Our Gold Weekend in Hong Kong

My trip started from Manchester flying Business Class with Turkish Airlines – with their onboard chef, the food was amazing and great service too. Once I left Istanbul with two colleagues, I was glad of my lie-flat bed for our overnight flight, heading towards one of the world’s most buzzing and exotic cities, Hong Kong where our Travel Counsellor’s Gold Weekend was being held. Hong Kong is home to the spectacular Victoria Harbour and boasts a gastronomic and cultural scene with something to occupy any visitor.

We spent four nights at the 5* Cordis Hong Kong at Langham Place, a stylish and contemporary hotel where everything is devoted to your well-being. In the heart of the bustling Mongkok area with a two-Michelin starred restaurant, world-famous spa facilities and a breathtaking rooftop pool, Cordis Hong Kong makes for the perfect city retreat. The hotel is also attached to a 14-floor shopping centre – so a perfect addition if you do like to shop!

On our first day we discovered Ladies Market, just a short walk from the hotel, and enjoyed a morning of bartering and haggling. In the afternoon, a Hong Kong based colleague took us off the beaten track to Nan Lian Garden which is a Chinese Classical Garden in the Diamond Hill area – a very peaceful oasis amongst the myriad of high-rise apartments. The garden, designed in the Tang-Dynasty style, has an area of 3.5 hectares and has stunning water features, trees and beautiful wooden structures.

We took the local bus to Sai Kung which is about 30 minutes away and is known as “Hong Kong’s back garden” because of the beautiful hiking trails and beaches in the area. The village of Sai Kung is also noted locally for its array of seafood restaurants, many of which are congregated along the seafront.

There were so many highlights over the few days we were there, it’s hard to know where to start but certainly watching the laser show from the balcony of the Ozone Bar; the highest bar in the world on the 118th Floor at the Ritz Carlton, is something that I will cherish forever. The Hong Kong skyline is truly breathtaking and the cocktails were amazing, if a little pricey. We also enjoyed two very lovely hosted dinners – one at the Harbour Grand Kowloon which has the most amazing views, with our last dinner at the Michelin Star Hutong restaurant where we had the most fabulous Chinese banquet I have ever tasted.

Hong Kong has so much more to offer, whether you want to get outdoors and climb the Peak (but try and avoid the queues), ride the historic trams, use the Star Ferry or Island Hop or just enjoy the amazing cuisine and shopping opportunities the city has to offer.

I would love to go back some day and explore more of the stunning skyline and get lost in the city streets again. I would definitely recommend Hong Kong as either a standalone exciting City Break or as a short stopover when travelling further afield.