I went to Hong Kong in July for 3 days, and I spent less than $600, airfare, food, accommodation inclusive. AND I went to Guangzhou and Macau too!
This is what I did:
1) Checked all the fares from the different budget airlines and chose the cheapest to Hong Kong, keeping in mind that I only have three days, and want to make full use of my time there. The best is to arrive in Hong Kong before 12, so by the time I arrive at the hotel, I would be able to check in. ( I also requested for early check in )
My airfare was $137.42 there and $211.64 back, a total of $349.06 on Tiger. ( Scoot was cheaper, but I would lose either a day or have to spend an extra night in Hong Kong. )
This is what I did:
1) Checked all the fares from the different budget airlines and chose the cheapest to Hong Kong, keeping in mind that I only have three days, and want to make full use of my time there. The best is to arrive in Hong Kong before 12, so by the time I arrive at the hotel, I would be able to check in. ( I also requested for early check in )
My airfare was $137.42 there and $211.64 back, a total of $349.06 on Tiger. ( Scoot was cheaper, but I would lose either a day or have to spend an extra night in Hong Kong. )
Only Half was my fare as I helped a friend to book too, since I am an NTUC member and have FREE board me first and a $5 discount for baggage on Tiger.
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I got back on Tiger, though it wasn't the cheapest as it was at the best time - I arrived back in Singapore before midnight, so I didn't have to pay the midnight surcharge back in Singapore.
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2) Read up about the public transportation system in Hong Kong and in Guangzhou before heading to Hong Kong. I found out online about the buses that would arrive near my hotel, and made a note to ask for directions. ( I would have probably paid for the HKD 100 airport express train, except that I read that it is only HKD33 for a direct express bus to Mongkok, where my hotel was. )
It was very easy finding the bus stop, as it is just outside the airport, on the right if you are facing the MTR. The queue was orderly and the bus had plenty of luggage holding spaces. The seats were very comfortable, and even came with seat belts for the individual seats. Lush padding made it super comfy and it had a clear LED sign showing you the name of each stop right in front of the bus.
Going to Guangzhou was another story...scroll down to read more!
It was very easy finding the bus stop, as it is just outside the airport, on the right if you are facing the MTR. The queue was orderly and the bus had plenty of luggage holding spaces. The seats were very comfortable, and even came with seat belts for the individual seats. Lush padding made it super comfy and it had a clear LED sign showing you the name of each stop right in front of the bus.
Going to Guangzhou was another story...scroll down to read more!
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3) Booked my hotel by looking through hotels.com and booking.com. While looking through the different hotels, I found some super cheap rooms - and since I was on a buying trip, I decided that I could sleep anywhere but needed to be near the MTR and the shopping streets. By a stroke of luck, I found the CHEAPEST ROOM ever!
Only 220 HKD per night. That is about $33.33 X 2 nights = $66.66. Online, I booked only for one night, and managed to extend at the same rate the next day.
The WIFI and location was the best part of the room, and it is more like a masterbed room than a hotel - it was part of one unit that was subdivided into 4 rooms, each having its own toilet with a shower area next to the toilet bowl.
They thoughtfully provided slippers, liquid soap, Shampoo, toilet paper and towels ( which I had to pluck off the drying line. ) I don't have any photos of the room, as without a fish eye lens, it is impossible to capture the room - YES, it is really that cramped. However, the mattress was firm and the pillows were very comfortable - it helps that they use the same kind of sheets as Westin in Singapore.
Only 220 HKD per night. That is about $33.33 X 2 nights = $66.66. Online, I booked only for one night, and managed to extend at the same rate the next day.
The WIFI and location was the best part of the room, and it is more like a masterbed room than a hotel - it was part of one unit that was subdivided into 4 rooms, each having its own toilet with a shower area next to the toilet bowl.
They thoughtfully provided slippers, liquid soap, Shampoo, toilet paper and towels ( which I had to pluck off the drying line. ) I don't have any photos of the room, as without a fish eye lens, it is impossible to capture the room - YES, it is really that cramped. However, the mattress was firm and the pillows were very comfortable - it helps that they use the same kind of sheets as Westin in Singapore.
4) Eat yummy street or cafe food. Hong Kong is filled with yummy food that is less than 60HKD. Here's a collection of some of the great food I had on the trip! The street food didn't look very clean, but fortunately, I didn't get food poisoning.
The food in their cafe ranged from super good to passable as food, so it really depends on the luck of the draw! PLUS I can't really read chinese characters, so I got waiters to suggest food instead. I also tried to pick cafes with food photos and pray they look the same as what I would get.
The food in their cafe ranged from super good to passable as food, so it really depends on the luck of the draw! PLUS I can't really read chinese characters, so I got waiters to suggest food instead. I also tried to pick cafes with food photos and pray they look the same as what I would get.
5) Take a train to Guangzhou instead of a flight. It costs only HKD190 each way. Go to Hung Hom Station in Hongkong. From there, you can purchase a ticket from any tour agent or counter - the price is the same.
What I forgot to do was check train timetables - do check it before heading to Guangzhou - it will save you alot of time. Trains are NOT on the hour, and while you don't have to book your train back 6 hours in advance, it is good to find out if the trains have ample seats before you get out of Hong Kong.
Also, did I mention that most ATMS in China do not accept foreign atm cards? I tried every atm at the Guangzhou East Station and NONE of them work! Remember to change money in Singapore - you get higher rates and don't need to pay the atm charges.
If you really need the atm, from Guangzhou East Station, run across the road to the nearest commercial building and head to the second floor. I tried like 6 atms before the last atm available in the building finally decided to spit out cash for poor little me!
But back to Hong Kong - opposite the MTR station ( With NO available powerpoints ), you will find a huge shopping center. If you ask the counter, they will tell you that they do not have any power points which will allow you to charge your phone - no matter how much you plead, and believe me, I tried. My phone was running out of battery and my power bank was already empty - who knew that wechat took up so much power, together with whatsapp and facebook messenger running at the same time.
I had no idea if my supplier would wait for me, since they close at 1700 and my train was going to arrive in Guangzhou only at 1830! I had to find a powerpoint! I was down to just 4% and had one hour to kill. My adventure in Hong Kong to Guangzhou was not going to end just because my phone battery runs out! There must be a way to charge my phone! I ran all over the huge shopping center, almost giving up...then I found a place with 3 powerpoints! Read on and find out where!
What I forgot to do was check train timetables - do check it before heading to Guangzhou - it will save you alot of time. Trains are NOT on the hour, and while you don't have to book your train back 6 hours in advance, it is good to find out if the trains have ample seats before you get out of Hong Kong.
Also, did I mention that most ATMS in China do not accept foreign atm cards? I tried every atm at the Guangzhou East Station and NONE of them work! Remember to change money in Singapore - you get higher rates and don't need to pay the atm charges.
If you really need the atm, from Guangzhou East Station, run across the road to the nearest commercial building and head to the second floor. I tried like 6 atms before the last atm available in the building finally decided to spit out cash for poor little me!
But back to Hong Kong - opposite the MTR station ( With NO available powerpoints ), you will find a huge shopping center. If you ask the counter, they will tell you that they do not have any power points which will allow you to charge your phone - no matter how much you plead, and believe me, I tried. My phone was running out of battery and my power bank was already empty - who knew that wechat took up so much power, together with whatsapp and facebook messenger running at the same time.
I had no idea if my supplier would wait for me, since they close at 1700 and my train was going to arrive in Guangzhou only at 1830! I had to find a powerpoint! I was down to just 4% and had one hour to kill. My adventure in Hong Kong to Guangzhou was not going to end just because my phone battery runs out! There must be a way to charge my phone! I ran all over the huge shopping center, almost giving up...then I found a place with 3 powerpoints! Read on and find out where!
Go to the second level next to the lifts - you will find unmanned and unlocked powerpoints at the side of the wall. I switched my phone off and plugged it in, pretending to read a map at the same time. It took all my willpower to keep standing as was sleepy and tired - imagine, I started my journey early in the morning and did not sleep the night before, afraid that I wouldn't be able to wake up on time for my flight. I kept telling myself, I could sleep on the train, and mustered up all I had to stand next to the wall for half an hour. Mission accomplished - I now had 28% battery lifespan!
I ran across back to the train station only to be confronted by the sight of HORDES of people trying to get to China, all carrying items from Mannings ( their version of Guardian Pharmacy ) and Watsons.
I ran across back to the train station only to be confronted by the sight of HORDES of people trying to get to China, all carrying items from Mannings ( their version of Guardian Pharmacy ) and Watsons.
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After I settled down in the train, I realized that there were powerpoints available at every window seat. I promptly took out my phone and started charging it, afterall, I had 2 hours, from 1635 - 1834. I also called my supplier on wechat ( the sim I had was HKD100 and it included FREE 2g data in HK for a day and HKD80 worth of credits that would allow you free roaming in China as well ) and she agreed to wait for me.
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| I was hot and stinky by now, so the train was very comfortable indeed - I finished the bottle of Spring Water, a bowl of dumplings and went to sleep with my blow up pillow and scarf which also became my blanket. The ride was very comfortable and smooth, and I woke in time to take the photo below as I crossed the border to China. I immediately knew I had crossed the border, as a sms was sent to me telling me that if I wanted a phone number in China, I had to activate the sim. I did that - I am now almost nearing Guangzhou! I pulled up the Subway map and planned my journey to Yi De Lu! |
| I knew I had to get to the right subway station on line2, but being able to read only some chinese words, I had a hard time looking for the station. So here it is, the map with annotations. 
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Getting back to Hong Kong was easy, just do the same, but in reverse! The ticket booth is very prominent, you can't miss it. I didn't get any photos as I was running with a HUGE bag and a big mascot head, both really heavy. I didn't have any RMB left, but fortunately, the ticket was sold in HKD! 190 HKD back to Hong Kong, lucky me!
I managed to get the last train back and there was virtually no one on the train. I settled down to have a mug of Qingdao and a super big chicken thigh and very quickly, I had once again arrived in Hong Kong.
What a whirl!
I got onto the MTR to Mong Kong and it was pretty empty so I was able to sit throughout, how lucky!
This post is turning out too long, so while it was originally entitled 3 days in HK, Guangzhou and Macau, it is now just Hong Kong to Guangzhou, wait for part II, where it was quite an adventure, heading from Hong Kong to Macau and back to the Hong Kong Airport!
I managed to get the last train back and there was virtually no one on the train. I settled down to have a mug of Qingdao and a super big chicken thigh and very quickly, I had once again arrived in Hong Kong.
What a whirl!
I got onto the MTR to Mong Kong and it was pretty empty so I was able to sit throughout, how lucky!
This post is turning out too long, so while it was originally entitled 3 days in HK, Guangzhou and Macau, it is now just Hong Kong to Guangzhou, wait for part II, where it was quite an adventure, heading from Hong Kong to Macau and back to the Hong Kong Airport!
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