lazuliangel

Alright, fellow Fodorites, it's been a while, but I'm back, and I'm ready to travel! As usual, I'm relying on your collective expertise to help me in planning a(nother) fabulous adventure.

I'm heading to Hong Kong in two weeks, sadly without BFF (as her budget didn't match mine). The thing is, I'm a total newbie to Asia: I've never been anywhere near it. (The closest I've come is our trip to Hawai'i a few years back--and by close, of course, I mean distance!) I'm staying on Hong Kong Island near Sheung Wan. Since I know next to nothing about Hong Kong beyond the fact that it EXISTS (okay, I'm exaggerating a bit here ), my wish list is pretty much the following:

The Peak
Seeing the Harbour at night
Day trip to Macau
Not getting lost

I'm going to admit to being a little nervous about this trip, mainly because I'm going to be alone. I've heard that a single female should avoid Chung King Mansions like the plague, for instance. I'm worried I'll accidentally order a meal featuring cat (!). I'm worried I'll need more money than my teacher-salary budget will allow.

So, with that, where to go and what to do? For instance, should I spend the US $154 on a day trip (with meal and guided temple tour) to Macau, or just take the ferry myself and wing it? Is the MTR as easy to navigate as the Underground and NYC subway, or is it a killer like le Métro? Is the MTR expensive? Is there a week-long travel card I can purchase for it?

The Fodor's travel guide is on the way, btw, but I trust you'ens even over that!

Thanks,

Lazuliangel

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Lazu
I think you are going to have a fantastic time. Victoria Peak is incredible at night as well as during the day. However sometimes fog during the day can screw up the scenery somewhat but it seems like it is always clear at night. We where there for a week about this time of year.
Re Macau: I personally dont see the need for a guided tour of Macau. The ferry is somewhere in the range of $30 as I recall but its been a couple of years. Regardless you can very easily go alone for the day - and enjoy the never ending string of big hotels and Casinos. The ferries run every half hour or so I think. Go and enjoy.
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Pebbles3

Hong Kong is a great city and has lots to offer aside of being a shopping heaven. Since you have a week in HK you can manage to do the major sightseeing spots including the Peak, Big Buddha, Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car ride, Victoria Harbour etc. I found the following website quite helpful: http://www.nextstophongkong.com There are a lot of information about the major sightseeing attractions.

For transportation you can think to get the Octopus card (which is smartcard with stored value). This card can be used in buses, subway, trams and even in stores, restaurants and convenience stores such as 7-11.

You easily can incorporate one day tour in Macau. Since you live in Sheung Wan use the Hong Kong Macau Ferry terminal there. Turbojet offers ferry ride (if I'm not mistaken in 15min intervals) the whole day. Try to do the Macau trip during the week.

Depending when you visit HK in April, you might want to mark down the Bun Festival on Cheung Chau Island which is a nice way to experience some local cultural and festivities.

jobin

There's hardly a safer city in the entire world so lose the fear of cats in the soup, bad boys on the train, or fog over the sea. MTR, various trains involved, and the local bus lines all work remarkably well with plenty of English and maps and almost all use the Octopus card, which also substitutes for cash needs. Some bus routes may seem confusing as they do not generally run in a straight line but go to housing districts etc, unknown to you. I can recommend a great day to Sai Kung and Grass Island. Get to SK via MTR and mini-bus, then take Bus 94 to the pier, which is out in the remote country park, home of the best HK hiking. Then hop the local ferry to the island, 15 mins, walk about and eat some seafood. Or have famous seafood meal on waterfront SK, lots of expat pubs, shops etc in SK. Forget about going to China, as visa is US$140 and only good for one entrance (probably). Shop your heart out in Mong Kok, esp along the side streets near Nathan Road, which runs for miles. Could be warm and humid but never above 32*C. Can swim in the sea or many public pools, rent a kayak, play golf (expensive), hike up to Peak...why be lazy?

tripplanner001

As others have suggested, HK is very easy to do on your own and the public transit system is very easy to use. The MTR gets you to many places and is complemented by its system of buses and trams. Make sure you take rides on the Star Ferry between HK island and Kowloon; it's one of the best ways to get around. The Octopus card works on all these modes of transport.

Depending on your interests, Macau may be worth an overnight stay. It's easy to do on your own. Macau is known for its casinos, but personally I didn't really care for them. Instead I like to focus on the historic parts of town; in many ways, Macau still feels like an old European colonial outpost.

And of course, there's plenty to do on HK itself. You can head out to one of the outlying fishing villages for great seafood. There's some good hiking. And if you're looking for a sample of Chinese village life, head to the New Territories.

Hope this gives you some additional ideas.

lazuliangel

Thank you so much, everyone! I'm looking forward to this trip for sure!

october_fun

We were in Hong Kong in November and loved it. The MTR is very easy to get around. Buy an Octopus Card at the airport or any station. You scan it when you go through turnstiles and it tells you how much you have left so you know when to top it up. There are machines on the walls to top up your money. You pay a deposit on the card but when you cash it in when you leave (there is a service centre at the airport) you receive your deposit and funds back. It really is easy. Its very busy but very ordered. There are lines on the platforms where the doors of the train will be. Stand on side lines to wait. The middle line is to keep clear for departing passengers. Don't hold up the escalators as people walk up them in a hurry. Stand to the side. Just watch and learn. Take note of the last stop of the line you need. The platform will only be that line. One side for going to the city, the other side returning from the city and heading to the outer islands etc. Trust me. If we mastered it you will too. Best underground I have been on.

I was surprised by how picturesque it is on the other side of Hong Kong. The tiny islands jutting out of the ocean are postcard perfect. You must go to the Big Buddha. The ride on the cable car is great and walking around at the temple and the little village is a contrast to the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong street life.

If you are there on a Wednesday night check out the night races at Happy Valley. We did a tour that included dinner and it was lovely to meet and chat with others sitting at our table.

Don't worry about getting lost. Transport signs are written in English and staff also speak English.

Have a wonderful time.

maplebjb

We were there last month, third visit. It's very westerner-friendly as a city with signs in English as well as cantonese (I think it's cantonese). We ask questions and most speak English so we found a booth in an MTR and got ourselves a pass for the three days we were there for unlimited travel. You can then just go wherever and explore, it's fun to do that. You can't get lost for too far as the city is so condensed. It's safe and easy for a single woman.

I would have no problems there and I also have the disadvantage of being old(er). I loved the cable car to the Big Buddha, there is a monastery up there that served the best vegetarian meal! For about US$12. We too were scared of the food especially food poisoning but got over that after we heard how strict they are with regulations on food. Funny we went to what we thought was an authentic HK restaurant only to find it was Japanese. There are HEAPS of westerners around also. The prices there are not super cheap like Vietnam/Thailand/Bali but are not too bad. The trains can get crowded but you are not in them for long. Their system is brilliant, it shows your progress along the line with a moving dot above doors. It is certainly efficient.

Signs to tourist attractions (like the Peak/Ladies Market) are signposted in pink at intersections which help too!!

It's actually good having the city so condensed and surrounded by green mountains and sea. It makes for some stunning scenery. You can catch the bus to Stanley for the day, that's easy and you see some beautiful sights on the way. You don't have to sign up for tours as it's an easy city to navigate and I found some of the tour prices OTT for what it provides vs what you can do independently. In saying that, you can wing it and if you feel like a tour is your thing then book when there, it will be cheaper. The malls are pricey BTW, and it seems that a lot of mainland Chinese come over esp on the weekends to spend up big.

Enjoy, we are going back yet again in September, this time taking in Macau also.

harrybridges

A 4 day Hongkong tour package is ideal, do some Hongkong city tour(Repulse Bay, Aberdeen Fishing Village, Mid-level of Victoria Peak & Bauhinia Square, Jewellery Factory, Chinese Herbs shop & group photo), have fun at Dinseyland, and even stay one night at Disney Hollywood Hotel, what's better than that? The rest of two days, one day for Macau and one day for shopping in Hongkong is nice. Hope you already have a nice trip in Hongkong.