Overnight in Hong Kong advice
 

Almost too trivial to post, but I know I can get far better advice here than with hours of searching the web. Any advice on where to stay and what to do with an overnight stop in Hong Kong?

I arrive from Osaka at 9:50 pm on Nov 30 (CX 507) and depart at 3:15 pm on Dec 1 (CX 510), both in business class if that affects recomendations in anyway.

Looking for a nice hotel without splurging and something interesting to fill the morning.

The indirect route from Osaka to Fukuoka nets me my third OneWorld carrier (on the final day) for the OWHOM final bonus of 15,000 AA miles. And it's a chance to sample CX business class one more time (came away somewhat underimpressed after flights in February and June).

As for where to stay, I'm not qualified to comment, so I will pass.

What to do?... personally, what with a late night arrival, and limited time the following day, I would attempt no more than:

1. Get up nice and late.
2. A return ferry crossing (a must if it is your first visit to HKG).
3. An easy trip to the airport.
4. Enjoy the CX lounge.

But then that's just me... others will sure differ.

As you are coming in on CX, you can get the AEx for HK$100 RT, with the coupon on CX's website. I think the link I posted in the CX forum is still good. As you are arriving on a week nite, the hotels will probably be expensive. Maybe try PL for something last minute or an award stay at your choice. If the stay starts on 11/30, maybe the HR HK might be a decent price and with the GP bonus and FFN promo, makes up for it's shortcomings. 10PM is basically starting time at Wan Chai or LKF districts, so it depends on what you like. The next day, if it is nice, get some exercise, walk around the Peak, lunch at Maxim's for dim sum and get back on the AEx for the Wing/Pier.

The Regal Airport Hotel is directly linked to the HKG airport. I find it incredibly convenient with a great gym..

Victoria Harbour separates the two primary areas of Hong Kong that you'd be interested in, and a hotel room with a view of the harbour would be an excellent idea. There are reams of easy-to-find info in the Hong Kong forum about hotels in all price ranges; I won't take the time to repeat the collective wisdom that's already there.

As alluded to, the Airport Express train is the best way to the city, unless you want to splurge on a limo (which will be only a few minutes faster than the train).

I'd avoid the airport hotel (Regal) unless you only wanted a bed to sleep in and didn't intend to visit the city.

Same recommendation here. Print the Coupon for the Airport Express (do a search for the link).
Book a hotel close to one of the two train stations in town (Hong Kong and Kowloon).
Take the free shuttle bus to the hotel (or a taxi, inexpensive) from the train station.
This will take you little more than one hour between leaving the plane and entering the hotel.

On the way back take bus/taxi to the train station, check in there (i think up to two hours or so before the flight). If you are late take the train to the airport and check in there. Again, trypically around / a little over 1 hour from hotel door to lounge in the airport

Unfortunately, arriving so late, the free shuttle will have stopped. Taxis are very cheap though. Queue up.

The InterContinental has great views of the Harbour and a spectacular jacuzzi. Also close to the Star Ferry. (same applies to the Peninsula). If you have no budget limitation go for the Peninsula or the Mandarin Oriental (Hong Kong Side /Central)

Hong King Peak/Harbour "on a Stick"
 

I did something similar last month and it's quite simple (arrived !10pm CX ex NRT & off to AKL next evening).

•Save HKD80 by using the Voucher as described; you'll need your CX BP. Here's a link to the Voucher for you to print before you depart!. You can buy the return ticket at the Special Airport Express booths after you exit immigration.

•Taxi's are quite inexpensive and, at that time of night, quite quick. I stayed in the western district at the Novotel Harbour view, the trip took five minutes and the fare was ~HKD24. I suggest you stay on the island as well.

•The next morning, take a trip to "the Peak" & Ferry acorss the harbour. This should take about 2 hours and cost ~HKD40.

1. Check out and use the tram to get to the Central Airport Express station. (Use the hotel shuttle if you prefer).
2. Check in, but don't take the train yet.
3. Walk over to the Star Ferry terminal
4. Catch the next ferry across; take the lower deck.
5. Have a quick look around, then take a ferry back; this time take the upper deck for better Hong Kong Views.
6. Catch the No. 15C bus to the Garden Road (Lower Peak Tram Station). The first bus leaves 10:10am daily.
7. Buy a one-way peak tram. Take the next one; try to get a 'rear' facing seat near the 'back'. Have a look around the peak area, the views etc. (I was amazed at the new building near Central Station; it's as high or higher than you are.) Don't spend too much time.
8. Head to the Bus stop under the Galleria Building and catch the No. 15 bus. They run every 10 minutes or so. I rode in the front row up top of the double decker bus (on the right side; don't sit on the left side as the leg room may be limited slightly). This gave great views as the bus wound it's way down the hill back to Central. In order to get this 'best seat' up the top, if at the bus stop, there is a long queue in front of you it may be best to wait at the head of the queue for the next bus before getting on. You will arrive at The Exchange Square Bus Terminus. This is adjacent to the Central Train station.
9. Walk across to the Airport Express Train Station.
10. Catch the next train to the airport.

Assuming you've not done HK before then that seems like a reasonable plan if the weather is OK (which it probably will be at this time of year). If the visibility is good and you find yourself with time and would like to stretch your legs then the path that goes around Victoria Peak from the Peak Galleria is about 5km in total and is flat and easy walking so allow one hour if you are reasonably fit and don't take too long over photos of the excellent views.

For timing, you need to get a train by around 2pm for a 3:15pm flight (currently the interval is 12 mins) - the full timetable is here: http://www.mtrcorp.com/eng/train/ae_timetable_e.htm so you need to get the 2pm train if you expect to more or less go straight to the gate.

If you want to be sure of some time in the First class part of The Wing (as an EXP) then go a little earlier. The food there is better than onboard J (and the wine is similar to onboard J, but more choice), so I would probably aim for the 13:24 train to leave enough time to take a slightly late lunch there.

Wow, thanks everyone for the great advice.

Serfty, I may take your itinerary item by item - love the specifics. If I do, I report back.

Haven't booked the hotel yet. Priceline didn't yield anything 5* at 100 or 120. I'll probably try again at my 72 hours with slightly higher offers. I'd love to get one of the nice hotels like the Pen, Sheraton or IC, but as self employed on my own dime, draw the line short of what I'm seeing on AsiaRooms.com (especially when checking in so late and missing many of the benefits you could otherwise get at Sheraton Towers for instance).

JM

Airport Hotel
 

I also stayed at Regal Airport Hotel overnight. Very convenient -- 5-10 minute covered walk from the terminal. Nice food. If you have time, you can take the train into the city and just walk around. Regal not cheap (I think it was about $US160 with AARP discount), but convenient.

There are lots of hotels in the 3/4 star range which are perfectly ok for one (short) night. Look for the south end of Kowloon (Star Ferry, Nathan Road, Salisbury Road (TsimshatsuiArea) and around the Hung Hom train station).
Easy to get to from the Kowloon Station.

The hotels on the Hong Kong side seem to be a bit more expensive most of the time.

I generally agree, but the IC forum has news of a Holiday Inn Express that just opened near the Times Square complex in Causeway Bay. This would be an excellent location to get a sense of Hong Kong (though it has no harbour view), and the price will be very reasonable.

My personal preference for visiting the Peak is at night time. Although at anytime of day you can get an amazing view of Hong Kong from the Peak, at night, the skyline is lit magnificently.

Taking the Star Ferry across the harbour is also a "must-do" for any tourist, I think.