Hong Kong (lazy pinoy traveller on a budget)

This is to people (especially pinoys) out there who are having a hard time organizing their itinerary. I didn't have any idea what to do when I booked my flight too. I really, truly hope that this post helps. Please keep posted for more.


Organizing a trip can be a true pain in the a**. A pretty good amount of research should be done with lots of things to be considered: time, expenses, places to visit, activities, food and etc. Well, worry not, because I am here to help you with that. I am no expert, but I hope this blog will help you with your trip to Hong Kong.


1. Book a Flight

First things first! Make sure your flight is booked and confirmed. You have to constantly check your e-mails and your booking manager tab (if you have an airline account) for any changes. (time, date, etc)
I personally find it convenient to book online.
Here are some airline websites that I often visit to search for low fares and book flights:

Cebu Pacific
Tiger Airways
Air Asia


I prefer to use my  credit card when I book my flights, but if you don't have one, you can choose to pay thru LBC or other payment centers (I often go with LBC because they have branches almost everywhere now.) provided that you pay for the flight the same day to confirm it.


2. Organize your Itinerary

I am not sure how much help this will do, ( I hope a lot) but let me share to you the places I have visited and their entrance fees (as at February 2014).

a money converter is very handy in budgeting your trip. This is what I usually use:

Oanda Converter

The exchange rates in our local money changer are always higher by 2 to 3 Php. so if 1 Hongkong dollar is 5.32 Pesos add 2 pesos to make it 7.32 and use this as an exchange rate instead, just to be safe.

Day 1
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum + Sky Terrace
MTR Station: Central 
Madamme Tussauds and the Sky Terrace are both inside the Peak building, and they usually have discounted prices so you don't need to buy a ticket online. Just buy one at the entrance.

I got a discounted ticket (285hk)which included :
-2 -way transport via peak tram
-entrance fee: Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
-entrance fee: the sky terrace

Depp's Wax self and I

For more information, click here -> The Peak Hong Kong

The rest of the day, I spent exploring Citygate Outlets (Tung Chung MTR Station) which sells a lot of cheap authentic stuff.

Day 2
Disneyland
MTR Station: Disneyland Resort Station

I spent the whole day just in this place. It's so big that it is impossible to tour the whole area in a day. 

I just met this nice girl at the entrance. She was also alone so we decided to enjoy disneyland together. We didn't had much talk because she's Chinese and I didn't have any idea every time she spoke. So we went with hand gestures and a lot of pointing. I really did enjoy her company though.

Sleeping Beauty Castle... sigh...

My I'm-super-tired- but- I-had-fun face

Souvenirs!

For more information, click here -> Hong Kong Dineyland


Day 3
Ocean Park
MTR Station: Admiralty then you have to ride a bus (bus 629) to Ocean Park
I spent the whole day here as well. it's just so fun to finally see rare animals in real life. I just can't believe I ever saw a penguin until now!

Purple Seats! I repeat! Purple Seats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ocean Park Ticket

I got a discounted ticket again which I bought from a store near exit B in the Admiralty Station
regular price: 320 hk
discounted price: 290 hk!!!! (lucky me!)

a little shopping won't hurt just always stick to your budget

For more information, click here -> Ocean Park Hong Kong

Day 3 was my last night in Hong Kong so I took the time to explore the night market

Ladies Market
MTR Station: Mongkok

I tried their street food did a little bit of shopping and talked to people

You don't need to speak Chinese to find your way.

I had the owner take my picture lol

street food!

more street food

There are more places to visit in Hong Kong like Macau and the Buddha.
These are just the places I planned to visit during my stay.

3. Download a Train Map

Before Booking a Hotel, always check the locations of the tourist spots you wish to visit, to save on transport fees. Bus fares are cheaper than train , but I find train maps easier for me plus you do not need to remember where the stations are because they have logos (mtr logos) and arrows pointing to the nearest train stations.

You can download and print a map like this but there are also maps inside trains on top of entrance and exit doors like this:

Below are examples of logos/ signs on walls and poles that will help you find the nearest station:

To pay for fares I bought an Octopus Card from Tung Chung Station which you can reload just in case you will run out of credits.

Octopus Card - 145 hk

Forgive my wrinkly fingers. It was winter season so I have been combating dry skin.



4. Book a Hotel

People with relatives in other countries are very LUCKY! Not having to pay for a hotel room per night is a big saving that can be added to your pocket money. When I visited Hong Kong last February 2014, I stayed at a friend's place in Caribbean Coast Tung Chung area.

For those people who do not have any place to stay, you can always find cheap hotels. I recommend the Agoda website because of the following reasons:

-choose your location according to your itinerary. We always want to save money from paying a lot for train fares.
-check rates with your  country's currency in order to stay within your budget.
-check hotel reviews. We always want to save but we never want to stay in a dirty uncomfortable place.
-avoid scam. I have already tried Agoda and I can say it is authentic. hahahaha

This was where I stayed.....

5. Check the weather
This helps you choose which clothes to take with you.
I found this site to be very helpful: Accuweather

6. Travel Lite
I don't know with other people but I went to Hongkong with just one big hand carry bag and a shoulder bag. Just bring what you need.
Also saves you a lot of money from paying baggage fee which I find very expensive.

6. Be on Time
I just can't STRESS enough how important this is because I almost missed my flight from Hong Kong. I frantically ran through the boarding gate to the plane!!! I was the last passenger to board. How embarrassing.

plus there are a lot of things you have to do before you board your plane especially if you are traveling from the Philippines e.g. Pay the Philippine Tax, Pay the Terminal fee and etc.

For those who have not been on an international flight yet you have to:
-Pay the Philippine tax: 1650 Php
-Check-in
-Pay Terminal Fee 550
-line for immigration
-proceed to your boarding gate indicated on your boarding pass

7. Eat
When you arrive in Hongkong, after you have checked-into your hotel, I suggest that you eat first before roaming around the streets.

my first ever meal in Hong Kong

Having a full tummy enables you to do more and enjoy a lot of activities more.

Water 5 hk

This was the cheapest water I found in a convenience store just inside Caribbean Coast. You already get 500ml for only 5hk while you have to pay 20hk for a 250ml bottled water inside theme parks.

Food in theme parks is very expensive so if you are hungry, grab a full meal that can last you all day instead of eating snacks that won't satisfy your hunger because you'll still end up paying more.

Ocean Park Lunch

20hk for the toast
35hk for the chicken and fries
carbs, protein and fat= full me
they have a pretty good serving size, they just don't look as big in this pic. but I had not even finished my toast


8. Document
Take pictures!
Buy Souvenirs!
Film Videos!

But if you are like me, always bring a notebook.

 Everything about my Hong Kong trip is inside this little guy. I write and stick on its pages to help me remember more. But hey! that's just me!

 

 ENJOY YOUR VACATION!!!

A Singapore travel guide will be up soon! Please keep posted. ;)