Last minute Hong Kong trip- help needed please!

[KittyConCarne]

With only a few weeks notice, DBro, DMum and I are off to Hong Kong next week, to celebrate DMum's big birthday.
I haven't flown in 20 years, since I was a fearless teenager (DBro & DMum are regular jet-setters and not phased in the slightest, although they've never visited Hong Kong before), so I'm panicking just a bit about the flight, leaving the children, making sure I've packed everything.

Does anyone know... if I'll need plug converters for my UK devices, whether I can take basic painkillers (paracetamol/ ibuprofen) for emergencies, whether Facebook Messenger works over there so I can video call the DC, whether DBro can take his e-cigarette thing to use over there, what the best mosquito repellant is to take (I've read about Dengue fever being prevelant at the mo?), err..any tips for flying long-haul, or other things I might wish I'd brought with me?

We're staying in Kowloon in the Harbour Plaza Metropolis, for 1 week.
We've got one trip pre-booked from Aberdeen Harbour to Stanley Market and on to the Victoria Peak tram ride. I'd really like to see a temple or some historical/ heritage type places. Any ideas for any must-see places too?
Thanks very much

I love Macau CherryPavlova and would say well worth a visit, focus on the historic town centre rather than the casino strip (Taipa), in the daytime and maybe visit the casinos after dark, they are not quite as much fun as Vegas though. Macau old centre is properly Portuguese and has some lovely historic streets, buildings and squares to visit. There is a tank of jellyfish in the Wynn casino, it’s mad.

PP is getting mixed up with Thailand.
PP isn't getting mixed up with Thailand ad PP had never been there. More than 20 years ago PP went to HK and there was a Boots.

Just checked and they were still selling Boots stuff in another store in 2012. It may not have been a stand alone store but a counter in another store.

I don't remember getting bitten in Hong Kong, but you may want to take repellent just in case. I always use Mosquito Milk which you can buy online. It contains DEET so it is effective, but feels milder and smells less 'chemical' iyswim than the stuff more readily available in boots etc.

MyotherProfile 20 years ago HK had only just stopped being a British colony! Times have changed. A lot. Except for the plugs No Boots stores in HK since at least 2009 and still none when I was there last month. Believe me, the crapness of HK pharmacies compared to Boots was a common topic of conversation amongst expats when I lived there. My curly-haired friend used to use up half her luggage allowance bringing hair products back when she went home.

OP if you need to get to a pharmacy I recommend Fanda, under world wide house in Central and also the Victoria pharmacy on Stanley Street. Also in Central. Those are the ones that many prefer and I used Victoria for ds meds.

Some people are wary of more local pharmacies due to fake meds coming down from. Mainland China.

No boots products available but some supermarkets sell Superdrug items.

@JessieMcJessie I was there the year before handover back to China and it had a lot of British influences. I did qualify my post by saying that when I was there there was Boots, I didn't say there was still Boots now.

I'd love to visit again and see how much it has changed. Sounds like I'd get quite a surprise. At the time I loved how it blended British and Asian influences.

I live here. Plugs same as uk everywhere in hk. Definitely no Boots.....

We went the same year as you MyOther
It seems a lot has changed since then. We flew into the old Kai Tak airport (in torrential rain), there was no cable car to Po Lin monastery, no Disney theme park. There was an M and S back then, not sure if there is now.

Still have M&S.
I live in mainland China and love to wander around the food area in M&S in its various HK locations..

Saw a small marks and Spencer’s food hall in one of the stations.

It has changed much in the last twenty years or so, lots of construction going on.

A visit to both Stanley and Repulse bay on the bus is a good thing to do.

Lines for the peak tram are often long and you can wait a long time also to board it. The views from the peak particularly on a clear day are awesome. When you do dismount the tram at the top however, you are confronted by a lot of souvenir shops. They are building further shopping areas there too.

Xiaoxiong - thanks, that link is great- I've got loads of good ideas now, and I think the Man Mo temple looks really good.

Evalina - another vote for Po Lin & Man Mo- looks like we'll definitely try and fit these in. The escalators sound interesting! I'll look them up too. And thanks for letting me know about Messenger hopefully working over there- fingers crossed the hotel has good WiFi.

BlackandGold - Tai O Stilt village sounds good if I can fit it in with the others on the island- thanks. Apparently, our hotel also does a shuttle bus into the centre, so good to know that'll be useful. Temple Street Night Market is somewhere DBro has said about, so I'm sure we'll fit that in one evening.

Judashascomeintosomemoney - that's brilliant- I'm so glad to hear you loved your trip over there. I wasn't sure if there'd be an Oyster card equivalent for the metro etc, so will definitely look up the Octopus card. I've read lots about the light show, and the "glass-bottomed car" sounds thrilling but scary haha- just recently went up the Spinnaker Tower in Pompey, with its glass floor and that was enough for me- not sure I'd cope in a moving vehicle lol, but DMum & DBro would think that was ace!

JessieMcJessie - perfect- cable car & Big Buddha definetely on the list. That's a shame about the shopping- Bruv will be happy with his pricy designer shops, but I was hoping to get some cheaper nice trinkets for DC. Surprised about electricals too- was hoping to maybe get DSC some Xmas bits cheaper than UK. So pleased to hear the teams and taxis are cheap too though- the tour operator had said taxis were expensive, so it'd be great if the opposite is true. Sevva sounds a good place to find, and drinks on the Hong Kong side instead sounds like a great tip. I'd looked up ciggie prices last night for DMum, and yep them seem cheaper, but think she's worried she won't find her brand (& then will be grumpy over there grrr), so think she's going to take some extras/ declare at the red queue thing/ pay the duty- her choice, but seems silly to me. Macau historic town centre sounds right up my street too, so thank you

We flew into the old Kai Tak airport
Oh man that airport! Scary!

You should definitely have a leisurely dim sum breakfast at a restaurant and the choice if dishes is amazing it’s a real HK locals tradition. The war memorial graves at Stanley is poignant and worth a visit there’s also a nice beach and great seafood at at Shek O. The weather is great at this time of the year dry but not humid so mossies shouldn’t be a problem unless you plan the to go hiking.

I didn't realise how close we were to the skyscrapers at the time as I didn't have a window seat. The weather was awful though. I bent down to put my shoes back on and we hit an air pocket. I whacked my head really hard against the seat in front.

We spent an unplanned night at the airport hotel on the way back, and the next morning I opened the curtains to see a plane fly past our window. I couldn't believe how close it was.

I'm jealous of the OP. I loved Hong Kong.

You don't really need to book lots of trips - the public transport is fab and people are helpful. Taxis can usually be hailed anywhere if you need them (just be prepared to always get the one going to either HK island or kowloon). I.e. if you are on HK island and you want to go back to Kowloon get in a cab in the Kowloon taxi rank (otherwise the HK island guy won't take you there (or will and is allowed to charge you more0.

QOD - Oh, your post made me laugh- thank you! Cheap stalls at top of tram and nik naks on the markets sound just what I'm after to bring back for others. But your pics of the food are bringing it to life lol- can't wait to experience it all. Loving your blunt honesty about the light show haha!
Glad you felt safe too- DMum always seems to be a target for pickpockets- we've spent several hours wasted in police stations in Amsterdam & Bruges in previous years, logging her stolen purses (definitely not just misplaced them lol), so really hoping this special birthday trip for her goes as smoothly as possible.
I'm fully expecting some interesting "point & hope" meals out- that Korean restaurant sounds great too!
I'm the only one who doesn't get eaten alive by mozzies (but then I never travel abroad lol so we'll see!), but wanted to avoid DMum getting bitten to bits- fingers crossed we'll not see any like you.
DBruv has a wishlist as long as his arm from DSIL, so he'll still be hunting hard for the fake designer gear lol. Thanks for your help

I've never seen any cheap stalls at The Peak. It's all a tourist trap. FYI there are two shopping malls at the peak. One is closed for major renovation and won't be open til 2019. Which means everyone is using the mall with the Peak viewing area. On a good day the view is awesome but get there as early as you can as it gets very busy very quickly.

Recommend walking round Lugard road round the peak.

So today I managed to get the Jungle Fever spray and a mini suncream (not sure how hot it'll be out there?), bought a few new nice tops for going out & comfy leggings and snacks for flight, wrote nearly an instruction manual on toddler DD for clueless DP, updated DBro & DMum on cigs/ ecig situation.

Hong Kong dollars delivered/ suitcase borrowed/ taxi booked to airport/ haircut booked lol.

Just two more things...
I'm taking DMum's birthday present out with me in my hand luggage. It's jewellery of around £150. It's ok to wrap it up etc? Not going to have to have it unwrapped at customs? Probably a stupid question.

Also, my doctor's has only given me the flu jab in preparation for the trip, and said that along with my Diptheria/Tetanus/Polio jab 3 years ago (when pregnant with DD2) that I'm all set to go.
DMum's different GP practice has given her the Hep A jab and said it was required? (She had tetanus to go to Aus last year, and Flu jab annual anyway).
DBro doesn't actually have a GP practice as he's never got round to registering after last house move (), so got himself a Boots travel appointment, where he was today given Hep A jab, Flu jab, & the Diptheria/ Polio/Tetanus jab as well.
I phoned my GP, and had the lovely nurse ring me back to confirm I definitely don't need the Hep A jab to go to Hong Kong, but it's just a bit worrying that DMum & DBro were both told differently?

citychick - thanks, that's really helpful- planning as early a trip as possible to the peak then. I'll look up Lugard road too.

I aecond Lugard road, it takes about an hour to walk all the way round if you amble slowly and the views are just as nice/nicer than climbing the viewing building that all the tourists flock to. It was the promenade built for the Edwardian couples to stroll round the Peak.

The light show lasts about 20 mins or longer and is really fun. It’s totally free and happens every night at 8 without fail. I used to work inside one of the buildings that lights up and was often there at 8, it was weird to see the lights flash outside my office window and think of being part of a huge tableau.

for travel to HK you should be up to date with routine vaccinations - polio, diptheria, tetanus etc. You can get Hep A through contaminated food or water, so perhaps that's why Boots recommended it.
NB - you cannot drink the tap water in HK.
For the cable car to Lantau island you get on the car at the end of end of the tung chung line and there can be very long queues, so advise getting there early.
Taxis in HK are cheap and it's easy to get around by metro.
Also recommend this place in HK. I have been to HK many times as I live on the mainland, but only discovered this in June - really lovely to walk around, nice and quiet and a couple of mins walk from Diamond Hill metro station.
www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294217-d1645928-Reviews-Nan_Lian_Garden-Hong_Kong.html
Star Ferry also a must, bus trip to Stanley - HK is a great place for a holiday!

You can definitely drink the tap water in HK (I live here and everyone does).
Chi Lin Nunnery is also lovely to visit, and there's a great vegetarian restaurant attached.
For a true HK cafe try Mido Cafe or The Australian Dairy Company. They haven't changed since the '60's - Service is not friendly but authentic!
If your hotel concierge can manage to get a booking, The China Club is fantastic for Cantonese food in a stunning setting. It's in what was the living quarters of the Chairman of the Bank of China in an historic building done up beautifully. They have a live display of the chef making noodles every night.
See also on HK island Tai Kwun and PMQ which are newly restored historic police/jail buildings now containing restaurants and shops. For shopping, PMQ in particular has lots of small studios of local HK designers selling clothes, jewellery etc, and was the building used to house married policemen in the past.