Sight-seeing, Hong Kong style
December 28, 1996
Weather: Hong Kong
City Guides and Maps: Hong Kong
(CNN) -- Taking in the Hong Kong scenery, settled like royalty in the back of a classic Rolls Royce, is certainly something to dream about. Hong Kong is home to the most Rolls per capita in the world, and many choose to savor the flavors of this grand city with a ride that's a prize in itself.
Several tour companies, such as Classic Rolls Travel Service, maintain a fleet for seeing the sights in the lap of luxury. The British-made cars are considered one of the world's top automobiles, but touring in one is not as expensive as you might expect.
"I would say, everybody can afford it," said Stephen Mok of Classic Rolls Travel Service. "It's cheaper than one night's hotel."
Purchasing a Rolls will put at least a $150,000 (U.S.) dent in your wallet. However, mere cruising has an average hourly rental price tag of $1,000 (Hong Kong). The sum is the equivalent of about $130 (U.S.) and does not include extras such as food.
Classic Rolls Travel Service manages 10 of the city's 1,500 Rolls Royces. The company says most clients prefer to drive through the city where they can "be seen" amidst the hustle and bustle.
However, an adventure in the countryside is another option. A picnic in the New Territories shows a lesser-known and much greener side of the landscape. (In fact, green spaces comprise nearly three-quarters of Hong Kong.)
The components for a spur-of-the moment picnic may be scarce in the countryside, but the luxury car's quickly adaptable trunk and a bubbly bottle of champagne make up for any inadequacies. Chewing gum offered on a silver platter seals the royal aura of the ride.
Taking a Rolls Royce tour can be a real treat anywhere in the world, but it's especially true in Hong Kong, where traffic can be unbearable. In a Rolls with someone else at the helm, even a traffic jam can be enjoyable.
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