Hong Kong, China Hotels and City Guide

Hong Kong - Getting There

Flights

Hong Kong is well served by three different airports, each with its own benefits. While Hong Kong International is the busies of the three, the other two have certain distinct advantages that make them well worth discussing.

Hong Kong Airport Information

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

Designed by Sir Norman Foster and opened in July of 1998, the Hong Kong Airport (HKG) has been named Best Airport by Skytrax for several years running.

Every continent on the globe offers a large selection of direct flights to Hong Kong with most major cities offering at least one direct flight each day. Most, such as Melbourne, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Los Angeles and New York offer 2 or more.

It won't be difficult to hope between other Asian cities as well with as many as 40 daily flights between Hong Kong and Taipei, Tokyo, Manila, Seoul, Bangkok and Beijing.

There is a departure fee of HK$26 that is added to your ticket price when you get ready to leave this particular airport.

Macau International Airport (MFM)

Flights from Hong Kong Airport to the mainland are considered international flights, so if you’re headed to the mainland, you are going to find better deals in many cases flying out of the Macau International Airport. It is only a ferry ride away and can save you considerable money on your travels.

Shenzhen International Airport (SZX)

If you opt to fly around mainland China, Shenzen will be your best bet. A simple bus connection is all you need from Kowloon to get there but be advised that you will need a single entry visa at about $1,040 for two to three days in Hong Kong.

Getting Into Hong Kong

From Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

Taxis

You’ll spend nearly HK$350 to reach your destination by taxi. While you can reduce that by sharing a taxi, you may have some trouble getting all of your bags in. If you’re headed to Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, use a red taxi. Blue taxis go to Lantau Island. Green taxis can only go to the New Territories. The taxi stand just outside the airport has a chart to help you figure out which one to take, and you can see what most fares look like on their website. It’s important to note that there are some vehicles operating illegally as taxis, but should you take one and end up in an accident, your insurance will not help pay for your incurred costs.

Airport Express

A quick way to get where you’re going, this train takes just twenty-three minutes, and it’s packed with helpful baggage handlers to help you get your luggage both on and off the train. A round trip ticket is HK$110 to HK$180, depending on how far you’re going. After you’ve reached your destination, there are free shuttle buses to many major hotels. Tourists can opt for an Octopus 3-Day Hong Kong Transport Pass that includes one ride on the Airport Express and 3 days of MTR travel.

Airbus

The bus is a bit less costly than the train, but it takes a bit longer too. If you want to save a lot of money, choose the E routes instead of the A routes, as they’re half-price. While you can expect to spend nearly an hour on this form of transportation, you’ll also get a stunning view of the island.

Car

You can rent a car at the airport, but very few people do. It’s quite crowded here, and the traffic is difficult to navigate. Moreover, the roads are hard to navigate. Costs run about HK$600 per day, and signs are printed in English and Chinese. International driving permits are accepted here.

By Rail

Reaching Hong Kong by rail is a fairly easy prospect. MTR has through train service on a regular basis that runs from Guangdong Province, Beijing, and Shanghai. The terminal is in Hung Hom Station for the through train and in East Tsim Sha Tsui for the domestic service. You can visit their website for a timetable. Service between Hong Kong and the mainland stops before midnight.

By Road

Lots of visitors arrive on one of the Cross Boundary coaches that move from Kowloon to the mainland each year. There are six different lines, and you can learn more about each and get helpful phone numbers on the Transport Department’s website.

Hotels in Hong Kong, China