Hong Kong Revisited
The service and the food were amazing and I arrived in Hong Kong refreshed after a great night’s sleep. Cathay Pacific has a good reputation and I can see why. If you are going to Hong Kong I would suggest you fly Cathay Pacific as the service level really does stand out. And if you have the money, you really must fly in business class because it is well worth it to arrive feeling fresh and ready to tackle the day ahead.
On arrival, Cathay Pacific had staff available to explain that a power cut in Heathrow had resulted in our luggage being left behind. What was impressive was that the airline had prepared a team of staff to handle the problem. My luggage would arrive on the next flight in 6 hours’ time. Unfortunately, things do sometimes go wrong with travel arrangements. In this instance, Cathay Pacific had notice boards displayed and staff available to efficiently handle the situation. I always feel the mark of a professional service is how the problems are dealt with.
I usually give my clients private car transfers to their hotel, but my group went by MTR train to Central and from there, we grabbed a taxi. This was a quick way into the city and it is also very affordable. On my return journey, I went in a private transfer. The road to the airport is modern and the journey is really easy. Having sampled both ways of getting to/from the airport, I would now tell people how easy it is to do by MTR if you are a reasonably confident traveller. If you are not, I would book a private car transfer.
My accommodation for this trip was courtesy of Langham Hotels. The great thing is that they have 3 hotels in Hong Kong of different standards and atmosphere – meaning they have a hotel for everyone.
I stayed in the Eaton Hong Kong for the first 2 nights. This is a newly refurbished 4-star hotel in a great location on Kowloon. The rooms were modern and a bit trendy. They were not huge but were very well kitted out. I liked the main restaurant as it was set up like a street market. It was popular with locals as well as hotel guests and created a good atmosphere because of this.
I was able to visit the 5-star Cordis Hotel and dined in their Michelin star Ming Court Cantonese restaurant featuring a modern twist on traditional Cantonese cuisine.
After that, I moved to the 5-star Langham. The hotel has a relaxed air of quality which allows people on holiday to enjoy their stay. The rooms are large and the food and service impeccable. We ate in the Bostonian Seafood and Grill with a seafood tower to start and steak to follow. All I can say is “Wow!”.
Whilst in Hong Kong, we explored by using the MTR metro system, buses and by walking. We bought an octopus card (travel pass) to do this. It is really easy to get around – the signs are all in English as well as the local language. The trains are air-conditioned and really frequent. Public transport costs are very cheap. I do feel you get a really good feel for a destination if you use the local transport.
Highlights that we visited were Victoria Peak for the view, the Tian Tan Buddha bronze statue on Lantau Island which we got to by MTR and then the gondola cable cars, and exploring the various markets. I really enjoyed a visit to the Chi Lin Nunnery – a lovely temple with the most amazing gardens. I would also encourage people to visit Aberdeen and the famous floating restaurants and to jump on the trams in Causeway Bay. If you are seeking nightlife you should visit Lan Kwai Fong where the bars are open all night.
My visit was just 3 days, but I was able to enjoy the vibrant city. Hong Kong is a great stopover destination en-route to Australia or New Zealand. It also works well as part of a Far East multi-centre tour. But there is loads to do if you just want to visit Hong Kong for a week. Or you can visit for 3 days like I did - possibly for a crazy short break weekend!