[Travel] Itinerary for 5D4N Hong Kong-Macau Budget Trip (May 2018)

Hey all,

Since I just came back from my Hong Kong trip, decided to share my itinerary while its still fresh in my mind. Anyway, I've decided that summer is NOT A GOOD TIME to visit HK, the weather is just tooooo hot! (Even hotter than SG). Ok, so here's my itinerary for my recent trip in May 2018. I flew on SQ this time round cos it was promo price (so remember to check out SQ for any flight promo ok!! Sometimes might be even cheaper than LCCs). I will post a review on the SQ flight very soon!

Day 1: Saturday

6am                      Leave house

6.40am                Reach Airport and check-in

8.40am                Flight to HK (SQ860)

12.40pm              Arrival at Terminal 1 HK

1.30pm                Out of airport: To purchase Octopus card x2  (Cost: HKD300)

                              To purchase Cityflyer Pre-paid Return Ticket @ Customer Service Centre                                    (Airport Ground Transportation Centre)- Cost: HKD55, otherwise single                                      trip by octopus card HKD33

                            - Take A21 from outside Arrival hall (right side) Frequency: 10-20min

                            - 9^th stop: Man Ming Lane, Nathan Road

                            -  Walk Towards the cross junction, cross towards Hang Seng Bank, cross                                    again towards B1 and B2 exits.

                            - Walk straight until B2 exit turn right and walk straight down.

                            Duration: 45min - 1hour

(The instruction above is for people staying at Inn Hotel HK @ Yau Ma Tei, the cityflyer bus is alot cheaper than taking the train, with minimal walking too)

2.40pm            Check in Hotel: Inn Hotel HK

3pm                  Leave hotel for Yee shun milk company- directly opp busstop we drop at)   Must try: double milk pudding

 Take train down to Diamond Hill MTR Exit C2: Chi Lin Nunnery & Nan                   Lian Garden

 Shop at Plaza Hollywood while waiting for sun to set.

 Take MTR down to Jordan MTR for Kai Kai Dessert (Exit A Jordan- Black   sesame and Almond custard)

 Temple Street shopping (all the way down at Nathan Stn), Walk down to   explore Tsim Sha Tsui, Mammy pancake: Pancake Egglet

 Dinner: Hing Kee claypot rice,  15 Temple street (Opens 5.30pm   only) and Hui Lau Shan (Dessert), 

 After dinner + dessert, in opposite direction (Mongkok station): Langham   Shopping Place, Ladies Street Shopping (otherwise keep for Day 2)

Day 2: Sunday

8am                 Leave hotel

8.15am            11 min walk to Capital Café (Truffle Eggs Toast)

8.45am            Kam Wah Café for breakfast (Polo bun breakfast set) 16min walk from hotel

11am               On Ladies Street (Tung Choi St) try Dim Dim Sum Sum Specialty Store (Cheap: 112 Tung Choi St, +852 2309 2300 (11am onwards), Fei Jie Xiao Shi Dian (55 Dundas Street)- Intestines etc. (2pm onwards), find Bai Wei Shi Pin noodles in bag (New Town Mall Basement escalator)

12.30pm         Take MTR to Sham Shui Po MTR

                        KungWoo Beancurd/Tofu Factory (Exit B1-straight: Order Beancurd and their fried tofu platter) (There is an egg tart place somewhere there for 2HKD for 1 only!!!???), Apliu Street Market (2nd hand goods + Electronics market)

                        Try Hop Yik Tai (Michelin CCF- Exit C2); Chee Cheong Fun

                        Cheung Sha Wan Road Shopping (Cheap) (Exit D2), Real Tim Ho Wan: G/F, 9-11 Fuk Wing Street, Hong Kong, Lau Sum Kee Noodles (2 branches in SSP) Wanton noodles- straight frm D1/D2).

3.30pm            Take MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui

Kowloon Park (Avenue of Comic Stars), Clock Tower and Harbour City (to redeem the vouchers + shop + We Bare Bears), Little Korea @ Kimberly Road.

Take the Star Ferry to Wan Chai for Golden Bauhinia Square and take 7.15pm ferry back to Tsim Sha Tsui to camp for Symphony of Lights, 8pm Light Show.

Walk to Peninsula to take photo and to revisit Temple Street (and try desserts if have yet to try)

5.30pm           Settle dinner (going back to those places yet to try in Day 1)

9pm                 Rest for Macau

Day 3: Monday (Macau)

6.30am           Rise and shine

7am                 To eat breakfast at Cha Chaan Teng (next door to hotel)

8.15am            Take train down to Tsim Sha Tsui ferry terminal

9.15am            Catch ferry to Macau (Get discounted tickets from Cotai Ferry- Facebook promo)

10.30am         Reach Macau and get shuttle that gets to Venetian or Parisian.

Explore the Venetian, Lord Stow’s bakery (Macau’s best Portuguese egg tarts) and The Parisian (Eiffel Tower replica).

Take shuttle from City of Dreams to Grand Lisboa and walk to Marfaret;s Cafe E Nata (for egg tarts) and to try Tai Lei Loi Kei (Pork Chop bun)

Walk up to Senodo Square, Ruins of St. Paul’s, St. Dominic’s Church, Leal Senado Building, Monte Forte.

Chan Kong Kei Case de Pasto (Black pepper deck with noodles) for Lunch

Take a shuttle to Taipa Village (shophouses) and explore Rua do Cunha Street: Koi Kei Cookies to buy back!!, 新好利美食餅店 (milk tarts)

                        After sunset: take night scenes at Casinos exterior, Wynn (For water                                 show- if sufficient time)

Take shuttle from Parisian back to Taipa Ferry Terminal
Head back to Hong Kong!

Day 4: Tuesday

7am                 Rise and shine

Get down at Central station

Walk to Lin Heung Tea house for oldest Dim Sum Teahouse.

Purchase Jenny Bakery cookies

Go to Graham Street: murals, Yat Lok Restaurant (Conwell House, G/F, 34-38 Stanley St, Central: 10am-9pm) for lunch, Lan Fong Yuen (Dai pai dong): chicken cutlet macaroni and milk tea (2 gage street, central- Central exit D2)

Tsim Chai Kee (Super good wanton mee) 98, Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong (near Central Mid-Levels escalators, +852 2850 6471(9am – 10pm)

Visit the Dr Sun Yat Sen Museum

If time permits can travel down to Causeway bay, Jardine’s shopping street, Can try the real Ding Tai Fung or Mak’s wanton mee (Wanton soup + braised pork knuckles)

Hong Kong Central Library (take pic) and Noon Day gun (fired at 12pm: be there before noon- entrance World Trade Centre)

Wanchai: Heritage Trail (different architecture and coloured buildings), Kam Fung- polo bun and chicken pie, Honolulu wan chai – egg tart (breakfast set avail),

Joy Hing Roast Goose 3 treasure rice (~SGD7) Wan Chai MTR, Exit A4, +852 2519 6639, 10-10, Mon-Sat)

4.30pm          Meet at Central Station Exit K: Klook guide at 4.30pm

8pm                Make way back down to Central, explore Lan Kwai Fong (night life in HK)

                        Eat dinner somewhere near hotel

                        Supper @ Cun Ye Ye (For super good and cheap seafood noodles)

                        Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market (see night scene Fruit holder restocking- very                                  lively)

Day 5: Wednesday

7.30am          Rise and Shine

                        Australian Dairy Company (Exit C2 Jordan or 17min walk from hotel)

                        Walk to Sky100 Observation deck

                        Once done, to head to Harbour City (We Bare Bears)

                        Head back to hotel to check out

12.30pm        Walk towards Pitt Street busstop to wait for A21 or A20 back (same travel time)

                        Upon arrival at airport remember to get refund for octopus card (50HKD each with remaining balance but need to pay admin fee since bought within too short a timeframe)

1.30pm           Lunch at Plaza Premium Lounge

3.40pm          SQ861 Flight back to SG

7.40pm          Arrival back in SG, If hungry to find dinner, otherwise head home

Optional Photo spots in YMT: Yau Ma Tei Theatre, (Police Station (Jackie Chan movie), Tin Hau Temple, at Mido Café (overpriced- if wanna try salty 7up & condensed milk toast))

Tips for HK-Macau:

- There are many deals on Klook worth getting!

- Especially the ferry to Macau (super cheap), I was upset that I could not use my SQ Klook promo voucher cos the ferry return tickets were very quickly sold out so I had no choice but to purchase onsite instead.

- The Peak Fast Track is worth getting, however, only if you're intending to visit at peak hours (5/5.30pm onwards) Otherwise, just get the regular tickets cos the queue isn't that long.

- I did not visit Lantau Island, nor any of the theme parks because I've been there on my other 3 trips to HK.

- Do download coupons from HK tourism webpage for discounts specially for tourists!

- In my honest opinion, HKers were not very friendly (especially the food vendors; they were in fact very rude, so please do not expect them to be patient with you)

- Try to learn some simple canto before going to HK, and if you really can't understand, communicate in ENGLISH instead of CHINESE (because the HK locals seem to hold some kind of grudge against Mainland Chinese visitors).

- If possible, google the menu of popular eateries/ cha chaan teng/ dai pai dong before your visit, and roughly decide on what you want first. If language is a barrier, then screen shot pictures and show them what you want to order (makes things faster, and makes them less pissed off...)

- In general, HKers on the streets are actually very nice people who would help you out if you ever need help (but their tone sometimes can seem pretty intimidating, and might pose off as fierce instead- pls dont be too shock)

- HK would be a perfect destination during the Jan-Mar period when its still relatively cooler (not in May... it was just terribly hot and humid)

Just a reminder, I'm not in any way sponsored by any of the companies/ agencies listed above, nor was a sponsored for my food/ accommodation. Everything is written with my very own experience. Hope this post was useful! 

Look forward to my next post alright!

[Travel] Where to stay for a budget trip to Bangkok: Metro Resort Pratunam

Dear Readers,

I am back with travel reviews!

This time recommending hotels to stay in Bangkok for a budget trip!

Whenever I head to Bangkok, the only place I'll stay at is Metro Resort Pratunam.

It is conveniently located one road down Platinum Fashion Mall (about 10-15 minutes walk), and big malls nearby (including Shibuya 19 which sells wholesale fashion clothings and some electronics mall across the road)

I touched down at Survanabhumi Airport only at 7-ish to 8pm, and by the time I reached the hotel (by taxi), it was 9plus almost 10pm (local BKK time). Remember, whenever you take taxi, always ask for metered fare! (including to and fro the airport; some taxi drivers try to cheat your money by telling you there is massive jam at this time of the day, but don't fall for their trick!!) Unless you're in really popular areas at about 12am, like Ma Boon Kong, then most taxi drivers will only ferry those who agree to pay his requested fare (but always try to bargain (at least 50-100baht lower!))

This is how the exterior of the hotel look like (pardon my flabby arms HAHA)

The photo above was taken from the outside of the hotel the next morning after I touched down since it was really dark when I reached the hotel the night before.

Here's the lobby!

Very cosy lightings with 2 desktops near the check-in concierge for guests' usage. Though I recommend not to stay in the lobby for too long as there were many mosquitoes.

The very large corridors along the 3rd floor

You see really huge corridors, especially on the 3rd level. Where the middle area (on the right of the picture (with brown walls), are the exterior of one of their conference rooms.

The layout seems awkward for a hotel as this building was converted from a shopping mall in 2010/2011. Therefore, there were escalators too (which were not operating) which is supposed is meant to save electricity (since they have a lift anyway)

Interior of the room (twin bedroom)

All the rooms come with an attached bathroom, Do note that there is no carpeting in the room. Neither is there bedroom slipper provided. Please bring your own pair. In the room there is a cupboard, which had enough hangers for 2 days worth of clothes for 2 person, no luggage stand (place it on the floor), a glass table and 2 chairs, a wall-mounted TV with about 5-8 local channels, a dressing table (with a waste paper basket in the corner near the bathroom), a side table between both beds that had a table lamp, writing paper and a telephone for services.

Air-conditioning worked fine. If you're worried the room gets stuffy, just turn on the aircon in your room when you leave the hotel (the cleaners will not turn it off just to save electricity). This means you can enjoy a cool environment after a long day of shopping.

Outside the room I stayed in June 2014

Yes, to gain access to the room, you need a key and it isnt the high tech sort of tap card/ insert card into slot type of hotel. It is a physical key (the kind of key you use to lock your main door). Rest assured, if you're worried that you might lose your key, the concierge will keep your keys on your behalf. And the best part is, when you get back to the hotel (if the same concierge staff is on duty), she can remember your room number and pass you back your key. That is a really nice gesture as it shows how much they respect the guests.

I took really little pictures of the room, so here's one with me in it.

They change the towels everyday, and cleared the bins too. Toiletries were replenished daily and the sheets were changed and bed for you (ONLY IF you placed the "Please make up room" sign outside your door!)

Oh, and yes, they had a mini fridge in the room too. The bottled water (first 2) is complimentary, there were also packet coffee, tea, creamer and sugar. They are complimentary too!

Water flask is provided for you to boil your own water too.

During my period of stay, there were many Indian guests, and they tend to sleep rather late. The walls are definitely not 100% soundproof, probably about 80%, so I could hear their conversation (but not like I understood anything they were saying) Other than that, the air conditioning was so shiok that I slept and snored like a pig.

Although no daily breakfast is provided for my option, the hotel area has many good road side stalls, which mostly closes at 11pm.

Yes, this was just a 2minute walk down the hotel towards Platinum direction.

This was taken on the 1st night when we first arrived (at about 10.30pm)

Nice personalised pouches which are great as gifts (~8SGD)

3SGD roadside wanton mee stall that was cooked on the spot

The famous Kuang Heng Chicken Rice stall (~3SGD including the bottle of coke)

The 7-eleven sold Slurpee for only SGD0,70 for the giant size

The fruits in the above picture are a must eat! Fresh fruits for sale on push carts. This was from a vendor selling right outside 7-eleven, and I bought from him every single night I was there. The guava was the only fruit he cut on the spot, but all his fruits tasted good. There were pineapples, papaya, pear, guava, jambu. Jambus are must eat here. They're so sweet, crunchy and juicy! Ah, missing the jambus now!

Yes, so now you know how convenient this hotel is, with the roadside stalls opened till almost midnight! The staff are really kind too, and tries to give you as clear instructions they can with their minimal English. 

Oh yes, Thai massage is a must when in Thailand right? No worries, there is a whole street of Thai massage parlours just 5minutes walk down the street towards Platinum direction! There are 4-5 stalls for you to choose from, and I went in to try 3 of the stalls (during the 4 nights I was there in June 2014)

After telling you so much about the hotel, I haven't mentioned the price I paid. For this 3 star hotel, I paid only 4000THB for my 4night stay. That means each night only costed about ~35SGD per night!

Where else to get such deals? Although the nearby GLOW Pratunam and Amari Watergate are much better choices in terms of the quality of service and ambience, the price is about twice to thrice the price. Being the cheapo me, I think Metro Resort is comfy enough for me. I just need a proper place to sleep and rest in preparation for the next day. So what if there are gym facilities or swimming pools in other hotels? The price you pay includes the use of facilities, but truth is, you'll hardly have time to use it, as most of the time you'll be out of your hotel. Even when in the hotel, you're probably dead beat and just wanna sloth around in bed.

I am not sponsored to do this review, but since I couldn't find any reviews on the hotel, and I find that the reviews on Tripadvisor is not an accurate representation of the hotel. I decided to post on my staycation in June 2014. 

Comment if you have any queries!

If I realise I have left out any key info, I'll amend at my leisure time.

*Updated on 2nd June: The prices of all rooms at Metro have been raised. Currently, the promotional price is 1400THB per night, not the 1000THB I paid last June. Please take note!

Cheers,

Rachel