Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Murakano]

or rather 3 and a half days really......

Not a long time I know but any recommendations? Will buy myself a guidebook of course but still.

I was also hoping to go to Macau but not sure if 2 full days in HK is enough to see some of the main sites.

Is Macau worth going to / overnight stay?

[BoholDiver]

It's worth it, timewise, because Macau is awesome.

However, financially, it depends on you. Expect a boat ride each way to be about $80 total and 1 hour each way, and then waiting to go through immigration. The hotel in Macau will be $70 or so.

They are very different cities. Both unique.

If you think you will never be back to HK again, I'd say do both. If there's a good chance you will see them again, do just HK.

[Murakano]

thanks for the reply, I will try to squeeze in Macau if I can.

If you(or anyone) has any recommendations for reasonably priced hotels please let me know. I did think about doing a day trip but might change my mind.

PS: I take it you were talking about HKD earlier(?)

and if there's any "must see" places to visit please let me know too, thanks. Doing a bt of my own research but opinions from other travellers who have been there would be appreciated.

[BoholDiver]

$80 would be US/Canada dollars, round trip. Somewhere in that neighbourhood.

You can get a boat directly from HK Airport to Macau, or go into HK city first, and catch it there.

[bbb0777]

If you travel very quickly, I think even *one* day in Hong Kong could be enough for the best main sites. I would vote spending one full day in Macau, and 2.5 in Hong Kong though given your available time. Macau really is both interesting and quite different from Hong Kong.

However you do it, remember as another has said - that there are direct ferries to/from Macau and the international airport.

For sites in Hong Kong, the only ones that really stood out for me were:

View from Victoria Peak

Very long/high cable car ride to Tian Tan Buddha

Riding the "longest escalator in the world"

Hong Kong Zoo (small, but free, mostly fun for the great views of the skyscrapers over the foliage...also, it's just a short walk [turn left] from the top of the aforementioned escalator)

Riding a double-decker bus

Looking back at Hong Kong island from Kowloon (preferably when the nightly light show is happening)

[Murakano]

is it worth spending a night in Macau?

Or a day trip enough? Not much of a gambler/casino goer though but if there`s interesting things to do/see at night I`ll look into it.

thanks for the info about HK. Appreciate the advice.

[bbb0777]

Maybe it's worth spending a night in Macua, just so that you can stay out late seeing the casinos. I don't gamble at all, and didn't in Macau, but it was still fun seeing The Venetian Casino. It's the largest casino in the world, complete with a shopping mall that in a photo, really could pass for Venice to someone who'd never been. Plus I'm sure there are other noteworthy casinos, though that's the only one I went to.

I don't think the hotels are any more expensive in Macau vs. Hong Kong. Possibly cheaper (though I don't really know), so why not arrive in Macau one morning, then leave the following morning for Hong Kong or the airport?

[Scott in Incheon]

I haven't lived there for a bit, but for acccomodations I would look at guesthouses over hotels...there should quite a few to choose from in Kowloon.

When I did live there, I loved taking a ferry to one of the islands around HK...Cheung Chau....if you take the slow ferry then you get a nice leisurely ride around HK Island and end up at Cheung Chau which is a fishing village/island....great place to have lunch.

[brier]

I agree about the fact that if you think you won't be back in the area, you should visit Macau. The portuguese architecture blended within the Chinese culture is beautiful. Forget about the gambling, get lost on the side street and soak the atmosphere up.

[Murakano]

any recommendations for reasonably priced hotels in Macau?

I`ve read on 1 or 2 sites it`s cheaper to book through an agent (hotel + ferry ticket) at the ferry terminal.....anyone else confirm?

[bbb0777]

I had read the same, and then that's what I did (booked at the ferry terminal). I can't confirm if it was cheaper or not as I've done nothing else. I want to say it was something like...80,000/night, for a very nice/large room at a hotel on the main island, near the dock. It was too nice of a room really, I at least would have preferred to pay less if possible.

The Macau Tower has the 'highest bungee jump in the world'...but it's extremely expensive.

[samd]

I would skip HK all together and just do Macau if you only have three days.

HK Airport > MTR > Central > Take a stroll for a couple of hours and have a meal or two > Star Ferry Terminal > Macau > Casinos/Sightseeing> Ferry direct back to HK in time for your flight.

Buy your ticket back to HK airport when you arrive in Macau, and they will put you on the right boat direct to the airport in time for your flight after you tell them your flight info.

If you plan to be in casinos or out and about for most of the time, then a hotel is probably a waste of money and you should just stay in a sauna. They run pretty cheap and are safe, clean, and have food and places for your luggage. I personally don't like saunas much so I usually get a hotel, but always feel ripped off when I check out.

I heard that the new Grand Lisboa has great rooms for discounted prices and that everything in the room is free. There are also some good places to eat in the building. Avoid the Lisboa, as the rooms are aging badly and it is way overpriced, although the basement cafes are worth a visit. The Holiday Inn is also a solid option, reasonably priced decent rooms, great location, good facilities.

In regards to booking the packages at the ferry terminal, it is cheaper if you know what you're doing, but if you don't you might get ripped off. See if you can find any deals on the internet, and if not, do the rounds at the ferry terminal and go to a lot of places before buying to get a fair indication of the prices on offer.