Best Areas to Stay in HONG KONG • Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Mong Kok & Tung Chung Comparison
01:00.0
Disneyland is here, and the shopping centers are right here.
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So to better understand that, let's first take a look at Hong Kong's geography.
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This is Hong Kong. Let's zoom in a bit.
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As you can see, much of it is a peninsula protruding from the southern coast of China.
01:22.6
To its north is Shenzhen, and to its west, now connected by a bridge, is Macau.
01:27.5
And like Macau, Hong Kong is a...
01:30.0
Special Administrative Region of China.
01:32.8
Yes, it is a part of China, but it has its own economy, currency, and immigration laws.
01:38.6
That's why even Chinese mainlanders still need to go through immigration checks when entering Hong Kong.
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It is composed of three main regions.
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Hong Kong Island, which is this island.
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Kowloon on the peninsula.
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And the New Territories, which is all over the place, but includes 200 outlying islands including this.
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And it's best to be familiar with it because you'll most likely pass through it
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because you'll find the Hong Kong International Airport right here,
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located on reclaimed land on Chek Lap Kok Island, just off Lantau.
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Moving on, this part of Lantau closest to the airport is called Tung Chung.
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We'll discuss this later on, but for now, let's head downtown.
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Hong Kong City Center has two phases.
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One of them is Kowloon, which covers most of the developed area on the peninsula,
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This is the older and more traditional side of the city.
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It's what many consider quintessential Hong Kong.
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It's highly developed, yes, but you'll easily notice that many of the buildings are not very modern.
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It is dense, busy, and incredibly textured.
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But you've probably seen this side of Hong Kong a lot because it is often used as a setting in Hollywood movies.
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Just across the Victoria Harbor lies Hong Kong Island,
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whose central northern edge is considered the city's central...
03:00.4
If Kowloon is gritty and traditional, Hong Kong Island is polished and aesthetically more colonial,
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blending Chinese culture with British influence as well.
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But it is divided into smaller neighborhoods, including Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, Xiong Wan, and Causeway Bay.
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The truth is, Hong Kong has 18 smaller districts,
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but for tourists, especially first-timers, only a few of these will matter to you.
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So, which is the best area to stay?
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Well, that depends on your specific itinerary.
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But let's take a look at each main area to see if this is the one for you.
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Starting with Tsim Sha Tsui.
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Tsim Sha Tsui, or TST, is well-known among budget travelers because of three things.
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First, accessibility.
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There is no direct train line between TST and the airport,
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but there are direct airport buses that stop at multiple points across the district.
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Its main artery is Nathan Road, which runs parallel to the A21 bus route
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and also to a section of the MTR or subway train's Chuen 1 line.
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This subway line also connects TST to the Central District on the other side of the harbor.
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There are multiple MTR stations, ferry terminals, and bus stops here.
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See? Very accessible.
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The second reason is its proximity to some key attractions including the Avenue of Stars,
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the K11 Mall, and the shopping streets in Mongkong,
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and Jordan areas.
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And lastly, there's a lot of budget-friendly accommodations in Tsim Sha Tsui.
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Most of them housed in two famous or infamous buildings,
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the Chungking Mansions and Mirador Mansion.
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You may have heard a lot about these two properties before.
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Some may be good, some may be not so good.
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So, what's the truth?
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Well, these two are old residential buildings,
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but many owners have turned their units into guest houses or mini hotels,
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They look nice and polished from afar,
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but up close, it can be a bit intimidating.
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Its crowded ground floor is a maze of various shops.
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And when you go inside,
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let's just say that these buildings have seen better days.
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But don't write it off yet.
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Actually, in our early years, we always stayed here
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and with the exception of long elevator lines occasionally,
05:24.7
we never really had a bad experience.
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That's not to invalidate other accounts I've seen on this channel,
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That's not to invalidate other accounts I've seen on this channel,
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which mention bedbugs and all.
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I'm just saying, we didn't have that kind of experience,
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even in our most recent stay here just a few months ago.
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But that's the thing,
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while they look dated or dare I say dilapidated from the hallways,
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some units are actually clean and well-kept inside.
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Just a few months ago,
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we booked a room at Victoria Inn at Mirador Mansion
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and it was a very pleasant stay.
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It's just a matter of booking a reputable establishment,
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so always check reviews.
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But beware, because space is such a scarce commodity
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in these parts of Hong Kong,
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most rooms in Kowloon are small and cramped,
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to say the least.
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There isn't much space to move around,
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but you'll find properties that are cleverly designed.
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By the way, Tsim Sha Tsui is mostly flat,
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which makes a walk across the area a walk in the park.
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The streets are busy and narrow though,
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so don't be too complacent.
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We have a list of suggested hotels not just in Tsim Sha Tsui,
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but in other districts,
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which we're tackling in this video.
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Just follow the link in the description and pin comment.
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If you decide to book with Klook,
06:36.2
THEPORETRAVELER for extra discount.
06:39.4
That's ThePoretraveler, single L.
06:42.4
By booking using our links,
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you'll also help us create more videos like this.
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Another area worth checking out in Kowloon is Mong Kok.
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Technically, it is part of Yau Chim Mong District.
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The same administrative office,
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the same administrative unit that Tsim Sha Tsui belongs to.
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And it has a lot of similarities to TST.
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It is also accessible from the airport by the same direct bus,
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It's also along the Truen 1 line,
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which is connected to Central and Nathan Road,
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which is punctuated by multiple bus stops.
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But the vibe in Mong Kok is significantly different.
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Its streets are lit by colorful neon signs,
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and the energy here is more buzzing, more frenetic.
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It's a popular shopping area.
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Its map is scribbled with night markets and shopping streets,
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including the legendary Sneaker Street.
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So if you love shopping for shoes,
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this is the spot for you.
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And if you're into street food,
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well, you're gonna love Mong Kok.
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When searching online,
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you'll also come across several affordable accommodations in Mong Kok,
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both old and new.
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Yep, there are a lot of cheap hotels and guest houses in Mong Kok too,
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just like in Tsim Sha Tsui,
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sometimes cheaper than Tsim Sha Tsui.
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This is Hong Kong's Political and Commercial Center.
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As mentioned earlier,
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it looks more polished and more modern than Kowloon.
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Strictly speaking though,
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Central refers to this area.
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But for tourism purposes,
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the term is sometimes used loosely to include the whole Central and Western District,
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encompassing Admiralty and Xiong Wan.
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Central is also bustling, especially at rush hours,
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but it gets less busy as you move away from it.
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On our most recent trip,
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we also stayed in this part of Xiong Wan,
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which is very quiet.
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Central is your jump-off point to two popular attractions,
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Victoria Peak and Ocean Park.
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So if your itinerary has these two sites on two separate days,
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this may be a good base.
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Central is also easily accessible.
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There is a direct bus from the airport,
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which is the A11 bus.
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But most importantly,
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there is a direct train.
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The Airport Express,
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which is the fastest way to get to the city center.
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You can reach Central in roughly 30 minutes from the airport,
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which is significantly quicker than taking the bus
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or multiple regular train rides,
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especially at rush hours.
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If you want to book a seat on the Airport Express train,
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you can reserve in advance on Clock 2.
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We'll add the link in the description and pinned comment.
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Another big pro for Central is that
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it's dotted with countless iconic foodie spots,
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and many of them are affordable.
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Some are even awarded with a Michelin Bib Gourmand or Michelin stars.
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I've stayed at the Central area a number of times,
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and I loved it each time because of these restaurants.
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There's even a food tour around the district.
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While many hotels in Central District are upscale,
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it is not impossible to find relatively inexpensive places to stay,
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especially in the Sheung Wan area.
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So, is Central the perfect base in Hong Kong?
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What's the catch?
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As much as I adore Central,
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it's not for everyone.
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The ground is very uneven,
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and there are a lot of stairs.
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Walking around can be exhausting if you're not used to it,
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and it can be very challenging for those with mobility issues.
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And although not as bad as Kowloon hotels,
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space here is also costly,
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so expect tiny cozy rooms.
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Before I move on to the next spot,
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I'd also like to mention neighboring Wan Chai and Causeway Bay.
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They are located in administrative districts separate from Central,
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but to be honest,
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you won't feel the difference.
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But these two are popular among expats,
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so they do feel more cosmopolitan.
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Causeway Bay is also a shopping and entertainment hub,
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and is often recommended for families.
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At this point, I'd like to show you the map again.
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This is the Hong Kong International Airport,
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as mentioned, located on reclaimed land on Chek Lap Kok Island,
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just off Lantau Island.
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This area close to the airport is called Sky City,
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which harbors several reputable hotels.
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And this part of Lantau Island closest to the airport is called Tung Chung.
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Many of the lists of best places to stay that you'll find online
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don't even mention these two areas.
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So why am I telling you this?
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Simple, because I disagree.
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Don't dismiss them right away.
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I actually believe that in many cases,
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these two places may be ideal for some travelers.
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Huh? You might be asking,
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but Yosh, it's so far away and detached from the city center.
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Why would you think it's a good idea to stay here at all?
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Well, hear me out.
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It's not for everyone,
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but if it's your first time and staying in Hong Kong for four days or shorter,
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and your itinerary involves a full day at Hong Kong Disneyland,
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a visit to Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car which will take you to the Big Buddha,
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or perhaps with a day tour at Tai Oven,
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and you're also going to do a Macau side trip,
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well, look at this map.
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The airport is here, Disneyland here,
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the Ngong Ping Cable Car is here,
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the Big Buddha here,
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and to get to Macau,
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you'll need to make it through the Hong Kong-Juhai-Macau Bridge Port,
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If your hotel is here in Kowloon or Central Area,
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you're gonna be spending a lot of time and money
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just to get to this part over and over again.
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So why not just book your hotel here
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at either the Sky City or in Tungchong?
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Most of the hotels here offer free bus transfer
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to and from the airport and Tungchong MTR Station.
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Yep, completely free of charge.
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And there's usually a bus every 30 minutes or so.
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Most hotels here are a bit high-end,
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Marriott, Sheraton, and the like,
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but its prices are competitive,
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much much lower compared to its counterparts in the city center
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and sometimes up to par with mid-range ones.
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last year, we visited in peak season.
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We booked two hotels,
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a supposedly budget hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui
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and this more upscale hotel in Tungchong.
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For the TST Hotel,
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we paid 930 HKD per night.
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Yes, I know it's still steep,
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but this was really one of the cheapest we found for that period.
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But within the same time frame,
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this room at 4 points by Sheraton in Tungchong
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costs 990 HKD per night.
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That's only a 60 HKD difference per night
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and there's a big difference in the experience.
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Our room in Tungchong was at a full-service hotel
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and was much much much more spacious.
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But this area has its cons.
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First, very limited affordable dining options.
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We had to make sure we had dinner elsewhere
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before coming back to the hotel
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with the expensive in-house restaurants.
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That or the convenience store.
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And yes, obviously, as mentioned,
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it's far from the city center.
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But you can work around it.
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Just design your itinerary in a way that would allow you to visit
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the Kowloon and Hong Kong Island attractions in one day or so,
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so you'd still get to see the city center efficiently.
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Again, this is not for everyone.
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If your itinerary calls for more time in the city center,
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then don't book a hotel here.
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But if you have the Disneyland, Ngong Ting, and Macau trifecta
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in your travel plans, consider this.
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And oh, I forget.
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The City Gate Outlet Mall is also here in Tungchong
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near the Ngong Ting Cable Car Station.
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So it has shopping perks too.
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So, out of all the areas we described,
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which is the absolute best?
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And again, I'd have to answer with that depends on your itinerary.
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If most of the places you're gonna visit are in Lantau Island like Disneyland,
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Ngong Ting 360, and you're doing a day trip to Macau,
14:54.3
I really think Sky City and Tungchong are your best bets.
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If your itinerary involves multiple days in the city center,
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then stay in either Kowloon or Hong Kong Island.
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If you're a foodie, I recommend you stay in Central or Xiong Wan District.
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If you like shopping and night markets,
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and you're working with a very tight budget,
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stay in Mongkok or Tsim Sha Tsui.
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As for me, if you ask me to choose without any set itinerary,
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I'd pick Central and Xiong Wan.
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It has all the things I want in a neighbor home,
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especially easy access from the airport whether by bus or by airport express train,
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and it's also close to key attractions like Victoria Peak,
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and there are a lot of delicious food spots.
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So, yep, it's the Central Xiong Wan area for me.
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But that's just me.
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Have you tried staying at any of these districts?
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Which one is your favorite?
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Let us know in the comment section below.
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If you want to search for hotels, check their rates, or book one,
15:51.1
just click on the link in the description or pinned comment.
15:54.1
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15:56.1
use the promo code ThePoorTraveler for big discounts.
15:59.1
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16:02.1
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16:15.1
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16:35.1
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Remember, plan smart, travel safe, and make every trip worth it.
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