2012 Family Holiday in Hong Kong

Hi Everyone, Well we got back from Hong Kong on the 19th May. When the 7 of us arrived at HK airport we went to the MTR ticket booth and got airport express tickets to our hotel. As there was 7 of us we purchased a airport express group pass for 4 $220HKD and airport express group pass for 3 $190HKD which took us to Kowloon Station and then onto a shuttle to our hotel. We did the same coming back as well. I also purchased our Octopus cards there. As it was a morning arrival flight we checked - in at the YMCA Salisbury and as our rooms weren't available till after 2pm we grabbed some lunch and then proceed down to the Star Ferry terminal where we were going to book for the "DukLing". There are renovations going on at the terminal and the HK Tourist Board's office has moved and they have a makeshift booth. It was very hard to find. We went to book the "DukLing" and was asked if any of our party was over 70? We answered in the affirmative as my mother is nearly 80 but doesn't look it. They then informed us that she couldn't go for insurance reasons. She was very upset about this. So we decided none of us would go.

For the rest of the day we walked around the harbour area and we went to Harbour Terminal Shopping Centre. Day 2. Up and atem we were off to Stanley Markets. On the Star Ferry and to Exchange Square to catch to bus to Stanley. Then the rain started. We got to Stanley and had fun bargaining with the retailers. Back on the bus and back to Central. Hubby & Mr 9yo decided to go back to the hotel and rest. All shopped out! Not us girls on the MTR to Tung Chung to Citigate. We decided to go to Federal Palace for DimSum...bad mistake...it was terrible....food was cold...had to wait...not good at all. So off to the shops. We started top floor first and worked our way down. Exhausted and piled up with parcels of goodies we headed back to the hotel. That night we dined at the Star Seafood Restaurant in an arcade on Nathan Rd.

Day 3 Off to Shenzhen. Left early so we wouldn't get caught up in the rush as it was Sunday. Got to visa office 168RMB in cash per person regardless of age for one entry into Shenzhen for 5 days. This process took about 20 minutes for the 7 of us. Then down to the metro to work out how to get to "Windows of the World". Got our little discs and off on the metro to Line 1 and get off at Shijiezhichuang. Go to purchase tickets for WOTW and they only take cash.BooHoo. There is an ATM there but it wouldn't take our cards. No.1 daughter tried hers and I tried mine both different. Didn't work so I went back to metro to the money changers there and got some cash to get us in. My mum was free as she was over 70 she just had to show her passport. Once in, it was great. We became one of the attractions as there were NO Westerners there and 2 of my girls (18 & 15)are tall and blonde and my the eldest (30) is dark and Mr 9 yo fair. So people were coming up and asking to have their photos taken with all of them. Eldest daughter had a ride on a camel. She said she can strike that off the bucket list....she didn't think she was going to ride a camel in China. After an exhausting and very hot 4 hours back onto the metro and to LoWu to the shops. My phone was doing funny things there with my Hong Kong sim. I couldn't make calls out. I was doing all the right things to call from China with a Hong Kong sim but nothing would work. So when we arrived at LoWu some touts came to us to go to one of their stores so I asked them could they call a friend I have there in Shenzhen and they did and he came and met us at the metro and then took us shopping. Now we were very very exhausted and back onto the train to Hong Kong. We realised we hadn't had much to eat all day. So after showers at the hotel we walked up Hankow Street and went to the ChukYuen Seafood restaurant. It was mother's day and very busy. We had to wait for about 15 minutes. The food was fantastic! Then I suppose we would eat the legs of the chairs we were so hungry.lol.

Day 4 Off to Disneyland Hotel. Check-in a breeze. We had booked Kingdom Rooms with views over the South China Sea. Absolutely beautiful! Then off to the park. All of us with our Mickey/Minnie ears on even Nan! We purchased 2 day tickets at the hotel upon check in. We had a ball. So crowded with mainland Chinese who like to push in. Not Happy with that! Then back to hotel for a swim and shower and then down to the Enchanted Garden Restaurant for a character dinner. It was my birthday and Minnie and her friends, Goofy, Pluto and of cause Mickey all were there and came with a cake which my hubby had ordered earlier when we had booked the hotel. After dinner we went back towards our room and found out that there were story telling and after the story telling Mickey arrived in his PJs. All had photos with him.

Day 5 Breakfast at the hotel was beautiful. Sleeping Beauty arrived for photos. Hubby wasn't well and didn't have breakfast. So I told staff and they said as we were checking out he could stay in the lounge area and he could rest there and get a drink or something to eat if needed. The rest of us.....back to the park. Around 2:30 we went back to the hotel on the shuttle and met up with hubby who had checked us out. The porters had our bags all ready to be picked up. I could not fault the staff at Disneyland Hotel, they were wonderful. We had a great stay and would stay there again. Back to the YMCA Salisbury. We arrived around 5:00pm and our rooms weren't ready. Not Happy as these rooms were booked some 4 months previous and we are frequent stayers there. Day 5 Up to the Peak! We would have gone up there earlier but it had been over cast and we didn't think we would see much. We get up there and it was fantastic.

After the Peak we walked and walked and walked to the Botanical Gardens and Zoo. With Spaghetti legs we made it! It was soooo hot. Hubby and I decided to stay and rest while the rest of the family went on a discovery tour. Back to the MTR, hubby & Mr 9 yo went back to hotel via Star Ferry,Hubby still not 100% and Mr 9 yo didn't want to shop anymore. So they did their own thing of going around the forshore of the harbour and went to Maccas for lunch and us girls toddled off to Maxims at City Hall for lunch and then onto the Ladies Markets and MongKok. Day 6 Last minute shopping for eldest daughter as she was heading back home that night. Day 7 Last minute shopping and off to the Space Museum. It was pouring with rain and we couldn't see the harbour from our harbour view room. So down to the subway with our angry birds and Disney umbrellas in tow and over to the Space Museum. I thought that we could spend an hour or so there after 4 hours. WoW! I couldn't believe it! The kids had a ball.

That night we got on the shuttle across the road out the front of the Peninsular Hotel, it was pouring. Then onto the airport express to the airport. Check in was painless. Then to the marathon to our boarding gate. 20 minutes after a couple of rides on lifts, another train, escalators and people movers we arrived at our gate. I knew Hong Kong airport was big but I didn't think it was sooooo big. This is the first time at the airport I didn't shop. I was so tired after getting to the gate I thought that if I go to the shops I might not find my way back. I hope this will help any of you who are ready to take off and have an adventurous time in Hong Kong.