Hong Kong 2016
Introduction
It's been quite some time since we traveled overseas and after saving enough money, off we went to Hong Kong. As in all our earlier trips, we go free and easy. That means a whole lot of planning and execution to make things work as intended so we can enjoy our trip with as little hassle as possible.
In this blog I will try to explain in detail the itinerary of our 8D7N trip to the Pearl of the Orient and Macau.
The notes below may be long-winded but it's the only way for me to share in detail as much of experience as possible in HK and Macau. So, just take your time to browse through the information and hope it'll be of help to you.
Flight
From Malaysia, you normally take MAS or AirAsia to Hong Kong. In our case, we opted for MAS though it is slightly more expensive than AirAsia (RM 3900 vs RM 3300). It's worth the difference since MAS is a full service carrier. However, the price also depends on when you book for the trip.
http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/my/en.html
http://www.airasia.com/my/en/home.page?cid=1
Accommodation
There are lots of hotels, flats and apartments for let. It depends on which one suits your need. In our case, we are in a group of 6 people, so we opted to rent a small apartment in Yau Ma Tei (YMT) which is in Kowloon area of HK. It's in between Tsim Sa Tsui (TST) and Mongkok and very convenient. It's near the famous tourist markets as well as different varieties of shops. The apartment we rented was also just next to YMT MTR. As a bonus it was also near an Airport Bus bus stop (more on that later).
We booked our apartment via www.airbnb.com. However, please be careful as the apartments listed shows only nice pictures of the units when it was first rented out and therefore you should lower your expectations of the real unit.
The apartment cost us about RM 3100 for 7 nights. It's a steal compared to staying in a hotel for 6 persons. The cheapest decent looking and convenient hotel we could find for 6 persons is California hotel in TST area (www.booking.com/hotel/hk/california.html). It would've cost us at least RM 1000 more. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to staying in an apartment.
The advantages are:
Ferry to Macau
There are mainly 2 operators of such ferries, Cotai Water Jet and TurboJet. Cotai Water Jet mainly operates from Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal which is accessible from one of exits of Sheung Wan MTR station. TurboJet operates mainly from Kowloon-Macau jetty which is accessible from TST MTR station (but it'll require a bit of walking). However, each of them do operate in the other ferry terminal with lesser frequency.
You can get more information from below websites:
http://www.cotaiwaterjet.com/ferry-schedule/hongkong-macau-taipa.html
https://www.turbojet.com.hk/en/routing-sailing-schedule/kowloon-macau/sailing-schedule-fares.aspx
The ferry tickets to and from Macau set us back around HKD 2000 for 6 persons.
Personally I prefer Cotai Water Jet as their catamarans are quieter and normal class passengers do not need to climb up to upper deck. They can just board and seat on the lower deck. It's easier for ingress and egress especially for children and elderly.
Important point to note here is that if you plan to take MTR or bus back to your place of stay in HK, do try to make the ferry back to HK by 10.30 pm. The ferry journey itself takes about 1 hour and that'll give you just enough time to clear immigration and catch one of the last MTR trains. This is especially true if you're landing in Sheung Wan and want to get to Kowloon or vice versa as this MTR service close earlier.
Another important thing to know is that the ferry tickets towards the end of the day gets sold out faster. So, if possible please buy two way tickets from HK but check the timing of the return tickets. You may also buy return tickets for adults from some of the hotels like Sands Macau (but they don't sell children tickets).
SIM card
One of the first things to do when you land is to get your hands on a prepaid SIM card. We bought CSL prepaid SIM for HKD 100. Remove/Deactivate your SIM card from your own country (so you don't get charged roaming charges for unintended SMS and calls). Then activate the new prepaid SIM card from Hong Kong.
For activation of calls, normally you just need to make a phone call or send a USSD code. For activation of data, you probably need to subscribe via USSD code based on the number of days of data service needed. You should refer to the pamphlet in the packaging. Otherwise you may be scratching your head trying to use the data service which is not available to you.
www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/plan-your-trip/traveller-info/communications/tourist-sim-card.jsp
Conclusion
From my experience, it is possible to plan to visit all the famous tourist attractions (and then some more) by yourself given the efficient transportation system in Hong Kong. Each stop at an MTR will bring you a different experience.
Local residents of Hong Kong are very helpful although they may be more direct in their conversation. However, it may be difficult to communicate with some of them if you do not know Cantonese or Mandarin.
Check for weather forecast as rains may disrupt your plan. But if it does rain, you can try to check for indoor sites which you can still enjoy like museums, Cheung Sha Wan Plaza, Sino Centre where you can do some shopping or sight-seeing. In the summer, please bring umbrellas as it can get pretty hot and if it's forecast to be rainy, please bring along a raincoat. You can check for weather forecast at www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm
Hong Kong is a safe place to travel to as we did not feel threatened at any point in time even when we are out walking past midnight and we are travelling with 4 children.
In terms of budget, we believe it's possible to cover the attractions mentioned in the itinerary above for an 8D7N trip to Hong Kong and Macau for about RM 2500 per person. It's something that no tour agency in Malaysia will ever be able to offer you. All it takes is planning, perhaps a little bit of sacrifice in terms of accommodation (which makes sense if you're out most of the time) and not splurging on food and shopping.
Hopefully this blog will help you plan for your holiday in HK so that you can travel economically free and easy.
It's been quite some time since we traveled overseas and after saving enough money, off we went to Hong Kong. As in all our earlier trips, we go free and easy. That means a whole lot of planning and execution to make things work as intended so we can enjoy our trip with as little hassle as possible.
In this blog I will try to explain in detail the itinerary of our 8D7N trip to the Pearl of the Orient and Macau.
The notes below may be long-winded but it's the only way for me to share in detail as much of experience as possible in HK and Macau. So, just take your time to browse through the information and hope it'll be of help to you.
Flight
From Malaysia, you normally take MAS or AirAsia to Hong Kong. In our case, we opted for MAS though it is slightly more expensive than AirAsia (RM 3900 vs RM 3300). It's worth the difference since MAS is a full service carrier. However, the price also depends on when you book for the trip.
http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/my/en.html
http://www.airasia.com/my/en/home.page?cid=1
Accommodation
There are lots of hotels, flats and apartments for let. It depends on which one suits your need. In our case, we are in a group of 6 people, so we opted to rent a small apartment in Yau Ma Tei (YMT) which is in Kowloon area of HK. It's in between Tsim Sa Tsui (TST) and Mongkok and very convenient. It's near the famous tourist markets as well as different varieties of shops. The apartment we rented was also just next to YMT MTR. As a bonus it was also near an Airport Bus bus stop (more on that later).
We booked our apartment via www.airbnb.com. However, please be careful as the apartments listed shows only nice pictures of the units when it was first rented out and therefore you should lower your expectations of the real unit.
The apartment cost us about RM 3100 for 7 nights. It's a steal compared to staying in a hotel for 6 persons. The cheapest decent looking and convenient hotel we could find for 6 persons is California hotel in TST area (www.booking.com/hotel/hk/california.html). It would've cost us at least RM 1000 more. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to staying in an apartment.
The advantages are:
- It is normally larger than hotel rooms
- There is normally a kitchen where you can do light cooking
- It may have 1 or 2 rooms which will afford the travelers more privacy as compared to a studio setup in a hotel room
- There may be a washing machine (or even a dryer) for your convenience
The disadvantages are:
- It may not be as clean as a hotel room and this aspect will depend on how your host manages the place
- It may not be as convenient in term of transportation. Make sure the unit is near MTR station or at least a bus stop
- There is no room service and daily cleaning
- Host may not be as responsive as hotel reception
Transport within HK
There are a few options for travel within HK but one thing is for sure. Octopus card can be used widely to pay for transportation in HK (and also in some convenience stores like 7 Eleven, Mannings (HK version of Guardian) etc). Check out their website at www.octopus.com.hk/home/en/index.html for more info.
So, the first thing you need to do when you land in HK is to get yourself an Octopus card. The deposit for the card is HKD 50 per card. For adults the card is preloaded with HKD 100 (hence a total of HKD 150 per card). For children, the card is preloaded with HKD 30 (hence a total of HKD 80 per card). I would advise topping up your Octopus card if the value drops below HKD 30 just to be on the safe side. You can top up at convenience stores like 7 Eleven and Circle K or at the MTR stations. There are machines in MTR stations to check the balance of your card.
From HK Airport to the city, one can take the following rides (there could be more but I list the main ones that I know of):
- Airport Bus - This is a cheap way to travel but the bus may not stop near your destination. The ticket counter can be found near one of the exits of the arrival hall. Just follow the signboard. We took this option and it cost us just HKD 33 per ticket for adult and HKD 16.5 per ticket for children. The bus nos. start with A (e.g. A21, A22). You can also pay with Octopus card when you board the bus if you do not want to buy tickets. Check for info at www.hongkongairport.com/eng/transport/to-from-airport/bus_from_hkia.html
- Airport Express - This is more like a train which travels from the airport to a few selected MTR stations and you can take MTR trains from there if needed. The cost of this option would be higher but perhaps more comfortable. Check for info at www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/services/airport_express_index.html
- Taxi - This is perhaps the most expensive option here but of course it offers direct, efficient and exclusive way of travelling from the airport to the city. Check for info at www.hongkongairport.com/eng/transport/to-from-airport/taxi.html
Hong Kong's MTR goes to many tourist destinations as well as some interesting places which locals frequent. It's the best way to travel especially during summer time since MTR subways are air-conditioned. It makes a world of difference when compared to walking along the streets. There is also a wealth of information displayed in the MTR stations. Signboards and maps will show you the list of destinations for each MTR exit point so you can decide which exit to use (i.e. maximise the use of air-conditioning in the MTR station before you exit to street level).
In the city, apart from MTR trains, you can also travel via public buses. Each route is shown in detail on a signboard at the bus stop. It's easy to tell if you can get to your destination using the particular route from looking at the signboard. Just tap your Octopus card when you board the bus.
Another more nostalgic way of travel would be on the trams if you happen to be on the northern part of Hong Kong Island. There is a difference here when using your Octopus card. You board the tram from behind and you only tap your Octopus card at the front when you exit. You can take the tram to places like Central, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay. Really nice way to observe this part of the city.
To get from Kowloon to HK Island, apart from using MTR, you should also try out the iconic Star Ferry. The Star Ferry pier is a short walk from one of the exits of TST MTR station. Just follow the signboards to the pier and tap your Octopus card to enter the waiting area for the ferry.
Important points to note:
- Most buses and MTR stations stops operation slightly after midnight. So, it would be wise to plan your travel accordingly if you intend to use these modes of transport. If you do need to travel via public transport after that, you may need to use taxi service. It may be more expensive but that could be your only choice to get back to your place of stay. So, please take note.
- Remember to get your Octopus card deposit (and what's left of the value) back before you enter immigration when you depart HK. If you forget to do that, then you can keep the card as a souvenir.
All in all, we spent less than HKD 1500 for 2 adults and 4 children for an 8 day trip for transportation. But we also did a lot of walking and that helped to save some money. Also, you should plan your journey so you can visit sites in an area together in the same day to help reduce transportation costs.
Ferry to Macau
There are mainly 2 operators of such ferries, Cotai Water Jet and TurboJet. Cotai Water Jet mainly operates from Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal which is accessible from one of exits of Sheung Wan MTR station. TurboJet operates mainly from Kowloon-Macau jetty which is accessible from TST MTR station (but it'll require a bit of walking). However, each of them do operate in the other ferry terminal with lesser frequency.
You can get more information from below websites:
http://www.cotaiwaterjet.com/ferry-schedule/hongkong-macau-taipa.html
https://www.turbojet.com.hk/en/routing-sailing-schedule/kowloon-macau/sailing-schedule-fares.aspx
The ferry tickets to and from Macau set us back around HKD 2000 for 6 persons.
Personally I prefer Cotai Water Jet as their catamarans are quieter and normal class passengers do not need to climb up to upper deck. They can just board and seat on the lower deck. It's easier for ingress and egress especially for children and elderly.
Important point to note here is that if you plan to take MTR or bus back to your place of stay in HK, do try to make the ferry back to HK by 10.30 pm. The ferry journey itself takes about 1 hour and that'll give you just enough time to clear immigration and catch one of the last MTR trains. This is especially true if you're landing in Sheung Wan and want to get to Kowloon or vice versa as this MTR service close earlier.
Another important thing to know is that the ferry tickets towards the end of the day gets sold out faster. So, if possible please buy two way tickets from HK but check the timing of the return tickets. You may also buy return tickets for adults from some of the hotels like Sands Macau (but they don't sell children tickets).
SIM card
One of the first things to do when you land is to get your hands on a prepaid SIM card. We bought CSL prepaid SIM for HKD 100. Remove/Deactivate your SIM card from your own country (so you don't get charged roaming charges for unintended SMS and calls). Then activate the new prepaid SIM card from Hong Kong.
For activation of calls, normally you just need to make a phone call or send a USSD code. For activation of data, you probably need to subscribe via USSD code based on the number of days of data service needed. You should refer to the pamphlet in the packaging. Otherwise you may be scratching your head trying to use the data service which is not available to you.
www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/plan-your-trip/traveller-info/communications/tourist-sim-card.jsp
Food in HK
Hong Kong is food heaven and there are many varieties of food to enjoy from dim sum to cafes to family restaurants. You will probably gain weight after a trip to HK. With all the varieties and different pricing it's difficult to choose. One way is to do your research first via www.openrice.com/en/hongkong. You can choose from different types of food, location and also pricing.
Bookmark those places you want to try and you're set to go. We tried Dim Sum at Prince Dragon Restaurant at Prince Edward and it cost us less than HKD 300 for lunch for 2 adults and 4 children. Another place worth trying is Cafe De Coral. They serve a wide variety of affordable delicacies. For HK char chan teng (tea cafes), you can try out Kam Wah Cafe in Mongkok area.
There are also a lot of choices from small restaurants which are very affordable with prices as low as HKD 30 per meal. Then there's always McDonalds and KFC.
There are also a lot of choices from small restaurants which are very affordable with prices as low as HKD 30 per meal. Then there's always McDonalds and KFC.
Important note: Try to avoid the seafood around Temple Street as these mainly cater for tourists and are extremely expensive (not to mention not very tasty).
Tickets for attractions
There are many attractions to go for in HK. Some are free while others require tickets. Here are some of the attractions we went for which required tickets:
For the first four items above we bought our tickets from www.klook.com. The advantages of buying tickets from them are:
An important point to note is that the food portion served in some of the attractions are quite big. So if you have bought combo tickets with meal vouchers, you may not want to exchange all the meal vouchers at once but use some for lunch and the rest for dinner. This depends on your appetite and you should also check the closing time of the restaurants.
There are also many other attractions listed in KLOOK. So just browse through and buy the tickets for the attractions you'd like to visit before you go there. It'll save you a lot of time and money.
Shopping
Shopping in Hong Kong is not cheap unless you're rich. A lot of markets you'll go to will most probably be catering for tourists so souvenirs will be overpriced. We shopped mainly at shops rather than market stalls as we're not good at bargaining. Prices at shops will normally be more reasonable as we are not expected to bargain.
Another alternative would be to shop at supermarkets and malls where Hong Kong residents shop. You will also have a higher chance of finding authentic Hong Kong products which are reasonably priced there.
Shopping is very subjective and it depends on how much you're willing to spend for this component of the travel.
Now I will share with you our itinerary for our trip to Hong Kong and Macau. This is just a suggestion as the attractions may or may not be suitable for you but it can serve as a base for your own planning.
Another advice would be to buy easily prepared or ready-to-eat breakfast (e,g, bread, instant noodles, frozen food which can be reheated with microwave oven). This will save you a lot of time in the morning and you can start your journey earlier.
Day 1
We reached Hong Kong quite late and by the time we reached our apartment it was already after 9 pm. So there was nothing much to do but to walk around the vicinity and look for dinner. We also bought some breakfast for the next day.
If you reach early in the morning, one possibility would be to take one of the E buses from HKIA to Tung Chung. (www.nwstbus.com.hk/routes/airport-bus/route/index.aspx?intLangID=1)
There you can store your luggage at Citygate Outlet (www.citygateoutlets.com.hk/~/media/Images/SwireCitygate/SitePdfs/Pdfs/locker_service.ashx?la=en) and proceed to board the cable car to Ngong Ping at Tung Chung. In this manner you can explore Ngong Ping Village, Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastery and even Tai O fishing village before you head back to Tung Chung to retrieve your luggage and head to your place of stay. Luggage storage is also available at NP 360 cable car terminus (www.np360.com.hk/en/about-np360/faqs/)
Day 2 - Disneyland
We started early on day 2 and after having a quick breakfast we started off to Disneyland. Take the MTR to the Sunny Bay station and then changeover to the Disneyland line which will bring you direct to the place you want to go. The coaches for the Disneyland line are also very special.
Once at Disneyland, you will have your bags checked. This is common practice for theme parks for safety and security reasons not to mention to stop you from bringing outside food into the park, After that, you can head for the ticket counters OR just go to the automated ticketing machines if you already have vouchers you bought online from KLOOK. A quick scan of the voucher and a ticket will be printed. Head for the map kiosk on the right after using your ticket to enter the park and take one of the maps available. It also helps if you've planned beforehand on what rides/attractions you want to see in this park
"It's a small world" ride is perhaps the most interesting one of all where it brings you "around the world" showing different cultures and traditions along the way.
Enjoy your day there and if you have food vouchers with you from the combo tickets bought from KLOOK, you can also plan where to have your lunch (and maybe dinner as well).
There are many other beautiful sights to savor along the way, hence the photo opportunities. Take the train which brings you around the park so you can view as many things as possible in a short time.
Be sure to stay until the end for the night parade and fireworks display cause those will be the highlights of your day there. Personally, I feel that Disneyland is more for small kids and also about picture taking opportunities. The rides here cannot match those in Ocean Park. You can easily cover Disneyland in 1 day.
After watching the fireworks, just head to the exit (or do a bit of shopping at Main Street). Board the MTR train when ready and it'll take you back to Sunny Bay station where you can plan your next destination for the night or head back to your place of stay for some good rest.
www.hongkongdisneyland.com
Day 3 - Central and The Peak
Again we rose early and had a quick breakfast and headed straight for the MTR station. There we took a train to TST station. We headed for the Star Ferry Terminal (just follow map and exit directions in MTR station). Once there tap your Octopus card to enter waiting area of Star Ferry Terminal and wait to board the next available ferry. The ferry journey is short but memorable as you can see the famous Hong Kong Island skyline with all the tall and gleaming skyscrapers.
One good aspect of Hong Kong from my point of view is that you can always find a quiet zone even in the busiest of districts. This is for people to unwind and de-stress.
Once we disembark from the ferry, we wanted to head to the Hong Kong Zoological gardens (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/parks/hkzbg/index.html). Unfortunately, we lost our way and ended up exploring CBD area and Lan Kwai Fong. For those who want to go the gardens to have a look, you can follow the instructions in www.hongkongextras.com/_parks_and_gardens_hong_kong_island.html. This place should be worth a visit but make sure you head there early in the morning so you have ample time to look around.
After exploring CBD area, we headed back to Central MTR station exit K to meet our tour guide for the trip up to The Peak. The guide brought us to the tram station which is a short walk away. If you're walking by yourself from Central MTR station to the tram station, just follow the instructions in the website www.thepeak.com.hk/en/2_1.asp.
The tram journey up The Peak takes only a short while but you'll encounter some magnificent sights on the right side of the coach. As you ascend the slope, you'll be treated to a view of tall skyscrapers below.
Once you reach The Peak tram station, you can plan your activities accordingly. In my opinion, if the weather is good, then you should go to Madame Tussaud Wax Museum first (and/or Trick Eye Museum) or you can shop at The Peak Galleria or Peak Market.
Go to the observation deck just before sunset so you can take photos before and after sunset. One thing you'll notice is the abundance of wildlife even in the most unlikely of places. Here at The Peak we can see eagles flying close-by and what a magnificent view it is.
Once you've finished taking in the view, you can proceed to have your dinner there or to take the tram down hill and have dinner somewhere else.
It is worth mentioning that Madame Tussaud Wax Museum is where you should buy the "official" photo if you're looking to immortalize your trip to Hong Kong at one of the attractions since they have the cheapest rate we've seen.
Day 4 - Ocean Park and Causeway Bay
Again we find ourselves going towards the MTR station but this time to Admiralty station. Once there, it's just a short walk to the bus station (refer to the signboards and maps in MTR station) to take the 629 bus which took us direct to Ocean Park (Ocean Park Express).
Once there, take the escalator on the left up to an area where after a short walk you will find yourself at the entrance gate to Ocean Park. Have your bags checked and then go to the ticketing counters. Ask the workers there for the queue line for voucher redemption if you have already bought tickets through KLOOK.
Now, Ocean Park is a really a big place in terms of it's attractions and rides. It will be difficult to cover all of them in 1 day. So, pick and choose the ones that you'd like to experience and start straightaway. You can also do your homework beforehand and start right after entering the gate.
The rides here are more suitable for bigger kids or they need to be accompanied by adults. If you're bringing small children, then most of the suitable rides are on the lower side of the park.
On the lower side you can view the adorable giant panda, red panda, fishes, koala bear, wallaby and marine life in the giant aquarium building. On the higher side of the park, you can find animals such as birds, penguins, walruses, seals and capybara.
I would suggest having lunch at the Bayview Restaurant which overlooks the bay area on the higher side of the park as the view is just fantastic. Getting a combo ticket with food voucher for Ocean Park is really worth it because food here is more expensive than in Disneyland.
Just like in Disneyland, there is a show at the end of day with water fountain, fire and fireworks being used to tell a story. You should stay for that if possible.
The park closes quite early (around 7.30 pm) and you will still have time explore other attractions on the HK Island. For us, we took the 629 bus back to Central to have dinner at Cafe De Coral. After that, we took a ride on the historic HK Island tram towards Causeway Bay. The tram stops are actually in the middle of road and you'll need to find a bridge or traffic light to cross over to the tram stops. As explained earlier, you board the tram from behind (there are turnstiles here to stop people from exiting from behind) and you exit at the front where you'll need to tap your Octopus card. So tap your card only upon exit.
We stopped at Victoria Park which is a big park for residents to have their recreational activities. We then walked back towards Causeway Bay MTR station just to see the hustle and bustle of the high end shopping district. After staying a while to marvel at all the people and super bright lights, we caught the MTR back home.
www.oceanpark.com.hk/en
Day 5 - Market Hopping
There are a lot of markets to explore in Hong Kong and the ones we went to are the following:
There are a few other places in HK which we wished we could've visited but there was just not enough time. These include:
In Macau, we wished we had time to visit Macao Museum, Historical Museum of Taipa and Coloane, Coloane town and Panda Pavilion.
- Disneyland
- Madame Tussaud
- Ocean Park
- Ngong Ping 360
- Museum of History
For the first four items above we bought our tickets from www.klook.com. The advantages of buying tickets from them are:
- They offer cheaper price than buying it at the counter (or even some other websites)
- You can get your vouchers immediately which you can print out and use to exchange for tickets at the attractions. Normally this process is faster than queuing up at the counter to buy tickets.
- They offer combo tickets which are even cheaper if you were to get them individually. For example, you can get Disneyland ticket with 1 meal which is considerably cheaper than buying it separately at the place. Another example would be a combo ticket for Ocean Park where you can get a child's ticket for free for 2 adult tickets.
- For the Madame Tussaud attraction, there was even a guide who brought us up to The Peak and explained the process to us. Since there is a guide, you will need to choose the date and time when you would like to meet the guide who is arranging your visit to The Peak. You'll be part of a group of tourists. There is also a fast lane allocated to KLOOK tourists to board the tram up to The Peak. Combo packages for this attraction which includes observation deck, tram rides up and down The Peak and also Trick Eye museum are also available.
An important point to note is that the food portion served in some of the attractions are quite big. So if you have bought combo tickets with meal vouchers, you may not want to exchange all the meal vouchers at once but use some for lunch and the rest for dinner. This depends on your appetite and you should also check the closing time of the restaurants.
We spent approximately RM 3200 on tickets for these attractions for 2 adults and 4 children.
There are also many other attractions listed in KLOOK. So just browse through and buy the tickets for the attractions you'd like to visit before you go there. It'll save you a lot of time and money.
Shopping
Shopping in Hong Kong is not cheap unless you're rich. A lot of markets you'll go to will most probably be catering for tourists so souvenirs will be overpriced. We shopped mainly at shops rather than market stalls as we're not good at bargaining. Prices at shops will normally be more reasonable as we are not expected to bargain.
Another alternative would be to shop at supermarkets and malls where Hong Kong residents shop. You will also have a higher chance of finding authentic Hong Kong products which are reasonably priced there.
Shopping is very subjective and it depends on how much you're willing to spend for this component of the travel.
Currency
Obviously you will be using Hong Kong dollar in Hong Kong BUT one very important point to note is that some places (especially eateries) do not accept HKD 1000 notes (especially 2003 and 2008 notes). This is due to widespread counterfeiting of this note some years ago. So, at the money changer please insist on getting smaller denominations as much as possible. However, you can use these HKD 1000 notes at MTR stations and convenience stores.
The main costs of your travel to Hong Kong will probably be:
You should budget based on these items.
For those travelling to Macau, you'll be glad to know that HKD is widely accepted there. There is no need to change to Macau Patacas.
ItineraryThe main costs of your travel to Hong Kong will probably be:
- Flight
- Accommodation
- Attraction tickets
- Food
- Local transportation
- Shopping
You should budget based on these items.
For those travelling to Macau, you'll be glad to know that HKD is widely accepted there. There is no need to change to Macau Patacas.
Now I will share with you our itinerary for our trip to Hong Kong and Macau. This is just a suggestion as the attractions may or may not be suitable for you but it can serve as a base for your own planning.
Another advice would be to buy easily prepared or ready-to-eat breakfast (e,g, bread, instant noodles, frozen food which can be reheated with microwave oven). This will save you a lot of time in the morning and you can start your journey earlier.
Day 1
We reached Hong Kong quite late and by the time we reached our apartment it was already after 9 pm. So there was nothing much to do but to walk around the vicinity and look for dinner. We also bought some breakfast for the next day.
If you reach early in the morning, one possibility would be to take one of the E buses from HKIA to Tung Chung. (www.nwstbus.com.hk/routes/airport-bus/route/index.aspx?intLangID=1)
There you can store your luggage at Citygate Outlet (www.citygateoutlets.com.hk/~/media/Images/SwireCitygate/SitePdfs/Pdfs/locker_service.ashx?la=en) and proceed to board the cable car to Ngong Ping at Tung Chung. In this manner you can explore Ngong Ping Village, Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastery and even Tai O fishing village before you head back to Tung Chung to retrieve your luggage and head to your place of stay. Luggage storage is also available at NP 360 cable car terminus (www.np360.com.hk/en/about-np360/faqs/)
Day 2 - Disneyland
We started early on day 2 and after having a quick breakfast we started off to Disneyland. Take the MTR to the Sunny Bay station and then changeover to the Disneyland line which will bring you direct to the place you want to go. The coaches for the Disneyland line are also very special.
Once at Disneyland, you will have your bags checked. This is common practice for theme parks for safety and security reasons not to mention to stop you from bringing outside food into the park, After that, you can head for the ticket counters OR just go to the automated ticketing machines if you already have vouchers you bought online from KLOOK. A quick scan of the voucher and a ticket will be printed. Head for the map kiosk on the right after using your ticket to enter the park and take one of the maps available. It also helps if you've planned beforehand on what rides/attractions you want to see in this park
"It's a small world" ride is perhaps the most interesting one of all where it brings you "around the world" showing different cultures and traditions along the way.
Another interesting part of the park is the cowboy town where there are western buildings reminiscence of that era.
Enjoy your day there and if you have food vouchers with you from the combo tickets bought from KLOOK, you can also plan where to have your lunch (and maybe dinner as well).
There are many other beautiful sights to savor along the way, hence the photo opportunities. Take the train which brings you around the park so you can view as many things as possible in a short time.
Be sure to stay until the end for the night parade and fireworks display cause those will be the highlights of your day there. Personally, I feel that Disneyland is more for small kids and also about picture taking opportunities. The rides here cannot match those in Ocean Park. You can easily cover Disneyland in 1 day.
After watching the fireworks, just head to the exit (or do a bit of shopping at Main Street). Board the MTR train when ready and it'll take you back to Sunny Bay station where you can plan your next destination for the night or head back to your place of stay for some good rest.
www.hongkongdisneyland.com
Day 3 - Central and The Peak
Again we rose early and had a quick breakfast and headed straight for the MTR station. There we took a train to TST station. We headed for the Star Ferry Terminal (just follow map and exit directions in MTR station). Once there tap your Octopus card to enter waiting area of Star Ferry Terminal and wait to board the next available ferry. The ferry journey is short but memorable as you can see the famous Hong Kong Island skyline with all the tall and gleaming skyscrapers.
One good aspect of Hong Kong from my point of view is that you can always find a quiet zone even in the busiest of districts. This is for people to unwind and de-stress.
After exploring CBD area, we headed back to Central MTR station exit K to meet our tour guide for the trip up to The Peak. The guide brought us to the tram station which is a short walk away. If you're walking by yourself from Central MTR station to the tram station, just follow the instructions in the website www.thepeak.com.hk/en/2_1.asp.
The tram journey up The Peak takes only a short while but you'll encounter some magnificent sights on the right side of the coach. As you ascend the slope, you'll be treated to a view of tall skyscrapers below.
Once you reach The Peak tram station, you can plan your activities accordingly. In my opinion, if the weather is good, then you should go to Madame Tussaud Wax Museum first (and/or Trick Eye Museum) or you can shop at The Peak Galleria or Peak Market.
Go to the observation deck just before sunset so you can take photos before and after sunset. One thing you'll notice is the abundance of wildlife even in the most unlikely of places. Here at The Peak we can see eagles flying close-by and what a magnificent view it is.
Once you've finished taking in the view, you can proceed to have your dinner there or to take the tram down hill and have dinner somewhere else.
It is worth mentioning that Madame Tussaud Wax Museum is where you should buy the "official" photo if you're looking to immortalize your trip to Hong Kong at one of the attractions since they have the cheapest rate we've seen.
Day 4 - Ocean Park and Causeway Bay
Again we find ourselves going towards the MTR station but this time to Admiralty station. Once there, it's just a short walk to the bus station (refer to the signboards and maps in MTR station) to take the 629 bus which took us direct to Ocean Park (Ocean Park Express).
Once there, take the escalator on the left up to an area where after a short walk you will find yourself at the entrance gate to Ocean Park. Have your bags checked and then go to the ticketing counters. Ask the workers there for the queue line for voucher redemption if you have already bought tickets through KLOOK.
Now, Ocean Park is a really a big place in terms of it's attractions and rides. It will be difficult to cover all of them in 1 day. So, pick and choose the ones that you'd like to experience and start straightaway. You can also do your homework beforehand and start right after entering the gate.
Ocean Park is generally separated into 2 parts, one on the lower side and the other on the higher side. To commute between these 2 parts, you can choose either the cable car or Ocean Express. I would advise trying both, one on the way up and the other on the way down. If weather is good, try the cable car first for a grand view of the bay area (Repulse Bay) on your way up to the higher side.
On the lower side you can view the adorable giant panda, red panda, fishes, koala bear, wallaby and marine life in the giant aquarium building. On the higher side of the park, you can find animals such as birds, penguins, walruses, seals and capybara.
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I would suggest having lunch at the Bayview Restaurant which overlooks the bay area on the higher side of the park as the view is just fantastic. Getting a combo ticket with food voucher for Ocean Park is really worth it because food here is more expensive than in Disneyland.
The park closes quite early (around 7.30 pm) and you will still have time explore other attractions on the HK Island. For us, we took the 629 bus back to Central to have dinner at Cafe De Coral. After that, we took a ride on the historic HK Island tram towards Causeway Bay. The tram stops are actually in the middle of road and you'll need to find a bridge or traffic light to cross over to the tram stops. As explained earlier, you board the tram from behind (there are turnstiles here to stop people from exiting from behind) and you exit at the front where you'll need to tap your Octopus card. So tap your card only upon exit.
We stopped at Victoria Park which is a big park for residents to have their recreational activities. We then walked back towards Causeway Bay MTR station just to see the hustle and bustle of the high end shopping district. After staying a while to marvel at all the people and super bright lights, we caught the MTR back home.
www.oceanpark.com.hk/en
Day 5 - Market Hopping
There are a lot of markets to explore in Hong Kong and the ones we went to are the following:
- Sham Sui Po
- Flower Market
- Yuen Po Bird Garden
- Goldfish Market
- Sneakers Street
- Ladies Market (Tung Choi Street)
- Men's Market (Temple Street)
We started our day a bit late due to light rain. Once out, we headed to Sham Sui Po MTR station. Upon exiting the station, we found ourselves at Apliu Street. There is a big market area here selling many things like electrical devices and lighting accessories. There is also an area which is like wet markets in Malaysia but the difference is that vegetables, fresh meat and cooked food are being sold from shops proper instead of from concentrated wet market stalls. One can also find durian and fruit stalls in the area. It's a bustling district in the morning.
If you continue to walk around that area you will see rows of hardware shops selling construction materials. You can also walk towards the flyover highway where you will find Tung Chau Street Temporary Market and the Jade Market. However, this place looks quite pathetic and you can give it a miss.
We then headed towards the Sham Shui Po MTR station again and went to Prince Edward station. Since it was already late afternoon we headed straight for Prince Dragon Restaurant at Cedar Street and it is just a short walk from the MTR station.
After filling our stomachs with delicious dim sum we started walking towards Flower Market at Fa Yuen Street and Flower Market Road. Flowers and plants line the roads and alleys here and it is incredibly beautiful and blissful.
After filling our stomachs with delicious dim sum we started walking towards Flower Market at Fa Yuen Street and Flower Market Road. Flowers and plants line the roads and alleys here and it is incredibly beautiful and blissful.
At the end of Flower Market Road, you will reach Yuen Po Bird Garden. Bird enthusiast can have a look at what's on offer but there is not much variety here from my point of view. There is a lot of live bird food being sold though, Please note that there is a lot of mosquito in the bird again so you must coat yourself with mozzie repellent for protection.
At the end of Yuen Po Bird Garden, you're effectively entering the Kowloon City area. We walked back towards Tung Choi Street (North) and ended up in Goldfish market. Again, it is an interesting sight with shops selling fishes, aquariums, small tortoises etc. The fishes are packed into plastic bags and inflated with oxygen waiting for buyers to pick and choose.
As we walked south along Tung Choi Street, we find ourselves at Ladies Market. This is a big market catering to tourists and needs no introduction. We also took the opportunity to have late tea at Kam Wah Cafe just to experience Hong Kong char chan teng (tea cafe) atmosphere. Walking further south will bring you to Sneakers Street.
Men's Market at Temple Street is further away at Yau Ma Tei area. So, you should take the MTR train at Mong Kok after visiting Ladies Market and head towards Jordan station. From there, talk a short walk to Temple Street. This market is smaller compared to Ladies Market but it has 2 things which is not found elsewhere:
- A lane with fortune teller stalls. Waiting time depends on how famous the fortune teller is.
- Singing areas where elderly people show off their vocal capabilities. You can think of it as open air karaoke.
Please avoid the Temple Street Spicy Crab restaurants as they are catered for tourists. It's very expensive and not worth the money at all.
After you finish exploring the markets you can take a ride back home via MTR or bus since public transportation is very accessible in the market areas.
Day 6 - Macau
Since we were in Hong Kong, we decided to hop over to Macau. It's not a destination which attracts me since it's mostly manufactured attractions and caters mainly for gamblers and shoppers.
Anyway, we find ourselves in the MTR going towards TST station. It takes some walking afterwards to get to the China Ferry Terminal at Canton road. We bought Cotai Water Jet ferry tickets (just because someone told us it has the earliest departure time so we do not need to wait too long.
We cleared HK immigration and not long after we boarded the ferry and found ourselves on the way to Macau. The ferry is quite comfortable and we were in Macau in less than 1 hour.
After clearing Macau immigration, we headed towards the exit. This is where touts are gathered to try to sell tour packages to tourists. The one we met in the ferry building before the exit told us he can fetch us around the sites for HKD 200 per person. We declined and walked out of the building. Another tout outside try to sell us tour package for HKD 800 for 6 persons. We declined that as well.
The reason is that there are ample free buses in Macau and if you plan it right you can reach many tourist destinations via free bus. The touts will tell you that the free buses do not take children which is partially true. The casino buses like for Grand Lisboa do not take children but buses headed for shopping areas like The Venetian and City of Dreams will take children. The free buses are just across the main road from the ferry building and you can reach it via a subway walkway.
The following is our itinerary (with a few additional places thrown in which we did not have time to visit):
- We took The Venetian free bus which brought us from Macau mainland to Cotai island (where the newer casinos, hotels and shopping malls are located). On the way, keep a lookout on your left and you will see the Guan Yin Statue. That's one attraction covered even before you know it. Next up is Macau Tower, also on your left. That's two attractions done. The bus will then cross the bridge over the straits separating the mainland and island. It's a really nice bridge and looking backwards you can see the Macau Tower again with lower buildings surrounding it.
- Once we reach the Venetian, we headed in and walked around to marvel at the incredible architecture, design and furnishing. Take photos around the Canal shops area with the painted sky on the ceiling.
- Then we crossed over to Sands Cotai via an overhead linked bridge. On the bridge we could see the Parisian Macao Hotel and Casinos being built and the Eiffel Tower replica is unmistakable. There is big toy shop there for kids (and adults who still adores them).
- After exploring Sands Cotai, exit it and head over to City of Dreams which is just next door. You can catch the Vquarium show which is nothing more than a few giant TV screens which shows mermaids swimming in an ocean.
- We then took another free bus "Cotai Connetion" (which links a few resorts and casinos in the Cotai area) to Galaxy Macau. This has to be the most interesting resort for me. It's huge and beautiful. It's not overly imposing yet magnificent in it's splendor with the golden windows and doors. Be prepared to walk though as the walkway in the resort is structured in a circular pattern at it's outermost perimeter. There is Diamond Show which is free but we did not have the time to catch it. Broadway Macau can also be found in the same area if you want to catch some shows.
- We then crossed a road from Galaxy Macau over to Old Taipa town. This is a must visit place when you're in Macau because it provides a contrast between all the new casinos, resorts and hotels with the traditional and finely restored old Macanese houses. We walked along the narrow roads and lanes with beautiful houses on both sides. Most of these are converted to businesses. Historical Museum of Taipa and Coloane can be found here but we did not have time to explore it. We walked along Rue de Cunha which is the shopping street of Taipa. Apparently, durian products are also sold here. We also went to the Marriage Registry building, a park beside it and Taipa Houses Museum.
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| Durian products anyone? |
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| Rue de Cunha |
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| Marriage registry |
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| Old Church |
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| Taipa Houses Museum |
- While you're still on the Cotai Island side and have some time you may want to visit Coloane town and Panda Pavilion. These 2 can be reached via public bus 26 in Cotai island. However, we did not have the time to do so. In Coloane town, you should try the egg tarts by Lord Stow bakery.
- From Galaxy Macau there are a lot of free shuttle buses. We took one of them to Senado Square (San Man Lo) on Macau mainland. It was rush hour but we got there before sunset. We rushed through Senado Square to the Ruins of St. Paul. You can't say you've been to Macau if you do not have a photo taken at the ruins. So pictures we took of the ruins before and after sunset.We also explored the Monte fort, the cobbled stone roads, Na Cha temple and took in the sights of shoppers at the footsteps of the ruins. On our way out to Senado Square we savored some Portuguese egg tarts. We also bought dried meat from Koi Kei Pastelaria.
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| Monte fort |
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| Macau skyline |
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| Saint Dominic Church |
- After resting for a short while, we walked over to Grand Lisboa hotel and casino. You can marvel at the treasures of Stanley Ho in this hotel and the treasures on show are truly magnificent. One of the biggest diamond in the world (The Star of Stanley Ho) can be seen here. Take in the sights of Lisboa Hotel and Casino across the road as well.
- After that, we crossed the main road in front of Lisboa Hotel (Avenida da Amizade) via a subway walk to Wynn Macau just in time to catch the Water Fountain Light show. It was simply amazing.
- The next destination is Sands Macau/Fisherman's Wharf. We took a 30 minute walk there from Wynn Macau while we explored the more subtle residential areas of mainland Macau. This is where we wanted to have our dinner but to our disappointment, most of the shops were either closed or empty. It seems that the wharf is still under construction. The eateries that were opened were expensive. So you can absolutely give this place a miss if you'd like at least until they complete it.
- We then went back to Sands Macau to catch a free shuttle bus to Macau Ferry Terminal. We took the 11.30 pm ferry aboard TurboJet back to HK. This is actually quite late and by the time we reached HK Ferry Terminal the MTR service also closed for the day. We were left with no choice but to take a taxi back. Please see the section on "Ferry to Macau" .
Some interesting points to note are that Taipa and Coloane used to be 2 separate islands which are now joined after some major reclamation works. However, you can still see some "lakes" which used to be part of the channel that separated the islands. Also, as you walk along Macau streets you can see a lot of goldsmiths and pawn shops. I guess these shops just goes with the territory.
As you can see if it possible to take the free shuttle bus around Macau to reach the attractions and with a little bit of leg power you should be able to cover most of the tourist destinations here.
Day 7 - Ngong Ping, Tai O and Garden Of Stars
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please bring mosquito repellent and use it as needed when you visit Ngong Ping. The mosquito bites here can leave very bad rash and are extremely itchy.
We took a ride via MTR to Tung Chung station. From there it's just a short walk to Tung Chung Cable Car station. If you've bought your cable car ticket from KLOOK, you'll go into a separate and faster lane for tour groups to redeem your ticket based on your printed voucher. After that just head to the queue to board the cable car. We took the standard cabin while the other option would be the Crystal Cabin with a glass floor for you to see through.
The ride does not take long and along the way you should be able to see HKIA on your right. You will also see the Lantau trail, some small waterfalls and finally the Big Buddha statue from afar.
Once you disembark from the cable car, you can go straight to the Ngong Ping Village area where there are shops and eateries. Continue walking and you will find a gateway. Beyond that you will see some guardian statues lining the pathway which will lead you to Po Lin Monastery on your left and steps leading up to Big Buddha on the right. Before that, on the left side of this pathway you will see a stall selling "San Sui Tau Foo Fa" and "Chi Ma Wu" among other things.
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| Guardian statue |
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| Stairs up to Big Buddha statue |
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| Gate leading to Po Lin Monastery |
You can see some amazing architecture at the Po Lin Monastery. You can also have a vegetarian meal here but it's quite costly. Spend some time to relax and appreciate the monastery buildings and gardens.
Next up would be a climb up the steps to Big Buddha statue. Take your time as it will be exhausting if you try to reach the top quickly. However, it is not as high up as Batu Caves. The view from the top is nothing short of incredible. You can see the twin peaks of Lantau Island and greenery all around. There is also a museum at top but you will need to pay to enter.
After spending some time there, we went back to Ngong Ping village to have lunch. Then it's just a short walk to the bus station just outside the village to take a bus ride (Bus no. 21) to Tai O fishing village. Incidentally, at the Ngong Ping village you may notice some Lantau Island cattle. You can in fact see it along some stretches roads on the island and it is quite dangerous as one may just cross the road without looking left and right. Road accidents have been known to happen with cattle on the island.
Once you reach Tai O village, there will be villagers asking you to take their boat rides around Tai O area. You should walk further in and cross the bridge to the other side where you will probably get a better rate for the boat ride. The rate should be HKD 15 to 20 per person depending on season.
The boat ride should take you along a river with stilt houses on both sides. Then it'll take you further out to open sea to see if there is any dolphins. It's quite difficult to spot one nowadays due to the pollution around the area from construction works.
We were there at the right time as the village was preparing for dragon boat festival which coincides with Tuen Ng Festival. Colorful flags adorn the village and also the boats.
After the boat ride take a walk around the village to enjoy the sights and also do some shopping. There is also an abundance of wild birds here. Among other things, we saw a craftsman painting a dragon head sculpture in preparation for the festival.
After the boat ride take a walk around the village to enjoy the sights and also do some shopping. There is also an abundance of wild birds here. Among other things, we saw a craftsman painting a dragon head sculpture in preparation for the festival.
There is an old (but functioning) firehouse with wooden doors and also a unique post office. Further into the village you will also find a Shaolin Wushu Cultural Center.
Once you've taken your fill of the sights and sounds and done with your shopping, you can take bus no. 11 back to Tung Chung. Please be aware of the timing of the bus service which you can check from the electronic clock at the bus stop.
Back at Tung Chung, you can do some shopping at Citygate Outlets before taking the MTR to your next destination. In our case, we went to the Temple Street Market and Garden of Stars. The Garden of Stars attraction is actually a stand-in for the Avenue of Stars as the walkway for the latter is being refurbished.
To get to the Garden of Stars, just take MTR ride to TST station. Then take a long walk inside the MTR tunnels towards East TST station and head for exit P1. Just follow the signboards and maps and you will reach the Garden of Stars after 20 minutes or so of walking. Enjoy the view of HK Island skyline from the garden and also marvel at the palms of film stars.
Remember not to stay too long as you need to catch the MTR train back before service stops for the night.
Day 8 - Museum of History
On the last day of our visit to Hong Kong, we choose to go to the Museum of History. To get to the Museum of History, just follow the same route to the Garden of Stars but take a different exit (P2). After the exit, you'll still need to walk along Chatham road for a short distance before reaching the museum. This museum is just next to the Science Museum and you can explore both on the same day if you have the time.
Since we only have enough time to explore one, we choose the Museum of History. Incidentally, museum entrance is free on Wednesdays so if you can plan to go on Wednesday, you can save some money. The permanent exhibition "The Hong Kong Story" is beautifully choreographed and so rich in content and information that you will find yourself spending more time than anticipated. Try to go for the documentaries at various stages of the exhibition to get a more in-depth understanding of the trials, tribulations, joys and sorrows of Hong Kong society.
From rock formations dating back 400 million years ago to the handover of HK back to China, this exhibition is a must see for all those who are interested in history.
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| This is how boat people live |
Other interesting places
There are a few other places in HK which we wished we could've visited but there was just not enough time. These include:
- Hong Kong Botanical and Zoological Gardens
- Stanley Market
- Aberdeen
- Repulse Bay
- Sheung Wan (Man Mo Temple)
- Science Museum
- Explore Tsim Sa Tsui area
- Yuen Long and Hong Kong Wetland Park
In Macau, we wished we had time to visit Macao Museum, Historical Museum of Taipa and Coloane, Coloane town and Panda Pavilion.
Conclusion
From my experience, it is possible to plan to visit all the famous tourist attractions (and then some more) by yourself given the efficient transportation system in Hong Kong. Each stop at an MTR will bring you a different experience.
Local residents of Hong Kong are very helpful although they may be more direct in their conversation. However, it may be difficult to communicate with some of them if you do not know Cantonese or Mandarin.
Check for weather forecast as rains may disrupt your plan. But if it does rain, you can try to check for indoor sites which you can still enjoy like museums, Cheung Sha Wan Plaza, Sino Centre where you can do some shopping or sight-seeing. In the summer, please bring umbrellas as it can get pretty hot and if it's forecast to be rainy, please bring along a raincoat. You can check for weather forecast at www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm
Hong Kong is a safe place to travel to as we did not feel threatened at any point in time even when we are out walking past midnight and we are travelling with 4 children.
In terms of budget, we believe it's possible to cover the attractions mentioned in the itinerary above for an 8D7N trip to Hong Kong and Macau for about RM 2500 per person. It's something that no tour agency in Malaysia will ever be able to offer you. All it takes is planning, perhaps a little bit of sacrifice in terms of accommodation (which makes sense if you're out most of the time) and not splurging on food and shopping.
Hopefully this blog will help you plan for your holiday in HK so that you can travel economically free and easy.
