If you are planning to visit Hong Kong, think about staying in Kowloon’s Tsim Sha Tsui neighborhood. As one of eighteen administrative districts that make up the whole of Hong Kong, Kowloon is the most populous. It is also just a short ferry ride away from Hong Kong where what you will experience is a more Western version of China.
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Photo credit by Carolyn Roberts via trover.com
However, if you want a more local experience, Kowloon is your best bet–and the Tsim Sha Tsui neighborhood in Kowloon will put you in the middle of this action. There is a famous night market like you have never experienced making this neighborhood seem as though the city never sleeps. But for sleep, here are a few suggestions to get started.
Sheraton Hong Kong Towers
The Sheraton Hong Kong Towers is a great hotel for both business and pleasure and certainly an ideal decision as a vacation getaway. There are four restaurants and four bars on premises, a fully equipped fitness center, childcare, spa and is handicapped-ready for every type of visitor.
The Peninsula Hong Kong
The Peninsula Hong Kong is less than a 10-minute walk from Harbor City, where most tourists congregate and where many of the retail and dining attractions are located. It is also a short walk to the ferry pier for quick trips to Hong Kong island. Think elegance, luxury and high-tech amenities when you consider this option.
InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong
Although not cheap, the InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong would be considered affordable when compared to the other hotels mentioned. It too is on the waterfront and within easy walking distance of many tourist landmarks. In addition, the hotel offers a complimentary shuttle for ferry service to Hong Kong. This is a big hotel with 500 rooms and multiple restaurants to satisfy any palate.
The Mira Hong Kong Hotel
If you are looking for an upscale hotel consider the Mira Hong Kong Hotel. In-room dining and super street views of this busy neighborhood are enough to keep you busy while you relax into the on-site Spa, which offers skin care and body treatments.
The Kowloon Hotel
The Kowloon Hotel is yet another hotel in a prime location–it puts you in the middle of everything that is typically Hong Kong. Not only is it just a 10-minute walk from the Star Ferry Pier to Hong Kong Island, but the ferry to major coastal ports is also only a short walk away. The hotel offers newly refurbished guest rooms and four start restaurants. With its 736 guest rooms and seven suites, all WiFi ready, you are certain to make yourself at home.
Tsim Sha Tsu is considered the grittier side of Hong Kong, but don’t be put off by this characterization. In addition to shopping and mingling with the locals, you can visit the street markets of Sham Shui Po, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and the Cultural Centre. You can also take a walking tour of Little Thailand or visit the less well-known Yau Ma Tei neighborhood, one of Hong Kong’s under-appreciated neighborhoods. You will come away with a traveler’s rather than a tourist experience.
Disclosure: This post is part of the Hipmunk Top Cities Project. All opinions are my own.
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