I have always dreamt of living the wanderlust life. Globetrotting, seeing the world, experiencing the culture, meeting new friends and learning. But growing up, I've also had this thought in mind that I'll never be able to travel as much as I want to especially in a foreign country because I didn't have the luxury to do so. I used to think that travelling is just for the rich and that I was too poor to travel. I always thought that it was money that's holding me back to travel. Bills, rent, tuition fees and everything. I always had these excuses but I realized that nothing about these excuses prevent me from traveling except my own mindset. It kinda sucks that it took me forever to realize that but at least I did. I made it happen. And you can make it happen too. As Nomadic Matt put it "You just need to change the mindset that keeps you from your goals and start looking for ways, no matter how small, to begin living your travel dreams." I always read his blog and he always inspires me.He is right, if you want to travel--believe you can. It doesn't have to be expensive nor luxurious, what important is you can make your travel dreams come true. I know travelling in a foreign country may seem tricky, well it really is but guys it's possible. We're lucky we now have the Internet, we can just easily search information online to make our planning a lot easier. We can read travel blogs or watch videos on YouTube where we can get plenty of tips and ideas about our chosen destination, sample itinerary and expenses. That's what I actually did and it really helped me a lot planning our trip. So in return I want to share you guys mine and I hope it would be a great help as well. Here, I'll be sharing the itinerary that I personally made, cost breakdown and some helpful tips and reminders~ mainly based on my personal experience preparing this trip and during our trip.
First-time travelers like us, can get easily overwhelmed by the thought of exploring the world outside our world and that sometimes makes the planning and preparation more complicated. In another country, we're not in familiar territory, we don't know the streets, the landmarks and obviously we can't understand a language we don’t speak. And not to mention the expenses will surely drain our bank account. There are so many things we have to consider before we can finally take the plunge and throw ourselves into a new adventure and discover the meaning of life outside our comfort zone. It may seem scary and arduous but it's all in the mind and we can get thought it. It's doable, all we need is an adequate, well-researched and strategic plan and preparation.
First, we need a destination. It sounds easy but if you're like me and you just want to go everywhere and explore as much of the world as possible, deciding where to go can be a big problem. Surprisingly for this trip, deciding where to go was a no brainer. We've both agreed right away and voila we have a destination. And where else could it be? Of course Hongkong! Why Hongkong, you may ask? Because why not? Hongkong is one of the most popular destination in Asia especially for first time travelers like us. It is only a couple of hours away from Manila and aside from that it's a visa free country so it only makes sense to have HK in mind. Plus Disneyland, the happiest place on earth is there and not to mention its beautiful skyline and exciting attractions. So HK is it!
Now that we have a destination let's start the planning. Shall we? Yes, planning a trip can be overwhelming and time-consuming, especially for overseas travel so it is better to plan ahead of time. By planing ahead of time you can still save money, score an affordable plane ticket and of course you'll have enough time planning and preparing for your trip. Write a step-by-step travel planning guide and to do list, it is very important because it will keep you on track with your trip planning and just so you'll be sure you won't miss anything. Another thing, you must prepare an itinerary to help you enjoy more your trip and maximize your stay. Here, let me show you mine.
First, we need a destination. It sounds easy but if you're like me and you just want to go everywhere and explore as much of the world as possible, deciding where to go can be a big problem. Surprisingly for this trip, deciding where to go was a no brainer. We've both agreed right away and voila we have a destination. And where else could it be? Of course Hongkong! Why Hongkong, you may ask? Because why not? Hongkong is one of the most popular destination in Asia especially for first time travelers like us. It is only a couple of hours away from Manila and aside from that it's a visa free country so it only makes sense to have HK in mind. Plus Disneyland, the happiest place on earth is there and not to mention its beautiful skyline and exciting attractions. So HK is it!
Now that we have a destination let's start the planning. Shall we? Yes, planning a trip can be overwhelming and time-consuming, especially for overseas travel so it is better to plan ahead of time. By planing ahead of time you can still save money, score an affordable plane ticket and of course you'll have enough time planning and preparing for your trip. Write a step-by-step travel planning guide and to do list, it is very important because it will keep you on track with your trip planning and just so you'll be sure you won't miss anything. Another thing, you must prepare an itinerary to help you enjoy more your trip and maximize your stay. Here, let me show you mine.
HK Travel planning guide and to-do list:
1. Passport ready
(It is a must if you're travelling overseas Click this link on how to get PH Passport)
2. Book a flight
Always be on the lookout for seat sales guys, follow the airline's social media accounts so you won’t miss their seat sale updates. I also use SKYSCANNER and TRAVELOKA to compare prices. Traveloka is actually good because they have promo codes where you can use to get discounts. I actually got 700php off discount on our accommodation and 1,200php off discount on our flight back to Manila from them.
3.Book accommodation
Obviously hotels are expensive so when travelling I'm always on the lookout for a decent yet affordable hostels. As long as it has a bed, clean bathroom and well ventilated~I'm ok with it. For this trip's accommodation I chose Bohol Hotel (located in Chung King Mansion) which I booked through Traveloka.
4.Pay Travel Tax
You can pay the1,620php travel tax at the airport but you can also pay online through TIEZA.
5.Book travel Essentials
I actually bought/booked most of our travel essentials for this trip on KLOOK cause this is where you can avail a lot of discounted deals guys, so I highly recommend this site.
*Octopus Card: This is a must guys. You can use this magical card on most of public transport, as well as for purchases in convenience stores, fast food shops, supermarkets, vending machines and more. I got mine on Klook for only 639php and it goes with HK$50 of preloaded credit.
*iVenture Card: This is also an amazing card that you must have if you want to travel in HK and Macau on a budget. With this card alone you can access 14 HK and Macau top attractions plus discounts to more deals including Disneyland. It also comes with 4G SIM Card (5 Days, HK Only (only redeemable at Airport A13 counter). I got our 5day pass for only 6,459 on Klook. Can you imagine that? You can actually save a lot of money, as in a lot. Check the iVenture Card link for more details.
*HK-Macau Round trip Ferry Ticket: I also booked our HK-Macau round trip ferry on Klook for only 2,179php. But sadly we we're not able to go to Macau because of the typhoon. Sad. Good thing though, we didn't have a hard time getting a refund on Klook. Props to them!
6. Make copies of important documents:
Don't forget to print out hard copies of everything including your passport, IDs and everything you booked for your travel. You'll be needing them at the immigration especially if it's your first time to travel overseas and so you'll have copies just in case you'll need them.
7.Hongkong dollars currency:
Know the exchange rate guys and please do not exchange your money at the airport because you'll get a lower rate. Better yet exchange your money at the bank or at a money changer. What we actually did was exchange some here in the PH so we can use it to pay for our Disneyland ticket at the airport.
8.Check the weather/Season:
This is also a must so you'll know what to pack and to avoid over packing as well.
9.Itinerary
Research/read some blogs for directions, tips and travel guide. Just so you'll have ideas what to do, where to go and to avoid getting lost. This will help you save a lot of time during your trip.
10.Double Check Everything.
*Be at the airport at least 3 hours before your flight
Just to make sure you'll have enough time paying your travel tax, checking in (you can do them online though) filling out Departure Card (bring your a pen guys), security check and yes enough time for immigration. We actually missed our 5:30am flight just because we were still at the immigration. It wasn't our fault though, we were early but there were just so many passengers to interview and there were just a few staffs, come on PH! I almost died running just to find out Cebu Pacific already transferred us to the next flight! That was horrible!
Ok, going back to our agenda, now that we have accomplished everything on our check list it's time for us to make an itinerary. Making an itinerary is very important so you can maximize your stay. Like what I have mentioned above, reading travel blogs will help you a lot. I actually got the iVenture card idea while reading a blog and it was indeed very helpful. With the iVenture card you can access 14 HK and Macau top attractions plus discounts to more deals including Disneyland! I got our 5day pass for only 6,459php. It comes with easy reference guides that map out what to do and see in HongKong and Macau. Check the itinerary I made below using iVenture card.
Hongkong-Macau 5D4N Itinerary (Aug.20-24,2017)
Day 1 (Aug.20 Sunday)
5:30 am: Departure (NAIA)
7:40 am: Arrival (HK Airport)
9:00 am: Pick up Octopus card & iVenture card. Buy Disney Ticket (Airport Arrivals Counter A13)
10:00 am: Airport toTsim Sha Tsui (Airbus Station Hall B on the Arrivals Level (Level 5) Ride bus A21 Airport Hung Hom KCR Station Route (33hkd)
12:00 nn: Drop off when you reach Bus Stop No.14 - Middle Road, Nathan Road
12-1:00pm: LUNCH
1:00 pm: Check In Bohol Hotel 10/F, Flat 10D-8, Block D, Chung King Mansion, 40 Nathan Road
*Phone: 1-852-31041651 (Take Elevator E)
2:00 pm: Peak Tram Roundtrip
(MTR to Central Exit K 5HKD)
Peak Tram Lower Terminus, 33 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
*(Redeem ticket at Traveleasy Ltd/Holiday World Tours Ltd. The round trip ticket must be used on the same day)
Traveleasy Ltd
Address: Shop 316, 3/F, World Wide Centre, 19 Des Voeux Road Central, Central
Phone: 852 2313 8223
Opening hours: Mondays-Fridays: 9:00am-7:00pm, Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays: 9:00am-5:00pm
Holiday World Tours Ltd:
Address: Room 1021, 10/F, Peninsula Centre, 67 Mody Road, Tsimshatsui East, Kowloon
Phone: 852 2723 3771
Opening hours: Mondays-Fridays: 9:00am-7:00pm, Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays: 9:00am-5:00pm
4: 00 pm:Trickeye Museum
You can redeem your ticket at Trickeye Museum
*Closed for renovation from 22/8 to 1/11 (exact reopen date until further notice)
Shop No. 1, Level Three, The Peak Galleria, No. 118 Peak Road, Hong Kong
*Closed for renovation from 22/8 to 1/11 (exact reopen date until further notice)
6:00 pm: Rickshaw Top Bus tour
Star Ferry Piers, Central, Hong Kong
You can redeem your Rickshaw bus (H1) ticket with iVebture Card in their Rickshaw bus (H1) bus terminus. The bus terminus is near Central Star Ferry Pier.
DINNER-REST
Day 2 (Aug.21 Monday)
7:00 am: Tour Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
(Victoria Harbour,Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the Clock Tower and the Avenue of Stars)
From Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station walk through to East Tsim Sha Tsui station, Exit P1
From Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station walk through to East Tsim Sha Tsui station, Exit P1
8:30 am: Breakfast
9:00 am: MTR East Tsim Sha Tsui to Nam Cheong Station to Sunny Bay Station to Disneyland
10am-8:30 pm: Disneyland
*Disneyland Hong Kong, supplement of HK$ 449/Adult and HK$369/Child payable upon collection of your iVenture Card (only redeemable at Airport A13 counter)
*Disneyland Hong Kong, supplement of HK$ 449/Adult and HK$369/Child payable upon collection of your iVenture Card (only redeemable at Airport A13 counter)
8:30 pm: MTR to Jordan Station (Temple Street Night Market) DINNER
11:00 pm: REST
Day 3 (Aug.22 Wednesday)
8:00 am: Ocean Park
180 Wong Chuk Hang Road,Aberdeen
*Bookings are essential by email at least 24 hours in advance. Please contact Ocean Park Hong Kong directly at reservation@holidayworld.com.hk.
*Bookings are essential by email at least 24 hours in advance. Please contact Ocean Park Hong Kong directly at reservation@holidayworld.com.hk.
Pick up at Holiday Inn Golden Mile lobby at Tsim Sha Tsui
Tour departs daily at 8:30 AM. Please arrive 15 minutes before departure time.
3:00 pm: Sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck
*100/F, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong
*Please contact sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck directly to redeem your ticket using your iVenture Card.
6:15 pm: Watertours Pre-Sunset Cruise
(Departs daily from Tsim Sha Tsui No. 3 Public Pier: 6:15pm)
(Departs daily from Tsim Sha Tsui No. 3 Public Pier: 6:15pm)
*You can upgrade to Symphony of Lights Cruise for an additional fee of HK$40 per Adult/Child payable to operator
*Please contact Watertours directly to redeem your ticket using your iVenture Card.
*Pickup Ticket from Watertours Office: 6/F Carnarvon Plaza, 20 Carnarvon Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
*watertours@wingontravel.com
8:30 pm: Mongkok Station
Ladies Market (get off at Mongkok Station, exiting at Bank Centre signed E ad then E2.)/DINNER
11:00 pm: Rest
Day 4 (Aug.23 Wednesday)
7:00 am: HK to Macau Ferry
Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal, 3/F Shun Tak Centre, 200 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan
Please do get your ferry ticket the day before so you can take the earlier ferry trip to Macau if you want to avail the TKW Macau Tour.
10:00 am: TKW Macau Tour
*For reservation email them in advance, atleast 3-4 days before your date
*email:tkwtours@macau.ctm.net
*Only 15 meters from the exit after immigration checked, so pleases DO BUY TURBO JET to Macau outer harbour ferry terminal.
*For reservation email them in advance, atleast 3-4 days before your date
*email:tkwtours@macau.ctm.net
*Only 15 meters from the exit after immigration checked, so pleases DO BUY TURBO JET to Macau outer harbour ferry terminal.
Pick up at either the Macau Hotel or Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal. From there, you will visit:
The ruins of St. Paul’s section of the old walls
Na Tcha Temple
Mount Fortress
Leal Senado Square
A.Ma Temple
Nam Van Lake for photos
Souvenir Shop
12:00 nn: Lunch
1:00 pm: Visit Casinos
Grand Lisboa
Free time in downtown
4-5:30 pm: Viva La Broadway Show
Broadway Theatre at Broadway Macau, Avenida Marginal Flor de Lotus, COTAI, Macau
*Closed every Tuesday + 27th, 28th October & 3,4 November
*Please redeem your tickets at Broadway Casino Main Entrance Lobby gift redemption counter, Broadway Hotel Macau. Includes Reserve B seats only.
*Closed every Tuesday + 27th, 28th October & 3,4 November
*Please redeem your tickets at Broadway Casino Main Entrance Lobby gift redemption counter, Broadway Hotel Macau. Includes Reserve B seats only.
5:30 pm: Avail Broadway Macau Set Meal
*Collect your meal voucher at the gift redemption counter at the lobby of Broadway Casino, Broadway Hotel Macau.
*Collect your meal voucher at the gift redemption counter at the lobby of Broadway Casino, Broadway Hotel Macau.
6:30 pm: Pier 16 Macau 3D World
Ponte 16 Resort Hotel 2/F & 3/F Rue das Lorchas e Rua do Visconde Paco de Arcos, entre Pontes 12A a 20, Macau
*The Museum is within walking distance of key Macau attractions such as Senado Square and is accessible by foot or by bus
*To redeem your tickets: Visit the ticketing counter on 3/F of Pier 16 Macau 3D World. A valid ID may be requested as proof of purchase
8:00 pm: Back to HK
9:00 pm: Dinner then rest
Day 5 (Aug. 24,2017)
10:00 am: Magical World single entry
*Shop 1&5, 1/F, Hilton Tower, 96 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong
*Please contact Magical World directly to redeem your Single Entry ticket using your iVenture Card.
12:00 nn: Check out/Lunch
12:00 nn: MTR To Tung Chung
1:00-5:00 pm: Ngong Ping 360 To Lantau Island, The Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery
11 Tat Tung Road, Tung Chung, Lantau
* Please redeem your ticket at the Group Ticketing Counter using your iVenture Card. Each ticket is for a Standard Cabin Round Trip.
* Please redeem your ticket at the Group Ticketing Counter using your iVenture Card. Each ticket is for a Standard Cabin Round Trip.
6:00 pm: Bus to Hongkong Airport
Bus Terminal near Tung Chung MTR Station take (S1 Bus)
9:00 pm: Departure HK to Manila
I hope the itinerary helps guys. I made it using iVenture Card. You can plan your own itinerary as you schedule where you want to go and when you want to go so it is very convenient. Activities availed under iVenture Card are in bold/purple. Click this LINK for more details.
*We weren't able to visit Noah’s Ark Hong Kong
*Unfortunately, we weren't actually able to follow the itinerary that I made due to flight delay and bad weather but we tried our best to enjoy the trip and squeeze in everything we can. Yes, shit do happens but just make sure it wont spoil your trip. Hope everything will go as plan with you.
*We weren't able to visit Noah’s Ark Hong Kong
*Unfortunately, we weren't actually able to follow the itinerary that I made due to flight delay and bad weather but we tried our best to enjoy the trip and squeeze in everything we can. Yes, shit do happens but just make sure it wont spoil your trip. Hope everything will go as plan with you.
To-do list✔
Itinerary ✔
Expenses? I know you guys are now itching to know how much we've spent for the entire trip. Don't worry I've got it covered too. Check down below.
Itinerary ✔
Expenses? I know you guys are now itching to know how much we've spent for the entire trip. Don't worry I've got it covered too. Check down below.
Breakdown of Expenses For Two (Food and shopping excluded)
Roundtrip Airfare:
MLA-HK: 1,299 x 2= 2,598
HK-MLA: 1,268 x 2= 2,536
Travel Tax: 1,620 x 2= 3240
Octopus Card: 639 x 2= 1,278
Octopus Card Load: 100hkd x 2= 200hkd 1,300
Accomodation (4nights for 2): 3,507
IVenture Card (5day pass): 6,459 x 2= 12,918
HK-Macau roundtrip ferry: 2,179 x 2= 4,358
DisneyLand: 2,906 x 2= 5812
(avail discounted price using iventure card)
Total Cost: 36,806
18,403 each
There you have it guys. That's basically it. I tried my best to make this as detailed as possible and hopefully, this post will help you save some time planning, money, and your sanity! I did not include food and shopping budget here though~ cause it's up to you guys, if you are willing to shell out extra money for these. Food in Hongkong can be pricey so if you're on a tight budget you can check out some affordable local restaurants, street food and the ever reliable convenience stores-- will always be there for you. To sum it up, HK can be really expensive but you actually don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy HK. Look out for some free attractions, local restaurants, walk the streets and markets and stay in a hostel. You can survive the entire trip without draining your bank account, believe me. Plan ahead and stick with your budget. You can do it! I hope that this post somehow help you realize that your travel dreams are possible and money isn't what holding you back to make it happen but your mindset. So just in case you’ve been bitten by the travel bug and want to leave the country, it's about time to plan that dream trip and make it happen!
P.S.
I highly recommend doing a DIY trip than getting a fixed tour, it will not only save you a lot of money but also will make you enjoy your trip. It gives you the flexibility to do things at your own leisure. You're in control and you don't have to deal with terms and conditions, how cool is that?!
P.P.S.
You can also check my Hongkong photo diary, click link down below;
Like what I have mentioned above, we weren't able to do and visit some of the activities/places due to flight delay and bad bad weather. Day 4 supposedly was a day trip to Macau but sadly we didn't make it because of the typhoon. So we just spent the whole day sleeping and eating in our room. I was really depressed but the boyfriend cheered me up, told me not to feel bad about it and just be thankful that we are safe and maybe it's just HK and Macau's way of saying please do come back again. We'll surely do! Hongkong is just so beautiful and a 5day trip wasn't enough to experience all of the great things Hongkong has to offer. I love everything about this country especially their public transportation. The MTR is the best. It's very fast, clean, safe, efficient and convenient to use. It basically connects the whole of Hongkong, you can actually walk through the stations to get around. I just love it. We'll definitely be back!
NOTE: If you have questions feel free to contact me on facebook. Link on my header. :)
NOTE: If you have questions feel free to contact me on facebook. Link on my header. :)
xoxo, Mai
