 stop to Tsing Yi and then transferred to the Airport Express.