Dec 31, 2014

Hong Kong in a Budget



Hong Kong is not exactly known for being cheap. London has overtaken Hong Kong as the most expensive city to live and work, a new study claims. Posh Shopping Malls, Rolex Shops, Dazzling display of jewelry and designer bags and etc..But despite its glitz, the city still has plenty of bargains – provided you know how to find them.I compiled some of them and it might help you save a few hundred pesos or dollars when visiting Hong Kong.

1 HKD = 5.78 PHP OR 0.13 USD
Accommodation

Hong Kong is not a cheap place to find accommodation, and the city can stretch even the most elastic of wallets. However, the availability of budget accommodation in Hong Kong has improved in recent years and there is an increasing number of guesthouses and hostels catering to those who are budget conscious like me.

Cosmic Guesthouse

We stayed here last 2012 and the hospitality is superb. Rooms are really small but clean for a price of Php 1,500 (double bed) per night.We were able to save few hundred bucks during the length of our stay. By the way, Cosmic Guesthouse is just one of the many guesthouses inside Mirador Mansion. The building looks very old from the outside but it's perfectly safe.

Tuklasera Tips:

• You can book directly from their website through paypal gateway but as of this moment their online booking is unavailable.

• They have theme park tickets (Ocean Park, Ngong Ping, Disneyland etc) at a discounted rate.

• They process visas to Mainland China. Click here for more info.

Rates: Php 1,200 - Php 2,500 / night / 2 persons

Location: 12/F, BLOCK F1 (Reception) Mirador Mansion, 54-64 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui Kowloon Hong Kong.

Theme park tickets

• Regular Disneyland tickets cost around HKD 499 | Child HKD 355

Discounted Rates

• Disneyland - Adult HKD 420 | Child HKD 320

• Ocean Park - Adult HKD 260 | Child HKD 140

The discounted tickets are available to Cosmic Guest House customers with valid bookings only.

Golden Crown Guesthouse

This guesthouse is highly rated online. Rooms are clean, safe with wifi connectivity. We stayed here last 2013 and I highly recommend this place.

Rates: Php 2,200 - Php 4,000 / night / 2 persons - Deluxe Quadsharing
Location: Click this link on how to get here.

Disneyland Regular tickets cost around HKD 499 for a day pass. For Cathay Pacific and Dragon Air passengers departing Hong Kong on the same day, they have so called an in easy transit pass for HKD 350 until March 2015.More infos here.

Theme park tickets

• Disneyland - Adult HKD 420 | Child HKD 320

• Ocean Park - Adult HKD 260 | Child HKD 140

• The Peak - Adult HKD 220 | Child HKD 160 | Senior HKD 160

• Ngong Ping Crystal Cable car- Adult HKD 190 | Child HKD 145

• Ngong Ping Standard Cable car- Adult HKD 120 | Child HKD 70

• Sky 100 - Adult (12-64) HKD 130

Theme park Online Rates( Best Value)

• Disneyland - Adult HKD 410 | Child HKD 310

• Ocean Park - Adult HKD 278 | Child HKD 138

• The Peak - Adult HKD 218 | Child HKD 158 | Senior HKD 158

• Ngong Ping Crystal Cable car- Adult HKD 188 | Child HKD 143

• Ngong Ping Standard Cable car- Adult HKD 120 | Child HKD 70

• Sky 100 - Adult (12-64) HKD 130

You can you book your theme park tickets here.

Cheap and Affordable Accommodations

Hotels and guesthouses mention above are reviewed and chosen by bloggers and backpackers.

Chungking Mansion

Hong Kong Tai Wan Hotel

Cebu Hostel

Kamal Deluxe Hotel

J2 Guesthouse

KG Garden House 
 

YessInn

Dragon Hostel

Mongkok: The Anne Black YWCA

Bishop Lei International House

Panda Hostel

Food

Hong Kong does not have a huge street food presence these days. But just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there – former street vendors now hawk their bowls of noodles, dumplings and braised chicken feet inside public ‘cooked food centres’. The unadorned concrete-and-tile design of these buildings can look a little forbidding, but they generally have produce, meat and fish markets on their bottom floors, and cooked food on the top. The center in Sheung Wan (at Queen’s Road and Bonham Strand) is a local favorite.

Shopping

If you’re yearning for some souvenirs, Hong Kong’s kitschy-cool street markets are chockablock with lucky cat statues, fake jade jewelry, vintage reproduction cigarette ads, fake designer handbags and more.

The Temple Street Night Market and the Ladies Market in Kowloon are perennial favorites, as is Cat Street on Hong Kong Island. Bargaining is both acceptable and expected. If you’re not happy with the price, try saying this: tai gwai la (Cantonese for 'it’s too expensive!').

List of Night Markets in Hong Kong

• Temple Night Street

• Mongkok Ladies Market

Fa Yuen Market ( Sneaker Street)

• Sham Shui Po

Tuklasera Tips:


Citygate outlets throw in huge discounts for Authentic Coach Bags usually 40 -50% off.

More Buget tips

Click the link. http://www.nextstophongkong.com/hong-kong-for-free/

47 comments:

  1. First time to encounter your site and I love how you're able to break everything down. It is a nice way to help other would-be travelers plan their visits in Hong Kong. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  2. same here, before my travel date, i had make sure that budgeting is my priority and I was so happy to the result when I result here in Phil. I just consume less than 15k for a week. Actually that trip was from DVO - CEB, CEB - MNL, MNL - HK, HK-MNL and finally MNL-DVO. That was amazing experience :)

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  3. HongKong is great, we went there recently. Our journey was a hectic one. Just yesterday, we wrote about the Ocean Park. What a beautiful place and soo so many things to do. We have to go again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Quite tempting to go back especially ber months :-)

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    2. hi sis, can i get a discounted rate in golden crown evn if hndi ako mag stay sa kanila?

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  4. Hi sis i need your help is it true that pinoys should gt their visas to visit shenzen at china embassy in philippines? Hope youcould help thanks

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    Replies
    1. Yes you have to apply your visa here in the Philippines but if your in a group of 3 or more you can call the number from this link http://www.filipinohk-travel.com/insurance/nWR6pwNd80.pdf. Please note that the rates are in HKD. We stayed twice at cosmic guesthouse in Mirador Mansion and they arrange visa to Shenzen and China for a hefty fee ( Php 3846 per entry). http://www.cosmicguesthouse.com/services/china-visa.htm. You can contact them thru email and phone. Hope that helps :-)

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    2. hi if we are in a group and would like to get visa to china, do we have to present the air tickets to china first?

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  5. Is there anyone here who will be in Hong Kong on Nov 14-18, 2015? Pwede join po tayo. Solo traveler here. Thanks. 09074651460 viber niyo nalang po ako.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just to inform you that Avenue of Stars is closed for three years starting last September 2015 for renovation.

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  6. Hi my girlfriend and i would like to visit hong kong on january. do you recommend to have it with travel agency? do you have breakdowns of expected expenses so we can have basis? we would like our travel to have city tours and disneyland. thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Booking in a travel agency is quite expensive than doing it by yourself. If you want a cheaper alternative, you can take a flight Manila- Macau spend at least 3 days there then ride a turbo jet ferry to Hongkong. Expenses? Here is a list of major expenses when visiting Hong Kong.

      Before you depart for Hongkong
      Travel Tax - Php 1620 / pax
      Terminal fee - Php 750 / pax ( Please check your ticket if it's already included)

      Hongkong
      Octopus Card - Php 800 - Php 1200 ( Depends how many days)
      Hotel - Mirador and Chungking Mansion ( Php 1,200 - 1500) Mid range hotels Php 2500 -4000
      Disneyland - Expensive if bought at park gates, better buy it at Golden Crown
      City tours - Click this link http://eng.bigbustours.com/hongkong/home.html?gclid=CNmGuMDu6MgCFVgmvQodnzMPjw.

      If you still had questions, you can reach through my facebook account :-). Hope that helps.

      Delete
  7. Hi, is there an image here or something? I cannot seem to see anything aside from the comments

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  8. Hi gusto kasi ng friend ko na magpunta sa HK para mag tour from dec 20-25 kaso di namin alam anu ba need tska anu ung hotel accomodation need ba talga ng visa?

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  9. Hi Sis, meron bang direct exchange ng PHP to HKD? if meron, ok naman ba ang rate?

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    Replies
    1. Money changers at Tsim Sha Tsui(Inside Mirador Mansion) have better rates. Yes they do exchange Php to HKD.

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  10. Went to HK last March. From Doha to HK, then HK to Manila. First time to visit HK, and it was really a very nice experience. It's totally a diff.world. I love everything in HK. It's packed with high-rising commercial and residential bldg., streets are always crowded. Transpo system is superb. You can roam around anywhere in HK becoz of this. I like the food, people, cleanliness, discipline. Mixture of Old and westernized HK. Girls are beautiful. =) I was alone when I went there. Amazing experience. I want to bring my family there. =) I so love HK.

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  11. Hi there.JUST WANT TO ASK IF WHAT MONTH IS THE BEST TO VISIT HONGKONG?

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  12. Hi there.JUST WANT TO ASK IF WHAT MONTH IS THE BEST TO VISIT HONGKONG?

    ReplyDelete
  13. I like the food here. quite cheap and delicious .. more special is The People are so friendly here. but you can find me beautiful tourist place in Australia? I want to go to Australia. can you help me..

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  14. gud eve po..yung sa disneyland ticket po ba na mbibili sa golden crown ay, ride all you can na po ba un?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Disneyland Hong Kong 1 day admission ticket
    All rides included
    PHP 2,999/adult
    PHP 2,419/child

    Ocean Park Hong Kong 1 day admission ticket
    All rides included
    PHP 2,459/adult
    PHP 1,089/child

    While stocks last.

    Viber me now!
    +65 8282-1312

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi! I am interested to buy. In case, how will i pay and how can i get the park tickets?

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  16. Necessary po ba yung debit card, credit cards, etc sa immigration?

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  17. Necessary po ba yung debit card, credit cards, etc sa immigration?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Like most cities around the world Hong Kong can be very expensive. But this is the best article for those who want to visit Hong Kong in budget. Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  19. Awesome Tips! My friends and I stayed at Chung King Mansion when we were at Hong Kong and it was'nt bad, in fact in was very safe and comfortable. I wrote a similar post, Check it out! :)
    http://wp.me/p7zkjI-4h

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  20. Hong Kong is expensive because the economy is high and the businesses are increasing in Hong Kong by foreign direct investments (FDI). There is many budget serviced apartment Hong Kong are present for the tourists.

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  21. Hi! Acceptable po ba as hand carry luggage ang 20inch luggage at 32x27x12cm na small backpack? I'm flying with Cebupac po

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  22. Hi! Acceptable po ba as hand carry luggage ang 20inch luggage at 32x27x12cm na small backpack? I'm flying with Cebupac po

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes. We do carry large 40L backpacks during our trips with no problem.

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  23. Hong Kong is a food lovers destination. Most locals eat out frequently so you'll find no shortage of restaurants around the city. There are any number of food options available from Chinese to Western style restaurants

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  24. if 4 days 3 nights po. magkano po estimated na pocket money? thanks

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  25. you are share very good information and nice to this site is awesome good work keep share thank you.

    http://www.samspacenter.com/

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi tuklaserang matipid
    Ask ko lang kung magkano yung ticket sa disneyland yung discounted na po. And sa mirador place hotel po paano po mag direct booking sa kanila.
    Thanks for answering...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can book the hotels via agoda.com tickets are also be bought to klook :) but you can also buy tickets through hotels in Mirador or Chungking mansion :)

      Delete

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