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

Love HK and there a lot... also say seva is fab for views and dinner for special occasion, also like aqua in Kowloon side for views
For a cliche special go to bar felix at top of peninsula hotel
Peak is lovely but wait for non smog day
I get ravaged by mozzis there everyone unless wearing pure citronella..:
Bus to discovery bay gives nice views from top deck, repulse bay has lovely beaches, and stabnly bay market is a tourist trap but a nice wander
Lady market in Mong kok has poor fakes but you will get offered more ‘missy come this way’ it’s up to you if you do but they will be expensive some good some awful and clearly unlikely to be legal...
I LOVE the star ferry, and custard tart from the terminal in TST
MTR easy and cheap to use
What would you like to do and I’ll remcokmend stuff!

Dottierichardson - thank you- your flight tips are great, will definitely get some of the bits you mentioned.
I like the sound of the Admiralty/ Pacific Place area- DMum would like the aviary & greenhouses, and nice coffee places. Will also look out for Goods of Desire- sounds ideal for gifts for my teens, and will remember to size-up any clothing I buy for them too.

WingingWonder - thanks for all the places you've suggested. DMum was talking about having her birthday meal on the Jumbo floating restaurant, but I'm thinking maybe this Sevva that you and other posters have mentioned might be lovely too? I'd like to visit Repulse Bay if we can fit it in, and my brother's absolute fave is custard tart haha, so might tell him your recommendation for TST terminal. Glad the MTR is easy to use too- a previous poster mentioned buying an Octopus card- do you know where would be the easiest place for us to buy them? Do we buy a 1 week card?

You can get it at your nearest station which for you is either Hung Hom or maybe Tsim Sha Tsui East. You just load it with, say, HKD50 and on each journey the barrier machine will tell you how much you have remaining so if you’re running low you can top it up at the relevant machine in the station (some shops accept it as payment too btw so we had some left over on the card and used it to buy coffees).

Having been a few times I have never "booked trips" there is plenty of transport - we got a bus to aberdeen harbour

There are ferries to the island and big buddha etc. Stilt village is interesting.

Definitely go to the peak, but make sure it;s a clear day else you see nothing,

If your DH has a favourite shirt take it with you and get a dozen made... they are about £20 each, and Dh's have only just worn out - after 10 years!
Your DB might like some shirts too... try here - it was good.
Rocky’s (HK) Fashions, Shop 19,Ground Floor, Far East Mansion, 5-6 Middle Road,Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Slightly off the Hong Kong advice topic, but wondered if anyone could also help with some birthday ideas. Had a bit of a panic last night that I'm not making this trip quite as special for DMum as I should be.

For context, this trip/ 70th birthday celebrations are important because it's been a really tough ride this past 18mths for my mum & family.
DMum is massively excited to be spending quality time with DBro & I (last overnight trip together was 18 years ago/ DBro never has longer than 2 hours a week to visit DMum/ I regularly see DMum for several afternoons a week but without fail have a toddler hanging off me or a teen interrupting with a life crisis lol), and DMum has this year got it into her head that she may not have much longer with us, as all 7 of her immediate family (Parents & 5 siblings) didnt live past their 73rd year.

DMum loves sentimental/ thoughtful/ hand-made stuff lol- has scrapbooks of memories & a treasure chest of things from over the years.

So, this trip at the end of next week...
Day 1: Taxi picks up DMum first (70th Banner/ Helium balloon/ Card from me & DBro- with message/ poem about adventure journey? on back seat waiting for her?).
Taxi then picks up me & DBro from DBro's house, and we could have a bottle of bubbly/ plastic toasting glasses to make a toast in the taxi as we drive up to Heathrow?
Flight to Hong Kong- I've found the Virgin Airlines customer service number, and going to ring them in a minute to see if I can pay to have mum made a fuss off on the plane (chocolates? flight attendant announcement?)
Arrive in Hong Kong & get taxi to hotel.

Day 2: Pre-booked tour of Aberdeen Harbour, Stanley/Jade markets, Peak tram ride. Thinking I could give mum a card from DBro & I containing Hong Kong dollars as we arrive at the Jade market, and tell her it's to choose something lovely for herself?

Day 3: Mum's actual birthday- need a special meal in the evening.
I'm taking a jewellery set from DMum's fave jewellers out with me as her main present, along with birthday cards from DBro & I.

Days 4/5/6: Nothing planned.

Day 7: Return flight to UK. Going to give DMum an invite to her UK birthday meal (4 days after we return), so she still has something to look forward to just as she's feeling blue that the trip is over.
Then all my DC/ my partner/ DSIL can celebrate her birthday too with their cards/ presents, and the cake obviously lol. We won't have the funds for a posh resteraunt meal, so we'll be having a special evening at my DBro/DSIL's house with a takeaway, and that way we can decorate the dining room there with banners etc.

So any more ideas?
Maybe I should make a flight treat pack (we're flying economy, so...mints & sucky sweets for take-off/ warm fluffy socks/ water mister & travel moisturiser & wet wipes like a PP suggested?).
And maybe a Hong Kong survival pack- mum's favourite tea bags lol/ a pretty silk wrap for covering shoulders in temples?

Judashascomeintosomemoney - perfect, thanks. Glad you explained how it worked- we're not Londoners any more so wasn't sure if it was like an Oyster, or like the weekly travel passes we buy down here in the South. Will definitely remember to try using up any left-over credit in a coffee shop if they accept it.

tickingthebox - glad we can do lots of random trips/ not pre-book- was slightly worried about wasting time looking for stuff to do, but I think it'll be fun to just see where the day takes us. DMum's already booked the peak tour, so I'm fingers crossed it'll be a clear day!
I'm loving the idea of getting some duplicates of DP's fave tops made up- he drives me nuts hanging on to ones that I think are past their best!
Will look for that Rocky's Fashions too for DBro/ DP/ DSS too- thank you

Depends on your mum. I'd like the idea of the flight pack and the meal when we got home and the special meal on the day. I'd find all the rest too much. What is she going to do with the balloon? It can't go with her.

Arrive in Hong Kong & get taxi to hotel
The airport is on Lantau Island and you’re obviously going to Kowloon so I would really recommend using the Airport Express train from airport to Kowloon station. Is cheap, quick, air conditioned, really easily sign posted and tickets available at a desk in Arrivals hall. You can then get taxis from Kowloon Station to your hotel, much easier I promise!

Havent RTFT but you must have dim sum at a branch of Tim Ho Wan. Michelin starred, delicious and cheap as chips www.timhowan.com

Also I have to go to a branch of Din Tai Fung whenever I’m in Asia. They’re usually in shopping malls but don’t let that put you off

Oh I missed it was your mum’s birthday, if she/you like shopping and have disposable cash(!) then she might like a shopping trip to Harbour City shopping mall in Kowloon. There’s a lot of well off Chinese tourists coming from the ferry there and it’s full of fancy designer shops for you to spend your HKDs in. Also, again from the harbour there, maybe a day trip to Macau?
www.onceinalifetimejourney.com/once-in-a-lifetime-journeys/asia/one-day-trip-to-macau-from-hong-kong/

Octopus is basically like Oyster - it's a credit system. You can use it in a lot of shops too. Apple Pay is also coming in so you can use that in a lot of places as well (coffee shops/ supermarkets etc). The one thing that is utterly stuck in the dark ages is taxis- cash only and don't even try to give them a big (>$100) note :-). Also worth being aware that a lot of taxis only like to work one side (HK or Kowloon). They are not technically allowed to be so limited but there you go. If hailing a taxi in the street and you want to go across the harbour, you make an "under" sign with your hand. Or to save that hassle, just get an Uber (or the MTR and then get a taxi on the other side).

Do not let anyone give you a $1000 note (banks. currency places etc) as most places will not accept due to forgeries.

You can drink the tap water. Mosquitos not bad this time of the year, but maybe worth bringing a spray if you plan to be somewhere like the Peak at dusk. Bring sun screen. Dengue only in New territories so unless you're going far off the beaten track I wouldn't stress about that.

Smoking laws similar to UK.

For a special meal with a view I would probably go Upper House or Hutong over Sevva but make them commit to table with a view. Sevva is more a bar that serves food IYSWIM. Jumbo is now very local and not particularly noteworthy- used to have a western restaurant called Top Deck but that closed. On Kowloon side there is the Ritz Carlton that has a bar on a super-high floor- worth a drink but check minimum spend. For afternoon tea, my faves are Upper House and Four Seasons (Peninsula is more a "HK bucket list destination" though).

Din Tai Fung in the Regal Hotel (landmark for the taxi driver) Causeway Bay for Dim Sum. It's technically Taiwanese / Shanghaise but still the best IMO and quite westerner friendly. The Xiao Long Bau (soup dumplings) are the specialty. There's probably one Kowloon side too.

Tai Kwun and PMQ definitely worth a look. Po Lin nunnery and the Big Buddha also worth a trip. Peak on a clear day and second pp who said walk the loop and get the tram down rather than up (queues way shorter). No museums worth seeing other than the Maritime Museum at a push (i.e. if its raining). Do NOT do the AIA wheel- it's rubbish.

Got to go against the pp and say that I think Causeway Bay probably has the best shopping in HK now (I,.e. shops where you can afford to buy thing without remortgaging) but I still think HK sucks compared to the British high street. Wan Chai has gentrified considerably. The area around Queens Road East/ Johnston road has some great little restaurants and bars. Gets a bit grittier north of there. Nothing to really see of note though.

Is cheap, quick, air conditioned, really easily sign posted and tickets available at a desk in Arrivals hall. You can then get taxis from Kowloon Station to your hotel, much easier I promise!

Not really because there's three of them so the tickets will be $300. Can get. taxi for that

Although, yes, Macau is worth a day trip (need your passport) but go to the old bit not the Cotai trip which is basically mini Vegas.

MyOtherProfile -Haha, yep that's exactly what DP said about the balloon too, but I was trying to think of something celebratory sat on the back seat for her when the taxi picks her up alone for that first half hour. Can't be a bunch of flowers as she wouldn't want to bin those either, but I thought a £3 balloon she could leave behind without feeling guilty.
I do know my mum, and she is very sentimental/ corny- she loves meaningful poems/ doing treasure hunt hints to get to my bday gift/ leaving surprise gifts buried under my Xmas tree that you don't discover until Xmas day/ buying me flowers on my children's birthdays to thank me for giving me her granchildren/ she's already treated me to a beautiful new top for this trip and it's meant to be a bday trip for her/ not me - she's amazing and lovely, I just want to think up some surprises to make the trip extra special for her in the same manner as she surprises me with treats throughout the year.
If you like the idea of the flight pack though, can you think of anything else I could put in it?

Judashascomeintosomemoney - thank you, the tour operator suggested using the Airport Express train to DMum, but she was worried about having any hassle on arrival if we're jet-lagged, so they've now booked a transfer taxi direct from Airport to Hotel- pricy like you said, but not a huge difference, so she preferred that plan.
Shopping trip to Harbour City shopping mall sounds a great idea too, and Macau keeps coming up on this thread so I'll look at your link and suggest it to DMum/ DBro too- the old bit I think would be wonderful like Johnnycomelately1 says- I never get the chance to take beautiful photos these days (because I'm normally in softplay hell or trying to stop DC misbehaving on days out), so I'm hoping to have the peace to re-start my love of photography over there- Macau looks stunning for that!

Fleabag123 the dim sum on that link look delicious- can't wait!
Will look out for Din Tai Fung as well- thanks.

The Klook app was quite good - we used it to book the cable car up to the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. They have a special queue when you get to the cable car, which meant we didn't have a long wait.

Definitely agree it's best to go early - both for the Cable Car and the Peak Tram - we managed to not queue at either, but there were queues behind us!

@KittyConCarne it's a tiny shop! We had it reccomended many years ago....