Job Discussion Forums

dan allan · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 38

Hi there HK veterans;

I'm arriving in HK NOV 5TH. Can anyone suggest cheapie decent private room hotels in a central area.

Also, I'm thinking of a week or so crash course in Cantonese (with homestay) before heading to Guangdong province to seek ESL work to reduce culture shock and to communicate a bit. A logical plan?

Are there some typical hangouts where the teacher crowd frequents?

Best places to get 6 month Multi-entry tourist visa?

I thank you all in advance.

Dan.

wanderlust1066 · Joined: 16 Aug 2003 Posts: 82 Location: Kowloon, Hong Kong

Hotels: I have no idea what you mean by 'cheap', but I once stayed at a Caritas Lodge (in Prince Edward, near Mong Kok) for as little as 5,000 dollars for the whole month, including all bills (heating/air-con, etc., telephone calls in HK are free as long as you only dial another HK number). I thought that was a bargin. It is only a 10 min walk to Prince Edward MTR station.

I would usually advise people to concentrate on Mandarin; most cities in Guangdong are 'immigrant' cities meaning they have attracted workers from all over China. Accordingly, Mandarin usually wins out as the lingua franca. Anyway, I don't really think you would be able to even so much as begin to hear the 12 tones of Cantonese (only 9 used in daily life) after only 1 week! It took me some 4 years to even begin to hear the differences in the nasalized tones. And as for the tones that fall, rise, fall a little more, tail off and then rise again before finally falling........

HK will not reduce the culture shock of Guangdong. Only Guangdong can do that.

HK is large, hangouts are many. I have never heard of a 'teacher hang out' save for the weekend trips organised for NETs.

Visas can be had easily. I think that 1-year visas are more common. Correct me if I am wrong, however, but I do think that you still need some form of letter of invite ot some form of business connection in order to get a multiple entry Z visa. They are only about 1,000 dollars. The topic has been addressed in some depth elsewhere within these pages, browse through the China forums. CTS is good.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

I recommended a one-woman business of a guesthouse to a fellow teacher who was enthusiastic about it, so here is:
- 4th floor, 11-13 Cleveland St., Causeway Bay, HK Island,
Mrs. Chen
(I can give you her phone no. if you want).

She has very nice rooms, fully-furnished with an attached bathroom and your own telephone and a TV set.
She charges you between 2500 and 4000 a month, and you can use a fridge and an electric cooker.
Location: Next to Victoria Park, next to stop of airbus from/to airport; tram stop SOGO; underground station near;
near HK's largest library. Very good shopping in the area. China Visa section a twenty minute walk from there. Various cultural institutions in the area.

dan allan · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 38

The prices you are quoting are in what dollar currency? US? Hong Kong?

Re the 6 mos multi-entry tourist visa my understanding is that you only need a photo and passport - from what people tell me and what I've seen on bulletin boards etc. I'll double-check with the local Chinese Embassy.
However, any input on this would also be appreciated.

For the record I'll arrive in Hong Kong on November 11th; that is now confirmed.

Thanks again,

Dan.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

My quotes were in HK dollars; one US dollar is HK$ 7.8;
'wanderlust's quotes may have been in any other currency - I do not know.

wanderlust1066 · Joined: 16 Aug 2003 Posts: 82 Location: Kowloon, Hong Kong

As they use the HK dollar in HK and since your question was about prices in HK, I was referring to HK dollars. US dollars won't get you very far here; probably less far than the Chinese 'currency'.

FAQ China · Joined: 31 May 2003 Posts: 53

Good cheap room: www.rentaroomhk.com. Half price by the month. TV and phone in every room. Free local calls. Office Internet. Fluent bilingual staff. Stone�s throw from the subway. All night Internet caf� across the street. Plenty of western atmosphere near Nathan Road. Cheaper rooms are available nearby, and lots of them. But they�re a little seedy - and surrounded by aggressive street salesmen. Times bookstore is next door. An English language bookstore is very close, but the name escapes me the moment. Best place for a 6 month multiple entry tourist visa: Japan Travel, 5th floor, East Ocean Centre, end of Granville Road, several blocks from Rent A Room. Passport and photo, no forms, no hassle, next day service. Last heard, 400 Hong Kong dollars, but rumor has it that visa fees have doubled (?). Love to know where the 1 year visas are. Express trains and buses to Guangzhou are a few blocks from Rent A Room at Hung Hum.