Category: Hong Kong

Cruises from Hong Kong Kick Off Magical Journeys in Asia

3/6/2018

Hong Kong's cruise terminal is modern, efficient and sits on the pretty East Kowloon waterfront. // Photos courtesy Hong Kong Tourism Board

By John Roberts

We have just started to explore Asia in recent years, taking amazing river cruise trips in Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam.

It was so enlightening to visit this part of the world that we can't wait to return to see much more and engage with the friendly people and enjoy all the foods and adventures you can find.

We have a particular spot in mind, too: Hong Kong.

Ocean cruising in this most-fascinating region is also high on our list because you can get to so many incredibly exotic places by sea. At the hub of it all is Hong Kong, which is at the forefront of the exploding growth of cruise travel in Asia. Hong Kong is a perfect mix of modern meets ancient, where East meets West.

Here are our top reasons to cruise from Hong Kong.

Pre-Cruise Wonders
Book at least a couple days in Hong Kong ahead of your cruise to fully immerse yourself in all the city has to offer. With the extra time, you can easily explore Hong Kong like a local. The enchanting and lively city is home to the popular Wine and Dine Festival in November, and Hong Kong is filled with culinary delights, from Michelin-starred restaurants to cooking classes and small eateries.

You can also delve into the vibrant shopping scene or visit a fishing village, take a day cruise in Victoria Harbor, or explore temples. Take a city tour to learn about Hong Kong's colonial heritage. The annual Dragon Boat Carnival brings the harbor to life in early summer.

Families with youngsters and the young at heart (like us!) might want to check out Hong Kong Disneyland or the marine-life theme park Ocean Park Hong Kong.

I am also pumped to venture out into the wild spaces at the edge of the bustling city . . .

Great Outdoors
Hong Kong offers a lot for active travelers who like to get outside for some fun and physical challenges. Top destinations around the city include the Hong Kong Global Geopark of China (50 square kilometers of interesting volcanic landforms), the Dragon's Back (one of best urban hiking trails in Asia), Lamma and Lantau islands (with rustic villages, quaint beaches and beautiful forests). There are numerous other hiking trails in and around the city, as well as scenic parks and gardens to walk, run or join in a tai chi session. Fully 40 percent of the city's land is designated for 24 national parks.

Incredible Itineraries
Hong Kong is the homeport for Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas from May to June and Voyager of the Seas from July to August this year. The two cruise ships sail on a variety of epic itineraries from Hong Kong. Asia's newest luxury cruise ship, Genting's World Dream, which was christened in Hong Kong in November 2017, is homeporting at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal year-round, offering two- to seven-day sailings in Asia.

Cruises from Hong Kong take you on amazing voyages to explore destinations such as mainland China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam.

Ease of Access
Hong Kong features more than 1,100 daily flights to over 220 destinations and a visa-free policy for more than 170 countries (including U.S. citizens). Hong Kong also offers efficient and affordable public transportation like ferries, rail service and buses to get around the city on tours or to reach spots you want to visit such as surrounding islands or the mainland.

Have you been to Hong Kong? Tell us some other highlights we shouldn't miss.

Thanks for reading,
JR

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Stranded at the Hong Kong Airport. How the Uber App is a Savior.

1/29/2016

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I spent a little time exploring Hong Kong during my layover, including a morning stroll through Victoria Park.

By John Roberts

It's not often that I find myself caught off guard in my travels. In fact, I'm a bit obsessive when it comes to planning. I need to know all the logistics and each segment along the way, especially if my wanderings take me far from home and to a thoroughly foreign environment.

Yet, there I was, wandering into the airport in Hong Kong at 1 a.m. after a flight from Manila, and didn't know where I would be staying for the night because my next flight back to the U.S. was not due to take off until 5:30 p.m.

I didn't have a big hand in the planning of this trip, and the long (and unexpected!) layover created some loose ends for the company that was doing the coordinating of my hosted press trip. A hotel booking was eventually secured for me, but I still had no transportation plans.

Hong Kong International Airport is one of the largest and busiest in the world, handling more than 16 million passengers a year, and it's so vast that I was unable to easily find a taxi cab area. I asked at the train station, which was located at the Arrivals Hall area of the terminal, and was told that the taxis were about a quarter mile away. Additionally, they don't take credit cards (at least it's rare to find a driver who accepts them) or U.S. dollars.

OK, now I have to get Hong Kong dollars. I approach a currency exchange window, and the clerk says she is closed. Well, let's look for an ATM. None in sight.

I take a deep breath and wander over to the McDonald's, which is the only place open in the entire vast hall at this early morning hour. Let me think about this before I get too irritated. Even if I find an ATM, I don't want to get Hong Kong dollars out and have leftover foreign currency I don't need.

My initial itinerary had my scheduled flight leaving at 11:15 a.m. But the wicked snow storm on the East Coast had pushed back my flight. I started receiving texts.

Your flight is now at 3:30 p.m.

Your flight is now at 4:30 p.m.

Your flight is now at 5:19 p.m.

Your flight is now at 5:29 p.m.

Those updates came in rapid-fire succession. At least they stopped. I hoped that would be the last time the flight was pushed back. Had the flight actually left at the original time, I would have considered just staying at the airport, but not with a nearly seven-hour delay.

I have the Uber app on my phone, but I had never completed the registration process.
Luckily, the Hong Kong airport offers free and reliable Wi-Fi. I finished the registration, hailed an Uber car. I had to get Uber Black (premium luxury cars) because no Uber X vehicles were available, and I was off to my hotel for a good night's rest.

The lesson to learn here: Make sure you have Uber (installed and ready to go) when you travel through the Hong Kong airport (or anywhere, of course), which is a long layover for travelers taking long flights to all parts of the world. It's just an incredibly convenient and easy-to-use app that can be a huge stress reliever when you find yourself in a bind and needing transportation.

Also, the McDonald's there is open 24 hours and takes credit cards. The PR company hosting my trip took care of my hotel, so I went off site. But if you want to stay at the Hong Kong airport when you have a long layover, there is a Regal Airport Hotel right on site connected to Terminal 1.

I hope this info helps if you find yourself in a pinch in Hong Kong or anywhere else. If we're not learning, we're not evolving as adventurers.

What are your favorite must-have apps to help you avoid travel troubles?

Thanks for reading,
JR

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Best City Running Paths Offer an Easy, Cheap Way to Explore

3/31/2015

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Plot your route

Several apps and websites help you find a safe route to run. You can chart your own course/distance or use a route that has been entered and shared by someone who has been there and done that.

Try these:
MapMyRun.com
RunKeeper.com
TrailLink.com
Runners World Route Finder --rw.runnersworld.com/
route/routefinder.html

By John Roberts

Running along the roads and footpaths in the tiny village of Kinderdijk (pictured), we were surrounded on all sides by twirling giants. What a way to see this quaint destination in the Netherlands. We were away from the crowds and made our own way looping around from the water to the interior canals, and before an hour had passed, Colleen and I had spotted animals (many cows, horses and mallards), ships, trees, flowers, chatted with residents and seen every windmill in town.

This is often how we like to explore ports areas and other destinations. You get to see more, find a little piece of solitude and best of all, it's free and good for your health.

We have enjoyed runs in St. Thomas USVI, London, New York City, Key West, Orlando, Dublin and many, many more.

Many cruise-port cities offer great walking/running paths that are natural fits for excellent sightseeing while you get in your workout.

Just throw on your running shoes and grab your camera, then head out for a cheap self-guided tour in these spots.

Miami

Go for a morning or sunset run at Miami Beach Boardwalk in South Beach. The route offers continuous views of the ocean, sandy beach -- and interesting people. The route runs for 40 blocks north from the South Beach area, and you can pull off to find a wide variety of other things to see or do: eat, drink, shop on Lincoln Road or check out the Art Deco designs of the hotels and homes. How about, trying it all?

New York

Central Park (at left) gets busy, but there is plenty of room for everyone. Miles and miles of loops offer endless variation as you run within view of impressive skyline, trees, foliage and lakes and bridges. Also, you'll spot bikers, walkers, people playing Frisbee, softball, bocce and all sorts of activities. Or, try a run along the High Line Park, a 1.5-mile long path that has been built on a refurbished portion of an old New York Central Railroad section. The park on Manhattan's West Side extends from 34th Street to Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District and contains wildflowers and wild grasses as well as public art, food vendors and unique views of the bustling city life below.

Cozumel

Enjoy a scenic and sunny run along the Malecon that stretches from the International Cruise Port area all the way to downtown San Miguel (about five miles). Your run follows the ocean the whole way, and you can slip into the water to cool down after your run at several small public beach spots, many adjacent to quaint bars/eateries. I think it's awesome to start the day with a challenging, sweaty run and then reward yourself with a couple beers, chips and salsa and relaxing time in the cool, clear waters. But that's just me.

Houston

A slow-moving river, Buffalo Bayou, winds through the city, and you can run along the banks of this waterway. About 20 miles worth of trail segments form a park system shared by bikers, walkers and runners and goes through downtown Houston and features green spaces, a skate park, paddlesports, scenic waterfall, art installations and even an observation deck to view the nightly spectacle of the Waugh Bridge bat colony -- the creatures emerge at dusk to begin their hunt for mosquitos.

Montreal

The city's popular Mount Royal Park holds a wide variety of trails. You can challenge yourself with some elevation change up the mountain path to Montreal's highest point (at just 764 feet, Mount Royal is really a hill) or glide along to enjoy the green expanse of the Golden Square Mile. Paths are unpaved, making it easy on the knees and feet.

Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Trail is a 30-mile-long route that begins at Victoria Peak (pictured) and descends into wooded forests, and along the way includes climbs of some of the islands' highest peaks for amazing views. The trail contains eight sections and goes through five country parks. Don't worry. If you just want an easy run, you can plot out a mild section. (The first leg, from Victoria Peak, is a relatively easy four-mile stretch, for example.)

New Orleans

A section of the Mississippi River Trail goes through the Crescent City and is a hot spot for visitors and residents. Run on a levee atop the banks of the Mighty Mississippi after you set out from Audubon Park (pictured), which also features its own beautiful two-mile running path. In fact, the city is filled with options for runners who want to enjoy the sights. Check out the mansions on St. Charles Avenue from your route along the roadways' "neutral ground" median.

Please share spots you have discovered for your runs/walks around the world.

Thanks for reading. Travel fit and travel happy!

JR

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Cruises from Hong Kong Kick Off Magical Journeys in Asia

Stranded at the Hong Kong Airport. How the Uber App is a Savior.

Best City Running Paths Offer an Easy, Cheap Way to Explore

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