Hotels FAQ

Question:

This past weekend there was a test run of ChekLap Kok involving 12,000 volunteer pax.  Reportedly everything went smoothly, although high speed train took 33 minutes instead of 23 to/from downtown. CX’s business class lounge (embarrassingly) is *NOT* going to be ready in time and they have NOT made any public statement about any alternative arrangements for VIP types.  Perhaps they may negotiate something with other lounges or the airport hotel (about which I have no info) — or then again . . .??? I would say with 6 hours you should come into town.  Even allowing for immigration, re-check-in, and transport, that would leave you with a good solid 3 hours in town.  The airport train station is truly in the middle of Central (downtown business district), which is easy and speedy access to the Peak (by Tram, if you’ve never done that); Star Ferry (literally walking distance from the station), several 5-star hotels (ie, Mandarin Oriental for afternoon tea; Mandarin, Furama, Ritz for any number of nice restaurants); Lan Kwai Fong bar and restaurant area; shopping (Landmark Mall, Prince’s Building — although lots of that is being renovated, many designer boutiques with excellent sales at the moment); all mod cons, in short. If you happen to belong to a club with reciprocal arrangements with the Foreign Correspondents Club, that’s not far away and is a good place to hang out, plus has some of the cheapest beer in town (a serious matter in a duty-free port whose only duties tend to be on alcohol!). IN short, come into town and enjoy! Safe travels, SJM in HK

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – —snip > I would say with 6 hours you should come into town.  Even allowing for > immigration, re-check-in, and transport, that would leave you with a > good solid 3 hours in town.  The airport train station is truly in the > middle of Central (downtown business district), which is easy and speedy > access to the Peak (by Tram, if you’ve never done that); Star Ferry > (literally walking distance from the station), several 5-star hotels > (ie, Mandarin Oriental for afternoon tea; Mandarin, Furama, Ritz for any > number of nice restaurants); Lan Kwai Fong bar and restaurant area; > shopping (Landmark Mall, Prince’s Building — although lots of that is > being renovated, many designer boutiques with excellent sales at the > moment); all mod cons, in short. > If you happen to belong to a club with reciprocal arrangements with the > Foreign Correspondents Club, that’s not far away and is a good place to > hang out, plus has some of the cheapest beer in town (a serious matter > in a duty-free port whose only duties tend to be on alcohol!). > IN short, come into town and enjoy! > Safe travels, > SJM in HK

Does the airport train have a stop in Kowloon? And if so where? Steve

Response:

> Does the airport train have a stop in Kowloon? And if so where?

The new Kowloon station on the Airport Express route is very close to downtown – near the Jordan Ferry Pier. Rama

Response:

I will be transitting through Hong Kong next month, northbound on 4th July and southbound on 10th July. On the return journey from London to Melbourne I will have a 6 hour stopover at the new Chek Lap Kok airport. This question possibly isn’t easy to answer as the new airport isn’t open yet, but does anyone have any recommendations as to how I could spend the stopover? I could either stay in the Cathay business class lounge in the transit area or (time permitting) travel into Hong Kong. I’ve read about a high speed rail link from the airport to the city, but don’t know if that will be operating when the airport officially opens on 6th July. Does anyone have any more specific information regarding transport and transit times between the new airport and Hong Kong? Greg.

Response:

According to a NYT caption today (July 9), computer glitches at the new HK airport forced authorities to ship cargo back to the old airport. Apparantly airport authorities around the world are not familiar with the Software Corollary to Murphy’s Law: Anything that can go wrong will do so on the first production run . — Hassan Alam

Response:

> According to a NYT caption today (July 9), computer glitches at the new > HK airport forced authorities to ship cargo back to the old airport. > Apparantly airport authorities around the world are not familiar with the > Software Corollary to Murphy’s Law: > Anything that can go wrong will do so on the first production run . > — > Hassan Alam

And after a successful beta test.

Response: