2 days in Hong Kong - need advice
#31
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,868
Lantau Island with big Buddha is very "Disney-like". If it appeals to you, you can't go wrong visiting, but with two days, more authenticity may be what you want. Tai O is fascinating and probably a vanishing way of life, but transport will require a large time allocation. I don't recommend either site in rainy weather.
#32
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I wouldn't say big Buddha is "Disney-Like"...it is very touristy though like the peak without the fabulous view. There's also a monastery there too. I remember going there by ferry before the cable car and the airport was built. Tai O is about a 20 mins bus ride down to/from the village. Take bus 21, departs every hour from the village and from Tai O.
Ferry to Mui Wo, buses that were not for service on the island or Kowloon to Shek Pik Reservoir, then another older bus to the monastery.
But in all fairness, the cable car stop at the base of the Buddha is where that Disney-like feeling is overwhelming.
#33
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,868
Anyways, I wouldn't advise the OP to visit Lantau with only 2 days in HK.
#34
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Do you feel the same way at the Peak? With the trinket stores when you exit the funicular, Bubba Gumps, shops, getting your photo taken at the viewing deck, and wishing you had a fastpass down the tram (particularly on a Fri or Sat night).
Anyways, I wouldn't advise the OP to visit Lantau with only 2 days in HK.
Anyways, I wouldn't advise the OP to visit Lantau with only 2 days in HK.
Mak's wanton noodles I can understand, Bubba Gumps was never in any HKer's childhood memories.
#35
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Do you feel the same way at the Peak? With the trinket stores when you exit the funicular, Bubba Gumps, shops, getting your photo taken at the viewing deck, and wishing you had a fastpass down the tram (particularly on a Fri or Sat night).
Anyways, I wouldn't advise the OP to visit Lantau with only 2 days in HK.
Anyways, I wouldn't advise the OP to visit Lantau with only 2 days in HK.
#36
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#40
Join Date: May 2001
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OP, check out the Metro Winner Hotel in Kowloon. I recall paying ~ US$85 per night in February. A block from the A21 bus stop (cheap to/from airport) and the Yau Ma Tei MTR station.
#41
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,824
HK hotel rates are extremely volatile (e.g. that $85 room could easily fetch $200 during a busy period). When prices are high, I check Ctrip, and try to get a room at one of the properties in Wanchai or CB that they buy in bulk.
#42
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Medford, Oregon
Posts: 14
Thread title says it all. I have 2 full days (3 nights) in Hong Kong in the Fall (when the weather should be more manageable). I've read through the guide book and rifled through the zillion options for tours, but I'm overwhelmed by the amount of available info and choices.
Here's my thing: I'm not a big food or drink guy. I eat to live, but don't do food tourism (I just don't care that much what good dim sum tastes like and I can barely taste the difference between a steakhouse steak and one thrown on the barbecue at the pool). I'm also totally not into night life. When I travel, I like to do the early-to-bed-early-to-rise thing. Things are usually less crowded in the morning anyway. I like to see impressive things like historical buildings, views, architecture, etc. I love history and I'm definitely a nature guy, but I'm not a big hiker/sports guy. 1-2 hour walk on the mountain? Sure. 6 hour hike? No thanks. Boat ride? Yes. Canoeing in a lake? Sure. Kayaking on whitewater or Sea? Not so much.
This will be my first time ever in the far east and very possibly my last. I have to go with that in mind, so I want to see what there is to see.
I'm willing to spend a few bucks, but don't want to go crazy. What I mean by that is I'd like to keep the hotel to about $150/night if possible.
I would like to take guided tours (group is fine) as I'll never learn to navigate a new city well enough to really see it in 2 days. Again, I'll spend a couple of hundred bucks on tours, but not much more than that.
All that said, I'm looking for general advice, including things like:
- where to stay
- walking tours of HK Island and.or Kowloon - are they worth it? Which are the best?
- Is a day tour to Lantau worth it?
- Ferry tour to Macau? (sounds like overkill, but remember, I may never be back)
- Any other really good tours out there?
Thanks!!
Here's my thing: I'm not a big food or drink guy. I eat to live, but don't do food tourism (I just don't care that much what good dim sum tastes like and I can barely taste the difference between a steakhouse steak and one thrown on the barbecue at the pool). I'm also totally not into night life. When I travel, I like to do the early-to-bed-early-to-rise thing. Things are usually less crowded in the morning anyway. I like to see impressive things like historical buildings, views, architecture, etc. I love history and I'm definitely a nature guy, but I'm not a big hiker/sports guy. 1-2 hour walk on the mountain? Sure. 6 hour hike? No thanks. Boat ride? Yes. Canoeing in a lake? Sure. Kayaking on whitewater or Sea? Not so much.
This will be my first time ever in the far east and very possibly my last. I have to go with that in mind, so I want to see what there is to see.
I'm willing to spend a few bucks, but don't want to go crazy. What I mean by that is I'd like to keep the hotel to about $150/night if possible.
I would like to take guided tours (group is fine) as I'll never learn to navigate a new city well enough to really see it in 2 days. Again, I'll spend a couple of hundred bucks on tours, but not much more than that.
All that said, I'm looking for general advice, including things like:
- where to stay
- walking tours of HK Island and.or Kowloon - are they worth it? Which are the best?
- Is a day tour to Lantau worth it?
- Ferry tour to Macau? (sounds like overkill, but remember, I may never be back)
- Any other really good tours out there?
Thanks!!
#43
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Hong Kong, Jakarta
Posts: 219
Re Macau, actually... can save the hotel money and go Macau at night using the overnight ferry, explore the casinos overnight (may as well spend the hotel money there lol) and then in the morning go fetch some food near "Centro histrico da Vila da Taipa". Get back to HK on ferry and continue on haha
#44
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Re Macau, actually... can save the hotel money and go Macau at night using the overnight ferry, explore the casinos overnight (may as well spend the hotel money there lol) and then in the morning go fetch some food near "Centro histrico da Vila da Taipa". Get back to HK on ferry and continue on haha
anyways, for 2 days in hong kong... (why am i replying,... hong kong did not change much since the last meaningful post on this same issue a few pages back)
must do:
star ferry, the peak (bus 15 front row for an amusement ride for less than 2usd), tram ride on the island, ladies street (for the stalls, please dont buy anything from there), cha chaan teng (anything but tsui wah), dim sum (lin heung on wellington street for a chaotic experience, or anything else), walk around LKF/Soho for nightlife... or temple street)
could do:
Wong Tai Sin temple, some local parks, more cantonese of different sort (pot rice, 3* restaurants, wonton noodles, snake soup), saikung (if feeling lazy and wanna sit on a.... red top minibus! from Dundas Street x Sai Yeung Choi Street)^
^ red top minibus is... another amusement ride. its cheaper on a normal weekday and cost more depending on the demand.. like a day w bad weather or weekend. Hopefully you get a seatbelt.
#45
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just a recap from the above post for discussion, im surprised we havent spoken about the red top minibus.
IIRC the best experience is the ones to Tuen Mun, Tai Po or Fanleng/Sheung Shui after midnight from Mong Kok. but it is a totally pointless exercise going to those area. The most useable route would be Mong Kok to Saikung (or vv) as I have posted above.
Originally Posted by kaka
red top minibus is... another amusement ride. its cheaper on a normal weekday and cost more depending on the demand.. like a day w bad weather or weekend. Hopefully you get a seatbelt.