Travel Tips to Hong Kong

My wife and I just had our short stay in Hong Kong in December 2009. We were there for 4 Days/3 Nights. Despite the short trip, we managed to go to a lot of tourist destinations. For that, we had prepared ourselves far before our trip began.

Our trip began on 29 Dec 2009. We departed from Singapore Changi Airport in the morning by Singapore Airlines. Our reason to fly with Singapore Airlines was because we wanted to have pleasant journey to Hong Kong. Unfortunately we couldn't really enjoy ourselves as we were annoyed all the way until we arrived in Hong Kong by a lady who sat beside my wife.

We arrived in Chek Lap Kok Hong Kong International Airport at noon. After we had our passports stamped, and got our luggages, we went to the visitor's info counter. From there we took lots of pamphlets and maps of Hong Kong. You must grab at least these 2 pamphlets:

They were really useful guides during our stay there. The second pamphlet might be different as you notice the year stated as 2009.

After grabbing the pamphlets, the next thing we needed was the transportation card which is called Octopus card. You might also want to know Airport Express pass.

Single Journey Airport Express Travel Pass

We had estimated the total transportation cost for our stay in Hong Kong. Our estimation was based on these plans below:

- Planned to take a bus from the HKIA Airport to the hotel we stayed, which was nearby the bus stop.

- Planned to experience the Hong Kong Airport Express at least once

- Might take lots of MTR (Mass Transit Railway) and busses.

- Planned to experience the Star Ferry from Hong Kong to Tsim Sha Tsui and from Tsim Sha Tsui to Wan Chai

For the plans mentioned above, we decided to purchase the Single Journey Airport Express Travel Pass (HKD 220/card), and we topped up another HKD 100 for each card. That was meant for bus and ferry fares (we also planned to take Star Ferry). We bought the ticket at Hong Kong International Airport at the arrival hall after claiming our baggages.

With the travel pass above, we can enjoy 1 way on Airport Express and any 3 consecutive days of unlimited travel on MTR, Light Rail and MTR Bus ( please refer to Express Travel Pass page for terms and conditions to use the card ). Remember that you don't have to use the unlimited travel on MTR on the same day after using Airport Express. For Single Journey pass, you can choose to use the Airport Express anytime you need before or after using the unlimited travel on MTR. We actually used the Airport Express on our last day in Hong Kong from Central MTR to Hong Kong International Airport.  

Okay, after purchasing the Airport Express pass, we headed to bus station (Ground Transportation Centre) to catch the bus to city. From the airport, we followed the signs like below to the bus station:

Look for bus sign "To city"

Sign to bus station

We took bus A12 which stopped near to the hotel we stayed at.

You can search for a bus that will bring you near to the hotel you stay from Bus Interactive Route Search. For those who want to take Airport Express from the airport to city, they can take advantage of the free Airport Express Shuttle Bus services from Kowloon and Hong Kong Airport Express Stations to and from various hotels and a couple of MTR stations.

We alighted at the bus stop near to The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts :

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

It took around 45 minutes from The HKIA to The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

This was the room we stayed:

We have compiled our Itinerary in Hong Kong in another page, feel free to check.