Frequently Asked Questions for Hongkong PART 8

Balikbayan Box

Worldwide Elite Express. you can call their Worldwide House Central branch and look for Steve - 2774-9736/ 2578-2773. they have the cheapest sa biggest box. 550HKD lang yung metro manila 24x24x36 nila.

Cargo Forwarder

What Items Can Be Taxed Upon Return to Manila?

Brand new electronic items bought abroad, specially those which are boxed. Signature brands might also be taxed. For laptops don't bring home the box.



*Content taken from PEX 

Frequently Asked Questions for Hongkong PART 7

ADDITIONAL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I Fly to Macau but Fly Back to Manila from Hong Kong? (and Vice Versa)

YES.

Airport Terminal Information

Hong Kong-bound flights from Manila:

Philippine Airlines - Terminal 2

Cebu Pacific - Terminal 3

All others - Terminal 1

Manila-bound flights from Hong Kong:

Philippine Airlines - check-in at HKIA Terminal 2

Hong Kong Express - check-in at HKIA Terminal 2

Cebu Pacific - check-in at HKIA Terminal 1

Cathay Pacific - check-in at HKIA Terminal 1

Dragon Air - check-in at HKIA Terminal 1

http://www.hongkongairport.com/fligh...chkfltdep.html

Booking Hotels Online

For Hong Kong, Asiatravel and Agoda usually have the best rates for most hotels in Hong Kong. Expedia is also OK. There are also some hotels whose rates are lower in local travel agencies.

Airport Luggage Storage Information 

OK ba ang Noah's Ark?

Most of the feedback online are not very good. Hindi daw sulit ang entrance.

http://www.noahsark.com.hk/

Charlie Brown Cafe
G/F-1/F, 58-60 Cameron Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
http://www.openrice.com/restaurant/sr2.htm?shopid=16427


Recent Acid Attacks

The attacks happened in Mongkok (near Ladies Market) and Yaumatei (near Temple Street). As of today, the perpetrators have not been arrested.

For those looking for non-"gasgas" souvenirs ( miniature buses )





Price varies, meron sub-100hkd, meron din hundreds of hkd per bus.

Store Locations:
http://www.80mbusmodel.com/menu-6.html

How Many Hours Before A Flight Should I Be In The Airport?

At least 2 hours.

Taxi Flagdown Rate + Additional Charges

http://www.td.gov.hk/en/transport_in...ong/index.html

Getting to Lin Heung Teahouse

http://i901.photobucket.com/albums/a...g?t=1247533097

*Content taken from PEX

Frequently Asked Questions for Hongkong PART 6

When is the best time to go to Hong Kong?

Winter Season (December to March) is the most relaxing and comfortable time to go to Hong Kong but besides the weather, there's little else to do since the "Sale Season" occurs during Summer. There are some sales during christmas and chinese new year but 90% of the clothes are for winter. Hong Kong can get very foggy during winter, as such, visit to the Peak is a hit-or-miss affair. A foggy bird's eye view of HK isn't really nice.

Summer Season (May to October) is similar to Manila's weather, very hot but moving around in Hong Kong can get extra uncomfortable because of the high humidity which gives the "sticky" feeling. Hong Kong's rainy season also falls on their summer, July and August has the highest rainfall count and the typhoons also arrive in these months. The Sale / Shopping Festival is from the start of July to the start of September. If the sky is clear, the view from the Peak is great.

Avoid going to Hong Kong when there are large-scale exhibitions or ongoing tournaments like the Hong Kong Sevens Rugby Tournament because hotel prices will be significantly higher.

Estimating Travel Time when using the MTR

http://www.mtr.com.hk/jplanner/eng/planner_index.php

For those planning to do a lot of Shopping

If the thing you are planning to buy is available here in Manila, make sure to check the local price first as a reference point. This way you'll know whether the stores in Hong Kong are cheaper or not.

For those leaving/arriving in HK Past Midnight or Early Morning

There are still airport buses, codes start with N. Instead of A21, it will be N21. Routes are the same.

Places / Things Best Done During the Day

1. Ocean Park
2. Ngong Pin Village + Giant Buddha
3. Nanlian Gardens
4. Disneyland
5. Malls / Markets

Places / Things Best Done During Night

1. A visit to the Peak
2. Strolling along Avenue of Stars
3. A tram ride along HK island (specially Central district)
4. Star Ferry Ride
5. Strolling around Tsim Sha Tsui (Nathan road and the side streets)

Places to Avoid During the Weekends/Holidays (Due to large volume of people)

1. Disneyland
2. Ocean Park
3. The Peak
4. Macau

Average Time You Need for the Famous Tourist Spots

1. Disneyland - At least 6 hours | Recommended = Opening Time to Closing Time to catch Fireworks at 8pm
2. Ocean Park - At least 4 hours | Recommended = Opening Time to Near Closing Time
3. Ngong Ping Village and Giant Buddha - At least 2 hours
4. Avenue of Stars - At least 30minutes | Recommended = 1 Hour
5. The Peak - At least 1 hour | Recommended = 2 Hours
6. Tsim Sha Tsui (Harbour City, et al) - At least 2-3 Hours, also Depends on amount of shopping
7. Mongkok Markets - Varies, Depends on amount of shopping
8. Causeway Bay - At least 2 Hours

Average Time Needed

Airplane Touchdown in Hong Kong until Baggage Claim: around 45 minutes to 1 hour
Airport to Kowloon/HK Island: 45minutes minimum
City to Disneyland by Train: Approximately 45minutes

Where to Buy Pasalubong

Mongkok Ladies Market
Temple Street Night Market
The Peak
Knick Knacks in Citysuper
Grocery&Food Items from Citysuper / Sogo / Wellcome
Hong Kong Egg Tarts
Dimsum
Royce Chocolates from Citysuper*

*Now available locally: Powerplant Rockwell / Greenbelt 5
*Content taken from PEX

Frequently Asked Questions for Hongkong PART 5

Will our passports receive stamps from the Immigration in Macau?

Yes.

Reaching NWFF/China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui for Macau

Take a taxi from any point in Kowloon.

http://www.nwff.com.hk/upload/china_city.jpg

Scenic Bus Ride to Stanley (via Repulse Bay)

Bus 6, 6A, 6X, 66 or 260 from Central Bus Terminal.

Walking around the Districts

Most districts in Hong Kong like Tsim Sha Tsui and Mongkok can be strolled on foot. Do not abuse your legs, use the taxi when needed.

For more detailed maps on each district, please visit this link:

http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/facilities/lm.html

Factory Outlets in Hong Kong

Granville Road and Granville Circuit, Tsim Sha Tsui
Esprit Outlet, 4-6 Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Citygate Outlet Mall, Tung Chung, Lantau Island

Electric Socket in Hong Kong

All hostels and almost all hotels use this kind of socket. Some hostels provide adaptors but some don't. You can buy adaptors in Mongkok and Sham Shui Po. Or buy a universal adaptor in Manila before going to Hong Kong.



Some hostels like Taisan and Marlboro lend adaptors.

You might need something like this for some accomodations, meron sa CDR-King.



Various Tips from Different PEXers

Tips on planning HK trip:
1) browse and discover HK http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/2) Decide on schedule of visit (via booking)
3) List down costs per person. i.e (50HKD/meal/pax; 150HKD/fare/pax; tickets/pax, hostel/night). always round up for allowance.
4) determine total budget
5) prepare detailed itinerary (transpo/cost per destination; estimated time to spend each location; if possible decide on things and activities to do and places to eat) use MTR and bus websites and MAPSPublish Post6)Printout maps, directories etc and put together your HK kit.

Tip on exchanging money. Do what you think is convenient for you. Saving a few pesos (or even a thousand) is not worth it if you lose so much time searching for the best place and the best way to change your cash. Being too OC about it might ruin your trip. Extra stress pa yan and you don't need that when you are taking a vacation.

Digital Camera Users: The low temperature can cut your battery's life into half. In my case, 1/3 ng capacity ang nawala.

My Almost Rip-Off Electronics Experience: I went inside a store in Wanchai Computer Center to ask the price of the LX3. Nung nakita niyang tourist with a camera, he looked at my dSLR and noticed I didn't have a UV protection. I now realized this is their easiest cheap shot at tourists since I experienced the same exact thing in Beijing. He grabbed my camera and started to clean my lens then got a UV filter. Even without asking me, he started removing the seal/sticker of the product. This prompted me to ask the price immediately, he said it was 150HKD. Eh naresearch ko na yun prices beforehand and it should be around 60HKD only. This pissed me off and i said no, hindi ko bibilhin yan, masyadong mahal. He then said, 100 pero ayaw ko na talaga. He brought it down to 80 but i said i will think about it and got my camera back. Umalis na ako right after. If i didn't stop him from opening the product baka hindi na ako pinaalis without paying the original 150HKD. I bought the exact same thing from Kamfai for 60HKD. 20HKD difference but the point was their cheapshots at tourists. Kahit gawin nilang mas mura hindi ko na sila babalikan. Kamfai immediately gave me the 60HKD price, pinakamababa na agad kahit tourist ako. Kaya Rule #1, know the price range of your product before going to HK.

Sample Pricelist for Pasalubong:
Bossini Shirts - 70-90 HKD
Bosinni Polo Shirt - 125 HKD
Meiji Chocolates - 12 - 20 HKD
Royce Bar Choc- 38 HKD
Royce Nama (Box) - 85 HKD
Souvenirs (Magnets, Key Chains) 10 HKD
Esprit Bag - 59HKd dito P698 (checked sa glorietta)
Giordano Top - 80hkd 



*Content taken from PEX

Frequently Asked Questions for Hongkong PART 4

Do I Need To Buy Theme Park Tickets Online?

No need. If you want to buy ahead of time, buy in the airport (CTS). 

Lockers

Lockers are available inside Disneyland, Ocean Park and Tung Chung (Ngong Ping 360). Sizes vary.

Do We Need To Pay To See The Giant Buddha / Ngong Ping Village / Po Lin Monastery?

NO. You just have to pay for either the bus ride or cable car ride to reach Ngong Ping. After that, there is no entrance fee.

Are There Places To Eat in Ngong Ping Village?

Yes. Plenty of choices here from low to middle range restaurants.

What Kind of Tickets Do Disneyland and Ocean Park Sell?

Both parks only sell "Ride All You Can" tickets, there are no "Entrance Only" tickets.

Peak Day and Special Day for Disneyland have the same price.

Can Anybody Visit The 2 Disney Hotels?

Yes, non-guests may still ride the free hotel shuttle bus upon reaching the resort proper.

Can You Make Me An Itinerary For Disneyland?

Watch all the shows first then do the rides afterwards. Find a good spot for the fireworks 30mins before it starts.

Can I Bring Food and Drink Inside Disneyland and Ocean Park?

Although we haven't heard any untoward incident regarding this, please avoid bringing rice (heavy) meals. Water and Snack are OK.

Technically you can't bring in food but maybe they are just being lenient so let's not abuse their leniency.

How Much Is A Meal in Disneyland?

Around 50-70HKD per person per meal inclusive of a heavy meal (and drinks).

Where Should I Go For Nightlife in Hong Kong?

Lan Kwai Fong in Central or Knutsford Terrace in Tsim Sha Tsui.

What Time Does Hong Kong "Wake Up"?

Commercial establishments open as early as 8am and as late as 1130am. Shops close near midnight.

Can You Make An Itinerary For Me?

For the clueless when it comes to itineraries please read http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/




*Content taken from PEX

Frequently Asked Questions for Hongkong PART 3

The Peak: Do I Have To Pay for The SKY TERRACE?

For 1st timers, this is recommended for the best view. For those on an extremely tight budget, you can go to the roof of the Peak Galleria Mall for a free view.

Madame Tassaud's Wax Museum is inside the Peak building.

Wax Museum in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong "Star" Ferry and its Routes

Less than 3HKD per person for the Central - Tsim Sha Tsui route. You can pay using Octopus card.

Star Ferry Piers/Terminals locations can be found in the detailed district maps under District Breakdown.

http://www.starferry.com.hk/services.html

Where Can I Buy Jewelry in Hong Kong?

There are reputable chain stores like Chow Tai Fook but if you have zero background, just buy in Manila's Chinatown (Binondo).

You will not necessarily get a better price/product in HK being a tourist with no knowledge.

What Is The Famous Dessert Chain?

It's name is Hui Lau Shan. Here's a sample of the store:



This can be found around HK, plenty of branches. Easy to find in Tsim Sha Tsui and Mongkok by walking around.

Where Can I Do My Grocery / Buy Daily Commodities Like Water?

Although 7-Eleven is everywhere, it is expensive and should be only for emergency. Do your shopping at Wellcome.

Complete List of Branches: 
http://www.wellcome.com.hk/en/profil...tml?page=store

Tsim Sha Tsui Branches

GATEWAY
Address: Shop 3231-33, Level 3, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Store hours: 08:30-22:00

AUSTIN ROAD
Address: Part G/F & Basement, TAL Building 45-53 Austin Road, Kowloon
Store hours: 08:00-23:00

HANKOW
Address: Shop A, Basement, HK Pacific Centre, 28 Hankow Road, TST, Kln
Store hours: 08:00-22:00

KIMBERLEY ROAD
Address: Ground Floor, Luna Court, Nos 53-59, Kimberley Road, TST, Kowloon.
Store hours: 08:00-22:30

What Can I Buy in ______?

Mongkok - Ladies Market - Souvenirs / Knock-offs / Clothes
Mongkok - Fa Yuen Street - Rubber Shoes
Mongkok - Sai Yueng Choi Street - Electronics

Yaumatei - Temple Street Night Market - A variety of goods similar to 168

Tsim Sha Tsui - Plenty of clothes & apparel

Estimating the Pocket Money / Entrance Fees

Computed per Person:
Food - 100 to 150HKD per day
Public Transportation - 150 to 200HKD for 3 to 4 days (including roundtrip airport cityflyer but excluding taxi rides)
Shopping - Varies

Theme Park Entrance Fees:
Ngong Ping Cable Car 1-Way = 63HKD Adults, 30HKD Kids
Ngong Ping Cable Roundtrip = 96HKD Adults, 48HKD Kids
Ocean Park = 208HKD Adults, 103HKD Kids
Disneyland = 350HKD Adults, 250HKD Kids
Peak Tram = 22HKD Single 33HKD Return for Adults | 8HKD Single 15HKD Return for Kids
Peak Tram + Sky Terrace = 37HKD Single 48HKD Return for Adults | 16HKD Single 23HKD Return for Kids
Madame Tussauds = 150HKD Adults, 80HKD Kids (Discount available when packaged with Peak Tram / Sky Terrace)

Pocket Money Reminder

When it comes to pocket money, don't bring the exact or rough estimate, always bring extra!

For those Travelling with Kids, Elderly or as a Big Group

1. Do not try to fit many things on a single day or your well-planned itinerary will be useless.
2. Prepare for unseen circumstances like tired companions who want to head back to your hotel earlier than planned.
3. Allot 1 day for Ocean Park and 1 day for Disneyland if you plan to visit these 2.
4. To lessen logistic problems, set a strict meeting place and time whenever the group will split up.
5. Set your priorities in case time will not be sufficient to cover anything.


*Content taken from PEX