Hong-Kong - Macau DIY Itinerary(4days-3nights Itinerary)
This article will definitely change your perception of “Traveling Abroad is Expensive.”
Travelling is one of the best things in life. You were able to relax and enjoy your life like a great escape on a stress working environment. Most of us usually rely on travel agencies; waiting for their cheapest promos and thinking that you might have saved a lot, but did you know that you can still saved more than what you think? How? Just follow my “TRAVEL GUIDE HACK”.
I’ve been to Hong-Kong for twice already. My first travel to Hong-Kong was way back in 2011 with my siblings and like any other travelers, we booked on a travel agency and pay like more or less PHP 25,000 pesos each exclusion of foods which quite expensive since we only visited some few tourist destinations in HK that are free admission except for a half day tour in Disneyland. We also don’t hold our time, yet I still enjoyed it since it is my first travel in abroad. Hong-Kong is a very nice country and I still wanted to go back there. So this year, 2016, my travel buddy and I decided to go in Hong-Kong by making our own itinerary.
“I am not a professional Blogger, kindly excuse my grammar “
We booked our flights and hotel on April 19, 2016. I downloaded a mobile application called Airline Promos (see Img 1.) that will notify you if there are any promos available in 3 major airlines in the Philippines like Air Asia, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines. It’s just up to you which airline you want to book and which offers the cheapest. For Hotel Accommodation, we usually look for affordable rooms in Agoda. (Img 2: Agoda Application)
Hack No. 1: Prices always changes from time to time, so better decide quickly. Usually booked at 12:00 o’clock midnight onward because that is usually the time were airline post their promos. But in our case we booked early in the morning like 7:00 o’clock in the morning. We got our flight for only PHP 2,430.18 pesos each for two ways or return.
Hack No. 2: If you have a credit card, you can choose “Pay Later” so you still have the time to save for your payments. Well, same thing in booking your Hotel that offers “Pay Later”
Hack No. 3: Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) is like one of their main city in HK, it is very convenient for a traveler to stay in TST since their BUSES and MTR are walking distance. And most of the Tourist Spot of HK like Avenue of Stars, Victoria Harbor, HK Space Museum, and lot more are just 10 minutes away from our hotel. And so we booked our hotel accommodation in STRAWBERRY GUEST HOUSE – TORONTO MOTEL GROUP for only PHP 4,307.34 for 4 days and 3 night stay. It is located in Chung King Mansion, 36-44, Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong-Kong. Rooms are small (good for 2 persons) but clean. We don’t book for a luxurious hotel since we will only leave our things there and go out to explore Hong-Kong.
Hack No. 4: Hong-Kong does not require any visa, but make sure that you bring all the necessary documents before travelling.
Things to Bring:
• Passport – (make sure your passport is updated)
• IDs’ , Employment certificate and Passbook - (supporting documents only to show your Income status)
• Printed Plane Ticket
• Printed Hotel Booking
Note: show your ID’s and necessary documents when an Immigration officer asked for it only. Don’t bring it out when it was not asked, they might think you have other intention in going there and you’re acting defensively in doing it so.
Hack No. 5: Always go to the airport ahead of time; check-in 2 hours before your flight. A hand carry of 7 kg is enough for 4 days tour. In our case, we have more than 8 kg each in our baggage. The hack there is always brings a backpack, and leaves your luggage somewhere near you. Make sure you can still see your luggage, so no one will take it. They will not notice it any way and just get it after you have check-in. Most officers don’t weigh your hand carry luggage if they think it is small. (Do this at your own risk)
Hack No. 6: Always bring an empty bottle. Bottled waters are bit pricey, so you better bring empty bottle so that you can get water inside the airport.
HacK No. 7: Make sure you eat before your flight, or bring some snacks on your backpack so you can eat anytime.
Hack No. 8: Make sure not to exchange all your money into dollar. Coz you can still look for a highest exchange rate in TST. In our case we first exchanged about PHP 7,020 = 1,040 HKD.
Hack No. 9: We noticed that most of the people we asked about in HK regarding the directions don’t understand English language. Make sure to have a picture of the location or better yet, make a research about the translator of few words like how and where in their language.
Hack No. 10: The means of transportation in Hong-Kong are by Bus, MTR, Ferry, Taxi and Tram. You can pay in HKD coins or by Octopus Card. Octopus card is a re-loadable card, that is use to tap and pay your fare in Bus, MTR, Ferry and Tram. For HKD 150 ($50 for deposit and $100 balance), you can get your octopus card before the exit of the airport.
Hack No. 11: Take the bus A21 (see Img 3) going to Tsim Sha Tsui. It is 13 Stops (Middle Road, Nathan Road) from the airport. It is 1 hour away from the airport.
Img 3: A21 Bus Guide
Hack No. 12: Going to Ngong Ping Village. In going to Ngong Ping Village, you can take MTR. From East Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit C1, it is just 3 mins walk from our hotel. (see Img 4)
Img: 4: Going to Ngong Ping Village
Hack No. 13: BUY DISNEYLAND TICKET AT DISCOUNTED PRICE. The regular price of tickets in Disneyland is $539. We also asked the hotel owner if they have a discounted price for Disneyland tickets and he gave it to us at $500. But wait, one of our friends living in HK told us that in Central, they offer a lesser amount of price in Disney tickets at Peya Travel Agency. Of course before we buy our tickets we asked the nearby shops about their prices. We bought our tickets in Peya Travel Agency at $478. Isn’t great? We have saved $61 and avoided the long line is buying tickets in Disney.
IMG 5: Mongkok Night Market
Hack No. 14: Cup noodles and Snacks are bit pricey in Hong-Kong. Hotels Offers Free Hot Water, Coffee, etc. so take advantage of it. If you are able to buy cup noodles in Philippines, then bring some.
Hack No. 15: We already bought the tickets on our first day at central and we have also avoided the long line. The easiest way to go in Disneyland is by MTR. So follow the direction below. (Try exploring the MTR and find out which is the easiest way for you)
Direction:
From Tsim Sha Tsui (tsuen wan line/RED LINE) to Lai King (9 stops) 17 mins
Change line
Lai King (Tung Chung Line/ Yellow Line) to Sunny Bay (2 stops) 11 minutes
Sunny Bay(Disney Resort Line/Pink Line) to Disney Land (1 stop) 10 mins
Img 6: Disney Land MTR Guide
Hacked No. 16: Hongkong to Macau - Take a Ferry boat (Turbo Jet) to go in Macau. From TST station to Central Station, then change to blue line going to Sheung Wan Station. (see Img 7). Make sure to go as early as possible so you were able to board on time.
Macau is a great place to visit and if you have the luxury of time then don’t forget to include Macau on your itinerary. It is approximately 1:45 minutes away from Hong-Kong via Turbo jet. The fare in the day is about $166 and $189 in the evening. Ferry is 24/7 available but be conscious with the time because most of the time are Fully Booked. Macau was globally known as “Mini Las Vegas of Asia.” It was once a Portuguese Colony so you will certainly notice that most signage is written in Portuguese. Remember, most of the residents there can’t understand English so you better learn their basic language. Some traveler spent a half-day tour in Macau but we plan to stay longer so we were able to see Macau’s Casinos at night.
I will post our Itinerary in Macau on the other Blog. And you will learn on how to tour Macau with their free Shuttles.
Img 7: MTR Guide going to Hong Kong to Macau Ferry Terminal
Ruins of St. Paul - Macau
Senado Square
Grand Lisboa
Fisherman's Wharf
Hacked No. 17: At 11 pm, we already went back to Macau Ferry Terminal, unfortunately, the next board will be at 3:00am. So we got worried since we still have to wait for 4 hours, but then we noticed that a Travel Agency inside the terminal was selling an earlier boarding time of 1am, and bought the ticket in the said travel agency that offers a same amount of $189. But I suggest booked early for your return in Hong-Kong.
Note: Macau is accepting Hong-Kong Dollar, so no need to exchange to HKD to MOP.
Hacked No. 18: Going to The Peak. You can take MTR to central Station, and follow the Exit J2 and see the Chater Garden. Walk across the garden and follow the signs going to Peak Tram. Peak Tram line is a bit long and the fare is a bit pricy so instead of taking the peak tram for $83, we walked back to Central Station and walk to Exchange tower where their bus terminus is located. We ride the Bus #15 going to “The Peak”. The fare is only $9.80 for one way.and the good thing is we used our Octopus Card since we still have a balance in it. Just do the same thing in Going back to Central Station.
Bus No. Going the Peak
The Peak
We also tried to ride tram, one of the cheapest transportation in Hongkong, going to Causeway Bay. The fare is just $2.
For shopping experience you can go to, Mongkok, Wanchai, Central and Causeway Bay.
Hacked No. 19: Going Back to Hong-Kong International Airport. We take Bus A21 bus, and Tap our Octopus Card. Our Octopus Card has $6 left, and the fare in A21 to Airport is $33. A friend of us, working in Hong-Kong told us that a Bus can sill accept your card even if it has only $1 left because unlike MTR, their buses doesn’t need to Tap Out. It will just tag you a negative balance. In our case, we have a $-27. No need to add value on it because you will no longer going back to HK and you can keep your Octopus Card as a remembrance.
Day 1: Itinerary & Expenses
Day 2: Itinerary & Expenses
Day 3: Itinerary & Expenses
Day 4: Itinerary & Expenses
Total Expenses for one (1) person
The above travel guide hack are just suggestions based on our experience. We don’t intend to harm anyone by doing it so. It is still up to you guys on how will you make your travel more fun and hassle free. and for the last Hack;
Hack No. 20: WEAR THE MOST COMFORTABLE SHOES OR BRING SLIPPERS. travelling requires a lot of walking so I extremely suggest to wear something comfortable.
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