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I’ve lucked into being taken along a business trip with the SO and our infant to Hong Kong at the end of the month. We will probably be there for two weeks.
HK has never really been on my list of places to see, but what the hey. Anyone been that can recommend some experiences or things to do around the city? I imagine that end of July it’s also super hot around there. Are the beaches any good or should I try to find a pool/spa to chill at?
Mrs C and I spent two days in Hong Kong on the way to a trip around Vietnam.
Two days was plenty for me.
It's just a big city in a steamy climate. Easy to get around.
Went to a nice beach on the other side of the island and ended up w the worst sunburn and heat rash of my life. Didnt buy a suit. The old airport was the best.
IIRC Otttime has some Hong Kong deets in an all time great thread about Singapore. https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...ight=singapore
It's been a while since I've been there, so no specifics, but go to dim sum and eat street food. Ride the Star Ferry to Kowloon for the view of HK
I was there in 2010 for work, stayed for a week extra. The big buddha was cool, and the beach was nice, Stanley beach i think it was. For the work functions we went to the horse track which seemed to be a really big deal there (Hong Kong Jockey Club). We also went to Lamma Island by ferry for a nice seafood dinner and did a day in Macau where there are casinos and stuff. I have to say, the most memorable part of that trip was te 24hr layover in Narita.
I have not been outside the airport since 2010 but Hong Kong is awesome. It was the first city where I felt like I could live for an extended period of time and not get bored.
Check out Victoria Peak and some of the markets. I would also recommend a food tour as soon as you arrive. I have never been in HK but I am sure they exist and they've been worth every penny in Seoul, Bangkok, Hanoi, and even Tokyo after living there 5 years. Having a local English speaking guide taking you out for dim sum and other must eats is far superior to following recs on Google and trying to guess at things yourself. It will inform your dining choices the rest of your stay.
I did the suit thing years ago, it is no longer as inexpensive as Vietnam or Thailand but it is cheaper than anywhere in N. America or Europe. If you have any need for a nice looking suit then it is worth it for the experience alone, it's at least a 2 day process and you should be able to get beers and lunch out of each visit. Again, having dim sum with a local tailor is far more enjoyable and educational than going solo.
If you are there for 2 weeks then venture over to Macau and Shenzen for a day each. They were far different than HK back in 2010, though that may no longer be the case since the government has reshaped both HK and Macau to be more aligned with the mainland. Still, it will be worth the trip and there's plenty of history in Macau...not so much in Shenzen but it is a bustling Chinese megacity.
Nothing to add, but subscribing to this thread because HK is high on my bucket list for a long family weekend of street food. Git sum.
It’s been a long time, but my wife had glasses made and the equipment was better than her Dr. had in downtown San Francisco. She went in before dinner, and they were ready after.
FOOD ! Just post WWII my dad ordered a suit which they did over night he was so impressed when they brought it to his hotel he ordered 6 shirts
BTW, we stayed at the YMCA in Hong Kong, which incredibly is a really really nice hotel.
The Penisula had the nicest bathrooms I’ve ever seen. Highly recommend if you’re in the vicinity and need to drop a load. I rate it a five star dookie
The Peninsula had ladies on each floor that their whole job was to push the elevator button for you. I wonder if they still have that.
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Appreciate the recommendations on the bathrooms. Having lived in NYC before and done the whole public restroom scavenger hunt in midtown before, knowing some available locations is a bit more useful than it would first appear for any city.</p>
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I think I'll definitely hop on a food tour. I'm not sure on the utility of getting a tailored suite as I only wear one semi-annually. I did get some tailored suits in Korea a few years ago and really enjoyed them. Maybe I'll look into some tailored shirts instead since those seem to be the standard biz-casual uniform now.</p>
My dirtbag tip is the YMCA hotel is next door to the Peninsula and you can get a decent room with the same harbor/firework views.
Echoing the Macau and Star Ferry recommendations.