Hong Kong

On 12th May 2016, I flew out from Manchester direct to Hong Kong for my "top sellers" conference in Hong Kong, the flights were direct from Manchester with Cathay Pacific and travel time was around 11 hours 40 mins.

On arriving into Hong Kong with my colleagues we were transferred to our 5* hotel for the next 3 nights, the 5* Cordis hotel at Langham Place in Mongkok, Kowloon.

The Cordis in a great position across from the MTR station at Mongkok and actually connected via a walkway to a huge shopping complex which the MTR station is below.

After catching up on a little sleep from our overnight flight we headed down for pre-dinner drinks and a fabulous barbecue hosted in the outdoor area of the Cordis known as “the backyard” which believe me is more than just a backyard, the abundance and quality of food was second to none, with fabulous service to boot, from the staff at Cordis hotel.

After our hotel event we were able to venture out and sample the bars at “Knutsford Place” just a short taxi ride away until the small hours. The following morning we had a short conference presentation with our directors and sponsors, such as Royal Caribbean, P&O, Cunard and Celebrity cruises, Cathay Pacific and the Hong Kong tourist board too. Then I had an hour space to check out the superb rooftop swimming pool (on the 42nd floor!) and the sunshine which had arrived to, before heading out on my Hong Kong heritage tour.

The tour guides we had were amazing, we visited a temple, others areas of Hong Kong and we did the trip up to “Victoria Peak” in Hong Kong using the “Peak tram” the views were amazing and I would highly recommend everyone that visits Hong Kong does that trip up the peak too.

That same night we had a wonderful hosted dinner at the Harbour Grand Kowloon with views to die for across Hong Kong harbour and yet again amazing food and wonderful service and hospitality too.

On the Sunday I had arranged to visit some hotels, so after a short roof top pool stop again, we went off and visited some wonderful properties such as Cosmopolitan Hotel (opposite Hong Kong Jockey Club) soon to be re branded as the Dorsett later this year their attention to detail for families in the rooms is just amazing with amenity packs, age appropriate books, snack packs and hidden treats for the kids – not to mention a portable book case with books and toys and baby packs where relevant.

We were also lucky enough for the hotel to host us a traditional “Chinese banquet” which really was excellent. After that we made our way back to Kowloon (from Hong Kong island) to visit the Shangri-La hotel in a great location with views across the harbour and shopping and dining galore on your doorstep. We then moved on the trendy Mira boutique hotel in Kowloon, once again in a great location opposite Kowloon park and the outdoor public pool in Kowloon.

Later that evening we had a truly memorable evening at “Hutong” a Michelin Starred restaurant (the other one is at the Shard in London) with even better views than the first night across Hong Kong harbour and the infamous “light show”, followed our very own Chinese dragon entertainment. Being Gluten free the restaurant has tailored every single course for me, it was truly fabulous food and would come highly recommended to and “foodies” from me! No wonder “Conde Nast” class it in the “top 100 of the hottest restaurant tables” in the world!

On our last day, we had a free day and feeling like there was so much we hadn’t seen, my room-mate Sarah and I set off on a 6+ adventure as follows:- MTR from Langham Place, Mongkok to Tsim Sha Shui, a pop in to the 5* Peninsula hotel for a look around, then star ferry to Hong Kong Island Central, over to the roof garden at the IFC for views, then tram to Causeway bay we had a mouth-watering 4 course meal with drinks for £11.50?! then bus to Wanchai, Star Ferry back to Kowloon, MTR from Tsim Sha Shui to Mongkok, then a trip for bargains to the ladies market which was a short walk from our hotel in Mongkok.

Although tiring it was the best day ever being able to discover Hong Kong under our own steam and navigate ourselves around.

I would love to return to Hong Kong one day with my family to sample more of what this destination has to offer and I would have no hesitation in recommending single it twin centre trips to this destination, I loved every minute of it!