Hongkong

Posted by the thick key on January 11, 2018 in hongkong preparations, hongkong travel, travel abroad,

"Pangarap ko'ng mag abroad, hindi para mag trabaho kun'di para mag lakwatsa!"

Here's my Hongkong travel story.

As an average wage earner like me in the Philippines, traveling out of the country (especially to a first world city like Hongkong) is some how a luxurious thing to do. The plane ticket alone is expensive, especially from someone who lives in a city where there are no international flights available. You'd have to purchase 2 round trip tickets, round trip ticket to the big city, and another one abroad. The cost of living in another country is higher than to where I live in (at least to most countries). A lot of saving and preparations need to be done.

To travel abroad was the main goal I set for myself before I get 30. When I turned 29, I realized that time was running out and I had to work on it ASAP. The first thing that I had to prepare was my passport. I have turned down a lot of out-of-the-country travel invitations and opportunities just because I didn't have a passport. Well this time, I had to get one.

at Tai O Fishing Village

View from Dragon's Back trail in 

Getting a Passport

Getting a passport was so easy. Here's how I did it. First, I went to www.passport.gov.ph to set an appointment date for your passport application, filled-up and printed the application form their website, secured all necessary requirements then showed myself at DFA on the scheduled date. Please don't forget to bring the printed form from the DFA website you printed. They wont entertain you without that document event if you have signed up and set an appointment online. All the detailed instructions and requirements are indicated in that website. Do it now!

The passport application cost me 950 pesos. After 2 weeks from the scheduled appointment, I received a text message from DFA saying that my passport is ready for pick up. I picked it up at DFA. So easy! I was happy. Passport done!

The second thing that I had to secure was the plane ticket; and the only way that I could get one is through a promo fare in Cebu Pacific. International regular ticket prices are impossible for me to purchase. So I patiently waited for promo fares and subscribed to all pages and groups in Facebook to notify me all seat sale alerts. Promo tickets usually are scheduled at least 6 months before from the flight date so I'd have the time to prepare for the itinerary and budget. My patience was rewarded when I was able to book a round trip ticket from Manila to Hongkong for 3k php only. If I had been more diligent enough, I could have gotten a cheaper deal. But 3k for a round trip ticket is good enough. I was able to get a round trip ticket from Zamboanga to Manila too for 2k only. So, 5k for plane ticket all-in-all! 👍 Tickets, solved!

Now that I have secured my ticket and passport, the next time to prepare us my itinerary in full details with budgeting and all.

Booking for a place to stay

So far, this was the easiest part of planning the trip because there are lots of booking services just right at your fingertips. I installed Airbnb, Agoda, Taveloka apps in my smartphone and used these services to book our hotel. It did not take more than an hour to choose our hotel because there are lots of cheap options to choose from. Plus the reviews and testimonials are so helpful. So the winner went to Park Hostel in Mirador Mansion in Tsim Sha Tsui. It only cost us 3896 pesos for 3 nights. Since there are 2 to us, we spent 649 pesos each per night. Great deal!

Bonus: Our accommodation offers free water. There is a water dispenser with paper glass just right at the hostel's hallway. All you need to have is a water container for you to refill. That saved us bucks :)

Itinerary

Next part of the planning was our itinerary and places to visit. Most of my friends who went to Hongkong recommended me to avail Klook's offering. They have, so far, the best prices for Hongkong tours. I installed klook app in my smartphone and browsed for their offerings. Here's what I have a availed from them.

Ngong Ping 360/ standard cabin one way 1506 pesos

Airport express / MTR travel pass for 3 days 3154

Here's our itinerary and expenses

Travel Tax= P 1620.00

Day 1 (TST Parks tour, The Peak)
Total Day 1 expenses: 96 HKD 
-Arrival
Claimed our Klook Vouchers
Took Airport Express train to our hotel at TST) FREE via Klook
-Arrived at the Hotel at TST then strolled along Kowloon Park, Mosque, Comic Strip, Mira Place and Market Street - FREE
-Lunch at Yuen Kwee - 38 HKD/ head
-Mrt from TST to Central Station - FREE via Klook
-Bus to Victoria's Peak 10 HKD
-Victoria Peak
-Bus to Central 10HKD
-Dinner 38 HKD
-MTR from Central to TST (FREE)
-REST

Day 2 (Ngong Ping, Big Buddha, Tai O, Victoria Harbour)
Total Day 2 Expenses: 160 HKD
-Breakfast - 40 HKD
-Train from TST to Tung Chung (FREE via Klook)
-Cable car from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping
-Lunch at Subway 38HKD
-Bus from Ngong Ping to Tai O - 10 HKD
-Bus Tai O to Mui Wo - 10 HKD
-Ferry from Mui Wo to Central - 32 HKD
-Train Central to TST - FREE
-Walk to Victoria Harbour
- Dinner at 7-11 - 30 HKD

Day 3 (Hike to Dragon's Back, Nan Lian Garden)
Total Day 3 Expenses: 100 HKD
-Breakfast - 30 USD
-Train from TST to Shau Kei Wan station FREE
-Minibus No. 9 to To Tei Wan - 10 HKD
-Trek to Shek O beach 
- Bus from Shek O to MTR - 10 HKD
-MTR to Dianond Hill Station - FREE
-Bought food at 7-11 - 27 HKD
-Walk to Nan Lian Garden
-Train Back to TST 
Dinner - 23 HKD


DAY 4 (MACAU - Senado Square, Venetian Macau,

Ruins of St. Paul's)

Macau Itinerary will be posted on another blog post. Keep updated :)

More photos: