Trip Report Hong Kong

It was a nearly perfect vacation. Damned jetlag got us! 13 hr time change, 15 hrs nonstop + layover in DTW prior...Must be age??
Flight left afternoon and we had the pod flatbeds on 777L. This time we tried "across the aisle" even tho it's diagonal. Not bad but still hard to communicate. Loads were light (160 total) Guess I chose well. Good service but so-so sleep.
Arrived 8pm, zipped thru immigration, grabbed a taxi and w/out traffic it was around half hour and $250 HKG total ($30 US)
The Langham Hotel was topnotch and the bed was 2die4!! They included their L Club deal which gave us exclusive ck-in and snacks, champagne, as well as extensive cont bfast w/lots of goodies! We snacked on sushi and dim sum and tea sandwiches and more.
Hotel location was Tsim Sha Tsui--right at the harbour and by the MTR metro--lots of attractions in the area. Huge mall 2 blocks away and we could provision the room when we didn't want to go to the Club.
One day we spent wandering HK Island via the ding ding trams (double decker skinny, historical trams--very crowded at time--very fun anyway! . 25 cents each off fare--so we went all to one end and back to Central Station.

We roamed around the escalators (commuter system of 800 meters of one way transport) and stopped halfway at SOHO, a hot "new" area of restaurants and bars.
Sunday is a special day in Central--all the Filipina housekeepers gather for meeting w/friends (one day off/week and most have no space of their own--just employers home) It's fascinatiing--just like homeless camped out w/cardboard on the overhead walkways to eat and play cards and visit. Some have laptops--umbrellas blocking light and otehrs have cameras and all had cel phones--very strange sight!
I have to add a zillion more things but I'm pooped right now! Super is coming up and I need a nap--more to follow.

Backtrack:
Arrival Info--headed to the ATM's for HKD (almost 8/$) and first purchase was refillable Octopus Card for $150HK cash only. ($100 usable, 50 depsosit refundable less 7) You can top it off at Seven-Elevens etc as needed. Octopus website has all the details.
Like most mass transit, scan card on arrival; when you depart station it deducts $) Can also be used and McDs, 7-11 etc.
Use it on bus, trains, subway and trams. Thos trams are great fun--it's a trick to beat the locals to get a seat on top--front is great but difficult (as are the spirals going up!) Each time you get off the tram, slap that Octopus (um...don't go there) card on the exit machine in front. You need to prepare to leave the upper deck at least one stop before! There are several good websites about the trams and routes/local businesses...
There are so many places to shop in HK--tooooo many! Western Malls are pretty boring, very $$ but have great clean toilets! There are several markets in Mongkok, near the Langham Place. It's very easy to get from place to place on MTR, so hotel location is up to $ and needs/wants. Even it was a holiday period, many were open--flower and bird market, fresh market (gorjus!!) and a gold fish market (closed when we went) Victoria Peak is a major attraction and can be reached diff ways--bus or funicular tram. It was quite overcast most times, so we didn't go up.
I found excellent advice on tripadvisor.com--one of the BEST travel forums groups I've ever encountered. Very accurate local experts and links to so many fun things, like videos how to get from a station to an attraction, or where to find a local laundry or dim sum house. There are lots of free things to do--the Nunnery and Gardens (Tea Cafe, $$) 10,000 Buddhas, markets, harbourfront, Avenue of the Stars (think Jackie Chan!!) We even saw a movie being made in Central--stunt guy on a crane across from our tram stop!!) Museums are not $$ and I understand the Coastal Defense one is pretty good (take the ding ding).
I would go back to HKG in a moment!! Our taxes/fees came to $32--it's that darned jet lag!! If they ever offer the Langham Place deal again, considering the cost of hotels in HKG, it's well-priced. The and spa dinner service included were
impeccable. We had a seven course tasting menu (tiny portions) that ended w/shark fin gelee/mango pudding square served on a solid block of crystal in dry ice...what a finale!!!

Hey Mrs767 good report... was the langham thru luxurylink? Have you ever stayed at the peninsula?

SOHO is a neat little area to ride the escalators, have a drink and maybe a meal.

Did you know that HKG is the pinnacle for maids? Most spend some time in south east asia then move eventually to HKG as it pays better

Great report as usual M767. The Langham has been featured on the Travel Channel, quite swank. I hear one can even order up California wines. http://bestsmileys.com/drinking/10.gif

Haha California wines... you just left the US! Why not try something closer... like Australian wines...

Don't touch the Chinese wine though, it could be fake:
Fake wine stuns nation, six wrongdoers detained - People's Daily Online

Great info! Thank you for sharing....look forward to hearing some more!!

I've added the rest!

Hi mrs767er how long were you in HK for, along with SYD I am looking at HK as a destination. We are planning on spedning 3 days or 2 days- is that enough time to see the city. How is DL performing on the DTW-HKG route? Would you be able to check how the flight looks leaving on 03/03/2011 flight 27 coming back on 03/07/2001 flight 26. My preference is LAX on CX but I have a feeling that flight is filling up as we speak. Thanks for any assistance.

we stayed 9 nts abd didn't see everything
you can hustle and get highlights in 3 days--IF you;re a youngster!
seriously that jet lag was a beast!
loads are great in coach (haven't seen Dl upgrade OALs on long hauls--sorry)

I plan on going in April I was thinking of also going to mainland China. Did you get a chance to go?

You'll have to get a Chinese Visa for mainland and it's $140ish for a few yrs. Must pay agency or representative must take your papers/$
I believe you can do it in HKG at Consulate in 24 hrs but what a waste of "tour" time. You can have our DL agency do it and bill you, too.
We stayed only HKG because we didn't have the visas yet--had to get Boss his 2yr PP and Russian visa. Plan to do that for this fall trip to Beijing.
Please feel free to ask more details for logistics etc. I did a massive amt of research.

I highly recommend splitting the two experiences since we have the air--it's about $35RT/pax. Weather is so diverse--you could be packing for two very diff climates.
I have been to Guangzhou previously and I would not waste time going there. You can take side trip to Macao (Portugese colony) from HKG--lots of casinos+historical sights. Must take passport BTW--no visa req'd tho.
There is so much to see/do in HKG proper.
Ck websites for holidays/spec events--high convention time in APril they say.