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Hong Kong - Plaza Harbour Metropolis Hotel - Anyone stayed there?


les37b
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At the end of our next cruise, we've booked a 4 night stay in Hong Kong before flying back to the UK. Hotel chosen for a few factors - location, price and most important, a harbour view as I want to take lots of time lapse video footage.

 

We managed to negotiate a good deal for a "Deluxe Harbour View Suite" in the Plaza Harbour Metropolis, which sounded perfect, but now have a couple of niggling doubts.

 

I'm hoping this rooms will be at the end of the hotel nearest to the water, but guess it could be any of the rooms along the rear of the hotel. Whilst the hotel appears to have uninterrupted views, the hotel is at an angle to the water and its also a fair distance from hong kong island, compared to the hotels nearer to Ocean Terminal.

 

Looking at the position of the hotel and the 90 degree angle of the harbour side room windows, I'm not certain I'll (importantly) be able to press the camera lens up square to the window. Obviously we should get a great harbour view, but that thought has now brought concerns.

 

Has anyone stayed in this hotel in a harbour view suite? Can you recall of you were looking straight out to the harbour or through an acute angle?

 

General thoughts on hotel? Location, food and anything else worthy of note? Are the suites nice?

 

Cheers

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/...1!4d114.183261

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@22.29...7i13312!8i6656

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General thoughts on hotel? Location, food and anything else worthy of note? Are the suites nice?

Cheers

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/...1!4d114.183261

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@22.29...7i13312!8i6656

Greetings, it's me again & seeing that you re-posting ... a few thoughts although we're never stayed there. Suffice to say, I personally know that area well back in the late 1960's - was back visiting twice each in the 80's, 90's and after a long absence, a few years ago - amazing changes. It has a great "long" panorama view of the Victoria Harbour, but ... it is from a rather substantial distance and I don't think your GoPro lens can zoom from 100X to 500X variably to capture the scenes. A good digital SLR and/or pro-quality camcorder would probably do it better, even if you can get a near perfect harbour view suite on the upper floor, in my opinion.

 

Give the hotel's guest services a call and speak to them, or send them an email and see what they say, you want an upper floor that's higher than the HK Coliseum across the street that's directly and a part of the KTR Hung Hom Train Station (with thru & HST services to/from Guangzhou & Shanghai, etc. ... eventually, Beijing) and the Bus Terminal at street level, along with numerous mini-bus routes & taxi stands, etc.

 

Here's a picture - Coliseum on the middle left and the high rise hotel on the right is the Plaza Habour Metro. - that's also connected via a sky bridge. Tsim Sha Tsui (Star Ferry, etc.) will be off this image to the left in the distance, not too far from the hotel is ferry services to Central & Wan Chai, across the waterway for local commuters. The oldest & busiest Cross Harbour Tunnel is less than 5 minutes away to/from the HK Island. If you plan to fly home out of HKIA after your post-cruise stay, Cityflyer's A21 bus' last stop - originate right at this bus terminal, a very scenic ride on surface roads & highways out to Lantau Island for making your airport connection - as you as you can manage luggage (storage rack onboard the double-decker, air-conditioned bus) in about 1 hour, depending on traffic.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6188/6072314403_b217c81496.jpg

http://www.harbour-plaza.com/metropolis/HotelLocationBanner/location_banner.jpg

 

The hotel has been around but like most hotels, they are kept up-to-date & very modern, integrated into the lower floors are a multi-story shopping mall & retail complex, including food courts & upscale dining options, it is very popular for locals - the area has a very different feel than TST's Nathan Road and/or Central ... of course, these days, mainland Chinese tourist-shoppers are still seen everywhere, so you will run into them just about anywhere - don't worry about it. Other buildings in the complexes and inter-connected with residental "flats" or apartments, and I believed they also have "serviced flats" for expats living & working in HK (extended stays with weekly maid & housekeeping services, etc.) Scattered in this area are also campus dormitory (high-rise) flats for college/university students as it is not far from one of the main campus for higher learning.

 

You will find 7-11's just about everywhere as well as Watson's & other retailed grocery & general stores that sell health & personal care products as well as OTC medicine & daily living essentials. There are a # of other high-rise hotels with waterfront & harbour views in this area ... all of them have free, regularly scheduled shuttles to TST area, although it is a very easy & quick taxi ride away. You can also go into the train station & ride that, transfer to the MTR subway lines to take you anywhere & everywhere, it is a longer way to go as you need to ride north (2 stops, I think) to Kowloon Tong's interchange for the MTR transfers to different lines.

 

I looked at some of the TripAdvisor reviews with pictures posted from this hotel, and it looked like the angled harbour views of the window isn't a problem for taking pictures ... although, depending on the angle & exact location of your room - the western end of the harbour (toward Western District's waterfront will be obstructed across the waterfront ... as buildings in the TST area will likely be in the way, somehow)

 

Have your price shopped & compared options with some of the hotels a little closer toward TST, i.e. the Sheraton on Salisbury Rd & Nathan Rd. or the Kowloon Shangri-Lai ? Hotel Panorama by Rhombus's higher floor with harbour views would be excellent as it is above Signal Hill - Signal Tower's small hillside.

 

As for capturing those excellent camera shots & views, depending on time of the year - why not take a walk down by the waterfront's promenade ... it actually can take you all the way out to TST (and back) and find your best angle & get different vantage point ?? Good old Ocean Terminal is like 50+ years old but the view from there is unmatched and thankfully, still fully unobstructed across the harbour ... catch the sea breeze and ride the Star Ferry with your camera out, it's a best buy at less than 50 cents (USD) for a short scenic ride on the upper deck.

 

Sights like those from the nightly laser show, weather permitting and the crowds on the waterfront ... are best captured when you are right in the middle of it all, and the while the Harbour Metropolis is a fine hotel and good for the big picutre, it is still from a great distance away from it all. (See these 2 "sample" pictures below)

e5107fba124c6eab98d8a75bb939bf2b.jpg

00748ed9cf659a3c2a1cced64e44a05e.jpg

 

Thoughts & comments, more questions - please feel free to ask away ... and, I am sure others will join & jump in.

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Thank you so very much mking8288 for a super reply. Yes, I reposted after my request to add "Metropolis" into the header or delete the thread to avoid confusion, with the latter chosen by the mods.

 

Ok, unfortunately when I did my search for a hotel, the reservation I made was a non refundable booking so I'm without the option to cancel. I unfortunately took the advise of my sister who'd stayed here about 8 years ago and commented it was in a good location. Thanks to google, I'm able now to appreciate there were far better options for viewing the harbour from your room.

 

No point in dwelling on that now, though I was hoping I would learn the locations that are used for deluxe harbour view suites. I have rung, but always difficult getting across the why's and where's.

 

The location is still decent. The 5 minute taxi ride from the pier negligible and proximity to the main station and MTR is good, though I expect I would have appreciated being plum in the centre of the action near the pier preferable.

 

I agree, the location around star pier and ocean terminal are pole position from the Kowloon side. I shall probably try to view the lights a few times including once from the water. Even without the display, night time photography has always been a favourite.

 

We arrive early Tuesday morning in Hong Kong and depart late Saturday, so we have 3 full days and 2 just over half days, to explore and maximise our stay.

 

I'm probably going to use one day to cross the border to China and another for Macau so we really don't actually have masses of time and may drop one or even both of those.

 

I certainly want to do lots of shopping (clothes and gadgets), a trip around the harbour and Victoria peak. Stanley and Temple markets. Some sky scraper gallery views. I have thought about a helicopter ride too which I'd imagine would be amazing.

 

I need more time! Lol

 

Any must do things you'd recommend?

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I'm probably going to use one day to cross the border to China and another for Macau so we really don't actually have masses of time and may drop one or even both of those.

 

I certainly want to do lots of shopping (clothes and gadgets), a trip around the harbour and Victoria peak. Stanley and Temple markets. Some sky scraper gallery views ... I need more time! Lol

Any must do things you'd recommend?

Got it ... as you are locked to the hotel package, make the best & most out of it. There are many good outdoor space around the hotel, maybe it's rooftop terrace/bar (not sure about swimming pool & access during the "colder" months) for video & still photography - a good digital SLR camera with long range zoom lens & video options would be good to bring along. We're inside the hotel's retail mall complexes about 7 or 8 years ago and had a great dinner, it is a fine place to visit & stay - upon checking into the hotel, ask & show the front desk clerk for one with a better view, if possible - nowadays, their command of the English language isn't what it used to be since UK's influence is no longer significant.

 

Electronics used to - used to - be a good buy in HK some 15 or 20+ years ago, not anymore ... flooded with grey market products & worldwide warranty issues if not from an authorized retailers.

 

Sham Shui Po's Golden Shopping Mall, a block from the MTR Station stop has always been a good place for bargain computer & electronic gadgets & accessories, again - I just deal mostly with eBay & Amazon these days, but it's always fun to walk thru the indoor mall ... and find space in the luggage to bring them home (travel light these days.)

 

As for skycapper's view, you would be surrounding by them all - even in Hung Hom - city is famous for its concrete, high-rise jungles where you sometimes had to look hard to see the sun, LOL. Out at Lantau, where HKIA (airport) is located - it's still relatively countryside & nearby Tung Chung's outlet mall & some of the newly mixed-use & residental development are sky-bound, favorite among flight crews & expats for a more relaxed lifestyle.

 

With 3 or 4 days, there's simply way too much to see & do, I would go spend 3/4 or 1 full day via turbofoil jet ferries to Macau & back, checkout Vegas East on the reclaimed land-filled island "strip" but also see old Macau with its rich Portugese heritage & colonial influence ... sampled the unique "fusion" food - and, visa-free entries. Unlike going across the border (less than 1 hour) into mainland China, where UK nationals - like US citizens, need to apply in advance for an expensive visa to visit ... not really worth it, IMO ... unless you have strong feelings & reasons to visit or things to see, etc. (it's about $140 USD for us, each for the visa ... if you do, request the 10 years multiple re-entry visa should you decided to go back at a different time)

 

Over time, I've written up ideas & posted replies to other threads here - a search within the Asia forum should show them - about ideas & easy DIY way of seeing HK, whether it's for 24 hours or 3 or 4 days (typical time spend for most pre & post-cruise visits or even business travelers taking a break)

 

HK has good, fast & mostly free WiFi in many public places, especially the MTR stations - download a few Apps & interactive guides, in addition to Google Maps to navigate. Buy the Octopus fare card for travel & often free subway-bus transfer, used it for the PMB (Public Mini Bus, if you are like us) to get around, Star Ferry, Peak Tram & ferries to islands like Cheung Chau, buy breakfast at McDonalds or coffee at Starbucks and comfort/fast food at Cafe de Cora ,,, bottled water at 7-11's everywhere or OTC meds or daily essentials at retail pharmacy chains like Watson's or supermarkets for fresh fruits.

 

From TST, take the Star Ferry across to Central, a 5 minute walk to catch the double-decker bus up to the Peak (instead of the long lines for the Tram @ Garden Road by Admiralty MTR Station) - a slower, 30 to 45 minutes scenic ride up via "Mid Level" to the top, on a clear day. Tram is historic & cool, but really nothing ususal about it, pricey & you really don't miss much by skipping it. Coming downhill, you can take the PMB or bus down to Queens Road Central @ MTR - hop on the old Electric Tram to go East, past Wan Chai & stop at Causeway Bay, famous for high end shops, retail shoppings & multi-story indoor malls & dining, before finding a way back to Kowloon ... maybe in time for the nightly 8 PM laser light show on the waterfront, best viewed in TST.

 

Google "Aberdeen" on HK Island, once a typoon shelter & fishing village on the south side, near Ocean Park ... also where that famous tourist $$ trap, the floating Jumbo & Tai Pak Floating Restaurant on 3 barges are located ... OK for a dim sum brunch but avoid for its pricey fresh seafood.

 

Landmarks on other's bucket list are typically like Ning Ping 360 cable car & the Giant Budda on Lantau Island, although it's way too much of a tourism mega than it is for the buddhism religion - you can go to Wong Tai Sin Temple in the city instead, absolutely free of admission fees - just 2 blocks from the nearest MTR Station, not far from Kai Tak C.T. & there's also this - recommended by the official HK Tourism Board. http://www.discoverhongkong.com/us/see-do/culture-heritage/chinese-temples/chi-lin-nunnery-and-nan-lian-garden.jsp

 

There are many useful links & suggested apps to download, pre-install & use while visiting. If you wanted to do some shopping, take the MTR & transfer at Kowloon Tong to the railway out to Sha Tin for the mega indoor shopping malls & dining experience, it's a place for locals & for the smart visitors ... and, about 2 or 3 more stops for Horse Racing, as it is for watching live horses as they bet for winning $$$, twice a week during the season, LOL.

 

These ideas should get you started & busy planning & researching on what & where to go, with so little time. Post if you have questions or wish to bounce more ideas, as I "shall" be expecting more "what if's" from first-time visitors. Have a great day !

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Thanks again mking... very much appreciated.

 

Yes, I I'll be packing a couple of DSLRs including a full frame 6D along with 2 zoom ranges from 18mm up to 300mm. I was going to go for the L series 100 to 400 but settled on the 100 to 300 because in travel, it's very much lighter. Still a huge lens though! I'll also be armed with 3 GoPro's which I agree the distance to the skyline and wide angle images might not make it ideal. I'm hoping my 360 Theta S will come into its own on a boat from the centre of the harbour during the light show and at other times.

 

Thank you for the website link. There's an iPhone app available with the same name and whilst I already had some apps, have found several more including an MTR map, timetable and fares apps.

 

The journey you mentioned from Hung Hom to Sha Tin costs HK$12 return. I noticed the Octopus fare was $11.80 .... is it really worth getting one, or is it purely for the convenience? (I assume that will be the case. The London similar Oyster tap in system gives considerable savings and with a daily cap, so it's a no brainier to have one if tubing or busing in London. Fares in London are expensive. But cheap in Hong Kong, so may be why no real discount given.

 

That app also gave some decent tour discounts including 40% off Airport express.... worth looking out for what's out there.

 

I did have a look on google street maps at Sha Tin but didn't really see anything apart from the department stores. It did mention market, but the images looked a bit dodgy so it's probably not the right "market" location.

 

Interestingly from that app, I found a new cruise line that is singapore and Hong Kong based..... maybe a second Asia cruise in 2018 on the cards. :-)

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...There's an iPhone app available with the same name and whilst I already had some apps, have found several more including an MTR map, timetable and fares apps.

 

The journey you mentioned from Hung Hom to Sha Tin costs HK$12 return. I noticed the Octopus fare was $11.80 .... is it really worth getting one, or is it purely for the convenience? (I assume that will be the case. That app also gave some decent tour discounts including 40% off Airport express.... worth looking out for what's out there.

 

I did have a look on google street maps at Sha Tin but didn't really see anything apart from the department stores ... found a new cruise line that is singapore and Hong Kong based..... maybe a second Asia cruise in 2018 on the cards. :-)

Seemed to me that you are well equipped for video-photo ... have a look around Youtube on what others had posted/share, useful orientation for your upcoming trip.

 

Tourism website has a link to a visitor's prepaid sim card, cheap & sold everywhere including 7-11 and at various official retail & in-town locations, refillable if you are a heavy data user and free you from the quest for free WiFi data, and connect to more hotspots via the carrier ... depending on what your UK carrier's roaming/int'l coverage is like. MTR's app is very good including the Airport Express (which, I think, has your hotel on one of its free connecting shuttle stop) & AE has various discounts ... easier than the A21 Airporter bus that's across the street from your hotel at the terminal (we've done the bus on 25" rollerboard to our hotel on Nathan Rd. last time) Overall, bus & rail/subway fares are so low that you hardly see any discounts except for seniors 65+ with local ID's. The Octopus card is most useful for convenience as it will spare you from looking for exact change & pocket full of coins, and fewer foreign currency exchange for your several days in town - $50 HKD deposit is fully refundable, minus a small fee & you can do that once at the airport for your flight home at the service counter.

 

KTR's railway station @ Sha Tin would put you directly underground at the huge shopping/retail mall - which interconnect to several others & numerous restaurants, food courts & cafe spread out within ... 2 KTR subway lines also reached Sha Tin but in slightly different area - nearby is another buddist temple (not as famous as "Big Budda" ... it's about a 15 minutes walk from the train station & has 1,000 gold statues in its landscaped garden walk path, but, supposingly had some maintenance issues.

 

As for that cruise line, could that be the Gentling (formerly associated with Star cruises that do lots of casino sailings out of HK) - their newest mega-ship at 160,000 tons is doing lots of round-trips between HKG & SIN, 7 days with stops in Vietnam ... we are looking at that ourselves for possibly 2018 or 2019 - looked very competitively priced vs. NCL's Joy doing the mainland China market out of Shanghai - which is much more expensive & we are avoiding for many other reasons, even though it's our favorite homeport line here in the US. Checkout Youtube videos - it looked very nice.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi MKing, thanks again for your nice reply. Yes I agree with you about youtubbe. There are some impressive timelapse clips on there to see.

 

Some are outstanding.

 

 

 

Traveling in Europe, I'm able to use my 29GB pm data roaming free of charge. Unfortunately, in the far east, its not valid, so would be looking for something to use which there, so thanks for the tip.

 

Thanks for tip on Octopus. Would we need one each - or are we able to both use one for a same journey?

 

Yes you are right, it was "Genting". Looking at the site though, from what it looked, you can only book if youre from the area?

 

PS - apologoes for the long delay in replying, been hard and work then a nice break to Venice.

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Thanks for tip on Octopus. Would we need one each - or are we able to both use one for a same journey? ... then a nice break to Venice.
That prepaid tourist 3-in-1 sim card is cheap & easily refillable, starter even with a little reserve added is like $20 USD (or UK's pound equivalent). Tethering is allowed so you can share among devices ... and, if you carry an iPhone or Android/Nexus to serve as a hotspot/MiFi - you are good, plus it will "unlock" access to additional WiFi locally via their partners. HK Tourism Assn. has a booth/counter or kiosk staffed @ KTCT on ship days and you can get the sim card there.

 

You can share the Airport Express train pass for up to 4 on the same trip & get the discount, etc. For the Octopus card, each person need their own for fare payment.

 

We haven't got that far in looking at Gentling's booking options yet - Venice is nice, too far for us with our lifestyle. But ... busy preparing & printing eDocs for our 7 nights homeport sailing this coming Sunday - then a 2nd. week of air-land out to the West Coast.

 

Let everybody know afterward how things turned out for you with this adventure. There aren't too many trip reports w. photos coming from KTCT, I got my hands on these from extended family retired to & enjoying the good life in HK ... just sailed RCL's V.O.S. this summer, all smiles - a very nice, modern airport style cruise terminal, looking much like HKIA (Airport) - as a preview.

b2ccda10a5c9bddfe161b23b1df85b38.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Many thanks again. Handy to know about the sim purchase. My own phone provider will allow to roam with my 29GB of data and unlimited calls and text (to / from the UK) but at £6 per day and without the ability (or more to the point international call charges) to make local calls. Something to think about.

 

Thanks for the Octopus info... will purchase a pair to get around. I enjoy feeling your way about, exploring new places using local services. Venice wS a hoot for that last week!

 

And I will certainly post details of what we got up to when we get back, tips and mistakes included... still a way off yet (we arrive in HK on 3 April 2018)

 

Enjoy your own upcoming travels too :-)

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Great HK info as we will be post cruise for 4 day but have been many times. We are there during Christmas so trying to decide if going to Macca is worth a full day as we have not been there.

We looked into the races but none at Happy Valley only Shin Tin on one day the day we arrive.

Trying to find something new to do.

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