Toddler in Hong Kong- advice for parents!

[Smellga]

We've just booked to go to Hong Kong to visit family and now i'm starting to wonder whether its the best plan for our first family holiday (son will be two). Any recommendations on what to do, where to stay /eat and generally how to survive with a toddler abroad!

I have been to Hong Kong with a 18mo. Pushchair is hard because if can never seem to find the disable access to stations. DH and I ended up carrying the pushchair up and down stairs with DD in it. We went in September and it was very hot. Bring a water bottle with you. (2yo might be able to drink from non toddler sip bottles though so might not be a problem). Food isn't a problem there are shops everywhere selling bread, yoghurt, etc. I have found highchairs even in fast food chains.

As for activities. We were staying near Kowloon park so went to the council swimming pool every day. The outdoor pool is amazing. The park has animals to see too. Then there is Disney and Ocean park. DD loved the star ferry, tram, trains. The promenade along Tsimshantsui was great and they had a mid autumn festival display last time. I think there is a hello kitty world or might be snoopy world now in shatin. And try the peak too, a nice circular walk and obviously take the peak tram up. We didn't get to the big budda as DD wasn't a walker really but yours might like it.

YMCA in Tsimshatsui is in a great location and has family suites.

Forget to say we were cheap and stayed in the hotel owned by the scout association which is near Jordan station next to Kowloon park. The rooms are tiny but DD was in cot. I don't think a 2yo can still fit in a cot so a family suite would be a better bet!

The YMCA hotel is the Salisbury and is near the metro.
Stanley is also nice for a day out, nice playground and plenty of places to eat that are child friendly.

Watching with interesst as planning to take DC's on a business trip in August. Have been with DS 1 when he was a baby and didnt bother with the pram as he was in the sling. Peak tram is a must, most chinese style restaurants are very childfriendly and will whip up plain rice and chicken for the kids, bakery items are widely available and lots of fresh juice and dim sum.

We last went when DD1 was about 15 months old and it is very doable with a toddler. Agree with lots of the other suggestions and some others but one of the best things to do is just wander around Hong Kong both night and day:

• Star Ferry (do that loads although with land reclamation the distance gets shorter
• Tsim sha tsui is a great place night and day for a wander/play and watch the lights
• Peak Tram
• Junk across to Lamma and the fish restaurants
• Lantau and Po Lin (the big Buddha). Plus cable car
• Hong Kong museum of history (more for adults)
• Mong Kok bird market/Night markets
• Take the trams
• Stanley
• Hong Kong park (nice playground)/Zoological/Botanical gardens
• Mid Levels escalator
• Wong Tai Sin Temple
• day trip to Macau
• Ocean Park
• the beach - Repulse Bay, Disco Bay, Sai Kung