The
Chek Lap Kok Hong Kong International Airport is one of the busiest airports in
the world. Yet since it is relatively new, it does not feel crowded - except when
you need to line up to go through immigration (unless you are a Hong Kong resident). Since
the airport is located on an island (Lantau Island) away from the main parts of
Hong Kong, it generally takes an hour or an hour and a half to get to or fro.
[
see airport transportaion for more info ]  There
are shops in the departure level where you check in and above the shops there
are restaurants.
Once you have gone through immigrations into the restricted
area, there are more shops and restaurants. Actually there are more shops there
than in the check-in area, varying from herbalist shops where you can buy ginseng
and other expensive items to take back as a gift, to bookstores to get a novel
for your long flight. (Left:
shops in the restricted departure area.)  The
restaurants in the restricted departure area are arranged in a food-court style
and there is plenty of seating. In the arrival level after you have come out of
immigrations and customs, there are a few restaurants, including a coffee shop,
but seating in the restaurants may not be easy to find especially during meal
times. The coffee shop offers free internet terminals but you need to put down
a deposit for the wireless mouse. Wifi seems quite weak in the airport, but I
have not done extensive testing. (Above:
food court in the restricted departure area.)
 If
you have a long layover and want to find a place to nap, outside the restricted
area is not the place to go. For one thing, it is patrolled by airport staff and
no sleeping is allowed (unless there is a major storm stranding tons of people
there). You should stay in the restricted area to catch your shuteye. After all
there is plenty of seating, and there are actually some padded recliners for
you to totally stretch out. They might be a bit difficult to find though since
there are not that many, especially unoccupied. (Left:
a recliner for a snooze in the restricted area.)
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