Imagine an itinerary that says this:
Day 1 - Meet and transfer to hotel
Day 2 - Breakfast outside
- Compulsory Hong Kong City Tour which includes Avenue of Stars, Jewelry factory and factory outlet
- Macau City tour in the afternoon
- Return to hotel at own arrangement
Day 3 - Breakfast outside
- Whole day free for own leisure
Day 4 - Breakfast outside
- Free until transfer to airport
Upon seeing the things to do in Day 2, I instantly lost interest. First of all, the word compulsory was enough to make me hyperventilate. Next, a half-day city tour only includes one attraction, which is the Avenue of Stars (which has a free entrance, by the way), and then...jewelry factory and factory outlet? I'm not going to Hong Kong to buy jewelry or even browse for it. We only had three days to spend and I already have lots of wonderful ideas for those precious three days.
I was thinking of a whole day at Macau, and the tour package only includes half-day, and a one-way ferry ticket. I was thinking of including both Hong Kong Ocean Park and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, but with the package, we only had to select one, and it was via add-on pay, by the way.
I created the itinerary and asked my dear friends to trust me. Thankfully, they agreed.
Now, what are the things that you must know about a DIY Hong Kong and Macau trip?
1. Pocket Money
You could have your money changed here in the Philippines so that your Hong Kong dollars are ready to be dispersed upon arriving in Hong Kong. There are money changers in Tsim Sha Tsui area with favorable exchange rates but the difference is not that huge, so for the convenience, I suggest having your money changed in the Philippines before your departure.
Macau has its own currency called Pataca but Hong Kong dollars are acceptable and are treated with the same rate, so if you're just planning to have Macau as a side trip destination, don't mind doing another conversion. Hint: Spend all your Macau Pataca before going back to Hong Kong because these won't be accepted in Hong Kong.
2. Accessibility
First of all, do an internet research. And grab guide maps at the airport. Get as many as you can. It's free anyway.
What I love about Hong Kong is that everything seems to be user-friendly and everything seems to have an English translation - street signs, train stations, well just everything a tourist needs to travel by himself. So once I knew the directions via the guide maps, I was sure we wouldn't get lost. Well we sometimes got lost, but found our way eventually.
However, if you plan to travel further to Macau, be prepared for it is the exact opposite of Hong Kong when it comes to user-friendliness of signs. There are no street signs, and everything is written in Chinese or Portuguese. I guess it's somewhat a smart move to get hold of a tour guide upon arriving at the pier. It costs only HKD100 for the whole day.
Lastly, be prepared to walk a lot! With the size of the buildings, the mere walk from one building to another is too tiring. Arm yourself with a tried and tested comfortable walking shoes.
3. Where to stay?
Stay at a guesthouse or hostel rather than at a hotel. In my two Hong Kong trips, I happened to check in at New World Hostel and Tai San Guest House. Both are along Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, but there are also guesthouses in the Hong Kong side, only a bit pricier. Better if you choose a guesthouse which would allow you to cook.
What to expect at a guesthouse?
Expect the flats to give out an eerie mood, much like the setting of the Filipino movie "Tenement" as most of these structures are really old. What I found amazing was how different the guesthouse/hostel units are than from the flats themselves. No matter how unpleasantly creepy the structures may seem, the guesthouse and hostel units are all in good condition.
The housekeeper might be a Filipina. If she looks Filipina, ask her. We hit the jackpot on my first time hence we had the privilege to chat with her in our comfortable language. On my second time, the housekeeper looked like Filipina so we asked her. But we were wrong because she's Indonesian.
Also, if you plan to stay in Tsim Sha Tsui, expect a lot (and I mean a lot) of big, foreign guys to come out in the streets at night. It's a bit scary, actually, especially if you are all girls. On my first time there, we just walked as fast as we could and upon chatting with the Filipina housekeeper, we found out that there were pick up girls around the vicinity at night, so the men use the place to hang out. She reminded us not to again come out by ourselves at night.
4. Where to eat?
We brought lots of crackers and cup noodles with us! We really weren't not much into food tripping especially on Asian food because of our allergies, so the strategy gave us two benefits: 1) We were able to survive without facing an allergy attack. 2) We were able to save!
Where's the cheapest place to eat?
Of course if you are spending your time outdoors, you wouldn't carry your cup noodles or crackers with you, or would you? For picky eaters like me, I suggest Cafe de Coral for their wide assortment of meals at a minimal price. What's minimal when it comes to food in Hong Kong? Hmm. Around HKD35/meal will do.
If you ran out of your baon, there are lots of 7-11 stores around Hong Kong and just buy their microwaveable meals. You could buy a rice mix for HKD13.
5. Shopping Tips
Shopping is one of the things Hong Kong is most known for, especially during summer months (July-September) where there are sales on branded stuff. Other than branded stuff such as Giordano, Hang Ten and Bossini, the street market and night market (aka tiangge) of Mongkok in Hong Kong is known to be the most frequented shopping destination.
Personally, I didn't find anything special about Mongkok. It's much like Divisoria, and I don't usually like going to Divisoria because it's too crowded. On my first time in Hong Kong, though, I had no choice but to go there because our professors wanted to go there.
An Unforgettable Mongkok Story
While my companions were busy scouring for various items, I was just a lurker. Even in the Philippines, I'm not into shopping. In fact, I'm not like the stereotypical girl when it comes to shopping. I hate having to choose. If I see something I want, I look at the price tag, and I buy it. As much as possible, I wouldn't even want a salesperson to approach me. Which reminded me that it was also one of the reasons why I rarely go to Divisoria. I don't know how to haggle! Well, I don't have the patience for it, at the very least.
So even if I got to Mongkok, I was just standing and staring at the items. As normal shoppers, my companions touched the items that caught their interest. We realized THAT IS A BIG NO-NO! Once my companion wanted to put down the item she touched to look somewhere else, the shopkeeper grabbed her by the arm and did not want to let go! The shopkeeper was so aggressive, stomping, and like a child who was begging her mom to buy her a toy! Eventually, the shopkeeper let her go, and she didn't dare touch anything again.
Also, we learned not to haggle too much - THE HARD WAY. A professor of mine was able to haggle a jade bracelet for HKD10 and the vendor agreed. My professor tried her luck further and asked, "How about five? (with matching five fingers spread out to emphasize five)" The vendor, agitated, hurriedly shut off her lights, kept all of her merchandise, and shooed us. Yes. It's too vivid in my mind and I'm trying my best to capture the moment through writing but still, I feel this isn't enough.
So, there were two lessons learned in Mongkok:
Moreover, you could follow this same DIY itinerary that we used when we were there: 20,000 Pesos 4 Days, 3 Nights DIY Hong Kong-Macau Travel Guide
I was thinking of a whole day at Macau, and the tour package only includes half-day, and a one-way ferry ticket. I was thinking of including both Hong Kong Ocean Park and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, but with the package, we only had to select one, and it was via add-on pay, by the way.
I created the itinerary and asked my dear friends to trust me. Thankfully, they agreed.
Now, what are the things that you must know about a DIY Hong Kong and Macau trip?
1. Pocket Money
You could have your money changed here in the Philippines so that your Hong Kong dollars are ready to be dispersed upon arriving in Hong Kong. There are money changers in Tsim Sha Tsui area with favorable exchange rates but the difference is not that huge, so for the convenience, I suggest having your money changed in the Philippines before your departure.
Macau has its own currency called Pataca but Hong Kong dollars are acceptable and are treated with the same rate, so if you're just planning to have Macau as a side trip destination, don't mind doing another conversion. Hint: Spend all your Macau Pataca before going back to Hong Kong because these won't be accepted in Hong Kong.
2. Accessibility
First of all, do an internet research. And grab guide maps at the airport. Get as many as you can. It's free anyway.
What I love about Hong Kong is that everything seems to be user-friendly and everything seems to have an English translation - street signs, train stations, well just everything a tourist needs to travel by himself. So once I knew the directions via the guide maps, I was sure we wouldn't get lost. Well we sometimes got lost, but found our way eventually.
However, if you plan to travel further to Macau, be prepared for it is the exact opposite of Hong Kong when it comes to user-friendliness of signs. There are no street signs, and everything is written in Chinese or Portuguese. I guess it's somewhat a smart move to get hold of a tour guide upon arriving at the pier. It costs only HKD100 for the whole day.
Lastly, be prepared to walk a lot! With the size of the buildings, the mere walk from one building to another is too tiring. Arm yourself with a tried and tested comfortable walking shoes.
3. Where to stay?
Stay at a guesthouse or hostel rather than at a hotel. In my two Hong Kong trips, I happened to check in at New World Hostel and Tai San Guest House. Both are along Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, but there are also guesthouses in the Hong Kong side, only a bit pricier. Better if you choose a guesthouse which would allow you to cook.
What to expect at a guesthouse?
Expect the flats to give out an eerie mood, much like the setting of the Filipino movie "Tenement" as most of these structures are really old. What I found amazing was how different the guesthouse/hostel units are than from the flats themselves. No matter how unpleasantly creepy the structures may seem, the guesthouse and hostel units are all in good condition.
The housekeeper might be a Filipina. If she looks Filipina, ask her. We hit the jackpot on my first time hence we had the privilege to chat with her in our comfortable language. On my second time, the housekeeper looked like Filipina so we asked her. But we were wrong because she's Indonesian.
Also, if you plan to stay in Tsim Sha Tsui, expect a lot (and I mean a lot) of big, foreign guys to come out in the streets at night. It's a bit scary, actually, especially if you are all girls. On my first time there, we just walked as fast as we could and upon chatting with the Filipina housekeeper, we found out that there were pick up girls around the vicinity at night, so the men use the place to hang out. She reminded us not to again come out by ourselves at night.
4. Where to eat?
We brought lots of crackers and cup noodles with us! We really weren't not much into food tripping especially on Asian food because of our allergies, so the strategy gave us two benefits: 1) We were able to survive without facing an allergy attack. 2) We were able to save!
Where's the cheapest place to eat?
Of course if you are spending your time outdoors, you wouldn't carry your cup noodles or crackers with you, or would you? For picky eaters like me, I suggest Cafe de Coral for their wide assortment of meals at a minimal price. What's minimal when it comes to food in Hong Kong? Hmm. Around HKD35/meal will do.
If you ran out of your baon, there are lots of 7-11 stores around Hong Kong and just buy their microwaveable meals. You could buy a rice mix for HKD13.
5. Shopping Tips
Shopping is one of the things Hong Kong is most known for, especially during summer months (July-September) where there are sales on branded stuff. Other than branded stuff such as Giordano, Hang Ten and Bossini, the street market and night market (aka tiangge) of Mongkok in Hong Kong is known to be the most frequented shopping destination.
Personally, I didn't find anything special about Mongkok. It's much like Divisoria, and I don't usually like going to Divisoria because it's too crowded. On my first time in Hong Kong, though, I had no choice but to go there because our professors wanted to go there.
An Unforgettable Mongkok Story
While my companions were busy scouring for various items, I was just a lurker. Even in the Philippines, I'm not into shopping. In fact, I'm not like the stereotypical girl when it comes to shopping. I hate having to choose. If I see something I want, I look at the price tag, and I buy it. As much as possible, I wouldn't even want a salesperson to approach me. Which reminded me that it was also one of the reasons why I rarely go to Divisoria. I don't know how to haggle! Well, I don't have the patience for it, at the very least.
So even if I got to Mongkok, I was just standing and staring at the items. As normal shoppers, my companions touched the items that caught their interest. We realized THAT IS A BIG NO-NO! Once my companion wanted to put down the item she touched to look somewhere else, the shopkeeper grabbed her by the arm and did not want to let go! The shopkeeper was so aggressive, stomping, and like a child who was begging her mom to buy her a toy! Eventually, the shopkeeper let her go, and she didn't dare touch anything again.
Also, we learned not to haggle too much - THE HARD WAY. A professor of mine was able to haggle a jade bracelet for HKD10 and the vendor agreed. My professor tried her luck further and asked, "How about five? (with matching five fingers spread out to emphasize five)" The vendor, agitated, hurriedly shut off her lights, kept all of her merchandise, and shooed us. Yes. It's too vivid in my mind and I'm trying my best to capture the moment through writing but still, I feel this isn't enough.
So, there were two lessons learned in Mongkok:
- Never touch a product unless you are sure to buy it.
- Never haggle too much.
Moreover, you could follow this same DIY itinerary that we used when we were there: 20,000 Pesos 4 Days, 3 Nights DIY Hong Kong-Macau Travel Guide
Other posts in this Hong Kong-Macau series:
Yes, You Can Enjoy Macau for Free
New Yaohan's Food Court and the Emperor Hotel Macau
Strolling in Macau: Senado Square, St. Dominic’s Church, Ruins of St. Paul’s, Museu de Macau What’s Inside Casino Lisboa in Macau?
I was in (Wonderland) MGM Macau!
The Tear-jerky Wynn Macau Experience
Finding the Dragon’s Treasure in Macau’s City of Dreams
Ended the Day in (Venice) Venetian Macao
Ngong Ping 360: My First Cable Car Ride (and the Longest)
My Second Time in Hong Kong Disneyland Resort!
Ended a Jam-packed Day at The Peak
My Love Affair with Hong Kong Ocean Park
Rushing to the Avenue of Stars and A Symphony of Lights
NATAWA ako sa 'Compulsory-Hperventilate mo hahaha lol...nung huli kong punta dito since kasama ang family no choice ako kundi umoo sa package tour na ito (libre kasi ni kuya ^__^ hehe...) - syaang yung time i don't prefer yung punta pa ng mga jewelry shops.
ReplyDeleteMas masaya talaga ang travel with na DIY at mas sulit sa time talaga.
MABUHAY!!!!
Ganyan din ba nakuha niyong package? Hehe, ok lang libre naman! ^_^
ReplyDeletesounds like fun! been to hk and macau before and i had a great time myself
ReplyDeleteSuper fun! :)
ReplyDeleteGood job! Congrats for the DIY! :D
ReplyDeleteHaha, thanks! :D
ReplyDeleteLmao'd hard on the agitated vendor. Hi cris, any tips on doing a 'backpack' domestic trip (trip without plans)? Or a related post maybe? I want to avail a cebu pacific promo this october and it if ever it will be my first. Kinda nervous XO
ReplyDeleteWow! Awesome tips Chris!
ReplyDeleteHow much did you spend in your Hong Kong & Macau trip?
How about a DIY itinerary in Singapore? ^◡^
Our budget for both Hong Kong-Macau and SG-KL trip is P 20,000. I have a DIY itinerary with me but I have to organize it first.
ReplyDelete[this is a pretty nice guideline post! :) Ive never been to macau and always been wanting to. sana soon pra magmt ko mga tips mo dito :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shugah! Maeenjoy mo sigurado ang Macau. :)
ReplyDeletecris! booked na ko for hk-macau hahaha!help! :P
ReplyDeleteKayang-kaya mo yan, lahat ng aking nalalaman ay nasusulat na.:)
ReplyDeleteMs. Cris, your posts inspired me to travel and now I'm going to do it!
ReplyDeleteIf you could just find some time to tell me how did you book your
accommodation in Tai San Guesthouse, please.. thank you so much!
Hi! Our accommodation was reserved by my friend via email.
ReplyDelete