Hong Kong Diaries | Departure-Arrival Scenes
In almost all of the travels, accommodation is one of the most important thing to consider next to your transportation tickets. In out of the country travels, it is a must to book for an accommodation ahead prior to flying. Some immigration officers would check it and your return tickets to make sure that you are going back and not staying there for employment, most specially if you are there for a tour.
We were booked at Mini Hotel Causeway Bay Hong Kong.
As a first timer in Hong Kong, you will surely be overwhelmed with how huge the airport is, and not researching where to go ahead will surely give you a heart attack. hehehe So here are departure , arrival scenes and to do's the moment you arrive at the Hong Kong International Airport.
We arrived Hong Kong via Cebu Pacific Air. You might want to check the things to do when traveling outside the country.
DEPARTURE from Manila:
Arrive at the airport at least 5 hours before your trip. Yes I'm serious.
Pay for the TRAVEL TAX at the designated collecting stations. 1 per person. If you are traveling in a group, one person can pay it all for you to avoid long queues.
Check-in at the designated check-in counters, present your passport and travel tax receipt, to get your boarding pass.
Head to the International Departure Area
Go to the Immigration Counters. Present your passport, boarding pass and travel tax receipt. Keep you other documents with you. Only present it if asked. (Click here to check on the things you should bring with you when facing the immigration officers)
Head to the boarding gates at least 2 hours before your boarding time. (like seriously)
ARRIVAL in Hong Kong:
During the flight, the flight attendants will be giving your ARRIVAL Cards. Fill in the needed information and clip it in your passport.
Once your out of the plane, look for the immigration counter at the arrival area. Ready with you the same things you have during departure except for the travel tax receipt. Also bring with your the completely filled out ARRIVAL CARD.
Present the passport and arrival card to the immigration officer.
Once granted entry, they will give you a slip that looks like this, stick it or keep it as it is needed in your departure
Head to the baggage carousel to get your checked-in baggage.
And yes... welcome to HONG KONG!
From the HONGKONG International Airport:
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| This is where you will buy your AIRPORT EXPRESS tickets and OCTOPUS CARDS. |
From HKG Airport you have the option to take a bus, a train or a cab(taxi) to your hotel. My girls chose the AIRPORT EXPRESS (train) since we arrived quiet late in the evening and we are too tired to take the bus.
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| Hong Kong Tourism Board, Go grab some city maps or download an app in your smartphone. |
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| mobile charging ports at the headrest of each chair inside the Airport Express |
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| Excited touristas |
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| AIRPORT EXPRESS |
Airport Express cost 100HKD one way. There are FREE Shuttle bus that will bring you to your hotel or nearest to your hotel. Make sure to choose the right shuttle. Hong Kong is a tourist friendly country, signage everywhere are translated in English for non Cantonese/Mandarin speaking tourists.
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| Our AIRPORT EXPRESS Cards. If you buy 3 tickets you get discounts |
By the way, before leaving the airport purchase your OCTOPUS CARD. It's an e-link reloadable card that you will use in all your transportation or food purchases in Hong Kong. It's pretty convenient. If you don't have this card, you'll have to pay exact amounts in buses, mini-bus or purchase single trip tickets. In buses or mini-bus they don't give out change, so it has to be exact amount or you'll have to pay extra if you don't have enough coins.
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| Signages. Don't worry there are English translations below this. |
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| Airport Express FREE Shuttle routes. We took H2. |
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| We took H2 and stop at the Regal Hong Kong Hotel and walk our way towards our accommodation. |
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| Mini Hotel at Causeway Bay by ETON Properties |
And after a few minutes, we are here. Welcome to MINI HOTEL Causeway Bay. I'll tell you more about this hotel, in my next post.
Expenses:
In Manila:
Travel Tax = 1,650 (as of Oct 2016; rates may change without prior notice)
In Hong Kong:
Airport Express Card: 100 HKD
Octopus Card Deposit: 50 HKD
Octopus Card Load: 100 HKD
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Total : 250 HKD
Hope you find this helpful. Please do share it to your friends.
