Social Media Icons

slide code

Photo

Rae & Cheloi
Hello and welcome to our site of travels, misadventures and lifestyle! I'm Rae Argallon, traveling the world with Cheloi Marasigan. Hope you find this blog exciting and trigger the inner traveler in you. Say yes to adventures. - R

welcome to the blog

social media icons 2

Search

category 1

world

category 2

philippines

category 3

lifestyle

NEVER MISS ANY POST

Hong Kong

HONG KONG FOR FIRST TIMERS: Itinerary, Helpful Tips, and Budget for Filipinos

4 DAYS 3 NIGHTS IN HONG KONG
(UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2019)

Hong Kong is probably one of the most family-friendly countries to visit. This itinerary is good for a family vacation to Hong Kong. Here is an itinerary including budget for a family trip.

Hong Kong: Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
Coordinates: 22.3964° N, 114.1095° E
What to eat: Dimsum, Roast goose, Char Siu (Cantonese pork barbecue), Brisket noodles, see more food below.
What to do: city exploration, visits temples, theme parks
Where to stay: It would be convenient to book a hotel at Tsim Tsa Tsui since most cheap hotels are located there. Cheap hostel starting from 159HKD (1100PHP)
Ideal time to visit: Hong Kong is very touristy and people tend to visit it all year round.
Language: Chinese/English
Currency: Hong Kong Dollars: 1USD = 7HKD; 1PHP = 0.15HKD (rough estimate)



DAY 1: EXPLORING HONG KONG CENTRAL

We arrived in Hong Kong almost noontime. We decided to drop our luggage at the hotel and head to Central. Located in Central are the business offices (some of them made by famous architects-- at some point I was struck with awe seeing the actual buildings in real life), local and foreign restaurants and boutiques as well.


POINTS OF INTEREST 

🚩HSBC Building, Central
🚩Cheung Kong Center, Central
🚩Bank of China, Central
🚩Victoria Peak
🚩Man Mo Temple
🚩Desserts tasting

DAY 1 ITINERARY:
🚩Arrival at Airport & Immigration
🚩Hong Kong Sim Card: 51HKD (340PHP) | Booked with Klook (Hong Kong Sim Card), airport pick-up. We bought a sim card for internet access and divided by expense.

Or you may opt to rent a pocket WIFI, also booked and can be picked up at the airport (Hong Kong Pocket WIFI)
🚩Airport Express & 72-Hour Unlimited MTR Card: 238HKD (1546PHP) | Booked with Klook (Hong Kong Airport Express & 72-hour Unlimited MTR Travel Pass), airport pick-up. This includes a roundtrip airport express ticket + unlimited MTR rides good for 4 days and 3 nights.
🚩Airport to Hong Kong Station: 24 minutes via Airport Express | 0PHP | pre-paid with Klook. 
🚩Hong Kong Central Station to Tsim Tsa Tsui Accommodationvia MTR | 0PHP, use Unlimited MTR Card

🚩Tsim Tsa Tsui Accommodation: Marrigold Hostel: 755HKD (5100PHP) (252HKD OR 1700PHP for a room for 4pax per night, booked for 3 nights) | Booked with Agoda - Marrigold Hostel

🚩Tsim Tsa Tsui Station to Hong Kong Central Station: via MTR | 0PHP, use Unlimited MTR Card

🚩Hong Kong Central Station to HSBC Building, Bank of China, Cheung Kong Center: 5-minute walk | these buildings are right next to each other.

Lunch: 50-70HKD (335-470PHP) for a good meal
🚩Central Station to local dessert restaurants/stalls: walk (see route below)
It's a long walk going to these places but the food was definitely worth it. I also enjoyed looking around the area. These restaurants are not only 'Instagram-worthy' food, but are some of the known dessert in the area for local and foreign people.
Tai Cheong Bakery's Egg tarts: 10HKD (67PHP)
Oddies Foodies's Egg Waffles: 50HKD (335PHP)
Local food stalls: Curry Fishball, Pineapple buns, Stinky tofu: Budget of 50HKD for all (335PHP)
🚩Oddies Foodies to Man Mo Temple: 5 minutes walk
🚩Man Mo Temple Entrance Fee: donations only
🚩Man Mo Temple to Peak Tram: 7 minutes via Taxi | 30HKD (200PHP)
🚩Peak Tram and Sky Terrace 428 at Victoria Peak: 87HKD (579PHP) | Booked with Klook (Peak Tram Round Trip Ride + Sky Terrace 428 Admission)
Dinner: 50-70HKD (335-470PHP) for a good meal 
🚩Central Station to Tsim Tsa Tsui Station (Accommodation)via MTR | 0PHP, use Unlimited MTR Card

DAY 1 SUMMARY: 1371HKD (9140PHP) For Solo-traveler | 953HKD (6355PHP) per pax for 2 Pax-travelers | 618.25HKD (4122PHP) per pax for group of 4 travelers

DAY 2: HONG KONG DISNEYLAND
The Hong Kong Disneyland is one of the notable places in the island. Kids and kids-at-heart can both enjoy the rides and shows. 

POINTS OF INTEREST:
🚩Disneyland

DAY 2 ITINERARY:
Breakfast: 20-30HKD (134-200PHP) for a cheap breakfast bread and tea
🚩Tsim Tsa Tsui Station to Disneyland Resort: via MTR | 0PHP, use Unlimited MTR Card
🚩Disneyland Entrance Fee: 560HKD (3700PHP) | Booked via Klook (Disneyland Ticket)
Lunch: 100HKD (667PHP) for a lunch, snacks and drinks. (We ate at the food trucks near HK Disneyland entrance), or you may avail 1-Day Disneyland ticket + combo meal worth 680HDK/4500PHP)
🚩Disneyland Resort Station to Tsim Tsa Tsui Stationvia MTR | 0PHP, use Unlimited MTR Card
Dinner at a local restaurant: 50-70HKD (335-470PHP) for a good meal 

DAY 2 SUMMARY: 730HKD (4867PHP) per person

DAY 3: HONG KONG OCEAN PARK
The Hong Kong Ocean Park is another worthwhile experience. It is an all-in-one theme park with rides, shows, oceanarium, wildlife park. Both theme parks offer different set of exciting rides, shows and features.

POINTS OF INTEREST:
🚩Ocean Park

DAY 3 ITINERARY:
Breakfast: 20-30HKD (135-200PHP) for a cheap breakfast bread and tea
🚩Tsim Tsa Tsui Accommodation to Ocean Park Station: via MTR | 0PHP, use Unlimited MTR Card
🚩Ocean Park Entrance Fee: 418HKD (2766PHP) | Booked with Klook (Ocean Park Ticket)
Lunch: 50-70HKD (335-470PHP), there is a Mcdonald's inside Ocean Park
🚩Ocean Park Station to Tsim Tsa Tsui Station: via MTR | 0PHP, use Unlimited MTR Card
Dinner: 50-70HKD (335-470PHP) for a good meal 

DAY 3 SUMMARY: 538HKD (3586PHP) per person

DAY 4: NGONG PING 360
This day is reserved for a short visit to the Big Buddha.


POINTS OF INTEREST
🚩Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car
🚩Big Buddha/Tian Tan Buddha
🚩Po Lin Monastery

DAY 4 ITINERARY:
🚩Accommodation: Check out, leave luggage at hostel
Breakfast: 20-30HKD (135-200PHP) for a cheap breakfast bread and tea
🚩Tsim Tsa Tsui Station to Tung Chung Station: via MTR | 0PHP, use Unlimited MTR Card
🚩Tung Chung Station to Ngong Ping Cable Car Terminal: few minutes walk
🚩Ngong Ping 360 Roundtrip Entrance Ticket: 130HKD (860PHP) Booked via Klook (Ngong Ping 360 Pass)
Lunch50-70HKD (335-470PHP) for a good meal 
🚩Ngong Ping Village: free
🚩Big Buddha: free
🚩Po Lin Monastery: free 
🚩Po Lin Monastery to Ngong Ping Station: free
🚩Ngong Ping Cable Car Terminal to Tung Chung Station: included in payment
🚩Tung Chung Station to Tsim Tsa Tsui Station: via MTR | 0PHP, use Unlimited MTR Card
🚩Tsim Tsa Tsui Station to Accommodation: Pick up luggage
🚩Tsim Tsa Tsui to Hong Kong Central Station: via MTR | 0PHP, use Unlimited MTR Card
🚩Hong Kong Central Station to Airport: 24 minutes via Airport Express | 0PHP | pre-paid with Klook. 
🚩Fly back to MNL

DAY 4 SUMMARY: 200HKD (1335PHP) per person

TOTAL EXPENSES: 2839HKD (18927PHP) for solo-travelers; 2421HKD (16140PHP) for 2pax travelers; 2086.25HKD (13909PHP) per pax for group of 4 travelers
*exclusive of airfare*


TIPS ON VISITING HONG KONG
A. Pre-travel essentials:
↠ PH Travel Tax: 1620PHP
↠ Book your hotels through Booking or Agoda. They offer pay at the hotel or credit card payments. I highly suggest booking hotels near the beach, in the city centers or within transport terminals. The second concern I look into would be the amenities and overall aesthetics of the place. I prefer hotels with ac, own bath, wifi and breakfast included. Pools, gardens and other amenities would be a plus. I prefer booking cheap hotels since I only stay there for sleeping.
↠ Pre-booked tours with Klook.
         ↠ Hong Kong Sim Card or Hong Kong Pocket WIFI: you can use it to navigate, search for restaurants or hotels.
         ↠ MTR Octopus Card: Card for trains, buses and even food.
         ↠ Airport Express & 72-hour Unlimited MTR Travel Pass: we bought this over MTR Octopus card since we would only use trains and not buses. This also includes the airport express from Airport to Hong Kong Central.
         ↠ Peak Tram Sky Ticket
         ↠ Disneyland Ticket
         ↠ Ocean Park Ticket
         ↠ Ngong Ping 360 Pass

B. Getting around:
↠ The best mode of transportation is through utilizing the train and bus system. (Source: MTR)

D. Tips:
↠ USD to HKD and PHP to HKD can be easily exchanged everywhere.
↠ It would be cheaper to travel in a group and splitting cab rides, but Hong Kong has an efficient bus and train system and using these would be much cheaper.
↠There's not much language barrier, people know and can speak English.
↠ Eat at the local stalls because they are cheaper and most of then are authentic Hong Kong cuisine. Mcdonalds and Jollibee meals cost around 25-50HKD.
↠ Book cheap hotels near Tsim Tsa Tsui and within walking distance from transport terminals. You can check hotels here. Agoda
↠ Bring a water bottle and had it refilled at the your hotel. It's one way of saving money as well as doing good for the environment
↠ Know the places where you want to go and build your itinerary around it. Then cross off places that are too far away (unless you really want to go).
↠ To save even more, you may skip one or two of these attractions (Ngong Ping 360, Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong Ocean Park)


PIN IT!


FOOTNOTES:
Credits to Rae Argallon and Michelle Alegro | Hong Kong, China | Created September 2018 | Updated September 2019

RAESCAPE contains affiliate links in the website. By clicking and purchasing through this links, I get to earn a small commission to help me run this website without extra cost to you. Thank you for helping a fellow traveler and say yes to adventures! 

Read about the Disclosure here.

Comments

  1. Very nice and useful article! I have been in Hongkong many times, and have visited many of its places of interest, but still haven't been in most of the places in your itinerary. So I would be glad to read your info when I go there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hopefully you can use this when you visit Hong Kong again. :)

      Delete
  2. This is a really good itinerary for 4 days, covering the themepark and also the sightseeing in the cities!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! If you're in a budget or on a tight schedule, you can opt to just pick one-- either Hong Kong Disneyland or Hong Kong Ocean Park.

      Delete
  3. Great tips. I particularly like the suggestion of getting the SIM and Octopus card through Klook. Will surely follow the Day 1 Itinerary when I am there in March.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Arunima Dey! Hope you enjoy your stay there. :)

      Delete
  4. Such an interesting place and you've collected some great tips for first time visitors. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Paul. I hope you can visit Hong Kong and use my itinerary. :)

      Delete
  5. Great post! I love detailed posts like these - so informative!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Anna! I hope it can help you in your travel to Hong Kong soon. :)

      Delete
  6. Hong Kong has been on our list for a long time. We are hoping to visit very soon, and this will be SO helpful when we do. Thank you for the advice and inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm definitely a big city person - therefore Hong Kong is way high on my list. Your guide is so complete and varied - I have to save it for when I go, it will be of great help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Looking forward to your blog post for that!

      Delete
  8. Hong Kong has been on our list for a long time. I hope wait to visit Hongkong will end soon for me. When I go I will use your tips for reference.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So many helpful tips here for people visiting Hong Kong. I haven't been for ages, but I'd love to go back again someday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should visit again, especially this Christmas Season. I bet everything is bright and happy there!

      Delete
  10. omg this is so useful, i have always put HK on the "when i have money" list but it seems actually affordable! great tips, thank you so much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sam! Now you can travel to HK the cheap way. :)

      Delete
  11. I havent any word to appreciate this post.....Really i am impressed from this post....the person who create this post it was a great human..thanks for shared this with us. Visit Website

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! Thanks for this. Glad to have helped someone!

      Delete
  12. "Meanwhile, the term 'Boutique Hotel' or 'Boutique B&B' is relatively new and has no official definition.
    It is used by owners who want to emphasise that their property is stylish and high quality,
    even if small. It tends to indicate design-led establishments" montreal vacation ideas

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Top itineraries and stories

SUSTAINABLE TRAVELING: How to Travel Eco-Friendly?
Sustainable Travel: What is it really about? Sustainable traveling is a form of traveling wherein o…
SORSOGON TRAVEL GUIDE (DIY ITINERARY + BUDGET)
Sorsogon is the southernmost province in Luzon, Philippines. It may be a 12+ hours land travel to t…
GIFT IDEAS FOR FILIPINO TRAVELERS
Happy holidays! It seems like everyone is on the holiday rush. We are in the busiest time of the ye…
BALI, INDONESIA BACKPACKING TRAVEL GUIDE: 5 DAYS 4 NIGHTS (DIY ITINERARY + BUDGET)
5 DAYS 4 NIGHTS IN BALI, INDONESIA In planning this itinerary, we wanted to visit as many great temp…