limited funds for hong kong, best place to go?
Oct 3rd, 2007, 07:48 PM
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limited funds for hong kong, best place to go?
Hello,
I this is my first post.
I have a very very tight budget going to hong kong from manila. I will not do any shopping, just to wonder and stroll around. Two of us will go. Does a $250 pocket money will work? If so, could someone help me to plan a trip like this. What are the "must" thing to do in hong kong?
Thank you very much for reading.
noypi
I this is my first post.
I have a very very tight budget going to hong kong from manila. I will not do any shopping, just to wonder and stroll around. Two of us will go. Does a $250 pocket money will work? If so, could someone help me to plan a trip like this. What are the "must" thing to do in hong kong?
Thank you very much for reading.
noypi
Oct 3rd, 2007, 08:14 PM
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how long will you stay?
you can live cheaply there for food...hotels can be expensive but perhaps you can find a hostel?? others who live there will assist here...
just wandering around can be fun and interesting and it costs nothing...
you can live cheaply there for food...hotels can be expensive but perhaps you can find a hostel?? others who live there will assist here...
just wandering around can be fun and interesting and it costs nothing...
Oct 4th, 2007, 05:52 AM
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Riding the Star ferry is fun, has spectacular views and is cheap. Walking the espalade along the waterfront (on the Kowloon side) has wonderful views, and there is a light show every evening. HK has some of the world's best designed urban parks... all free.
Oct 4th, 2007, 06:04 AM
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Food:
Eat at Cafe de Coral, Fairwood or MX. Fastfood at these places cost <$2.5 for breakfast, $3 for lunch, $4 for dinner. Other local eateries are also cheap. So is McDonald's.
Attractions:
Except for Disney and Ocean Park, most stuff are free. The museums cost a measly $1.25. Bird/goldfish/flower markets in the morning - free. Stanley Market, Ladies' Market, Temple Street Market - all free. Wong Tai Sin Temple, Chi Nin Nunnery, and all religious places - free.
Go to the Hong Kong Tourism Board office (airport, Tsimshatsui Star Ferry, etc) and show your passport to get tickets for the Thursday/Saturday "Duk Ling" Chinese junk harbor cruise. 1 hour, free.
Getting around:
Skip the Airport Express to/from the airport and take the buses or S1 shuttle to MTR.
Star Ferry across the harbor ($0.22 lower deck). Hong Kong Tramway along the north side of HK Island, $0.25.
When going to The Peak, take bus #15 all the way to the top, and skip the Peak Tram. Bus or walk down.
If you plan to go to the outlying islands, go on Mon-Sat. They charge more for Sundays and public holidays, and more crowded.
---
The thing that's not cheap is lodging, unless you stay at a hostel/guesthouse. The rest is cheap.
Eat at Cafe de Coral, Fairwood or MX. Fastfood at these places cost <$2.5 for breakfast, $3 for lunch, $4 for dinner. Other local eateries are also cheap. So is McDonald's.
Attractions:
Except for Disney and Ocean Park, most stuff are free. The museums cost a measly $1.25. Bird/goldfish/flower markets in the morning - free. Stanley Market, Ladies' Market, Temple Street Market - all free. Wong Tai Sin Temple, Chi Nin Nunnery, and all religious places - free.
Go to the Hong Kong Tourism Board office (airport, Tsimshatsui Star Ferry, etc) and show your passport to get tickets for the Thursday/Saturday "Duk Ling" Chinese junk harbor cruise. 1 hour, free.
Getting around:
Skip the Airport Express to/from the airport and take the buses or S1 shuttle to MTR.
Star Ferry across the harbor ($0.22 lower deck). Hong Kong Tramway along the north side of HK Island, $0.25.
When going to The Peak, take bus #15 all the way to the top, and skip the Peak Tram. Bus or walk down.
If you plan to go to the outlying islands, go on Mon-Sat. They charge more for Sundays and public holidays, and more crowded.
---
The thing that's not cheap is lodging, unless you stay at a hostel/guesthouse. The rest is cheap.
Oct 4th, 2007, 02:06 PM
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Unlike countries such as Thailand and Laos, who routinely have cheap hotels, you will immediately know that hotels in Hong Kong aren't cheap!
You can check on lodging in YMCA's too!
Also there are some hostels that might help stretch your budget a bit - what country is that $250 in (AU, US, HK, Sin?)
Is that currency ($250) what you have to spend per day or in total?
Google up Hostels or Cheap Hostels in Hong Kong and you will get several hits.
I always stayed in Hong Kong midweek (no Friday or Saturday) with discounts that I got from travel agents in Thailand (paying only $25 - $33 (US) for $100 plus (US) per night room prices! I especially liked the places that had "all you can eat" morning buffets - I would eat almost enough to last all day! McDonalds are pretty cheap too!
Hal
You can check on lodging in YMCA's too!
Also there are some hostels that might help stretch your budget a bit - what country is that $250 in (AU, US, HK, Sin?)
Is that currency ($250) what you have to spend per day or in total?
Google up Hostels or Cheap Hostels in Hong Kong and you will get several hits.
I always stayed in Hong Kong midweek (no Friday or Saturday) with discounts that I got from travel agents in Thailand (paying only $25 - $33 (US) for $100 plus (US) per night room prices! I especially liked the places that had "all you can eat" morning buffets - I would eat almost enough to last all day! McDonalds are pretty cheap too!
Hal
Oct 5th, 2007, 09:31 PM
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Wow! Im very impressed with you guys. Detailed too! Thank you very much, and sorry for not posting back right away.
By the way, I forget to mention how long we'll stay. It will be just a 4days/3 nights tour coming from manila.
Again, I really appreciate all the inputs. Now I have a better idea on what to do with my budget. I just want to see Hong Kong, even with tight budget.
You guys helped me alot.
noypi =)
By the way, I forget to mention how long we'll stay. It will be just a 4days/3 nights tour coming from manila.
Again, I really appreciate all the inputs. Now I have a better idea on what to do with my budget. I just want to see Hong Kong, even with tight budget.
You guys helped me alot.
noypi =)
Oct 5th, 2007, 09:54 PM
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Sorry for an additional info from my recent posting.
By the way, $250 is a US Dollar. And that will be the total for pocket money. Airfare and hotel will be paid off prior to departure in manila, but just wondering before if US$250 is ok for a pocket money with 4days/3nights stay.
One more thing, if you have to choose one which attraction is "must" to see, Ocean Park or the Disneyland?
Thanks again,
noypi
By the way, $250 is a US Dollar. And that will be the total for pocket money. Airfare and hotel will be paid off prior to departure in manila, but just wondering before if US$250 is ok for a pocket money with 4days/3nights stay.
One more thing, if you have to choose one which attraction is "must" to see, Ocean Park or the Disneyland?
Thanks again,
noypi
Oct 6th, 2007, 05:25 AM
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US$250 for one person or two?
But like we've said, most attractions are free. So, you budget for you meals. You can spend US$5 for dinner, or you can spend $50 for dinner. Your choice.
If you need cheap ways to get to your hotel, let us know here.
And I'll add one other thing. Buses and subways are inexpensive if you don't cross the harbor. Crossing it, and the fare triples. So, when you plan your trip, don't cross the harbor too many times a day on buses or MTR (Star Ferry between Central and Tsimshatsui is okay; the other routes cost more).
Disneyland is like other Disneys in the world, just smaller. Go if you really like Disney, or if you think you may not go to the other ones in the near future or at all. HK$295.
Ocean Park is kind of different, with more local favor and perhaps more educational. HK$208.
But like we've said, most attractions are free. So, you budget for you meals. You can spend US$5 for dinner, or you can spend $50 for dinner. Your choice.
If you need cheap ways to get to your hotel, let us know here.
And I'll add one other thing. Buses and subways are inexpensive if you don't cross the harbor. Crossing it, and the fare triples. So, when you plan your trip, don't cross the harbor too many times a day on buses or MTR (Star Ferry between Central and Tsimshatsui is okay; the other routes cost more).
Disneyland is like other Disneys in the world, just smaller. Go if you really like Disney, or if you think you may not go to the other ones in the near future or at all. HK$295.
Ocean Park is kind of different, with more local favor and perhaps more educational. HK$208.
