Tips and Useful Information
Hong Kong - with its bright lights and exciting destinations - is a place that sometimes come off as an intimidating tourist spot. First time visitors always cram up for tips for Hong Kong travel since this cosmopolitan city can fill anyone with uncertainty. Questions like "Is the price expensive?" or "Are there any attractions apart from the busy city?" can inevitably pop up as you make your Hong Kong travel itinerary. Fortunately, with the right Hong Kong tips and information, you can make your trip easier whether you're staying in the city for only 24 hours or for three days.
With the items listed below, you can be familiar with ways to save money while exploring, what to do to reach attractions without spending so much on the road and the off-the-beaten path adventures you shouldn't miss.
With the items listed below, you can be familiar with ways to save money while exploring, what to do to reach attractions without spending so much on the road and the off-the-beaten path adventures you shouldn't miss.
Transport
.MRT Airport Express
To/From Hong Kong Island: -First train: 5:50 am -Last train: 0:48 am -Frequency: 12 min -Duration: 24 min -One way $6 USD Round Trip $16 USD To/From Kowloon: -First train: 5:53 am -Last train: 0:52 am -Frequency: 12 min -Duration: 22 min -One way $8 USD Round Trip $15 USD The MTR’s high-speed Airport Express takes approximately 24 minutes to reach Hong Kong Island and is the fastest way to get between the city and the airport. The MTR consists of eleven rail lines, including Island, South Island, Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong, Tseung Kwan O, Tung Chung, West Rail, East Rail, Ma On Shan, Disneyland Resort and the Airport Express. MRT covers all major districts in the territory, including stops at the boundary with Mainland China (Lo Wu Station and Lok Ma Chau Station). You can check in your baggage at Kowloon station if you have bought the airport express ticket. The queues are not as long as the ones at the airport and all in all its a lot less stressful. .Trams The old double deckered tramcars is a great way to see life on the Island if not in a hurry. $HK 2.30 (adult fee). .Bus Almost everywhere is reachable by bus. Bus routes -14 - Sai Wan Ho to Stanley via Tai Tam Reservoir and Countryside Park. -15 - Central Pier to The Peak. -23 - North Point to Pokfield Road via Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Admiralty and Mid-levels. -41A - North Point Ferry to Wah Fu Estate via Lai Tak Estate, Tai Hang and Wong Chuk Hang. -M47 - Wah Fu Estate to Hong Kong Station via Kennedy Town -73 - Cyberport to Stanley via Aberdeen/Wah Fu Estate via Ocean Park, Repulse Bay and Deep Water Bay. -H1 - Central (Star Ferry) to Pokfield Road via Old Central Police Station and Dried Seafood Street (Heritage Tour) . -H2 - Central (Star Ferry) to Happy Valley Racecourse via HK Convention Centre and Causeway Bay (Metropolis Tour). . Routes 14, 15 and 41A are amongst the most scenic in the Hong Kong as they wind through mountains and hills. .M47, 23 and 73 take you along the coast along the east, south and west of the island .Taxis Taxis in Hong Kong are considerably cheap with a base fare of 22HK$ for the first 2 kilometers and additional $1.60 HK for every 200 meters. .Communicate with locals Use simple English terms Speak slowly and speak with actions if you need to get the message across. You don't need to be fluent in English when communicating with Hong Kong locals. .Travel out of rush hour times MTR rush hours start at 8am to 9.30 AM and 5.30 PM to 7 PM Mondays to Fridays. Don't take the MTR during rush hour. Avoid the road from 7:30-9:30 AM and 5:30-7:30 PM Money Saving
. Check out our Free Things To Do page. . When buying tickets for anything, always check online first as it is normally cheaper. .Get an Octopus Card to cut down on your travel expenses. Use this card on the metro trains, buses, ferries and also to shop at a variety of outlets like 7 Eleven, Parknshop and more. . Free attractions Many of Hong Kong’s museums offer free entrance on Wednesdays. Museums are a great way to learn about the art, culture, heritage and history of Hong Kong. Visit the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong Museum of History and the Hong Kong Space Museum. The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens is highly recommended for a family afternoon as admission is always free. .Skip the Airport Express Though it will take 20-30 minutes going to the city, Airport express is expensive. If you are not in a rush, go to the bus terminal and catch an airport bus to the city. They are custom-made for travellers carrying luggage and also a great way to see the city if sitting on the upper deck. .Tram The tram is one of the cheapest ways to get around the island - not to mention that you will truly experience Hong Kong like a local when you ride it. .If you’re looking for affordable accommodation for your stay in Hong Kong, there are quite a few home-stay options you can find online. If those aren’t what you’re looking for, you can try to look toward the many budget hostel/guesthouses on the Kowloon Peninsula. These establishments are easily found in abundance in places like Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok. .Explore the city on foot Hong Kong has a strong walking culture and rightly so, because this colourful and lively city is best experienced by exploring its streets - an option that also helps you save some bucks on transport. . Cheaper time of the year for accommodation .A trip to Hong Kong is fun all year round, but planning a trip in the months of July and August can help you save money on accommodation. .It isn’t normal to leave tips after your meal in Hong Kong. Check the weather
.The weather seasons of Hong Kong: Autumn: September - November is the best month to visit Hong Kong. There are pleasant breezes, plenty of sunshine and comfortable temperatures ranging from 19 to 28°C. -The ideal travel season is late autumn, from October to around Christmas time when Hong Kong weather is relatively more pleasant. -T-shirts and shorts are the best pieces of clothing during this season. -Autumn in Hong Kong is of a cool and dry climate and with plenty of sunshine. Winter: December to February is the coldest season. Average temperature ranges from 10 to 20°C. Dry and cool winter comes in December and ends in February, with an average temperature of 17 C (63 F). Winter in Hong Kong is generally colder. January is the coldest month with average temperatures ranging from 14-18°C. Be prepared to bring boots, sweaters and coats. Spring: March - May. During these months, the weather is very unpredictable with occasional warm days of sunny weather and storm.The average temperature ranges from 18 C (64 F) to 25 C (77 F). Spring is warm and humid, accompanied by fog and drizzle. Warm days with clear blue skies with occasional rainfalls and storm warnings. Bring shorts, t-shirts, and waterproof gear for sunny and rainy days. Summer: June - August has hot and humid seasons with constant threat of showers, thunderstorms and typhoons. Average temperature ranges from 26 to 31°C. The days near the end of May to mid-September are extremely hot and humid, with frequent thunderstorms and occasional typhoons. The air is laced with humidity and the sun beats down. June has the highest average rainfall. Bring an umbrella, light weight cotton shorts and dresses. Bring at least one set of warm clothes. Reason being is that although it is hot most of the time in Hong Kong, most of the attractions you will visit have reliable air conditioning systems which sometimes can get quite cold. At the airport
.Hong Kong airport has 2 terminals, Terminal 1 and 2. Terminal 1 being the main terminal with cathay pacific holding a large part of the check in area. More of the long haul flights fly from here. Terminal 2 holds more short haul flights and more of the cheaper budget airlines. The airport is run very efficiently. Your arrival, departure or connection has a big chance of running very smoothly and quickly. .Immigration immigration can look very busy with large amounts of queues, but there are plenty of staff working fast and hard to get you through. What may look like an hour wait will actually take about 20 minutes. Before you travel
. Make sure you have the correct documents. . Do you need a visa? . Check your airlines' luggage allowance and fees. . Check with your doctor about vaccinations. . Make sure you have travel Insurance. . Check if there are fees on entering and leaving the country. . Let your bank know your traveling abroad or they might cut your card off. . Do you need an adapter? Electricity: 220V, 50Hz. Types G and D are used. FESTIVALS
. Hong Kong is recognized as the "events mecca of Asia." Here are the must see festivals in Hong Kong: February - Chinese New Year February/March - Spring Lantern Festival April- Ching Ming Festival April/May - Tin Hau Festival May-Cheung Chau Festival May - Buddha's Birthday June - Dragon Boat Festival August - Hungry Ghost Festival September - Mid-Autumn Festival October - Cheung Yeung Festival Dragon Dance Festival Spring Festival Lantern Festival Hong Kong Arts Festival Hong Kong Gourmet Festival Seven Competitor Rugby Contest Hong Kong International Movie Festival International Dragon-Boat Festival Memorial Day for Hong Kong's Return |
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