Hong Kong Revisited and the A380

A380

It had been over 15 years since I last visited Hong Kong and since then it has gone back to Chinese rule so I was fascinated to see what had changed. I was even more fascinated to fly for the first time on the A380, the double decker aircraft. It seemed amazing something this big could fly!

This was a quick three night trip so I was delighted to find we were flying in business class, a huge help on a short duration long haul trip. As we checked in and were whisked through to the British Airways lounge my thoughts turned to think about the flight. Just how big would it be inside? How loud was it going to be? You got an idea of size as we got our first glimpse of the plane next to a 777. It dwarfed it! On getting aboard the upstairs cabins even had a separate air bridge for getting on. Yes, huge!

Next, the take-off. First reaction was the speed, very slow along the runaway and super quiet. When the pilot finally lifted the nose there was a small amount of extra power and noise but overall was amazing, smooth and we were away. The seats and cabin were fantastic, roomy, and comfortable and an excellent job has been done of cutting the aircraft up into sections avoiding the huge view of seat after seat. The upper deck not only contained our seats but also the premium economy and a small economy cabin, ideal for those seeking some quiet. Service, food and seats were excellent throughout and whilst it might sound a strange comment, the size of the toilet at the front of the upper deck was a talking point, well over twice the size of a normal one, handy when changing inflight. First experience of the A380 was fantastic. I’d love to do it again already!

Arrival into Hong Kong was immediately different as Kai Tak is no longer the airport. They have built a huge new one. Immigration and bags were easy and quick and we were on our way into the city. Traffic as ever in most Far East cities is busy and chaotic, but that is part of the charm. My first hotel was the Excelsior Hotel on Hong Kong Island, an excellently located hotel with great views across to Kowloon. The hotel is not pampered luxury but is a very solid four and a half to five star property. You would not be disappointed.

After a long overnight flight that arrives at lunchtime local time, our choice of an evening cruise on a junk was ideal. The cruise was to take in the new evening laser show. I am afraid that the light show was underwhelming but the opportunity to sail around and see the lights of Hong Kong at night was superb and recommended.

Day one had for us the chance to sail out to the islands outside Hong Kong Harbour. The sun-seeker boat was beautiful with champagne throughout! We stopped en route at Aberdeen Harbour to see the fishing boats moored alongside multi million pound yachts, an amazing mix that sums up the diverse sides to this city. The Jumbo floating Chinese restaurant is also a big favourite with a grata location and style. As we sail out we pass Ocean theme park full of roller coasters right on the edge of a headline. A striking site. A Chinese lunch and relaxing cruise back conclude the day out.

Floating restaurant

Our second and final day takes us on a coach tour of the highlights of the city. I had been to most of the places before and it was refreshing to see little had changed in a lot of places. Stanley Market was still charming still with bargains to be had for the shrewd haggler! The Peak Tram had changed a lot. The top had a huge shopping and restaurant area with the most stunning views. A tip if you are visiting for just a few days, grab the chance to go when the weather is good. You never know when the fog will drift in and spoil one of the classic views in the world! Leave it to the last day and you might just miss out. The final part of our day was a visit to see the International Dragon Boat racing, a new experience for me. We had missed the heats and were just seeing the finals. It was exciting with a great atmosphere but only for half a dozen races or so.

That night we moved to the stunning Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Now the Excelsior was very nice but the Mandarin was simply fantastic. My harbour view room was large with not only the view but also a huge bathroom that was about as good as it gets. It was impossible to find fault. It has a higher price but if you have the money, totally worth it. The Chinese meal that night in the hotel Michelin restaurant was simply the best Chinese meal I have ever had, every one of the eight courses was simply amazing, highly recommended.

Hong Kong is renowned for its shopping, so how had that changed since my last visit? Well, I found electrical goods disappointingly similar in price to the UK with the exception of Apple accessories. Clothes remain very good value and the "fake" designers merchandise is still a complete bargain and still excellent quality.

My flight back again in business on the A380 was as excellent as the first and British Airways were excellent throughout. The airline industry is very competitive with lots of options and chooses but BA has been very good in my last three flights with them.

If you have not been to Hong Kong, go. You will not be disappointed either as a short holiday or a stopover en route to Australia. I will be back. Again!