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Original poster

I've got 7 hours to kill in HongKong airport with 2 young children - arrrgh!!

35 replies

NottsMum · 12/10/2005 22:30

Short of fellow travellers providing a few hours acting as children entertainers, I'm trying to prepare myself for the 7 hours we've got between flights.

DH and I will be returning from visiting his parents in Perth and the whole return journey home is hideous. We have a 9.30am flight from Perth airport, so the kids (14 months and 4 and a half) will struggle with getting up early, then we're on a plane until 1700 hours when we land at HK. Our connecting flight is not until midnight so we have 7 hours stuck in the airport . So apart from giving them tea and wandering around before they feel tired enough to sleep we've got to entertain them somehow, so I'm posting here for ideas!

I've visited the travel tips on MN and have made a note to buy some balloons and bubbles stuff and I know that they'll sleep for some of it (well I hope they will) but I'm wondering how else we'll be able to keep them entertained.

Suggestions anyone?

p.s. we land at 5am UK time so then we'll have jetlag to cope with. Arrrgggh... (but aside from that I think I'm looking forward to the trip )

OP posts:

hannahsaunt · 13/10/2005 13:00

Can think of worse airports to be stuck in for that long! We were there this summer and I guess you'll realistically have 4 hours at your disposal? By the time you get off, get oriented and time to be back to get on the plane etc. We took a taxi which was very good but then we had 80kg of luggage which we weren't about to take on the train (we were there for 3 days). It's absolutely beautiful at night and would really recommend getting down to the harbour and even just going to and from HK island on the star ferry - the children will love it. Don't know about Nov humidity but def worth leaving the airport knowing that you won't be too stuck for things to do when you get back. (Remember to have some HK currency if you're leaving the airport...)

Original poster

NottsMum · 13/10/2005 13:12

Ooh more good tips. I think I'm getting excited about being there now! I have been sooooo dreading it. Okay, so a trip out of the airport is definitely on the cards. Is the train station attached to the airport per chance?

Now I have no idea how expensive HK is, how much currency would you recommend I get out? (Enough for a meal / snacks / train and / or ferry trip.)

I've found out on the airport website that the weather should be fine and not humid which will make things so much easier.

So things are definitely looking up. Thank goodness for MN

OP posts:

BudaBabe · 13/10/2005 13:14

Can't remember much re currency but the train is attached to the airport.

Hong Kong has a real buzz about it - you'll enjoy it.

Lonelymum · 13/10/2005 13:19

When we took our children to Australia, they were 5, 4 and 2. We didn't have 7 hours stopover thank goodness, more like 2 hours and it was in Singapore, but IIRC we spent it in the toilets, eating, drinking, playing on the travelator (!) and there was a lounge with kids ride on toys in it and TV (but not in English of course!) I really hope your children sleep for you but don't rely on it. Ours had never been up past 8 o'clock before, but they were so excited throughout all the various flights we did that they were easily awake beyond midnight!

TaiTai · 13/10/2005 19:47

NottsMum, Apology accepted.
Chandra, I'm not sure why you chose to continue this after Nottsmum apologized, but as you did - I didn't expect a 'personal' thank you, a general one to everyone would have been fine.

Moving on...

Yes, the train station to go to Hong Kong Island is in the airport. There will definitely be something about it on the website. There are checking in facilities on HK Island Kowloon as you board the train, although this might not be of use to you as you're in transit. The Star Ferry suggestion is a great one; it's a fantastic ride, so cheap and Hong Kong lit up at nighttime (something it's famous for)will memserise adults and kids. Hong Kong is great for a quick stopover because transport is very efficient and very cheap - even if you have to get cabs, they won't set you back much. And the Chinese are family orientated and take their children out to dinner late at night, so your kids will be welcome in restaurants.

And no, I'm not expecting another apology, one is perfectly sufficient!

RTKMonherBROOMSTICK · 13/10/2005 20:00

Deffo do star ferry

get small notes for tips

when we were in HK we didn't have small notes and had to tip at hotel with huge amount of money

Chandra · 13/10/2005 21:41

I agree with you, one appology is more than enough

TaiTai · 13/10/2005 22:10

Er, I meant another thank you. Oops.

HondaDream · 13/10/2005 22:46

Used to live in HK but before new airport however it is on Lantau Island where I used to live and there are some nice beaches there, maybe a short bus ride away you can get to a beach I really don't know what the set up is as I think the airport was built on the other side of the island and there is a bloody big mountian in the middle but you may be able to get some info from the airport website much better then dragging two small kids and a push chiair into central HK or Kowloon

Original poster

NottsMum · 14/10/2005 10:37

Ooh blimey, I thought this thread was finished, good job I checked again.

Thanx to everyone for their suggestions, I'm now having to convince DH that we WILL have time to go out and do something IF the kids are okay about it. He's whinging.... sigh, can't win them all...

OP posts:

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