Holiday in Hong kong

Obviously_the_best

Flight search using https://www.skyscanner.net
Hotel search using https://www.trivago.co.uk
Simples.

kingrulzuk

Tahnk you very much

Have booked a room from 16 to the 23rd of Feb on AIRBNB
Will book the flights next week when i get paid can see Qatar Airways for £480 from Edinburgh
So now i have to just change the money as i will take cash. Any advice there?

Doshwaster

kingrulzuk wrote: »

Tahnk you very much

Have booked a room from 16 to the 23rd of Feb on AIRBNB
Will book the flights next week when i get paid can see Qatar Airways for £480 from Edinburgh
So now i have to just change the money as i will take cash. Any advice there?

If you really want to use cash then just take Sterling and change it there. You'll get much better rates as there isn't that much demand for HK Dollars in the UK.

Yinster

Just back from Hong Kong as I go there once a year. You will enjoy your time there especially over CNY. However be wary that the shops will be manic before it and then there is a public holiday so a lot of the smaller independent shops do close for up to three days as locals take time out to do praying rituals to ancestors.

Use public transport by getting an Octopus card - You can buy one from the airport. $50 deposit which you will get back when you return it and you need to load it with another $100. Sounds a lot but just now it it $12.14 to £1. With the octopus card you can use it on the trains (MTR), buses and trams plus also pay in food outlets like MacDonalds and supermarkets and stores. Other advantage is you don't even need to take it out of your wallet unless topping up as it is that sensitive when scanning.

If you are doing a lot of sightseeing or tourist attractions I recommend going either first thing in the morning or later in the evening as most are busy with people with long queues.

As you are going in February it is one of the coldest times in Hong Kong. Nothing like here but some years it has been known to be colder in HK than the UK when the UK has had a mild period. Temperatures shouldn't reach lower than 12C but it will feel cool or cold.

If you don't mind which route to take when flying then try all airlines for the best price. But personally I prefer a short flight then one big long one rather than two seven hours flights. Anything around £500 to £550 is good especially around CNY.

I use Three and it was so good. Totally free within my contract so roam a lot without worrying.

Good luck and have fun.

kingrulzuk

Thank you very much for the info

NiftyDigits

kingrulzuk wrote: »

Tahnk you very much

Have booked a room from 16 to the 23rd of Feb on AIRBNB
Will book the flights next week when i get paid can see Qatar Airways for £480 from Edinburgh
So now i have to just change the money as i will take cash. Any advice there?

Was it 1970 when you last travelled abroad?

You need to get yourself some decent travel plastic once and for all.

Rebecca_Palmer

Hi, You have a great plan in travelling:) HK is a nice place for tourists. I have been there years ago but I stayed at the Kowloon side. Anyway, I can see many cheap packages being offered online these days. I think, it would not be difficult for you to get one that will fit your budget:)

kingrulzuk

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Was it 1970 when you last travelled abroad?

You need to get yourself some decent travel plastic once and for all.

1970 i was not even born

What card do you recommend ?

NiftyDigits

kingrulzuk wrote: »

1970 i was not even born

What card do you recommend ?

Cumberland Plus Debit
Halifax Clarity Credit
Kalixa Pay Prepaid

You can pay by card most everywhere in Hong Kong.
Kalixa Pay will pass on the full Mastercard rate, currently: HK$12.22 for purchases, as will the Clarity. Cumberland and Clarity will pass on the full Visa/Mastercard rate for both ATM withdrawals and purchases with no fees.
Kalixa Pay has a fixed ATM withdrawal fee, so take a single chunk of cash out(much as you would if you changed you cash up here anyway) when you arrive and then use the card to pay for things whilst you are there. Use the cash for street markets etc
That way anything left on the card will still be in Pounds, which you can use Pound for Pound in the UK with no fee.

So, say you take £100 of cash out on arrival. That's a 2.25% fee.
£150; 1.875%. £200; 1.5%. £300; 0.75%

So taking £300 out on arrival with Kalixa Pay would net you a rate of nearly HK$12.13(after all charges) if you were there today.
Much better than any rate that you would receive here. Purchases at HK$12.22 as aforementioned.

The caveat with Kalixa Pay, is that the card costs £6.95. But it has a four year life span, so can be used over many holidays.

My first choices would be the first two on the list, but if you are unable to get them, defer to Kalixa Pay.

For European travel and if you live within the M25, get a Metro Bank debit card.

kingrulzuk

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Cumberland Plus Debit
Halifax Clarity Credit
Kalixa Pay Prepaid

You can pay by card most everywhere in Hong Kong.
Kalixa Pay will pass on the full Mastercard rate, currently: HK$12.22 for purchases, as will the Clarity. Cumberland and Clarity will pass on the full Visa/Mastercard rate for both ATM withdrawals and purchases with no fees.
Kalixa Pay has a fixed ATM withdrawal fee, so take a single chunk of cash out(much as you would if you changed you cash up here anyway) when you arrive and then use the card to pay for things whilst you are there. Use the cash for street markets etc
That way anything left on the card will still be in Pounds, which you can use Pound for Pound in the UK with no fee.

So, say you take £100 of cash out on arrival. That's a 2.25% fee.
£150; 1.875%. £200; 1.5%. £300; 0.75%

So taking £300 out on arrival with Kalixa Pay would net you a rate of nearly HK$12.13(after all charges) if you were there today.
Much better than any rate that you would receive here. Purchases at HK$12.22 as aforementioned.

The caveat with Kalixa Pay, is that the card costs £6.95. But it has a four year life span, so can be used over many holidays.

My first choices would be the first two on the list, but if you are unable to get them, defer to Kalixa Pay.

For European travel and if you live within the M25, get a Metro Bank debit card.

I will apply for Halifax Clarity Card as i have a account with them.

Thank you for the info