Hong Kong hotel and flight update

applehead_3

We picked the Excelsior, (3 nights from 26th Feb) any info on this hotel ??

Then staying at the New Langham Place in Monkok and the Island Shangri-La

vonlance

thanks Miken,

but one more question...

where did you guys do your laundry?
as i'm also staying in the wharney, was there a laundrette close by?

cheers

coolio_2

We stayed at the Wharney for 5 nights, got back yesterday and I was disappointed. Nice and clean but we didnt get one normal nights sleep. Drilling was in the adjoining rooms from 9-5 everyday apart from Sunday. And everytime someone on the floor above had a shower it felt like the roof was falling in. We were knackered but even that woke us up, it was noisier than the drilling. Every hour the shower was going. I complained and was given a single room instead of our double. When I asked for another one I was asked to wait around for 4 hours. I gave up in the end. Gonna speak to British Aiways because they really shouldnt be sending people to the hotel.

vonlance

oh man!

coolio, thats not good news for me!

i'm headed there in a week's time!

should i ask for a room away from the drilling then?
is it drilling from the street or from the hotel itself?

maybe i should ask for a room at the top??

miken

vonlance,
Not sure where to do laundry. The Hotel do have the option and there are plastic sacks in the wardrobe for you to get it all ready. You can always ask at the desk if there are any local laundry facilities around.
As for the noise, yes they are refurbishing some floors and work is carried out during the day. I was on the 19th floor and it was not a problem to me however I was usually out shortly after that as time is too short to waste.
You can email them at corp@wharney.com and request a room away from the noise. I also asked to be put on one of the Non Smoking Floors.
Suggestion - Great Italian food, look for Fat Angelo's (huge portions)
Snacks - Pacific Coffee Company or Olivers Super Sandwhich.
Exciting isn't it, I loved every minute.

vonlance

so they start the drilling and stuff bang on 9am?

i'm also planning on getting out early but i really do need the full 8 hours or i get moody!

lol

i will ask about the laundry service but also look around!

where can i grab an octopus card?

is there a form to fill in etc?

thanks again

blindman

You can get an Octopus card at the Airport at the counter that sells the Express train tickets. You can't miss it!

You can also get them at various MTR stations such as Central and TST.

Where to buy

blindman

Hong Kong Tips:
Lots of info on various threads here so I won’t post web-sites or links.
These are just my tips and what I did or didn’t do.
Transport:
Heathrow car parking
Pre booked with APH
Cost £43.85 for 7 days.

Money
Got some cash from Travelex at Heathrow airport using the pre booking from their web-site and my debit card. Still got charged £1.50 from Cahoot though

ATM's
Lots around, used my Nationwide Flex card at the ATM in the HSBC building in Statue Square

Nearest ATM to Island Pacific is just before the nearest MTR station Sheung Wan.
I did not use this though so can't comment if it works.

Most places take Visa, Master card but there are some that don't so always check.

Airport to Island Pacific Hotel.
Easiest
Catch the Hotel shuttle from the airport.
Counter B07 in arrivals hall.
Cost 120 HKD ea.
Hotel is directly opposite the tunnel to Hong Island so you are the first to be dropped off and you do not go into town. Journey took ½ hr. at 20:00. Bus runs every ½ hr.
Email or look at hotel web-site for more info.
As quick
Airport Express train + Taxi.
Cost 100HKD to Hong Kong Station. Runs every 12 minutes and takes 23 minutes.
Taxi to hotel from Hong Kong station is around 22HKD + 5HKD for each bag. You would be driving through town a bit…
Cheapest
MTR form Tung Chung
Involves catching shuttle bus from airport 3.7 HKD to Tung Chung
MTR to Hong Kong Station 20 HKD with Octopus
Taxi to Hotel 22 HKD + 5HKD ea bag
Probably takes about 1 Hr.MTR is clean, safe and roomy enough for bags. Rush hour is 17:00-19:00
The closest MTR to hotel is Sheung Wan. It’s about ½ mile from the nearest exit along uneven pavements.So not a good option with luggage...
Octopus card
Buy this at the airport from the desk in the middle of the arrivals hall.
Gives discount on MTR travel and means you don’t have to fiddle for exact change.
Initial cost is 150 HKD. This gives you 100HKD of travel with a 50HKD deposit of which you get 43 HKD back when you redeem it.
You can add value to the card using ONLY 50 or 100HKD notes at loads of places.
You can use this on virtually every transport going + 7 Elevens, Ferries etc.
Look at web-site for huge list.
Island Pacific Hotel
Location is exactly opposite the Spaghetti junction like motorway that is the tunnel across the bay.
It’s in the Sai Ying Pun district on the corners of Central street, Des Voeux West and Connaught Rd West.
Des Vouex Rd West is where all the dried fish shops are and it does pong a bit of fish
Area seemed safe late at night.
Rooms:
Don’t bring a cat ‘cause you’ll not be able to swing one in the room!
Adequate furnished though storage space is minimal. Bathroom is small but power shower is nice.
We asked for a room with a view and got a Harbour view. This has one wall as a window and has a reasonable view.
I would suggest you ask for a very high room (ours was on 17th floor) as the road noise may be a problem on lower floors.
Refrigerator\mini bar + TV +coffee and tea.
Gym and Pool very small.
Staff very helpful and polite, though only front desk staff spoke good English
Check out.
We asked for a late check out (our flight was at 23:45) and were granted one up to 18:00 free of charge. You can also store luggage after that time for free.
Check in
On my first email about 1 week before, the Hotel had no details of my reservation. They contacted BA holidays and it was confirmed eventually.
We were allocated a Smoking room (didn’t want that, no Non smoking available) though it did not smell of smoke.
Might be worth and email to the hotel before you go to confirm your booking and ask for a Non smoking room…
Transport
Trams
Nearest transport is the tram line on Des Voeux Street, about 50 yds down the street.
All trams pass this so very good for this kind of transport.Flat fare of 2 HKD no matter how far you travel.
Do NOT catch the Western Market tram as this is about 1 mile down the road where it turns round and comes back…
MTR
Nearest is Sheung Wan about 1 mile away. This entrance has loads of steps, no escalator.
Lots of MTR stations have many exits (about 7-8) and you have to walk (what seems like) miles underground to get to the right exit.
Bus
There are (what seems like) hundreds of buses that run everywhere. I didn’t use any as couldn’t really tell where they went and MTR and trams were handy.
Shops
7 Eleven ,Park and Shop and Wellcome stores are useful corner shop\small supermarket places and are near the hotel. You can use Octopus cards in all of them.
Staff spoke some English and were helpful.
To Airport from Island Pacific Hotel
Options as before
Best
Use Airport Express. From Hong Kong Station.
You can check-in your luggage and get a boarding pass up to 24 hrs before your aircraft departure time. This means you can then have the rest of the evening in town without any luggage.

All you have to do then is catch the train (runs every 12 minutes, takes 23 mins) to the airport and go straight to the gate.

Cost 100HKD ea. Taxi from Island Pacific cost 22HKD + 5 for ea bag.

Alternative.

Ask for late check out and bag storage from Island pacific. Check out up to 18:00 without charge. Return to hotel and use Island Pacific shuttle bus to get to airport.

You must book this bus at least 2 hrs before you use it.

blindman

And there's more...

Sights:

The Peak

Tram station is just a little way behind the Bank of China building.
Go up on the tram, sit at Right hand side for the view (though you get the view at the top!)
One way fare is 20HKD
Go about ½ hr before sunset (17:00 in Feb) to get both daylight and night views.
Return.
Can be a long queue to go down (and up for that matter)
Cheapest way
Catch the Private Light Bus (small 16 seater minibus thing) from the bus station at the top (behind the eating places) Cost 7.4HKD and drops you off at the Central MTR.

Or Catch the double decker bus from same place for 9.4 HKD. Goes to a few more locations.
Both use Octopus card.

Or use the Octopus card to go up and down.
Charged 20HKD on the way up and the 10HKD on the way down.

Harbour view

Go across on the Star Ferry from Hong Kong to Kowloon.
Cost 1.7HKD (lower deck) or 2.2 HKD (upper)

Get off and at the exit turn right. Walk about 50 yards and you can see the harbour view. Further on to the right is the Avenue of the stars. A pathetic mimic of Hollywood.

At 20:00 there is a ‘light show’ from the Hong Kong side which lasts until 20:18.

Lots of laser lights,spot lights and some building lights go on and off. Not exactly awesome, so don’t fret if you miss it!

Big Buddah
Lantau island.
Get there by
Ferry from Central Pier 6
10HKD for slow takes 50 mins
21 HKD for fast takes 30 mins
Then Bus from ferry. (Directly outside ferry building).Number 2. Takes 40 mins and is 16HKD
Or
MTR to Tung Chung 20HKD with Octopus
Exit B. Walk past the undercover bus station and to the open air one. Well signed.
Bus number 23 takes 45 mins 16HKD.
With all this effort I would suggest you also plan something else on Lantau.

10,000 Buddahs http://www.10kbuddhas.org/welcome_e.htm
Take the KCR from TST to Shin Tau
Exit B Turn Left Walk about ½ mile,well sign-posted.
Includes 400 very steep steps
Opens at 09:00, get there early to avoid the heat and crowds.

Bird Market and Flower Market
Prince Edward MTR
Worth a trip to see the bag of live locus’s you can buy to feed your birds.
From here you can walk down Nathan Rd through MongKok for loads of neon lights, people and stores.
Passes Ladies Market, Temple market

Sundays
It's more expensive to travel on Sundays and loads of chinese people go out, so usually very crowded.

Go to Statue Square and surrounds to see the thousands of Fillipino maids chattering on their only day off.

Weather.
Temperature was a pleasant 17-21 C during the day, I always wore short sleeves.
During 4 of our 5 night stay there was loads of FOG and CLOUD which obscured the skyline, harbour view and the tops of most buildings. We had one day of sunshine and blue sky.

margaret_3

What a lot of useful information! Thanks so much for writing all this. It's much more comprehensive than the guide book I bought.
:-)
Margaret