Hong Kong in July - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

flamersfan · 04-22-2011, 11:40 AM

The wife and I are looking to go to Europe in July. But plane tickets are way to expensive. Around $1700 each round trip.

I have found a flight to Hong Kong for around $925.

Is it crazy to go to Hong Kong at that time of year?

Canada 02 · 04-22-2011, 11:53 AM

100% humidity, 35+ celsius

beautiful place to visit; lived there for 4 years and going back later this year, but not in the summer heat

doozwimp · 04-22-2011, 11:56 AM

Im sure someone could advise you better as Im no expert but expect Hong Kong to be expensive even compared to Europe. Just something to keep in my mind. Was there a very brief time. (about 12 hours) Quite sterile and modern city from what I experienced, yet still very asian feeling. I think you could have a good time there but its a very hard city to stay on a budget based on the small sample I experienced.

Canada 02 · 04-22-2011, 12:02 PM

it's not that expensive, especially with the very favourable exchange rate on the loonie

it's all relative; if you want five star restaurants and hotels, sure the sky's the limit on price, but you can find many nice places to stay in the $125-150 range whcih I think is really good for a world class city. Food can be cheap, souvenirs, clothing electronics all priced better than over here plus no sales tax

MelBridgeman · 04-22-2011, 12:02 PM

It be like being locked in an outhouse in 45 degree weather

Regulator75 · 04-22-2011, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

It be like being locked in an outhouse in 45 degree weather

An outhouse with tasty food.

secol · 04-22-2011, 01:15 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Hong_Kong

but from personal experience it's hot but i don't mind it too much, cheap stuff as previously mentioned with the exception of living accommodations and airport stuff.

jjbouma · 04-22-2011, 02:14 PM

I was there 2 years ago in July and it wasn't too bad. If you don't mind hot and humid weather then you'll be fine. Hong Kong is one of my favorite cities to visit and as others have said, you can splurge on hotels as you can in any other world class city but you can also find places that are definitely reasonable. The Kowloon side tends to be a bit cheaper than staying on the Hong Kong side. There is lots to do on either side and transportation between the two is easy with the subway or ferry. Also, Lantau Island is a nice day trip. The food, shopping and culture are great there - you definitely feel like you're in an Asian city but it is still quite modern. Quite difficult to describe it unless you've been there.

Hack&Lube · 04-22-2011, 02:25 PM

The key to luxury at a low price is to get a VISA to enter China (you can do it here at the Consulate or in Hong Kong for like $20) and goto Shen Zhen.

I personally die in heat and humidity however so I would never goto Hong Kong in the middle of summer. I've been there many times only in the Winter.

What are you looking for? You can have quite an expensive but luxurious Western experience in Hong Kong if you goto the fancy hotels like the Shangri La, etc. (high tea is amazing) or you can do it living at the Chunking Mansions (lol don't) and eat amazing street food and local restaurants, etc.

Dorkmaster · 04-22-2011, 03:55 PM

I was there in July 08. It was fairly hot but not unbearable. Maybe 30ish with high humidity. Definitely no hotter than Calgary, except the humidity was a huge adjustment. AC is everywhere so its not even that bad. I was in Beijing later on a tour. No AC, nothing remotely cold to drink, close to 40 that year with massive humidity. Beijing normally isn't that bad, but at that time, that was unbearable. I'm sure Hong Kong can get that hot, but the year I was there it wasn't bad.

Depends on your tolerance of heat and humidity. Really didn't think it was that big of a problem. There's lots of ways to get around without being in the heat too.

icecube · 04-22-2011, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjbouma

I was there 2 years ago in July and it wasn't too bad. If you don't mind hot and humid weather then you'll be fine. Hong Kong is one of my favorite cities to visit and as others have said, you can splurge on hotels as you can in any other world class city but you can also find places that are definitely reasonable. The Kowloon side tends to be a bit cheaper than staying on the Hong Kong side. There is lots to do on either side and transportation between the two is easy with the subway or ferry. Also, Lantau Island is a nice day trip. The food, shopping and culture are great there - you definitely feel like you're in an Asian city but it is still quite modern. Quite difficult to describe it unless you've been there.

I was born in Kowloon bay!!!

Brewmaster · 04-22-2011, 05:52 PM

The high humidity makes walking around outside pretty unbearable for any long period of time. That being said, everywhere was air conditioned and there's tons of things to see and do. How long were you planning on spending there?

Bertuzzied · 04-22-2011, 11:55 PM

I've been to HK 8 times, and 7 times was in the June-August time frame because of school.

The last time i went was at the end of October. I will never go back to HK in July ever again... hehe

flamersfan · 04-23-2011, 01:17 AM

Thanks all for your replies.

I will be there for two weeks. I have gone ahead and booked the flight. Will see about possibly getting a visa to spend some time in the mainland.

Hack&Lube · 04-23-2011, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamersfan

Thanks all for your replies.

I will be there for two weeks. I have gone ahead and booked the flight. Will see about possibly getting a visa to spend some time in the mainland.

If you do go into Mainland China into Shen Zhen, do your research first. When you first get there from Hong Kong, there's this one giant mall complex on the border that westerners always shop at but it's not really that great.

If you go a little deeper there are a lot of luxurious hotels and restaurants and massage places that are cheap. The massage places are ridiculous. You just go in and can spend all day there as it's like a spa with unlimited food and comforts.

My favorite place was actually a buffet place inside a fancy hotel that was amazing. It had everything from Chinese to French cuisine (much of it made to order) but it was authentic and delicious.

You can definetely get away with travelling everywhere in Hong Kong and even into China just on the subway line. It's all connected. The new airport is really cool too. When you get off the plane, you basically board the subway and you can go right to the Elements Mall on the Kowloon side.

GirlySports · 04-23-2011, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

I've been to HK 8 times, and 7 times was in the June-August time frame because of school.

The last time i went was at the end of October. I will never go back to HK in July ever again... hehe

It's air conditioned everywhere. It's only super hot in the mid-afternoon and that's napping time

secol · 04-23-2011, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamersfan

Thanks all for your replies.

I will be there for two weeks. I have gone ahead and booked the flight. Will see about possibly getting a visa to spend some time in the mainland.

you should try to get the visa here if possible....i know when i got my visa in HK it took some time though there was an option to have it expedited at a higher cost. the lines are ridiculous in HK anyways so i'd get it done here if you plan on going. personally i didn't like mainland much

Bertuzzied · 04-23-2011, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GirlySports

It's air conditioned everywhere. It's only super hot in the mid-afternoon and that's napping time

yeah it's only 30c with 100% humidity at nite..... haha

Besides the air conditioning there is too cold. you go from 35c to like 20c in seconds. I get super sick the first week i'm back there.