Reviews (8)

Good overall guidebook...
I found this book to be extremely helpful in covering all the bases of transport, taxes, tipping, typical business hours, history, background, and a good overview of what's where, and how to get there.Often times, we'd have questions about things like poverty level, health coverage, average income, quality of water -- and found that the guide pretty much answered all of those, and more.
Great Guide!
This was the first time I bought a travel book from Lonely Planet.I loved it because it provides a historical as well as a modern background on the cities being visited.The recommendations for dinner, site-seeting, etc were great!The only thing I would've added is a rating of the top sites to see if you are only in the city for a short time.

Injustice!
This LP guide is a pretty good guide to HK and Macau. Being a foodie, I think their food guide section does not do HK's gastronomical scene justice! Beautiful food galore on the islands and LP can't even manage to cover half of that wonder. Oh well ;) Otherwise, it is quite a comprehensive guide to what's there to see around HK and Macau. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Reference - Guides (General)    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Hong Kong    6. Macao    7. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

Great guide
Just got back from my trip to Hong Kong, Macau, and some areas of China.This guide was invaluable and perfect for my needs.The maps and highlights are great.The photos are colorful and plentiful.I chose this guide over the Lonely Planet because Lonely Planet seemed to have more listings, like hotels and restaurants.My hotel accommodations were already taken care of, so I didn't need that. The Insight Guide gives a good recitation of the history and the contemporary culture.I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Guangzhou (China)    3. Guidebooks    4. Hong Kong (China)    5. Macau (China : Special Administrative Region)    6. Travel    7. Travel - Foreign    8. Travel Guides    9. Hong Kong    10. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (6)

Handy and complete
Just got back from a quick jump over to HK and Macau for business and I brought this book along. Contrary to some other readers reviews, I found the book absolutely invaluable! The walking tours were quite insightful and with good directions and time estimates -I never got lost. Some of my most memorable experiences were from the walking tours in HK. The information was accurate and concise. It provided everything I needed to know about getting to the outlying islands on my free day, getting to the airport and getting around town. Nightlife recommendations were great for the foreign visitor on business. I compared the recommendations to that in Lonely Planet and my own experience and I thought the Frommer's was a lot more true to the scene than Lonely Planet. I didn't run into any snags while using the Frommer's book. I also took a side trip to Macau with the book and had a great time. Info was accurate, although the maps a little inadequate, but nothing a quick stop into the tourist office couldn't solve. I'd highly recommend the book and I'd pass it along to any colleagues or friends who might be going to HK since it never failed me once.

Woefully Inadequate
If there is a hell for travel writers, I hope Beth Reiber will burn in it. The useful information in this book could be condensed into a postage stamp size guide: One good Dim Sum Restaurant, one good Macanese Restaurant and one walk in The Western District. I recently traveled with this book to Hong Kong. I had a Hong Kong resident as a companion and still got lost using this book. Ms. Reiber recommends a walking tour of Kowloon, but does not bother to place the last four destinations on the included map. Nor does she say that you will encounter two rivers of humanity flowing in both directions that will turn a fifteen minute walk into a half hour hike. It is easier for salmon to swim upstream to spawn than it is to find the Bird Market in Kowloon. She also recommends a Kowloon park that is not even on the visitor map! (Just hop on the bus, she says. It stops across from the park. Hah!) We took the bus to Stanley after seeing Victoria Peak. The bus ride is interesting but time consuming. First time travelers on a three day holiday will never be able to complete her suggested three day tour. Taxis speed things up at night, but get snarled in traffic during the day. I was there six days and saw most of the things on her list, including a side trip to Macao, but only by the grace of God did my Hong Kong friend and I find the ruins of Saint Paul's Cathedral, so inadequate were the included maps. As for the unnecessary words: Anyone can walk into a four star hotel and find a great restaurant. If you follow Ms. Reiber's restaurant suggestions you'll be eating either Very Expensive or Expensive (her categories) most of the time. If you like to shop, which I do not, I'm sure you'll find Ms. Reiber's book helpful; she drags you through every major complex of shops on her walking tours. Rick Steves she ain't. So if you are planning a trip to Hong Kong you can buy this book, but get some good maps as a supplement and draw out your routes in advance. A few things Ms. Reiber doesn't mention: The locals seem to think that tea is a disinfectant for chop sticks and soup spoons. Bring a pack of Kleenex with you to a neighborhood restaurant, because napkins are not provided. And forget about breathing clean air while you are in Hong Kong. However, the city is full of delights and I intend to return, now that I know my way around.

This book is not updated. Many names dont exist any more.
What have the frommers done is Just duplicating the old edition with a new name. This so called 2001 edition " frommer's hong kong 6th eddition" has so many names I could not look up on the internet mainly because they were sold to another company with a different name. The air lines they suggested dont even fly to hong kong any more. Many restaurants were nonexistant. Things are changing rapidly in Hong Kong. Frommers has not kept up with those changes. Seems like a [price] rip off scam to me. Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Guidebooks    3. Hong Kong (China)    4. Macau    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Travel Guides    8. Hong Kong    9. Travel & holiday guides    10. Travel / Asia / China   

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Hong Kong    5. Travel & holiday guides    6. Travel / Asia / China   

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Hong Kong    6. Macao    7. Travel & holiday guides    8. Travel / Asia / China   

Reviews (4)

Good, but not great.

Far East seen throught the eyes of Westerners
It was the last minute business trip offered to me earlier this year.It would have been my first trip to Asia.I was excited, scared and anxious at the same time.A business woman all alone in Hong Kong for a month?I had to learn about the place.So I came across this book in my local library and it was a gem!Book contains first hand experience stories written by western travelers visiting Hong Kong.Some were there for the first time, some had ancestors there, some were expatriots.But each and every story had unique voice and each and every one was wonderful account of the experiences one can expect to have while visiting this place of magic.I enjoyed the book because it had really funny stories, that would make you giggle.So one had to be careful not to read them in public because the occasional laugh would cause heads turn.However, I understood the culture, customs and people so well, that I got attached to Hong Kong more than I ever thought it possible.It was hearthbreking coming home.I know I will have to go there again.Soon.Business or otherwise.And then - I will carry with me my own copy of the Travelers Tales.It is one of the kind traveler's book.One that deserves to be displayed in personal library!

This Is Not Your Father's Travel Guide
I read this book two weeks before our first (but hopefully not last) trip to Hong Kong.Other travel books gave me information on where to stay, where to eat, where to buy.But this book told me stories that made meeager to experience the SAR.Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Asia - Southeast    3. Description And Travel    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Hong Kong    6. Macao    7. Social life and customs    8. Travel    9. Travel - General    10. China    11. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (4)

Accomodating Asia:Hong Kong, MacAu
i did not care for this book at all.info was limited.i bought it because of the recent release date and i was traveling to hong kong and macau. Discovering the wonders of Hong Kong
Accomodating Asia will accomodate your basic guidebook needs very nicely. Punctuated with commentary by recent travelers, the book covers all the basics, and then some. As a frequent traveler to Hong Kong myself, I foundthe authors have captured and shared the charm and vitality of this mostexciting place. Whether you are discovering the delights of Hong Kong andMacau for the first time, or you're a returning visitor, you'll findAccomodating Asia to be just the ticket to maximize your fun and minimizeyour fuss. It makes me long for a lemon squash on the terrace of the PeakCafe with the bustling Victoria Harbor and the blue South China Sea spreadout before me!

My next trip to Hong Kong
I found myself yearning to return to Hong Kong after reading "Accommodating Asia... Hong Kong/Macau." The authors not only know the region well, but love the people and their unique culture. "Accommodating Asia" captures the energy and the excitement ofHong Kong through descriptions, illustrations, and personalrecommendations. Easy-to-use, well-organized information abounds aboutattractions and lodgings, including prices, maps, and directions.If youare planning to visit this region and don't know what night market and MTRare, get this guide. If you have been on an escorted tour or have been onlyto the business district and want to explore Hong Kong for yourself, you'llrely heavily on this guide for the excellent list of attractions [many arefree!], and the detailed subway and bus directions. On my next trip to HongKong,I'll be taking my copy of "Accommodating Asia." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign   

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Asia - General    3. China    4. Guidebooks    5. Hong Kong    6. Hong Kong (China)    7. Macau (Special Administrative    8. Macau (Special Administrative Region)    9. Shopping    10. Subjects & Themes - Travel - General    11. Travel    12. Travel - Foreign    13. Travel & holiday guides    14. Travel / Asia / General   

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Asia - Southeast    3. Guidebooks    4. Hong Kong (China)    5. Macau    6. Travel    7. Travel - Foreign    8. Travel / Asia / China   

Reviews (3)

It's below the Rough Guide standard.
Unreliable information punctuated with annoying feminist innuendos.For the sake of political correctness the author lists gay spots which is OK with me, but he goes out of his way to label men who go into the girlie bars in Wanchai as "pathetic."This misses the point entirely.A typical Rough Guide would give the reason to avoid those places:one can unknowingly rack up a bar bill of US $500 within a few minutes just by buying drinks.They bill you on the way out and there's no getting out of it by arguing with the management.([...]
Not the best guide for getting around or finding places.
I purchased the guide because it seemed to give more background information than others I've seen such as Frommers. However, when we tried to use the maps to find our way around, we realized they were notwell thought out, and were more confusing than helpful! Also, therestaurant section could be better organized, and give information such asprice and address. We were frustrated over and over again with this guide.

A great book for a first time visitor to Hong Kong
I came across this book in a bookstore near the Central MTR station in HKon my third visit to that wonderous city. Having never purchased atravellers guide to Hong Kong, I decided on a whim to purchase it. I'm gladI did. After spending an hour or so reading some of the sections I realizedI wish I had this book in my possession before my first visit! Part one(Basics) was accurate and a must read before visiting the city. Part two(Hong Kong) was clear and provided just enough detail without overwhelming.I can't validate the Macau section (haven't made it there yet). However,the restaurant section in my mind fell on its face by not lising mypersonal favorite HK restaurant, Jimmy's Kitchen (Hong Kong side). Jimmy'sis a must, especially if you are suffering from chinese food burnout andneed a good steak or other sort of western fare. Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel Guides    6. Hong Kong    7. Macao    8. Travel & holiday guides    9. Travel / Asia / China   

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Asia - General    3. Description    4. Guidebooks    5. Hong Kong    6. Hong Kong (China)    7. Macao    8. Travel    9. Travel - Foreign    10. China    11. Travel & holiday guides   

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. China    5. Hong Kong    6. Macao    7. Travel & holiday guides    8. Travel / Asia / General   

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. China    3. Guidebooks    4. Hong Kong (China)    5. Macau (China : Special Adminis    6. Macau (China : Special Administrative Region)    7. Travel    8. Travel - Foreign    9. Hong Kong    10. Travel & holiday guides   

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. ASIA    5. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY    6. Travel / Asia / General   

Subjects:  1. Hong Kong    2. Travel & holiday guides   

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. International - General    4. ASIA    5. International business    6. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY   

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Asia - Japan    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign   

Subjects:  1. 1951-    2. Asia    3. Culture    4. Travel    5. Voyages around the world    6. Voyages autour du monde   

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. Travel - Foreign