Try and have a look for flights on http://www.skyscanner.net/

I nearly always use this for my flights

Just buy the ticket in Guangzhou , easier ....

I did this last time and didn't face any problem

Regarding purchasing electronics - please stick to shops that openly display a price when buying items such as cameras.

First time I went, wanted to buy a camera for my mum as it was cheaper than UK at the time (HK no sales tax like UK..) anyway I already knew the model I wanted and how much it should be.

The sales guy tried to sell me another camera for the same price (although it was only worth half) and changed the settings on the camera I wanted to buy to make the picture quality look terrible compared to the cheap one .. luckily I knew what I wanted otherwise I might have fallen for it.

Second time I bought another camera - they tried to sell me the accessories that are meant to come with it separately

So best thing to do is stick to the retail chains such as Fortress etc. who openly display prices and won't try to rip you off.

Malaysia doesn't have sales tax either on electronics so I don't think the prices will be much cheaper in HK anyway.

Leaving luggage in Hotel until the next day shouldn't be an issue - I've done this before. Worst case you could leave it at one of the train stations (last time left mine at Hong Kong station) but I think they charge by the hour so can get expensive. Just did it that time as I had some hours to kill and didn't want to take a huge suitcase around with me all day.

Hotel I used to always stay at Langham place - used to be about 700HKD per night that time but I think now the prices have gone up already. These days I go for work and stay in Shen Zhen where you get more hotel for your money ... then just go HK for day trip if no work related things to do

This post has been edited by rjb123: Nov 4 2012, 11:18 AM

Train station is not lockers, you bring trolley with luggage and they give you tags like a hotel would but charge you per pc, I don't remember the charge but was quite expensive. According to MTR website :



You'd probably be best leaving at the hotel , I couldn't as I didn't have a hotel in HK at the time.

Just checked Asiarooms, Langham is showing now as 800+ per night quite expensive. My colleague stayed a couple of weeks ago in Regal iClub and he managed to get for RM250 that time but I guess this depends on the dates you're booking ... quite convenient but Wan Chai is a seedier area although you still feel safe Just search on Expedia/Hotels.com/Ctrip/Asiarooms etc. HK has lots of choice for hotels

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Added on November 4, 2012, 3:39 pmI used 3 SIM Card last time for data, see here for details on charges. You can pick one up at HK airport on arrival

http://www.three.com.hk/website/appmanager...710594&lang=eng

This post has been edited by rjb123: Nov 4 2012, 03:39 PM

Yes, was RM250.

It was done via Expedia (UK site, he was visiting from UK) I met my colleague at HK airport around 4-5PM and was booked for the same night there online - so very much last minute - maybe the prices drop last minute if they have availability? This was on 9th Oct FYI

Edit : Think there's been a confusion somewhere, I remember him telling me was RM250, but I just checked the transaction on the bank and it was actually GBP 115 = RM 575.

This post has been edited by rjb123: Nov 4 2012, 04:20 PM

There's quite a lot of free Wifi around, if you start to roam on a certain network you will actually get an SMS with a code for free public Wifi for 24 hours ... I can't remember what network this is provided now.

Not sure about nano sim, but HK is quite up to date so I wouldn't worry about it - if they only have normal SIM can also cut down for you

I normally do this, never had a problem with luggage size, even when having pretty big bags ...

You can take a ferry direct from HKIA to Shekou ferry terminal also , this should be quicker. By train is good but you'd need to take the airport express into town then change onto other trains , bit more hassle than a bus from the airport.

Now my question

I'm arriving at HKIA at 11PM next Saturday and need to go to SZ - too late for ferry, and Lo Wu border crossing closes at midnight, no chance I'll make it after immigration / waiting for baggage etc.

Anyone have any experience using the Lok Ma Chau 24 Hr crossing? I'll need to get a taxi there also as SZ Metro would have stopped already - I'm staying in the Huaquiang area (5 stops from Lo Wu on metro...) I hate taxis in China (don't speak a word of chinese, drivers always asking questions etc )

FYI, there's a little known visa booth upstairs on the HK side issuing same day China visas for approx RMB 500

So you'd need to fly to HK and get the visa there, I don't use it as normally make sure I have one in advance to avoid the hassle of getting one there

In SZ I quite like Fortune Hotel, in Huaquangbei area (5 stops from Lo Wu) - costs 350 RMB / night if booked in advance.

It's walking distance to all the electronics markets - but I don't know what your reason for visit is of course, so this area might not be interesting for you

Can't really advise on budget as I usually travel HK on business and always stay in SZ (hotels far cheaper )

For China there is a Visa office at Lo Wu border for a same day single entry (I think 5 day only) visa, but it's better to apply the visa in advance in KL

Easiest way to enter SZ is via train to Lo Wu then cross there.

Can't advise on travel to Swatow, but I'm sure there'll be buses or trains running from SZ>

Hotels in HK are expensive, otherwise the costs aren't too bad - SZ Hotels are less than half the price.

I guess you can find backpacker places which are cheaper to stay than hotels - have a look at http://www.hostelworld.com/ to get an idea

Public transport in HK is excellent, I don't read/speak a word of Chinese and have no problems getting around at all. I'd say it's probably better than Singapore but have only been to Singapore for a few days so a bit difficult to compare.

Just pick up an Octopus card (touch n go / EZ-Link) equivalent, you can top this up at any train station and use it on all trains / buses in HK and even other places like 7-11 or McDonalds to pay for stuff

Shen Zhen public transport is also good, I haven't had any problems - they also have a similar card but I never had one of those and just pay per ride

As long as a hotel is near a Metro it's all good - easy to get around

I am also lost in China when it comes to food, not being able to read/speak Chinese makes it difficult as not many menus have English and I'm not a fan of McD/KFC etc.

I normally get suppliers / customers to take me out to eat , other times just grab some noodles + few cheap Tsing Tao from 7-11 and eat in the hotel

BTW, for booking hotels in China I've always found Ctrip to be good !

This post has been edited by rjb123: Mar 17 2013, 05:56 PM

Mongkok is fine - busy area, lots of places to eat and shop - shouldn't have a problem

That RM397 is a great deal, I just paid RM1400 with MAS for a return - but it was booked at short notice

Thanks, I saw in a flew places that the taxi shouldn't be more than HKD300 or so , apparently there's also night buses running to there (change at Sheung Shui) but seems like a bit of a hassle at that time of the night. I don't really want to camp out in the airport until 5-6 AM, will probably be tired enough as it is. Will make a decision once I arrive, see how I feel, I just think taxi will be the least hassle

Not being able to speak Chinese the taxis probably will take a longe route either way - but RMB 50-100 seems reasonable enough.

I had to book this flight last minute, that's why there wasn't really any special deal available

Just an update on this

Arrived at 11PM , cleared through customs / immigration / baggage claim by midnight - too late for any trains to Lo Wu etc obviously.

Went to the "Travel to mainland" bus counters and nothing available , last bus left 10 minutes before. Met 3 other guys in the same position and we shared a taxi to the Hangguang border which came to HKD 320 in total (80 HKD each)

This border full of touts trying to sell their transport, bit annoying! Anyway, other guy insisted he gets taxi with me (Indian, can speak mandarin) and got to Huaquiang hotel for less than RMB20

Quite happy with the outcome, reached hotel at 1:30AM which is earlier than I expected , and didn't cost much. 80 HKD + 20 RMB + 8 HKD for the border bus.