I’ve been receiving emails and PMs in forums about my Hong Kong trips. And I apologize if I take quite some time to reply. Usually the questions are about the same and I thought it’ll be easier for me to consolidate some of these questions so I can just refer them to this post in the future.
Q: Is it cheaper to shop for branded items in HK?
A: Generally that is a yes because the tax for luxury goods in HK is lower then Singapore…. thought the actual amount of savings you get depends on the exchange rate at that point of time.
Q: Where can I find Longchamp in HK?
A: You can find Longchamp retail stores at :
Hong–Kong Island
Causeway Bay – TIMES SQUARE
Causeway Bay – SOGO CAUSEWAY BAY
Queen’s Road – THE LANDMARK ATRIUM
Kowloon Peninsula
Tsim Sha Tsui – OCEAN CENTRE & SOGO TSIMSHATSUI
Kowloon Tong – FESTIVAL WALK
Lantau Island
HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Q: Where do you recommend shopping at?
A: For cheap buys, I shop around Tsim Sha Tsui at Granville Rd, Grandville Circuit or at Wan Chai’s Spring Garden Lane ; though what you can find usually depends on the season you are traveling. For local designers such as Vivienne Tam and William Tang, you can shop at Causeway Bay. For branded items, Landmark at Central should cover your needs. For electronics and gadgets, Sham Shui Po. If you are heading to visit the Big Buddha, you can shop at Citygate Outlets at Tung Chung which is a factory outlet mall.
Q: Is Hong Kong safe?
A: I’ve been to Hong Kong many times and find the city to be safe. Lan Kwai Fong can be a tad rowdy for clubbing if sailors are in town though.
Q: Do you need to have a visa for HK?
If you are Singaporean there’s no need.
Q: What is the best way to get to the city from the Airport? How much is it?
A: I’ll definitely recommend taking the Airport Express. It’s fast and very clean. From the Airport to Hong Kong Island one way is HK$100 for one way and from the Airport to Kowloon one way is HK$90. If you intend to travel to and fro the airport via the Airport Express and will be in HK for 3 days or more, you can consider getting the airport express travel pass. HK$220 – Pre-programmed with 1 single Airport Express journey and 3 days of unlimited travel on MTR. You can buy an octopus card (similar to our EZlink) if for the other days.
Q: Where to stay in HK?
A: If you are willing to pay a little more, I’ll recommend staying at Causeway bay (Hong Kong Island), I’ve tried The Excelsior and Lanson Place and I like them both. If you rather stay at the Kowloon side then you can try Langham hotel at Tim Sha Tsui. For those who don’t really bother about the hotel as long as the price is good, just make sure that your hotel is near an MTR station. Doesn’t matter how far the city is, as long as you’ve MTR access, you can get to anywhere conveniently.
Q: How much is Disneyland entrance and do you recommend it? How do you get there? Do you recommend staying in Disneyland resorts and hotels?
A: Disneyland tickets are at HK$350 for adults and HK$250 for children 11 and below.
I generally find that Hong Kong Disneyland is not as good as the other Disneyland theme parks around the world and you might want to give it a miss if you’ve already been to other Disneyland or are not really into theme parks. However, if this is the first time you are going to Disneyland then you’ll probably have a lot of fun! The company you’re with and the weather also plays a factor. I had more fun at the park when I went with my sister cause she’s such a huge Disney fan and it rubbed off on me. I also find Disneyland to be much more tolerable in the cooler months then when I was there in the humid summer.
Disneyland is on Lantau Island and the easiest way to get there is to take the MTR to Sunny Bay Station.
I’ve never stayed in Disneyland Hong Kong hotels and resorts and cannot give any reviews.
Q: Where to watch the Symphony of Lights show?
A: It’s at Avenue of Stars, every night at 8pm.
Q: Where to find the food that you’ve eaten in Hong Kong and posted in your blog?
A: Actually, most food in Hong Kong is really good. You can hardly go wrong even if you walk into any random restaurant on the streets. As for food that I’ve posted on my blog, they can be found near MTR Central station. Use Exit D2. Lan Kwai Fong, where all the pubbing and clubbing happens is along D’Aguilar Street (which is a upward slope road). Yung Kee Resturant (the famous Roast Goose and Forbe’s top 15 restaurant in the world is on Wellington Street), opp them is the famous Chui Hwa Cafe.. that sells the famous buns. You can also try Chung Kwok Sung restaurant which is on the street behind Wellington….Stanley Street I think. This one is not in my blog but have a fantastic assortment of Chinese dishes that contains no MSG at all. A lot of the local eateries in HK uses MSG so if you are health conscious but want good food then this is the one you should try. The Maxim Dim Sum is at Cityhall’s 3rd floor which doesn’t really have a walkable MTR… I stayed at Causeway bay and took a cab there. Cab prices are slightly cheaper than Singapore. As for the desserts look for Hui Lau Shan they are all over the place with many branches… so no worries not being able to find
Q: Where to go for massage in Hong Kong?
A: I’ve only been to massage once in HK… it was really good so I should go more often the next time I go HK. I went to the Sense of Touch spa at Lan Kwai Fong. You can see their webby for details www.senseoftouch.com.hk
For the consolidated posts of all my Hong Kong travels click here. You’ll be able to see the pictures and videos of various food and attractions that I’ve been to.
I’m also gonna add here some videos of my previous trips that I never got round to posting.
Avenue of Stars
Maxim Tim Sum at City Hall
Golden Bauhinia Square,Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, TST Ferry and street shopping at the Flower Market.
Fireworks in HK during Chinese New Year.
Disneyland and a look at typhoon weather in HK.
Hey gal, u are amazing for the patience you exhibit here. Though I’m not planning to go HK but this are good information & you must have taken a long time to type this out. WTG
Hey gal, u are amazing for the patience you exhibit here. Though I’m not planning to go HK but this are good information & you must have taken a long time to type this out. WTG
Jac,
I’ve actually replied a no. of emails and pm previously so I consolidated the answers here cause I realized that a lot of people are asking the same questions. It’s not that much work since it’s mostly cut and paste. =)
Jac,
I’ve actually replied a no. of emails and pm previously so I consolidated the answers here cause I realized that a lot of people are asking the same questions. It’s not that much work since it’s mostly cut and paste. =)
correction:
there is no GST/VAT in Hong Kong
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goods_and_Services_Tax_(Hong_Kong)
correction:
there is no GST/VAT in Hong Kong
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goods_and_Services_Tax_(Hong_Kong)
mika,
I agree there is no sales tax in HK for the consumer. What I meant that the luxury goods tax in Hong Kong is lower than Singapore is the tax that the govt places on the import and export of the luxury goods company. If they get lower taxes, they are able to give better prices. In fact HK has no tax on luxury goods.
mika,
I agree there is no sales tax in HK for the consumer. What I meant that the luxury goods tax in Hong Kong is lower than Singapore is the tax that the govt places on the import and export of the luxury goods company. If they get lower taxes, they are able to give better prices. In fact HK has no tax on luxury goods.
Renzze,
Noticed that you have been to HK many times, just wanted your opinion which side of HK is better for shopping and eating ?
I’m looking at Langham Place at Mongkok or Parklane Hotel at Causeway Bay .
Renzze,
Noticed that you have been to HK many times, just wanted your opinion which side of HK is better for shopping and eating ?
I’m looking at Langham Place at Mongkok or Parklane Hotel at Causeway Bay .
Popcorn,
I’ve never stayed at Parklane Hotel but in general, HK is a heaven for shopping and eating so as long as you stay near a MTR station you don’t have to worry. Personally, given the 2 choices, I’d choose Langham Place cause Mongkok is nearer to the night shopping areas and it’ll be much more convenient to head back to the hotel after shopping… there should also be more affordable street dining available in mongkok.
Popcorn,
I’ve never stayed at Parklane Hotel but in general, HK is a heaven for shopping and eating so as long as you stay near a MTR station you don’t have to worry. Personally, given the 2 choices, I’d choose Langham Place cause Mongkok is nearer to the night shopping areas and it’ll be much more convenient to head back to the hotel after shopping… there should also be more affordable street dining available in mongkok.
Thanks for your advice. I enjoyed my stay at Langham Place 2 yrs back. Its really a very comfortable hotel, especially the bed and pillow.
I think I will pick Langham Place this time round again since it will be hot and humid in Jun. At least I can walk in air-con comfort all the way to the MTR station.
By the way, which hotels have you stayed in HK ?
Thanks for your advice. I enjoyed my stay at Langham Place 2 yrs back. Its really a very comfortable hotel, especially the bed and pillow.
I think I will pick Langham Place this time round again since it will be hot and humid in Jun. At least I can walk in air-con comfort all the way to the MTR station.
By the way, which hotels have you stayed in HK ?
Popcorn, I’ve stayed in quite a few places before but in my last few HK trips in the recent years I’ve been staying at The Excelsior or Lanson Place and I like them both.
Popcorn, I’ve stayed in quite a few places before but in my last few HK trips in the recent years I’ve been staying at The Excelsior or Lanson Place and I like them both.