aussiedreamer

We will be three adults traveling to HK for 6 nights in March. We would like to cross the border into China, maybe as a full day trip. Any thoughts?

Kathie

I don't know how much visas cost for Aussies, but for US citizens, it costs $125 per person. The city just across the border is a huge, industrial city renowned for cheap knock-offs. If that appeals to you, go. If not, I wouldn't bother.

You might enjoy a daytrip to Macau. I'm not a gambler so didn't visit the casinos, but I enjoyed the historic areas and the great food.

aussiedreamer

We thought we would do a day trip to Macau the day of our departure, as we have a evening flight home.

mmmmm huge industrial city with cheap knock offs definately not our thing. Is that truely the only option?

justshootme

The city across the border is Shenzen, I've never been and won't bother to go.

Macau is an interesting day trip, you can see the old colonial square, even if you're not a gambler you could enjoy the city. I'd check on the ferry schedule before you organize the logistics of a Macau day trip. I could be wrong but you maybe able to take a ferry directly to HKG, which would save you time. Otherwise, you'd have to take the ferry to Sheung Whan and then take the Airport Express train to HKG. If you are interested in visiting Macau instead of Shenzen I'd start a new thread with your flight times, etc asking for advise on visiting Macau the same day you fly out of HKG.

aussiedreamer

Thanks justshootme.....is that you over there on my Dubai thread?

Cicerone

I agree that unless you are willing to travel for a few hours and even better to go for an overnight, there is not much within the immediate area of Hong Kong of interest other than Macau. You could do an overnight to Macau if you wanted, but that is not really necessary, as a day trip will give you plenty of time to see the sights. You do not need a PRC visa to go to Macau, although you do need a passport and will go through Immigration in both Hong Kong and Macau when leaving and entering.

Shenzhen holds no interest for me and IMO is not worth the visa cost (AUS$40 for Aussies). You could consider Guangzhou. It is a bit hard to do in a day trip, IMO, as even the fastest way, by ferry, takes 2 hours each way. However, there is a bit to see there of historical interest. Take a look at the info put together by Fodor's on this site, click on Destinations above, choose "Asia", then and look on the left and click on Guangzhou, there is some basic info on Guangzhou, if it looks interesting to you, you might consider a trip. There are some nice hotels, including a gorgeous new Ritz-Carlton.

But even if you are “stuck” in Hong Kong, I can think of a long, long list of things to do for 5-6 days in Hong Kong. (Although I cannot say that the weather in March will fully cooperate with all of them.) See what Fodors has put together by clicking of “Destinations” above. Also take a look at the Fodors guidebook, which is quite good, as if Frommers, Lonely Planet and the National Geographic guidebook. The Luxe Guide, while not a guidebook per se, has some interesting shopping and restaurant ideas, and a good section on things to do in Macau. Because it is so short (about 4 pages), they can update it 4 times a year so it is very current. It only costs like US$8. (Go to http://www.luxecityguides.com/) It is tiny and folds almost into your pocket.

Please search this board for my very long list of reccos called “Cicerone’s Reccos for What the Locals Do for Fun in Hong Kong (Hint: We DON’T Go to those Awful Night Markets....)” at http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...l-night-ma.cfm this should give you some ideas for what to do, including a list of walks and some sources for more walks. For a description of another of my favourite very easy walks on Hong Kong Island, see my posting called “Cicerone’s Favourite Hong Kong Walks II: Paradise Found! From Happy Valley to Stanley in High Heels! (Almost) The Tsz Lo Lan Shan Path” and “Cicerone's Favourite Hong Kong Walks III: The Dragon's Back”. At http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...eels-alm-1.cfm
and http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...agons-back.cfm. Also check the Hong Kong Tourism Board website at discoverhongkong.com for other ideas as well as the Leisure and Cultural Services Department website at http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/home.php to see all events and museums offered by the government.

For Macau, please try to avoid Sundays as the ferry and old town areas are very crowded on that day. If you have to travel on a Sunday, then book your outward and return journeys in advance or you could be stuck waiting for quite a while for a ferry with available seating.

It appears you want to take a flight from Hong Kong Airport on the same day as your Macau trip. This means you will spend some time backtracking, as you will pass Hong Kong Airport on your way back into Hong Kong from Macau on the ferry. There may be a way to take the ferry <i>from Macau directly to Hong Kong airport</i>. This would save you the time and trouble of retuning to Hong Kong just to make the trek out to the airport. (You also will skip having to go through Hong Kong Immigration twice). I know you could do this by taking the ferry to Macau, and if your airline participates in the program, check-in at the Macau ferry pier or at least check your luggage. If you can’t check-in or send luggage ahead, you can check in later at the Sky Pier at Hong Kong Airport. During your day touring in Macau, I am not sure that there are luggage lockers for hand luggage, but there may be, otherwise, you may be able to check them with the ferry company for a fee. At the end of your day touring, you would then take a ferry directly to the “Sky Pier” at the Hong Kong Airport. This, however would mean that you have to take <i>all</i> your luggage with you on the ferry to Macau, which may be a pain. You will have to check the larger pieces on the ferry, you can check one piece of luggage per person for free, otherwise there is a charge of about HK$40 (price depends on weight). See http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/t...erryports.html , and http://www.turbojet.com.hk/eng/upstream/macau.html and http://www.turbojetseaexpress.com.hk...ice/other.html to see if your airline participates in either check-in or baggage transfer from Macau to Hong Kong Airport. (If it is not possible to check-in for the flight or at least have your baggage sent ahead, you could theoretically leave your bags all day to be held by the ferry company as they will have checked them for the ferry ride over. I am not sure what they would do if a passenger does not claim luggage for like 8 hours or more. They probably would charge you.)

You may also be able to do this by checking in for your flight before you leave for Macau at the Airport Express train station nearest your hotel, either on Hong Kong Island or on the Kowloon side. This will include giving them your checked bags. (You may have to buy a one-way ticket on the train which you won’t use, but IMO that cost is worth the convenience.) You can then take just take carry-on bags on the ferry to Macau. You can then leave the carry on bags at the ferry pier in lockers. At the end of the day of sightseeing in Macau, you would take a ferry to the Sky Pier at Hong Kong Airport. I am not entirely sure, however, that you will be allowed to board the ferry if you have already checked-in for your flight in Hong Kong. I believe that passengers who “originate” in Hong Kong are not permitted to use the Sky Pier service, and having handed over checked luggage in Hong Kong may qualify you as “originating” in Hong Kong. Perhaps others have info. I would not do this unless someone else can confirm that it is possible.

If your flight home is <i>from Macau Airport</i>, then you would have an easier time, as you can check-in for the flight at the ferry pier in Hong Kong, and then go to Macau for the day. They will take your checked luggage. You would bring your hand luggage with you. At the end of the day, you would just take a taxi or bus to Macau Airport and take the flight out. See the website for Macau airport at http://www.macau-airport.gov.mo/site/php/en/main.php for information.

Sorry if this seems long and confusing, and perhaps it might be easier for you to just take a ferry back and forth from Hong Kong and then collect bags and go out to the airport, but if it works, it could save you a couple of hours in transit and immigration lines. At a minimum, I would say to check-in for your flight and hand over your checked bags at the Airport Express train station before you leave for Macau, so you don’t have to trek back to your hotel to collect anything, but can just hop on the airport train once you get back into Hong Kong from Macau. You can leave hand luggage at the left luggage counters at the Airport Express stations, see http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/airport_ex...ons_index.html. Ferries for Macau depart from both sides of the harbour, and are not far from either of the two Airport Express station which are also located on both sides of the harbour.

aussiedreamer

woh, thanks so much. I will check out 'all' your suggestions. As for those 'terrible' night markets...really??? remember we are tourists! Our 'main' interest on this trip is FOOD, so any rec's you have would be wonderful. This is a birthday trip for DS's (a chef) birthday.

Cicerone

From what I see, the items you will mostly find at places like the Temple Street night market are T-shirts, baseballs caps, fake Rolexes and <i>and other tourists</i>. It always amazes me that people will pay to fly 15 hours or more to “experience” a culture quite different from their own, and then spend time looking at T-shirts and baseball caps. That is my main issue with the night markets. They will not show you anything different from what you can get at home.

If you want souvenirs, there are many places to get those, some in a much more pleasant setting, such as Stanley, and some in a more interesting setting like the Wan Chai street market where you will find your souvenirs among the baskets of live fish, preserved eggs, and paper money for the dead. If you want something to do at night, there are concerts, dance performances, plays, sporting events, lectures or even Chinese Opera. Walk the entire esplanade in Kowloon to take in the night view of Hong Kong Island. Take the Star Ferry or the Aqua Luna around the harbour. Go up to the Peak to enjoy the stunning night view. And there is of course eating in any of the thousands of good restaurants here, both cheap and dear.

I have a list of restaurant recommendations for Hong Kong which is about 40-pages, which I would be happy to e-mail it to you if you want to send me a message at [email protected]. It is broken down by view, no view, area, price and food type/region.

aussiedreamer

awsome will do. Currently traveling in 'outback' victoria, very limited internet access, but madly trying to do some planning while 'relaxing'.

I hear what you are saying about the markets. preserved eggs and paper money for the dead is much more our 'cup of tea'.

thank you