First time in HK…
 

Is 4 nights and 5 days enough for a first time trip to HK from the UK?

Any advice of whether to get earlier or later flight out from Heathrow?

Cheers!

I think Hong Kong is the ideal holiday destination. So much to do, good food, beaches, mountains, museums, I could easily spend 2 weeks there. But 4 nights is a good start.

The flights are only a few hours apart, so not much in it. I'd pick whichever hardware you prefer (currently 350 vs 789). The flights' long enough thanks to all the diversions that you can get a full meal and sleep on either.

So if time allows better to make it an extra night?

Anyone have suggestions for hotels, huge choice and so many different areas can be hard to see woods for the trees!

Priority is for museums, culture, food, mountains/cable cars kinda thing

I wouldn't want it much shorter than that, but yes it's a reasonable stay minima.

You will find tons of advice about this, but the one suggestion that I would make is to spend at least one morning / afternoon / day in one the many (!) rural parts of Hong Kong. Do this after seeing some of the main sites so you have a hang of the city. So this could be one of the smaller fishing islands facing into the city or Northern Territories or the quieter bits of Lantau. Or some of the hill peaks other than Victoria. Some of the islands have a line of sight into the city centre and it's amazing to contrast these sleepy quiet spots with the city very much visible and just 20 minutes ferry ride away.

The late flight can work well if you want to do a day in the office in London then head off to the airport. Also at the moment it is only option if you want First.

However, the earlier flight might be better if you want a relaxed run up with time in the lounge than an early afternoon arrival. The A350 guarantees Club Suite.

Sadly if I stay an extra night it’s an A350 out but a 777 back, but guess the extra day makes more sense!

The run in from the airport is spectacular if you can do it in daylight. I remember it very well, not having travelled a lot in the Far East, and the harbour full of ships, the hills around, all of it, was very impressive indeed.

Is the mid to end of April an ok time to go re weather in your opinions?

I’ve loved my trips and transits to HK… haven’t been since 2018 but look forward to going again. Used to be an OK route for F rewards, not so much now!

If you venture out of the BA forum you’ll get some good info here too https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hong-kong-macau-436/ well worth checking every few days

Most times I've been bar once (which was mid March) it's been November ish which is a nice time to go and I believe it gets hotter come mid to late April but still pleasant. It's worth bearing in mind that this is school holiday terms too so worth going a little beforehand?

I have always loved Hong Kong but it's been a few years since I've been there. I did do a Trip Report as below and I would definitely recommend, in no particular order. Lantua Island, Cheung Cheu and a Bus Tour of the mainland, Harbour Tour. The Peak as the basics. There's plenty of info out there but here's a snippet of my own little adventures.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip...ges-ft-do.html

I was in HK twice last month. Great weather the first time, high 20s and sunny. Second time, still warm, but very foggy. By June it's getting very hot and humid.

For a first time visit, i'd look for a hotel around the TST Tsim Sha Tsui area, at the bottom of the Kowloon peninsula. Easy access to the Star Ferry and metro, the night markets etc. As CWS said, definitely try and do some of the more rural parts of HK....it's not just a grey city! From the Central ferry terminals you can get a boat very easily to the outlying islands. Lamma has some good restaurants, and a great easy walk from end to end.

If you want to do the cable car, you can take the metro over to Tung Cheng, cable car up to the Big Budda, then take the bus to Silvermine Bay and boat back to Central.

Definitely go up The Peak. I love sitting upstairs on the no.15 bus from the Star Ferry, you get fantastic views. Then you can walk down via Lugard Road to the Pok Fu lam resevoir, then a bus or taxi back to civilisation. Takes about an hour, and is a fab walk.

I stayed in a harbour view room at the InterContinental several years ago. Love seeing the harbour from my room in Hong Kong, always so much going on!

Also thoroughly recommend Hong Kong Foodie Tours - https://www.hongkongfoodietours.com/ - so fun to walk from eating place to eating place, trying the local food and getting a tour at the same time. They were so good the first time, I did a second one that showed different things. Both were great!

Don't forget a day trip to Macau...head to Fernando's on Coloane for lunch...Chris

If you want a nice cultural experience, check out Tai O. It's a fishing village where you can have local cuisine, buy shrimp paste, and explore the village. A highlight is the dolphin watch tours. I've seen dolphins 2/3 times I went!

If cost is not a problem I would stay at the Four Seasons. I stayed in a Harbour View room a few years ago and it was just perfect.
The hotel has a lovely infinity pool, a fantastic gym and an amazing spa.