going to Hong kong!!!!

markmat

thamesmatt wrote: »

Obviously I know that there are supposed to be cheap electrical goods, would I get a cheap mobile decent phone there? What other electrical items are good value? - i guess memory cards... CDs DVDs Am I right?

Whilst this is true I think you should stick to a couple of rules. Firstly, make sure you have an idea what you want, and have some idea how much you could buy it for in the UK (or on eBay etc.). For example, I found last year the memory cards were not as cheap as I had expected, I found them significantly cheaper in Singapore.

I'd also agree with one of the earlier posts about laptops. These may not necessarily be cheaper. However, if you want to buy any kind of Mac or iPod then HK is the place to go. Since these items are hardly ever discounted anywhere, the lack of sales tax in HK will probably mean you cannot buy them cheaper anywhere (legally anyway!). If you look on the Apple website you should find links to the official resellers for Macs, although you'll find iPods pretty much anywhere.

thamesmatt

thanks, I am keen on a laptop but i know pretty much what I want and what it costs here so unless its significantly cheaper I wont bother.

hmmm Macs... i have been quite keen on an ibook for a while... thats given me food for thought!!!

(i want to buy something as I need to offset some tax i will have to pay from my work)

Also does anyone know about routers? Would I get a decent G one that would cost say £100 here for a decent price over there? Mine is rubbish and has a range of about 10 feet and I intend to work in the garden over the summer!!!

Steve_xx

thamesmatt wrote: »

thanks, I am keen on a laptop but i know pretty much what I want and what it costs here so unless its significantly cheaper I wont bother.

hmmm Macs... i have been quite keen on an ibook for a while... thats given me food for thought!!!

(i want to buy something as I need to offset some tax i will have to pay from my work)

Also does anyone know about routers? Would I get a decent G one that would cost say £100 here for a decent price over there? Mine is rubbish and has a range of about 10 feet and I intend to work in the garden over the summer!!!

You should be aware that there is a limit on the value of duty free items you can bring back to the UK. That limit, is I think, £145 worth at present.

pin

Re electronics in HK, I would say about 20 - 30% cheaper than in the UK (including laptops, well i reckon they are about 10% cheaper in HK).

Few things to consider though:

- Make sure you ask for price including international warranty (getting goods with local warranty are cheaper).

- Paying by CC will add about 2% at many of the computer shops

- Keyboards will be US style (i.e. no £ symbol).

- HK uses three pin power (like the UK), however some items will be sold with European / Asian style two pin power (not a bit issue as you can get convertors easily)

- AVOID nathan road for electronics, its a rip off market.

- If you want to play super safe shop at Fortress (HK equiv to Dixons)

- I personally rate the Wanchai computer market, however many people reckon the one in Mongkok is also very good, up to you really. There are about 5 decent computer markets in HK.

- Remember you should technically declare all goods over your personal allowance when coming back to the UK. Whether you do, is really up to you.

- Remember to bargain. They may not come down in price, but get them to throw in extras.

thamesmatt

Hi,

Thanks again to you all for your advice. I am back and had a great time. I just thought I would add a few points to help out anyone else searching this thread.

We had bad weather the whole week but it didnt spoil it apart from not being able to see much from the peak. We got the idea though.

Shopping wasn't quite what I thought. Having been to Kuala Lumpur recently I was expecting much of the same but its a far more mature shopping market. Ie Nintendo games are real not fakes and similarish prices to the UK. I didnty bother with a laptop basically because fo the keyboard issue although the samsung q35 laptop I wanted was at least £150 cheaper than the cheapest online UK site.

Go to Stanley and Repulse Bay! Take the number 6 bus. These are on the south of the island and are stunning scenery and a great break from the hussle and bustle of the city.

Lantau island and the giant buddah are worth a visit.

The boat trip at night is fanastic

I had a suit made at the world famous Sam's. Could have got a cheaper one but its a fantastic suit! The picture gallery of famous faces on the wall make it a must see!

Mong Kok ladies market and the temple St night market are great.

Do not be tempted to go to Shenzhen in China. It cost £30 each to get a visa to get into china and from the moment we got there we were hassled and physically pulled and manhandled all over the place by shop keepers. They have seriously got to look at the way they deal with westerners. The Big mall on the border claims to have 1500 shops with western fashion outlets, its basically a flea market! the 1500shops could be combined in to about 5, fake watches, fake leather goods, fake bags and some sportswear. We lasted 20 mins and went out to see a bit of the city and look for some decent shopping but still we got hassled by touts so we sought santuary in the Shangri la hotel, had a beer and got straight back on the train to Hong Kong.

If you want fakes and dont mind the hassle then go for it but I wish we had used the day to go to Macau.

Tea at the penninsula was really nice

The trams are a great way to get about and get your bearings

Happy VAlley Horse racing is on a wednesday and is free to get in if you show your passport or drivers licence as tourists! Its brilliant! A real occasion

Anyway!

Am tired and in need of a sleep, its after midnight for me now!!! Hope my expereinces are of use to others.

Matt

ps one other thing Oasis airlines are great. Not a substantial differece from BA or a more established airline. The foods awful though so consider eating before you get on... oh and dont expect to eat/shop at the airport after about 10pm. It's shut!!!!

Donnie

That's not true about the airport. It's just that only a couple of the food outlets stay open beyond 11pm.
Ate some tasty Ramen before catching my Oasis flight and bought some extra bits and pieces including two Tropicana Orange juices and some bbq pork to supplement the airline food. Came to six pounds, including the Ramen. So not expensive.
Free internet and wireless access throughout the airport.

Oasis staff are definitely more pleasant than BA staff. Sorry, BA.

thamesmatt

the shops etc... were shutting when I got there at about 10 and there was at most one or two fast food oputlets and a sports bar. nowhere to buy any snacks, believe me I walked round and round.

Free wifi was good as I could update my Avantgo to read on the plane!

Actually I have to say many of the bars even in Stanley had free wifi so I could keep up to date with the football news!

Donnie

It's called Ajisen Ramen.

"Nearly everything at the HKIA shut down after midnight. Even the drinking fountains… damn. The only places still open were Cafe de Coral and Ajisen Ramen. Cafe de Coral was doing better business than Ajisen by far; loads of immigration and customs officers were having their supper there."

halwise

My Sister and I just came back from HK after flying there on the
recently started Oasis service. For £270 return you really can't
knock it!
I can't really add much to what has been written already. We
primarily used the routing to get us out to Bangkok, which was
only £50 return from Macau with Air Asia.

On the way home we were so impressed with Macau we stayed
another night, very underrated place imo, fabulous food, and a
visit to the Casino's is a must.
One of the best bus journey's I have ever been on, was the route
from Central to Stanley (for the Market), try and grab a top deck seat
for some incredible views en route. Also a Tram ride, to Kennedy Town
is a great way of spying some incredible sights of this wonderful place.

ENJOY...

thamesmatt

halwise wrote: »

One of the best bus journey's I have ever been on, was the route
from Central to Stanley (for the Market), try and grab a top deck seat
for some incredible views en route. Also a Tram ride, to Kennedy Town
is a great way of spying some incredible sights of this wonderful place.

Yes! thats what we did! the number 6 bus, 50p each way! its an amazing view. I wished we had done it sooner on th holiday rather than the last day!

So annoyed that we choose Shenzhen over Macau for the day!