Thursday, November 18, 2010

6 days 5 nights Itinerary...

Day 1
Take the Airport Bus, Check-in and Settle down
Recharge everyone and get ready for the rundown of 2nd day!!
Day 2 - The ~Wonder~ Lands Day!!
Optional* Exchange currency in Wing Hoi if residing in Tsim Sha Tsui / Mongkok
Disneyland/Ocean Park
Free to walk around.

NOTE ~
Ocean Park & Disneyland can be exhausting. It is always best to allot 1 day each for Disneyland, Ocean Park and Macau. You need almost the entire day for these places.
Day 3 - Central Visit
Mid-Level Escalators - The world longest escalator and it cost US$30 million to build!!
Maxim's Palace City Hall Dimsum Restaurant
IFC Shopping Mall / Pacific Place Shopping Mall

Take the MTR to Central and visit The Peak (around 5pm)
Stanley / Aberdeen (Jumbo Floating Restaurant)
Day 4 - Tsim Sha Tsui Day
Head to the Central Star Ferry Terminal and ride the ferry to TST
Tsim Sha Tsui District

Harbour City Shopping Complex (with Toys 'R Us and CitySuper)
Park Lane Shoppers' Boulevard

Visit Clock Tower and Avenue of Stars, Walk around TST or visit the night market afterwards
China Ferry Terminal (to Macau)
Day 5 - Mongkok Day
Mongkok District
Langham Place (Mall)
Ladies Market (Tung Choi Street)
Electronics Street (Sai Yeung Choi Street)
Temple Street Night Market (reachable by Yau Ma Tei)

Day 6
Walk around the area of your hotel (choose between TST / Mongkok)
Free time
Goodbye HongKong and I will be back!!

You might not want to go to all the places stated above in each day so choose only those that arouse your interests!! Enjoy and have a safe journey back!!

The Twenty Eleven Hong Kong trip rundown stops here... cheers, Kent & Sandy ; )

Useful Links...

The Peak
www.thepeak.com.hk
(Entrance Fees and Transportation Directions can be found here)

Disneyland
park.hongkongdisneyland.com
(Entrance Fees and Transportation Directions can be found here)

Ocean Park
www.oceanpark.com.hk
(Entrance Fees and Transportation Directions can be found here)

Hong Kong International Airport
http://www.hongkongairport.com

MTR - Subway System
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/homepage/cust_index.html

HK Tramways - Complete Route
http://www.hktramways.com/en/service/index.html

Public Bus - List of Routes and Stops
http://www.nwstbus.com.hk/home/default.aspx?intLangID=1
http://www.kmb.hk/english.php

Ngong Ping Village and Ngong Ping 360
http://www.np360.com.hk/

The Hong Kong "Star" Ferry and its Routes
http://www.starferry.com.hk/services.html

Famous Sights in Hong Kong...

Famous Sights in Hong Kong
1. The Peak (includes Madame Tassaud's Wax Museum - BEST SEEN AT SUNSET/DUSK)

2. Ocean Park

3. Disneyland

4. Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront (Avenue of Stars)

5. Tsim Sha Tsui District 6. Causeway Bay District
7. Mongkok District

8. Ngong Pin Village (Giant Buddha)
9. Central and Sheung Wan

10. Stanley / Aberdeen (Jumbo Floating Restaurant)

11. Ladies' Market (Tung Choi Street Mongkok)

12. Repulse Bay
13. Central District
14. Lan Kwai Fong and Midlevels (Central)

15. Victoria and Hong Kong Park

16. Noon-day Gun (In front of Excelsior Hotel, Causeway Bay)

17. Seafood/Outdoor Trip to Lamma Island, Lei Yue Mun or Sai Kung

18. Shatin (New Town Plaza, Snoopy Land and 10,000 Buddha Temple)

19. Outlying Islands (Lamma, Lantau, Peng Chau, etc)

20. Hiking in Lantau


Places for Kids

1. Ocean Park (Aberdeen)

2. HK Science Museum (TST)

3. HK Space Museum (TST)

4. Snoopyworld (Shatin)

5. Noah's Ark
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TOP Things to Do
1. Eat authentic non-commercialized Hong Kong (Cantonese) food/dimsum/dessert
2. Ride the Peak Tram and the Century Old Tram within HK Island
3. Ride the Star Ferry from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui or Vice Versa
4. Watch the Symphony of Lights (Best seen at Avenue of Stars; 8pm Daily)
5. Shopping, Strolling Around (at a slow pace) and People Watching
6. Helicopter Ride
7. Ride the Cable Car
8. Harbour Cruise


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District Breakdown
Tsim Sha Tsui - Shopping/Tourist District, Alive until Midnight
*This district is filled with shops, malls and restaurants. Don't ask where. You will see it for yourself.
Avenue of Stars & Old Clock Tower
Star Ferry
Harbour City Shopping Complex (with Toys 'R Us and CitySuper)
Park Lane Shoppers' Boulevard
Sogo Tsim Sha Tsui
Nathan Road / Canton Road / Side Streets (Granville, Kimberley, Cameron, Carnarvon, Haiphong etc)
Knutsford Terraces
The Peninsula Hong Kong (Peninsula Group Flagship Hotel)
China Ferry Terminal (to Macau)
Museums
1881 Heritage
Map: http://www.mtr.com.hk/jplanner/images/maps/tst.pdf

Mongkok - Shopping District, Alive until Midnight
Langham Place (Mall)
Ladies Market (Tung Choi Street)
Electronics Street (Sai Yeung Choi Street)
Rubber Shoes Street (Fa Yuen Street)
Temple Street Night Market (reachable by Yau Ma Tei)
Plenty of local food stalls and small shops scattered all over
Map: http://www.mtr.com.hk/jplanner/images/maps/mok.pdf

Central - Business District in general
The Peak (Long walk from Central MTR Station)
Mid-Level Escalators
Maxim's Palace City Hall Dimsum Restaurant
IFC Shopping Mall / Pacific Place Shopping Mall
Lan Kwai Fong (Bars and nightlife)
Old Buildings and new Skycrapers
H&M
Star Ferry (to Tsim Sha Tsui)
Map: http://www.mtr.com.hk/jplanner/images/maps/cen.pdf

Causeway Bay - Shopping District, Alive until Midnight
Noon Day Gun
Times Square Mall
Sogo
World Trade Center Mall
Plus a few other smaller malls and shopping streets
Map: http://www.mtr.com.hk/jplanner/images/maps/cab.pdf

Wanchai
Wanchai Computer Center
HK Convention and Exhibition Center (Daily Flag Raising Ceremony)
HKCEC Promenade (Great for photo ops)
Map: http://www.mtr.com.hk/jplanner/images/maps/wac.pdf

Lantau Island
Disneyland
Ngong Ping Village (Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car + Giant Buddha + Po Lin Monastery)
Citygate Outlet Mall
Map: http://mtr.com.hk/jplanner/images/maps/tuc.pdf

Sha Tin
Shatin New Town Plaza Mall Complex
Snoopy's World (Inside Shatin New Town Plaza)
Biggest Ikea in HK
10,000 Buddha Temple
Map: http://www.mtr.com.hk/jplanner/images/maps/sht.pdf

Most reliable public transport in HK - MTR...
















MTR Route Guide:
http://www.mtr.com.hk/jplanner/engtxt/planner_index.php

Getting to Your Hotel/Hostel
Three Options: Bus (CityFlyer), MTR (Airport Express) or Taxi

Octopus Card















CityFlyer Fare and Routes
After buying your octopus card in the airport, look for the sign that says "Buses to City". Follow the signs.

A21 Bus for Kowloon: 33HKD per adult (half price for children under 12)
A11 Bus for HK Island: 40HKD per adult (half price for children under 12)

How to know which Bus stop to get off at:
Go to your hotel's website and look for the public transportation instructions OR:
1. For those residing in Mongkok / Jordan / Yaumatei / Tsim Sha Tsui, take the A21 Bus.
2. For those residing in Central / Wanchai / Causeway Bay, take the A11 Bus.
3. Find out the address of your accommodations.
4. Using this address, look for the nearest bus stop (bus stop address specified in the NWSTBUS website)
http://www.nwstbus.com.hk/content/de...cityflyerRoute
http://www.nwstbus.com.hk/content/de...irportServices

*Ride on top of the bus, on the front seat, for best views of HK from the airport*


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Airport Express
http://mtr.com.hk/eng/airport_express/intro_index.html
Stops at Hong Kong Island (MTR Station), Tsing Yi and Kowloon (MTR Station). From these stations, there are FREE shuttle buses that pass through specific hotels, look for the shuttle that will pass by near your hotel/hostel.


List of Hotels that are serviced by the Free Shuttle Bus:
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/airport_ex..._free_bus.html
Standard Rate: 100HKD per person 1 way to Hong Kong Station, 90HKD for Kowloon Station.

Do not buy using the vending machines to avail of the discounted rates, look for the service counter.

Airport Express Discounted Group Ticket (Single Journey Ticket Set Price)

Group of 2: 160HKD to Hong Kong | 140HKD to Kowloon

Group of 3: 210HKD to Hong Kong | 190HKD to Kowloon

Group of 4: 250HKD to Hong Kong | 220HKD to Kowloon

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Taxi
Costs usually around 250-350HKD from the airport, seats a MAXIMUM of 5 passengers.
Additional charges for luggage/toll.

Flagdown rate: 18HKD

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Oct 2011 Late Autumn in Hong Kong...

Hotels in consideration...

  1. Hotel MK *** - http://www.asiarooms.com/en/hong_kong/kowloon/200062-hotel_mk.html
  2. MetroPark Hotel Mongkok *** - http://www.agoda.com/asia/hong_kong/hong_kong/metropark_mongkok_hotel.html
  3. MetroPark Hotel Wanchai ***** - http://www.agoda.com/asia/hong_kong/hong_kong/metropark_hotel_wanchai_hong_kong.html
  4. Acesite Knutsford Hotel *** - http://www.agoda.com/asia/hong_kong/hong_kong/acesite_knutsford_hotel.html
  5. Cosmopolitan Hotel **** - http://www.agoda.com/asia/hong_kong/hong_kong/cosmopolitan_hotel.html
  6. Casa Hotel *** - http://www.agoda.com/asia/hong_kong/hong_kong/casa_hotel.html
  7. Bauhinia Hotel
  8. Cosmo Hotel **** - http://www.asiarooms.com/en/hong_kong/kowloon/214606-cosmo_kowloon_hotel.html
  9. Cosmo Hotel Wanchai **** - http://www.agoda.com/asia/hong_kong/hong_kong/cosmo_hotel.html
  10. Rosedale on the Park Hotel **** - http://www.agoda.com/asia/hong_kong/hong_kong/rosedale_on_the_park_hotel.html
  11. Charterhouse Causeway Bay *** - http://www.agoda.com/asia/hong_kong/hong_kong/charterhouse_causeway_bay.html
  12. Butterfly on Prat Boutique Hotel **** - http://www.agoda.com/asia/hong_kong/hong_kong/butterfly_on_prat_boutique_hotel.html

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Where to Buy Digital Cameras / Accessories

1. Kam Fai Electronics, Mody Road (Nathan Road Side), Tsim Sha Tsui
2. Suntek Electronics, Haiphong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
3. Wing Shing or Man Shing in Mongkok (Sai Yeung Choi Street)
4. Big chain stores such as Fortress, CMK, Hollywood, Broadway and Coxell
5. DC Career, 298 Computer Mall, Hennessy road, Wan Chai
6. DG, shop 162, Wan Chai Computer Centre, Wanchai MTR exit A4
7. Sim City, Mongkok (corner sai yeung choi and shantung streets)
8. New Sankyo, near Holiday Inn Golden Mile, Tsim Sha Tsui

Where to Buy PSP/DS/PS3 and other gaming consoles
Atatbo Game Shop, shop 15, Golden Shopping Centre, Sham Shui Po
Golden Computer Arcade, Sham Shui Po

Where to Buy Computer Related Electronics including Laptops
1. Golden Computer Arcade, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon
2. Wan Chai Computer Center, Wanchai, HK Island
3. Mongkok Computer Center

Where to Buy Audio/Video, Home Theatre Equipment
Tim Chi (Grandcastle Commercial Center)
2T Sai Yeung Choi Street South
Mongkok MTR Sai Yeung Choi exit

SHUN CHEONG RECORD Co., Ltd
room 801, Bank Centre, 636 Nathan Road
Mong Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong
tel 2332-2398

Where to Buy Toys / Models / Anime-related Stuff
1. CTMA CENTRE, Sai Yeung Choi St., Mongkok
2. Kwong Wa Street, Mongkok (Intersection of Tung Choi and Dundas Street)
3. Yin Choi Street, Mongkok

Where to Buy Clothes
Malls - Times Square, Harbour City, Langham Place, Citygate Outlet Mall, Silvercord Mall, Sogo
Granville Road and Granville Circuit
Causeway Bay - Island Beverly, etc
Mongkok - Ladies Market, Argyle Centre, Mongkok New Town Mall beside Argyle Centre
Baleno, Bossini, Giordano, H&M, Uniqlo, Esprit etc
Citygate Outlet Mall
Tsim Sha Tsui - Nathan Road, Jordan Road, Canton Road, Granville Road, Kimberley Road, Sogo, Harbour City, etc.

Mall Summary:
Harbour City - Medium to High End
Silvercord Mall - Medium to High-End
Times Square - Medium to High-End
Sogo - Cheap to Medium
Langham Place - Medium
Citygate - Cheap to Medium
Festival Walk - Cheap to Medium
Shatin New Town Plaza - Cheap to Medium
Miramar Shopping Center - Cheap to Medium

Where to Buy Original Cosmetics / Perfume (and other personal effects)
Sasa
Bonjour
Sogo
Fanda
Lung Shing, Granville Road, TST

Where to Buy Disney Items
Disneyland
HK Airport Terminal 2 Shop
Trendyland

Where to Buy Souvenirs
Ladies Market, Mongkok
Temple Street Night Market, Yaumatei
The Peak
Side Streets of Tsim Sha Tsui
Hong Kong Transportation Souvenirs

Where To Buy Jewelry
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.

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WHERE TO EAT!!! Yum...Yummm....

Lin Heung Teahouse - Authentic Dimsum Dining Experience
Address: 160-164 Wellington Street, Central (Sheung Wan MTR Exit E2)

Tao Heung Super 88 - Also Great Dimsum Place
6/F, Windsor House, 311 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay

Yung Kee - Famous for Roasted Geese & Goose / Dimsum
32-40 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong (Central Exit **)

Tsim Chai Kee - Wanton Noodles
98 Wellington Street, Central. You can get there from Central MTR station, Exit D1

Maxim's Palace City Hall Dimsum - City Hall, Central, Exit J2

Tai Cheong Bakery - 35 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central
Tai Cheong Bakery - Jardine's Bazaar Street, Causeway Bay (more accessible by MTR)

R66 Revolving Restaurant - http://www.r66.com.hk/
North Point Cooked Food Center (Seafood) - 99 Java Road, North Point, Exit A1

Cafe Deco and Peak Lookout - The Peak, Central

Delicious Kitchen - 9-11B Cleveland St, Causeway Bay

Dining in Causeway Bay - Inside Sogo/Times Square/Windsor House, Jardine's Bazaar Street and Jaffe Road

Joy Hing Pork BBQ 再興燒臘飯店 - Block C, G/F, 265-267 Hennessy Road Wan Chai

Kowloon

Australian Dairy Company (Breakfast Place) - 47 Parkes St., Jordan (Jordan Exit C2)

Famous Street Food - 肥姐小食店 55 Dundas Street Corner Fa Yuen Street, Mongkok

Taiyaki Balls - Japan Boat Shop G/F, 45 Dundas Street, Mongkok

Taho Store - Shop C, G/F, 124-128 Portland Street, Mongkok
Long Kee Noodle Shop - G/F, 10 Hak Po Street, Mongkok

MOS Burger / Moon Kee Dessert / Honeymoon Dessert - Langham Place, Mongkok

Tao Heung Restaurant - Shop B, 3/F., Grand Tower, 639 Nathan Road, Mongkok (Exit E1)

Modern Toilet - 220 Portland Street, Mongkok (Mongkok Exit C3)

Eat Together - Scattered around Mongkok / Yaumatei / Sham Shui Po

Ho Choi Restaurant - 530 Nathan Road (Yau Ma Tei Exit A2)

Claypot Rice - 46 Arthur street YMT Exit C

Yuen Kee Fastfood - 18B Granville Rd, TST & 12-14 Humphreys Ave, TST & Kimberley Road, TST

Triple-O Burgers Citysuper, Harbour City, TST

Tao Heung Super 88 - Silvercord Mall, Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Ho Choi Restaurant - Silvercord Mall, Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Din Tai Fung - Silvercord Mall, Canton Road, TST

Happy Together Dessert - Shop 2, G/F, 5-6 Hau Fook cor Carnarvon Road, TST

Wanton Noodles - 45 Hau Fook cor Carnarvon Road, TST

Spring Deer - Best Peking Duck - 42 Mody Road, TST (280HKD per Duck)

Tsui Wah - 2 Carnarvon Road, TST

Tsui Wah - 77 Parkes Street, Jordan

Wanton Noodles - 277 Temple Street corner austin road, Jordan

Hang Fa Lau Dessert - Shop A, G/F, 9 Lock Road, TST

Tao Heung Super 88 - 2/F., Nathan Hotel, 378 Nathan Rd., KLN

Affordable Dimsum = Lin Heung, Ho Choi and Tao Heung