Hong Kong - will taxi drivers read/speak English?
Sep 6th, 2008, 05:29 AM
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Hong Kong - will taxi drivers read/speak English?
When we transfer from the Elements Mall to the Salisbury YMCA, will the taxi driver understand English or do I need the name and address in Chinese, too?
Sep 6th, 2008, 05:39 AM
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Never hurt to have someone write the name of your hotel in Chinese as well as the address - you'll most likely get to use it at one time or another.
Example: Mandarin Oriental, spoken with an English accent, the taxi driver will most likely not understand you. If you can try and say "Mun Wah Joa Tim" they will take you there.
Example: Mandarin Oriental, spoken with an English accent, the taxi driver will most likely not understand you. If you can try and say "Mun Wah Joa Tim" they will take you there.
Sep 6th, 2008, 08:27 AM
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Tell the driver YMCA Tsim Sha Tsui and they'll understand.
Tsim Sha Tsui is pronounced as "Jim Sa Jui".
Or say "Sai Ching Wui", which is the Cantonese pronunciation of the YMCA in TST, 西青會.
Worse, say "Peninsula". Any taxi driver has to know it, which is right next door to the YMCA Salisbury. But don't say "Salisbury", as few Chinese people in HK refers that hotel by that name.
But all that is mute. Don't need anybody to write the name either. Just print out this page and hand it to the driver:
http://www.ymcahk.org.hk/sales/html/c_location.htm
Tsim Sha Tsui is pronounced as "Jim Sa Jui".
Or say "Sai Ching Wui", which is the Cantonese pronunciation of the YMCA in TST, 西青會.
Worse, say "Peninsula". Any taxi driver has to know it, which is right next door to the YMCA Salisbury. But don't say "Salisbury", as few Chinese people in HK refers that hotel by that name.
But all that is mute. Don't need anybody to write the name either. Just print out this page and hand it to the driver:
http://www.ymcahk.org.hk/sales/html/c_location.htm
Sep 6th, 2008, 09:44 AM
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I just have another idea. From the Airport Express Kowloon Station, which is where the Elements mall is, there's a complimentary shuttle to the Kowloon hotels. It is supposed to be for AE riders only, but from what I understand, they don't check for tickets.
If you want to try it, you can even get to the Peninsula for free by taking the K3 shuttle. Again, right next door to the YMCA Salisbury. So, no need to find ATM.
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/airport_ex..._free_bus.html
I have taken that airport bus, but I have never taken the Airport Express train into Kowloon, so I don't know where exactly is the shuttle stop. But after you get off the bus from SZX, you'll ride a long escalator up to the waiting area in the mall. Walk out that area (facing Starbucks), turn right, and you'll get to the atrium with the escalators heading down to the MTR and AE station.
If you want to try it, you can even get to the Peninsula for free by taking the K3 shuttle. Again, right next door to the YMCA Salisbury. So, no need to find ATM.
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/airport_ex..._free_bus.html
I have taken that airport bus, but I have never taken the Airport Express train into Kowloon, so I don't know where exactly is the shuttle stop. But after you get off the bus from SZX, you'll ride a long escalator up to the waiting area in the mall. Walk out that area (facing Starbucks), turn right, and you'll get to the atrium with the escalators heading down to the MTR and AE station.
Sep 6th, 2008, 10:34 AM
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Yes, the tourist card covers the AE train (one-way or roundtrip), plus 3 days unlimited travel on the <b>subway</b> trains. That pass does <b>not</b> include the East Rail to Lowu or Lok Ma Chau at the Shenzhen border.
Subway trains mean the Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong, Island, Tung Chung, Tseung Kwan O and Disney lines only. <b>Not</b> East Rail, West Rail, Ma Rail, Light Rail, Airport Express or the NP360 cable car.
But that card still has the regular Octopus stored value function, so you can add money to it for other transportation and payment at supermarket, convenient stores, parking meters, etc.
Subway trains mean the Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong, Island, Tung Chung, Tseung Kwan O and Disney lines only. <b>Not</b> East Rail, West Rail, Ma Rail, Light Rail, Airport Express or the NP360 cable car.
But that card still has the regular Octopus stored value function, so you can add money to it for other transportation and payment at supermarket, convenient stores, parking meters, etc.
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