http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/201702 ... pover-city
About 5 years ago I wrote a long post here about Hong Kong (Post #9) -
http://www.gaybuttonthai.com/viewtopic. ... ong#p42406
For those interested, not much has changed other than the number of tourists from mainland China has increased. Now, though, is a good time to visit as the volume of mainland tourists has recently been cut back, a result of Beijing reducing visa approvals in the wake of Hong Kong's democracy protests. The result is that rates in many hotels have dropped.
Hotels
Unless you are flush with cash, avoid the main central areas. You can still find affordable hotels there, but the rooms will be tiny. For location and price you will find nothing better than the Mini Hotel on Ice House Street next to the famous Foreign Corresponents' Club. This is within 2 minutes walk of the Lan Kwai Fong nightlife district, about 8 minutes from SoHo's bars, restaurants and clubs, and about 10 from the Star Ferry over to Kowloon. Book a couple of months ahead and the rate should be less than US$60 per night - but the rooms really are tiny!
Over the last 5 years, the Hong Kong subway has been extended making cheaper hotels away from the central district more accessible. This is particularly true to the west of the island in areas like Sai Ying Pun where there are now two subway stations - Sai Yang Pun and HKU (for Hong Kong University). Hotels worth considering are the Ibis Sheung Wan, 2 in the Holiday Inn Express chain, the Sohotel, the Eco Tree and 2 Best Westerns. If you are more flush, the Courtyard by Marriott and the Traders Hotel (the second hotel in the Shangri La chain) are both here and both are excellent. The Club rooms in the Traders provide access to the top floor lounge with great harbout views in addition to free breakfasts and evening open bar drinks and snacks.
Restaurants and bars
As with hotels, the extremely high rentals in the central district are driving many further west. The original bar district of Lan Kwai Fong is now out of most tourists' price range. 15 years ago entrepreneurs moved west into the Soho district. Now they are having to move even further west. There is a small cluster of gay bars around Bonham Strand East at the junction with Queens Road West. These include ZOO bar and across the road FLM. Further up the hill in a small alley off Hollywood Road is the pleasant little T:ME bar.
On two recent trips including earlier this week, friends took me to Hong Kong's first gintoneria, Ping Pong 129. Set in the courtyard of an old Chinese home, this specializes in all forms of gin cocktails. I've been a vodka drinker for decades (a variety of other drinks are offered), but tried a gin cocktail with fresh raspberries and a very different tonic from the usual Schweppes variety. I loved it! In addition, the restaurant has a small menu with mostly Spanish dishes, all excellent. Ping Pong is located at the Sai Ying Pun end of Second Street. Be careful, though. It's easy to miss, being down a staircase from just a single bright red door with the name in very small letters.
http://www.pingpong129.com
Dim Sum remains a must-eat experience in Hong Kong. Most of the dim sum restaurants get very packed very quickly at lunchtime, especially at weekends, and so you have either to book or get there very early. The main ones are listed in all the Hong Kong guides. Expect them to be bustling and noisy! For a more intimate Dim Sum experience, go east to Happy Valley. On Sing Woo Road leading uphill from the racetrack you'll find a very small restaurant literally called DIM SUM. Vaguely old style Chinese with banquettes around the side, the dim sum here is exceptional and not at all expensive. The chef also experiments with different types of easy eats, like thinly sliced marinated pork wrapped around asparagus spears. I have visited this restaurant with friends and business colleagues dozens of times. I have never failed to be disappointed.
Other Attractions
The only new attractions since my earlier post seem to be a small and ghastly London Eye-type wheel which totally ruins the view from Kowloon over to Hong Kong at night. Why on earth anyone thought this would be a good place for such a tacky addition to the skyline totally beats me! There is also a light show on the island at 8:00pm every day. It is best to view this from the Kowloon waterfront, but sad to say it is very much a damp squib. A few lasers and flashing lights do not a good light show make, the more so when it is on one of the world's great harbour views.
Hong Kong Island night view (without light show)
Disneyland remains a great disappointment. Perhaps as a treat for your boyfriend, it might be fun. But it is tiny compared to those in Shanghai and Tokyo. Both offer a much more fantastic experience - but then it's more expensive to fly to each!
Flights
Apart from the daily full service carriers TG and CX, there are many to choose from. Other full service carriers like Sri Lankan, Kenya and Royal Jordanian fly several days per week. The semi full service Hong Kong Airlines has 5 daily flights and great fares if you are merely stopping over in HKG en route to another Asian destination. Thai Air Asia has several cheap flights. However, if you want full service at an exceptionally cheap price, book a return on the Emirates daily A380 flights. Book a few weeks in advance and the return fare including all taxes is Bt. 6,585. Or treat yourself to Emirates exceptional business class with the best lounge offerings of any airline in the region, full service meals, flat bed seats, the most extensive in flight entertainment of any airline and the upper deck stand-up bar with premium liqueurs and canapés galore for Bt. 14,415. My boyfriend adored it!
