Topic Wiki

Hong Kong Island:
Things to do:
-Victoria Peak (tram),
-Ngong Ping 360 Glass bottom cable car (big Buddha),
-Downtown area
-Pink dolphin watching
-Ozone  Bar
-Tailors (Jantzen, tai panin admiraltyi cntr)
-Big Bus Tour
-Star ferry to Kowloon

Kosher Grocery Stores:
KosherMart On Hong Kong Island in the JCC
Kosher Original in Kowloon

Where to eat:
JCC Sunday night buffet can't be missed.
JCC Pizza - (Not open in the Summer)
Seven Zero - Dairy Resturant in the JCC
JCC Chinese
Shalom grill restaurant reported permanently closed by Mech
Shalom grill kosher market

Places to stay:
Grand Hyatt hotel
Mandarin Oriental Hotel
Four Seasons

Kowloon:
Things to do:
-8:00pm Laser show
-Ladies market
-Ave. of stars- pier
-Museums (science, space)
-Diamond hill- nan lian garden/chi Lin nunnery
-Big Bus Tour
-Star ferry to Hong Kong Island
-Drinks at Felix (Peninsula Hotel)
-Drinks in the Lobby (Intercontinental Hotel)


Only place to eat:
Mul Hayam Restaurant at Kehilat Zion (Breakfast is now $100 HKD)

Places to stay:
The W Hotel - Great Hotel but far from Synagogues
Grand Stamford Intercontinental Hotel - next to Chabad (for Shabbos),
Intercontinental Hong Kong, Sheraton, Shangri la , Peninsula, Hyatt regency. (All these hotels are in great locations if you would like to be near KZ. You can also walk through the TST subway station to KZ from all these except IC Grand Stamford and Shangri La which is next door) 

Shuls
Kehilat Zion -Location: Unit 105, 1/F Wing On Plaza 62 Mody Road East Tsim Sha Tsui Kowloon kzionhk@yahoo.com, or call: (852) 2366 6364 (office) or (852) 2368 0061
Chabad - Location:  67-71 Chatham Road, Oriental Centre 1/F Unit D, Tsim Sha Tsui  Telephone:  (852) 2366 5770  Mobile Tel.: (852) 9674 4450  Email: kowloon@chabadhk.org

Macau: (Ferry from hkg)
-Casinos (las Vegas style hotels),
-Curque like water show
-aj hachet tower (bungi)

-Disney

Lhasa:
Lake, pilgrims , culture

Airline Checkin Counters: Kowloon Station (below the W Hotel) to check your bags in. You then take the MRT straight to the airport (with just a couple of stops). It's super convenient and quick. You don't have to stay at the W to check in at Kowloon station though (and FWIW you can check in at Hong Kong station on HKI, too).


Trip reports:
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=1752.0
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=1070.0
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=3634.0
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=1548.msg22804#msg22804
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2630.msg25855#msg25855
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2630.msg25907#msg25907
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2630.msg180625#msg180625
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2630.msg264863#msg264863
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=2630.msg330403#msg330403
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=1885.msg17999#msg17999
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=25610.msg422555#msg422555
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=30766.0
« Last edited by davidmal on October 19, 2017, 04:21:17 AM »

Author Topic: Hong Kong Master Thread  (Read 400900 times)

Offline Dan

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Hong Kong Master Thread
« on: June 21, 2010, 08:24:40 PM »
I'm thinking of making a trip sometime to Australia via Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific.

Any thoughts?
How long do you need in Hong Kong to see the sights?
Is it worth spending a Shabbos?
What's the kosher food situation?
Hyatt/SPG recommendations?
Go for Business or First on Cathay Pacific?

Let's keep this thread free of any local jewish politics...thanks!
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Offline steve2

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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #1 on: June 21, 2010, 10:19:17 PM »
 Thanks for the Fix

 OK basically theres 2 parts to HK 1 HK Island and the other Kowloon

 Chabad used to have Shabbos services and meals every Shabbos in the Mandrian Oriental on HKI, but when that Hotel closed for renovations Chabad didnt return and instead has its place up in The Mid Levels area which is where the Jews that live in HK reside.I dont know if they still do meals on Shabbos since you wont find any tourists there as its a residental area. The cloest Hotel to Chabad there and to Ohel Leah/JCC reg shul  is Bishops Lei which is a Church owned property but many people who go fund rasing to HK stay there over Shabbos and sometimes the whole week

 Its avery long Schelp from the Hyatt in HKI to the Mid Levels there are moving walkways but these are going down during the morning so youd have a very nice climb to get there

 Somewhere near where the Airport Express trains arrives in HKI is a Sefradi Kollel that also has a restaurant and Shabbos meals (I was never there so I cant comment on anything about it). also the JCC I mentioned above has a restaurant, on HKI from what I understand thats it these 2 places

 Kowloon where all the main tourist stuff is is also home to a Shearton which is a 10 min walk to the Chabad or Kehilat Zion (both are on the same street Mody but are on different sides across a 6 lane street from each other. Chabad has Shabbbos meals as does KZ, but KZ has the only restaurant in Kowloon. From what I remember there is now a Hyatt in Kowloon as well (from a previous discussion about HK on DD). Aside from those spending Shabbos in Kowloon there is no Jewish community of locals as there is on HKI.

 Great place to spend Shabbos in that neck of the World. But ChabadLand a/k/a Sydney,AU  is a residental community where you will need Home Hospitality unless you dont mind mind walking over an hour to DownTown. (I call it CBLand since basically thats who makes up the vast majority of the local community with numerous shuls, unlike MEL).

 how long to spend depends on what interests you and although we didnt hit Macau will next time not for the Casinos but the old city, there are numerous mkts that walking thru was interesting, theres the Peak, and riding the trams old street cars, HK History Museum was very interesting and is in Kowloon. If you want to have a suit or shirts custom made give yourself a few days so that you can go back for a refitting. everyone talks about the lightshow at night its like 10 mins and well a waste of time unless you have nothing else to do

 The Hyatt on HKI has a Lounge that is unbelieveble havent read of any FTer to ever score a Suite 1 of the hardest Hyatts to score it at they really do protect them  reg rooms high floor with harbour view were smallish (I didnt stay but some of the group that I went with did after Shabbos) for Shabbos we stayed at the now shut Renassiance in Kowloon. Sheraton in Kowloon has a Towers section and once again check FT and U will see its pretty hard to get UPed to that as well

 never flown on CX so I wont comment but gleff posted a pic of the FC lav the other day, maybe he did a comparison I didnt read the whole blog

 theres other things like going to the big budda Id say check out FT to see what if anything interests you
« Last Edit: June 21, 2010, 10:22:44 PM by steve2 »

Offline steve2

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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #2 on: June 21, 2010, 10:24:35 PM »
 BTW if we keep this 'free of local Jewish politics..' its gonna get very boring very fast LoL

Offline Dan

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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #3 on: June 21, 2010, 10:31:58 PM »
Thanks.

It looks like the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong on HKI is just 1.4 miles from Chabad of HKI.  
Is it really that bad of a walk?

Both Chabad of HKI and Kowloon appear to have shabbos meals.

There's also a Hyatt Regency that appears to be right next door to Chabad of Kowloon.

Has anyone stayed at either of these Hyatt's?

BTW if we keep this 'free of local Jewish politics..' its gonna get very boring very fast LoL
A risk I'm willing to take  :D
« Last Edit: June 21, 2010, 10:36:29 PM by Dan »
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Offline steve2

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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #4 on: June 21, 2010, 10:44:36 PM »
 GH-HKI to Chabad maybe  1.4 miles but its Uphill and Steep not something Id want to try if its Hot out or raining

 why not do the HR as long as the Hotel doesnt start on the 30th floor (we went thru that I forget the answer) and then Sun move over to the GH or vice versa.

 as for Shabbos meals I believe all the shuls/kollels have them, just didnt know if C of HKI still did

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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #5 on: June 21, 2010, 11:32:03 PM »
The cloest Hotel to Chabad there and to Ohel Leah/JCC reg shul  is Bishops Lei which is a Church owned property but many people who go fund rasing to HK stay there over Shabbos and sometimes the whole week

Just wanted to comment, the Bishops Lei is only convenient if attending ohel leah.. For Chabad in Midlevels, there are two hotels right next to chabad one is the Garden View and the other is Two Macdonnel Road (serviced suites/apartments..)

I'm not saying they're the best, but for anyone wanting to stay near Chabad those are the best options.. (unless you want to go to Chabad in Kowloon..)

http://www.twomr.com.hk/


Offline steve2

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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2010, 11:35:49 PM »
Just wanted to comment, the Bishops Lei is only convenient if attending ohel leah.. For Chabad in Midlevels, there are two hotels right next to chabad one is the Garden View and the other is Two Macdonnel Road (serviced suites/apartments..)

I'm not saying they're the best, but for anyone wanting to stay near Chabad those are the best options.. (unless you want to go to Chabad in Kowloon..)

http://www.twomr.com.hk/



 when a person exits the moving walkways OL is to the Right and Chabad is to the Left , where is Bishops Lei? I was given the impression somewhere in between

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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #7 on: June 22, 2010, 12:15:55 AM »
Bishop LEi to Chabad is prob about 10 minute walk (but as you know, 10 HK minutes are long.... especially with the humidity) while the ones I mentioned are a minute or less...

Offline Dan

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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #8 on: June 22, 2010, 12:17:55 AM »
Bishop LEi to Chabad is prob about 10 minute walk (but as you know, 10 HK minutes are long.... especially with the humidity) while the ones I mentioned are a minute or less...
And what about the Grand Hyatt to Chabad?
Google estimates 26 minutes, is that accurate?
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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #9 on: June 22, 2010, 12:40:45 AM »
And what about the Grand Hyatt to Chabad?
Google estimates 26 minutes, is that accurate?

 maybe prob #1 if you cant carry = no map = I hope you have a photographic memory ( during the week we had our fun even with a map)

 #2 going downhill will be easier then going Uphill, but its hot just think of walking 1.4 miles in Manhatten in Aug.

Kowloon is flat and Chabad from the Hyatt or Shearton is around the corner, alot better IMO

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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #10 on: June 22, 2010, 12:42:40 AM »
I stayed at the hyatt 9 years ago, but not for a shabbos... Can't say how long the walk would take, but I don't believe less than 40 minutes... it's up hill and killer heat.. I would have to agree with steve that walking in HK even 10 minutes isn't enjoyable how much more so with shabbos clothes and for that long.

I would probably say best bet would be to stay near Chabad of Kowloon for shabbos, that way you get a nice hotel and little walking...

Also if you go be sure to go to Shenzhen, you get a visa by the train station and you can buy a knockoff of anything you've ever seen including clothes,watches,electronics etc.. quite an experience. Also cheap massages (foot massage is cool..) they're aggressive so be prepared!

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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #11 on: June 22, 2010, 12:47:01 AM »
but its hot just think of walking 1.4 miles in Manhatten in Aug.

Can't say how long the walk would take, but I don't believe less than 40 minutes... it's up hill and killer heat.. I would have to agree with steve that walking in HK even 10 minutes isn't enjoyable how much more so with shabbos clothes and for that long.

When did I say I was going in the summer?
But thanks for the advice guys!
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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #12 on: June 22, 2010, 12:57:02 AM »
When did I say I was going in the summer?
But thanks for the advice guys!

 OK I was there in Feb off season and winter time and walking in a suit for the 10 mins in Kowloon all I was missing was some soap and a towel, it was managable but glad I wasnt there when its usually alot Hotter

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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #13 on: June 22, 2010, 01:33:33 AM »
Dan, read my tripreport. I was in hong kong and think 2 days is enough to see all. It depends how much shopping you want to do. I stayesd from friday till sunday night, that was fine.
I can only strongly suggest you spend shabbes in kehilat zion on the kowloon side. The food was amazing, beats every 5 star hotel. The atmosphere was very nice and its within short walking distance to a sheraton. There is also a shangrila right next to it. I stayed in the intercontinental grand standford.
The f and f rate was about the same as cash and pointd with starwood


Offline Shlomi

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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #14 on: June 22, 2010, 02:02:48 AM »
I have a special corporate rate for the Hyatt Regency in Kowloon. Not the best price ever but still cheaper.
Keep in mind that if you would like to use stairs (and not trust on the Heter to go with a goy in the elevator) Hyatt is out of the question. It's a brand new building and as much as I beg the GM - he wouldn't let our guests to use the stairs.
The older hotels such as the Sheraton, Intercontinental or Shangri-la would have stair access.
Grand Hyatt to Chabad HK is about 30 min. and is doable only when there is good weather.
3 days in HK would be enough to explore the whole city without skipping any important site.

And CX First is S-U-P-E-R good! (Never flown - but that's everybody here says... )

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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #15 on: June 22, 2010, 02:12:10 AM »
I have a special corporate rate for the Hyatt Regency in Kowloon. Not the best price ever but still cheaper.
Keep in mind that if you would like to use stairs (and not trust on the Heter to go with a goy in the elevator) Hyatt is out of the question. It's a brand new building and as much as I beg the GM - he wouldn't let our guests to use the stairs.
The older hotels such as the Sheraton, Intercontinental or Shangri-la would have stair access.
Grand Hyatt to Chabad HK is about 30 min. and is doable only when there is good weather.
3 days in HK would be enough to explore the whole city without skipping any important site.

And CX First is S-U-P-E-R good! (Never flown - but that's everybody here says... )

Wow, thanks for the info on the Hyatt Regency.  How do they stop you from using the stairs?  I'd be happy to write a letter as well.

Is the staircase usable at the Grand Hyatt?
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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #16 on: June 22, 2010, 02:45:52 AM »
Dan, u wanted to try turkish first class. Jfk-ist-hkg is all with the 777. The lease of turkish on these planes expires next year, i think you should consider it.

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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #17 on: June 22, 2010, 03:40:19 AM »
Wow, thanks for the info on the Hyatt Regency.  How do they stop you from using the stairs?  I'd be happy to write a letter as well.

Is the staircase usable at the Grand Hyatt?

It's not about stopping me. All stairs have the fire alarm emergency bar and are armed.
You need special key to unlock the fire alarm. I tried once to get it but the GM (who is a great guy and likes me alot) said cannot cause they also have no insurance on this part of the hotel and if someone falls c"v - they are in big troubles...

Grand Hyatt is a (very) old hotel and does have stair access as far as I know.

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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #18 on: June 22, 2010, 04:54:34 AM »
Dan,

 As a veteran of both Hong Kong and Australia, I'd offer the following advice:

1. CX First is amazing but when booking with AA Miles, you need to book two separate tickets, as N. America to South Pacific is only allowed via the Pacific. If you are springing for the extra miles and doing CX, try and get Qantas F from HKG-SYD as CX does not operate F to Australia. My advice would be to fly one way via the Pacific Islands (Bora Bora?) and New Zealand on Air New Zealand in Business/First (which is in my opinion much better than CX business comfort wise) and return via Hong Kong on QF & CX.

2. Walking from the Grand Hyatt to either Chabad or Ohel Leah is not really doable. Think San Francisco type hills. I love Shabbos in Kowloon and besides Kowloon is a much more authentic Hong Kong experience. Hong Kong Island is like Manhattan or Frankfurt. My advice for you would be to use the IC F&F rate at either Intercontinental in Kowloon or stay in the Sheraton on C+P

3. If you have the time, I'd advise you to maximize your trip by stopping in Singapore for a day (or two if possible). You can do that by flying QF from SYD-SIN in F and then flying on to HKG on CX (they have at least one flight a day with F). This is doable because you need to do HKG-N. America on a separate redemption.

4. Keep in mind that when trying to get 2 F Seats from N. America to HKG the easiest way is always to do CX from YYZ which has very good availability. When flying with a companion, CX Business can be quite annoying because of the Herringbone configuration. Seats are also a bit too narrow for my liking.

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Re: Hong Kong Master Thread
« Reply #19 on: June 22, 2010, 10:32:46 AM »


I can only strongly suggest you spend shabbes in kehilat zion on the kowloon side. The food was amazing, beats every 5 star hotel. The atmosphere was very nice and its within short walking distance to a sheraton. There is also a shangrila right next to it. I stayed in the intercontinental grand standford.



 I ate by both and KZ had a reg davening and meal while Chabad in Kowloon at least that fri night was more like a Purim Seuda and Isreali folk song festival and we had 10 men but not 10 davening, while KZ pretty much everyone was Shomer shabbos with a few exceptions

 Why dont I see Dan davening or eating anywhere when theres a Chabad to be had, especially in Kowloon where Chabad and KZ to put it best  dont get along

 BTW the food at chabad on Fri night wasnt bad and there was plenty of it, just the atmoshere wasnt my cup of tea for the davening or during the meal.While KZ is sefard but I was very comfortable davening with a reg minyan