Hong Kong, Dubai or Bangkok

Voyager2002

Redmikee wrote: »

Thanks for your replies.
The hotels are chosen by the tour company we are considering and are:-
Dubai Marriott Al Jaddaf
Bangkok Amari Watergate Hotel
Hong Kong Regal Kowloon.
Stevie, not sure about the timings into the cities but it could be an important factor we need to ask about.
Good points about Dubai being nearer home for the final leg of the journey particularly as most of my days off from work will be used and I will probably be back at work next day.

I have heard good things about the hotels you mention in Bangkok and Hong Kong...

The downside of Bangkok is the traffic: I suggest that you plan what you would want to see and do there, and note which journeys can be made by Metro or Skytrain. If you would end up relying on road transport then consider another destination: it would be really frustrating to spend most of your short visit stuck in traffic jams and so missing out on the attractions.

Hong Kong is very easy to navigate, and offers a range of contrasting experiences. A good choice, apart from the long flight home afterwards.

fifeken

Nile wrote: »

Breakfast is excellent, it's serve yourself buffet and includes bacon and pork sausages.

. . . . . lots of UK brands you might want.

3,000 miles from home with a chance to experience another culture and these are what you recommend? It takes all sorts.

VodkaSorbet

Depends what 'best' means for you. I've been to all 4 (Hong Kong and Singapore as stopovers, Dubai and Bangkok as part of longer trips to those regions).

Personally I would choose Hong Kong without a doubt because it is the most 'self-contained' and compact, easiest to get the most out of in a 2-night stop, the furthest from the UK and not somewhere you would go for a holiday in its own right. Also a different experience from Singapore, as others have noted.

Dubai is an easy trip from the UK (long-weekend-able) and Bangkok could be visited on a separate holiday to Thailand. Since you are considering all the options it doesn't sound as if any of them are 'must see and we'll never likely get the chance again' for you, if you know what I mean.

Of course I am not considering flight timings/distances because that doesn't bother me. If the shorter trip back from Dubai is a factor for you that might make it the 'best' choice. I would put Bangkok last as it doesn't really offer any benefits in terms of travelling time and is kind of overwhelming for a short stop.

Also a good point above that if any of them have significantly better/worse arrival/departure times which mean you get more out of your stay in one of them, it might be worth considering that too.

Doshwaster

Probably HK for me too. Fantastic airport and easy transfers into the city, it's very compact so you can get a lot done in a single day and westernised enough so that there is no too much culture shock.

You can do a stopover or long weekend in Dubai any time. Also the onward leg of DXB-Oz might be a little too long for comfort.

Bangkok is one of my favourite cities in the world but it can be quite overwhelming to a first time visitor so a 2 night stopover might not be the best way to get the best out of it. It's better done as part of a longer holiday in Thailand.

VodkaSorbet

OP is talking about a stop on the way back...

Just to add - if you are looking to use the stopover just to recover/chill, Dubai would probably be the one to go for. Not that there isn't plenty to do there if you did want to get out and about, but the Asian stops are more suited to getting out and experiencing the place IMO.

Nile

fifeken wrote: »

3,000 miles from home with a chance to experience another culture and these are what you recommend? It takes all sorts.

You make a fair point but I didn't disclose that I was only in Dubai for a few hours, as it was a stopover to break a long journey.

I haven't had a chance (yet) to spend several days in Dubai and offer tips on interesting places to visit.

I intended my post to be helpful to the OP and he has thanked it.