Discount Rates at Metropolitan Hotel London

Discount Rates at Metropolitan Hotel London

Ever Wanted to Know What is The Sky Garden London?
The Sky Garden is a public area on the top of the skyscraper best known as the 'Walkie Talkie' (and shortly nicknamed the Fry scraper due to its tendency to focus light onto a patch of ground that could just about cook an egg, or Melt all of the plastic on very expensive Parked Car Bellow).
This three stores atrium space is central London’s highest garden and is open to the public but you must book in advance.While the Walkie Talkie certainly isn't the tallest the building in The City of London it is dominant on the City skyline with its unusual reverse tapered design meaning the 37-stores tower office block has a smaller foot print than the previous building yet it expands wider at the top because higher floors can demand higher rents. This has given us a deceptively large amount of public space for the Sky Garden, a condition of the planning permission.

The Sky Garden is on levels 35, 36 and 37. It is 45,000 sq ft of high level 'amenity space' with 360 degree panoramic views of London. There are three events spaces available for hire as well as two restaurants and a private dining room. In all, there is room for 400 diners, plus an extra 200 members of the public exploring the 'garden'.The three dinning options are essentially a cafe, a brasserie and a seafood bar.

Sky Pod is the cafe on level 35. It's a 'coffee and cake' place during the day and a cocktail bar at night. There are sofas, tables and chairs, plus stools and high tables to enjoy the view. This area is under a roof but is within the garden so has no heating but is 'naturally ventilated' which basically means it can be cold in the winter and probably hot in the summer. A bit like the outdoor temperature but without the wind. In case it is a bit chilly there are faux furs and cashmere blankets available to keep you warm.You can book a table or, if there is space, you can just grab a drink if you have a Sky Garden ticket. Sky Pod is the most accessibly-priced dining option in the Sky Garden with a pot of tea costing £3.50 (2015 rate).
There is also an outside terrace next to Sky Pod but it was closed during the winter when I visited. It's basically going to end up as a smoker's terrace as food and drink is not allowed. It is called the Francis Golding Terrace after the architect who died in a cycle accident in 2013.
The two restaurants above have heating and air-conditioning so are not as affected by outside temperatures. To dine at either of the restaurants you must book in advance.
Darwin Brasserie is on level 36 and offers classic European cuisine. There is a semi-exposed kitchen and a large bar to provide 'food theater'.
Fen church Seafood Bar & Grill is on level 37. This is the most expensive and, bizarrely as it's at the highest level, has the worst view as it has frosted glass windows. This is all about privacy and an exclusive place to be rather than the sights.

For great hotel rates at Metropolitan Hotel London click the link at the top of this page and enjoy discounts from over 300 different travel agencies.

Discount Rates at Hullett House Hong Kong

Discount Rates at Hullett House Hong Kong

The Best 3 Hong Kong's Beach Restaurants and Bars!
Hong Kong’s beaches are hugely underrated. They span packed sands minutes from Central to untouched stretches of golden grain on uninhabited islands. You can see our favorites in top Six Beaches in Hong Kong. But where to eat where to drink while enjoying the sea view?

In this city focused on the boardroom rather than board shorts not much has been done to develop the seaside and it can be hard to find a good beach restaurant or cafe. Thankfully, we’re here to help. Below are our top picks for a bit of food and drink next to the lapping waves of the South China Sea.

The China Beach Club

While it doesn't quite make it on to the beach, China beach club does offer excellent views over Silver mine Bay from its terrace. A shabby chic interior is accidental rather than planned but all the more enjoyable for it with plastic seats and mismatched cutlery joined by pictures of Buddha and the Italian countryside sharing wall space. The menu is similarly erratic veering from burger and chips through lasagne and curry. Top of your list should be the BBQ steaks, prawns and other seafood which come straight from the grill out the back at very reasonable price.

The Cococabana

Hong Kong’s classiest seaside restaurant is still pretty relaxed with smart white tablecloths joined by bamboo seats on the patio. You’ll just about get by with sandals and shorts. The patio offers front row seats onto the beautiful beach at Shek O and with drinks served until 23:00 it’s a great place to enjoy some time under the stars. The star studded location does mean inflated prices for a menu of passable French and seafood dishes. Close to the action on Hong Kong Island it's absolutely jammed at weekends and during the evening later in the week and it’s well worth making a recommendation.

The Stoep

One of Hong Kong’s most established seaside restaurants is also one of its most controversial. There are no doubts over the location. The setting on Cheung Sha beach over on Lantau is one of Hong Kong’s best and the patio seating at the front spills onto the sand. There is also good news from the menu. The South African kitchen cooks up BBQ meat and sausage – perfect break at the beach food. Unfortunately, the service gets mixed reviews with some visitors vowing they’d rather hot foot it over hot coals that make a return.

For great hotel rates at Hullett House Hong Kong click the link at the top of this page and enjoy discounts from over 300 different travel agencies.

Island Shangri-La Hotel Hong Kong at Discount Rates

Island Shangri-La Hotel Hong Kong at Discount Rates

The New Territories Hong Kong guide!

Usually overlooked for the skyscrapers and star ferry trips across the harbor (and rightly so), the New Territories are nevertheless cruelly overlooked. Hong Kong may be famed as a city state but the stretch of green that spreads out between the end of Kowloon, in the south, and the Chinese border in the north, offers endless opportunities to relax on unexplored beaches, hike over jungle like greenery and explore villages that have changed little since Imperial China.

Where is The New Territories?

The last piece of the puzzle when the Chinese were forced to hand over Hong Kong, the New Territories run from the top of the Kowloon Peninsula to the Chinese border.In the seventies and the eighties the Hong Kong government built a number of new towns in the New Territories, such as Sha Tin, and these have developed in large bedroom communities.Beyond the new towns, the New Territories remain as they always were rural. You’ll still find farmers, ramshackle huts set around ancestral halls and acres of unspoiled countryside.

The coastline is especially inviting, with dozens of small islands scattered just off the coast, while much of the southern New Territories are occupied by country parks.

The New Territories how to get there For the great outback The New Territories are well served by public transport with a couple of MRT lines serving the area.As you step off the beaten track you’ll increasingly need to reply on public minibuses. These are cheap, fast and frequent although they can be a little bit of a challenge to negotiate if you don’t speak Chinese.

The main new towns, such as Tuen Mun (West), Sha Tin (Central) and Sai Kung (East) tend to act as central transport hubs into the rest of the countryside.
What to see in the New Territories?
Walled villages Originally built to stop villagers in neighboring villages murdering each other, there are still several walled villages in Hong Kong that are a couple of hundred years old. Still very much based around family clans these villages often have ornate ancestral halls and intact outer walls. The best of the bunch is Kat Hing Wai where, beyond the satellite dishes and luxury cars, you’ll still see women in head to toe traditional black dress and a fantastic ancestral hall Seside towns Sai Kung just around the corner from Kowloon the low rise village of Sai Kung has grown large enough to be worth exploring and alongside the excellent seafood restaurants that made it famous it has a number of other good places to eat.

There is little to do in town apart from stroll along the promenade and watch fisherman haul in their catch and watch luxury yachts parade around but it’s an enjoyable place to while away an easy afternoon.

For great hotel rates at Island Shangri-La Hotel Hong Kong click the link at the top of this page and enjoy discounts from over 300 different travel agencies.

Discount Rates at East Hotel Hong Kong

Discount Rates at East Hotel Hong Kong

Every People want to know How has Hong Kong changed since the Hong Kong handover?

Since the Hong Kong handover in 1997, not much has changed in Hong Kong. The British left in place the Basic Law, to protect Hong Kong’s ‘way of life’ and capitalist system for at least fifty years. However, some largely symbolic changes related to royalty and Britishness have taken place. See the list below for the Hong Kong handovers more superficial changes.

Goodbye Queen Liz

Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait that graced banknotes and postage stamps has been withdrawn. The flower of Hong Kong, the Bauhinia has replaced her highness in most cases. You'll still find many coins from before 1997 in circulation. They are still legal tender.

Lowering the Flag

All state buildings now fly the flag of the PRC, often alongside the flag of Hong Kong, rather than the Union Jack. The Hong Kong Protest that gripped the city in 2014 and the associated protest groups have often used the Hong Kong colony flag while on the streets.

Happy Holidays
Public Holidays were revamped, many British standards like the Queen's birthday were dropped, while more traditional Chinese ones, such as Buddha’s Birthday, have taken their place. Hong Kong still celebrates Christmas and Easter as official holidays. Similarly, events are still held to commemorate Hong Kong's role in World War Two at the cenotaph in Central.

No More Royal

Organisations such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals decided to drop the Royal from their title, while others, such as the police, were obliged to. The only organization to continue using the prefix is the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. The word royal can only be used when an organisation or institution has been issued a royal letter of patent.

Lingua France

The official languages of Hong Kong remain Cantonese and English, however the government now pursues a tri-lingual policy, inclusive of Mandarin. Levels of English and Mandarin speaking are a hot topic in the city, with government and school language policies frequently the subject of heated debate. One interesting change is the Hong Kong subway, the MTR, where Mandarin swapped with English as the number two announcement.

Green Changes
The traditional British red post boxes were replaced by the Hong Kong posts green ones. You can still find one of the very few remaining red post boxes outside western market.
The changes listed above are largely superficial. If you are interested in learning a bout the city's political changes, read our piece on the Hong Kong Protest.

For great hotel rates at East Hotel Hong Kong click the link at the top of this page and enjoy discounts from over 300 different travel agencies.

Discount Rates at Ovolo 2 Arbuthnot Road Central Hotel Hong Kong

Discount Rates at Ovolo 2 Arbuthnot Road Central Hotel Hong Kong

Ever Wanted to Know Where is the Best 3 Hong Kong Islands?

The region of Hong Kong is made up of hundreds of individual islands. These range from the bright lights and city escapes of Hong Kong Island to the forgotten stretches of wilderness on Peng Chau. We’ll be looking at the latter below.
If you’re in town for more than a couple of days then it’s well worth getting away from the concrete and glass of the city center. Hong Kong’s islands offer a fantastic alternative for tourists. You’ll find golden beaches, unspoiled stretches of jungle like wilderness and dozens of small fishing villages where you can enjoy giant sized plates of fish for a fistful of dollars.
The Lamma Island
Probably the most popular of Hong Kong’s Islands with tourists, Lamma offers a laid back haven that has attracted backpackers, dropouts and bankers sick of the sight of skyscrapers. The island has about 5,000 residents, mostly clustered around the enjoyably ramshackle ‘capital’ of Yung Shue Wan. With no cars allowed on the island, this one street outback town has a relaxed appeal and the many makeshift bars are great places to tuck into a cold San Miguel.
Lamma is also a destination for seafood aficionados with the bare bones seafood restaurants over in the fishing village of Sok Kwu Wan serving up everything fresh from the fisherman’s boat. Surroundings offer little more than plastic chairs and tables but the food quality is high and prices low.
You can reach Sok Kwu Wan via an enjoyable hike through the rich greenery in the center of the island. Don’t miss out on a stop at Lo So Shing beach on the way. This small bay of golden sand is regularly and rightly ranked as one of the best beaches in Hong Kong.
The Lantau Island
Hong Kong’s largest island is often overshadowed by its association with the airport and the sprawling new town of Tung Chung. Don’t be put off, there is plenty to see here and Lantau Island is well worth exploring.
The most well-trodden route is the Ngong Ping Cable Car. The glass bottomed gondola ferries visitors from Tung Chung up to the Big Buddha statue and monastery in the interior of the island. The cable car is expensive and the ‘traditional’ village erected at its destination is well worth missing, but the views the cable car offers over the lush greenery below and on the South China Sea are spectacular.
For a less crowded experience, try the south and south west of the island. Much of the interior is carpeted in greenery and offers fantastic opportunities for hiking. The hike from Shek Pik reservoir on the south of the island to Tai Po in the north is an enjoyable one. The reward at the end is Tai O village – one of the more unique destinations in Hong Kong. Many of the houses in this small fishing village are built on wooden stilts, perched precariously above the tidal flats below. The village is till enjoyably busy and you’re likely to be the only tourists in town.
The Hong Kong Island
You probably aren't here to read about Hong Kong Island so we won’t waste space singing its praises. Unlike the rest of the islands here,Hong Kong Island isn't an outlying island but actually holds the majority of Hong Kong city (along with Kowloon). If you’re looking for Hong Kong; the city of skyscrapers, neon signs and endless neighborhood restaurants, set your sights on Hong Kong Island.

For great hotel rates at Ovolo 2 Arbuthnot Road Central Hotel Hong Kong click the link at the top of this page and enjoy discounts from over 300 different travel agencies.

Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East at Discount Rates

Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East at Discount Rates

Everyone Wanted to Know Where is The Best Hong Kong wet markets?

The best destination for any budding gourmet when in Hong Kong. Wet markets are where you can pick up fresh from the water seafood, meat that’s still alive and kicking as well as enjoy some cheap and excellent canteen food.Whether you need some apples and pears, want to see what a star fruit looks like or just need to pick up a fresh chicken or three, the wet markets of Hong Kong remain the best place to pick up fresh produce and meat. Set in the heart of districts around the city’s wet markets are still where many Hong Kong residents still do their food shopping.

You’ll find most wet markets have moved from their traditional location on the street and are now bunker-ed down in ugly concrete carbuncles that look more like a car park than a market. Inside is pure bedlam. Dozens of independent market stalls line the walls, while fish splash around on butchers blocks and keen eyed patrons pluck the choicest chickens from their cage. You’ll also find an endless selection of fresh fruit and veg and stalls bursting with colorful flowers.

Most of the meat, especially poultry and fish, is sold live and often butchered on the spot and wet markets aren't for the faint of heart. Most stall holders won’t speak English but you will always find someone who can lend a hand in translating and many signs inside will be in English. Prices are usually cheaper than the supermarkets and you may get a good deal on a pound of apples or a lobster when the markets close around 7pm.

Graham Street wet market By far the most atmospheric wet market in Hong Kong, the stalls on Graham Street have been operating since before the turn of the last century and it’s one of the few markets still set on the street. Watch as buckets of ice are swilled down the street, market traders try and career tumbling baskets of fruit up the hill while tourists snap everything in sight with their camera. If you only see one wet market make it this one. And it's in Central.

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Lanson Place Hotel Hong Kong at Discount Rates

Lanson Place Hotel Hong Kong at Discount Rates

Why Hong Kong is still the best place in Asia to shop?

While they may take a spin on the Star Ferry and enjoy a plate of Dim Sum or three what most tourists want in Hong Kong is a good old fashioned shopping spree. The city has long had a reputation for being a shopping fanatics playground. Whether you want to lord it inside the biggest Louis Vuitton shop outside Paris or get your hands dirty bartering at the Goldfish market Hong Kong is still the sheikh of shopping.

Here are our 3 reasons why Hong Kong is still the best place to shop in Asia.

Long nights and neon lights

Forget 9 am to 5pm. While Hong Kong’s shops open early in the morning they don’t start to fill up until 6pm or 7pm in the evening and by 9pm you've got streets crammed with eager shoppers. Whether you’re weighed down with your newly bought loot or a weary companion ragged along for the ride the atmosphere is exhilarating: thousands of shoppers on the streets lit by the neon glow of the city’s famous shop signs.

Climbing around Causeway Bay

And nowhere does Neon better than Causeway Bay. This neighborhood is dedicated to shopping.The streets are crammed with international names and local retailers looking to make their name. But look up and you’ll find skyscrapers stuffed with markets, malls and some of Hong Kong’s best independent shops.

Causeway Bay is one of the most iconic areas in Hong Kong; those photos you've seen of the city’s brightly lit, neon streets, packed with shoppers are usually of here. Many of the shops in this area keep their doors open until after 10pm., while the crowds are simply phenomenal they make New York or London look roomy.Several of the main streets have been pedestrianized to allow more room for shoppers,and Causeway Bay differs from other parts of Hong Kong, notably Central, in that the majority of the shops are on the street not in Shopping Malls.
Tailor Made Experiences 
The best tailors in the world still do their business in Hong Kong. Descendants of Shanghai immigrants who fled communism and with a fine pedigree of dressing generals and governors, the tailors in Hong Kong can knock you up a top notch suit cheaper than their competitors in New York or London and better quality than across the border in China.Hong Kong has an absolute army of tailors and the city is rightly famed for being able to stitch-up top quality suits at bottom dollar prices we've picked five of the best. Best in Hong Kong doesn't always mean pretty and the top tailors are as likely to be found buried down a backstreet or at the wrong end of a shopping arcade as in a five-star hotel.

For great hotel rates at Lanson Place Hotel Hong Kong click the link at the top of this page and enjoy discounts from over 300 different travel agencies.