Bring your digital camera and get ready, coz if don’t have the money honey, you better scrimp like crazy.
If there is one thing I am good at it is living beyond my means. Though not necessarily a commendable trait, it has made me a hardcore bargain hunter for everything -- from food, to sleeping quarters, to clothes, to transportation.
Bring your digital camera and get ready, coz if don’t have the money honey, you better scrimp like crazy.
If there is one thing I am good at it is living beyond my means.
Though not necessarily a commendable trait, it has made me a hardcore
bargain hunter for everything -- from food, to sleeping quarters, to
clothes, to transportation. I may not be rich, I must admit, but street smart-- yes I am! Based on my recent budget trip to Hong Kong , I have crafted a scheme so frugal it will make any Pinoy proud. This is for all the wanderlusts, who are short on cash.
You will be amazed how cheap, well organized and safe it is to ride a
bus in Hong Kong. There will always be a bus stop near you so spot
that. DO NOT flag a bus in the middle of the road, it will squash you
mercilessly! Always opt for the second deck seating for the best view.
DOUBLE DECKER TRAMWAY = US$.50 (flat rate)
Hong Kong’s cheapest mode of transportation! Unfortunately the TRAM’s route only covers the Hong Kong Island
side. But if you’re in the area you can go from Causeway Bay, to the
Shark’s Fin City to Louis Vuitton in Central with just 12 bucks!
Everyone MUST ride the TRAM, at least once, for the whole old school HK
experience.
STAR FERRY = US$2.00
This the cheapest and most scenic way to traverse Kowloon and Hong Kong island.
MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (MTR) = US$1.00 – US$15.00 (depending on the destination)
Not necessarily cheap, the MTR is the most convenient and my favorite way to go around the city . As they say, once you go MTR you can never go back to our local MRT.
*Taxis are the most expensive way to get around HK, so if you want to be a smart travel just say no and walk to where you’re going.
Sleep
CHUNKING MANSION = US$15 PER PERSON
Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Do not be scared of the ghetto facade, the Mansion is safe and dirt
cheap (no pun intended). The place has relatively clean beds and each
room has its own bathroom with hot water in this hotel .
Recently featured in Time Magazine, Chunking Mansion is said to be the
melting pot of races in Hong Kong with Indians, Middle Eastern people,
Nepalese, Sri Lakans, Bangladeshins and Nigerians calling this their
turf.
Entertainment
SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS = FREE!!
Star Ferry Terminal, Kowloon
Every night at exactly 8 pm there will be a laser show
. You will hear a musical accompaniment to the laser light, which
includes thousands and thousands of lights on various Hong Kong
buildings bouncing off each other. Green and white lasers will shoot
out from the top of the sky scrappers. It’s an amazing opulent
experience that is, best of all, free!
VICTORIA PEAK = US$20.00 ++ (WITH FOOD)
Hong Kong Island
The Peak is an SOP destination. Its open rooftop platform offers the best 360-degree view of HK! Go there around sunset so you see HK’s skyline at night. The cheapest way to get there is via open-top bus.
The restaurants and bistros are steep on price so opt for good ol’
McDonalds on the second floor. Take out your food and eat it al fresco
on the roof deck.
OCEAN PARK = US$30
This is a happier place than Disneyland, especially if your 13 years old and up!
The latest attraction is the SkyFair, here you ride a helium balloon to
get a spectacular view of the coastline and South China Sea.
LAN KWAI FONG = US$10
Central District, Hong Kong
The L-shaped cobble stone lane has trendiest pubs, bistros, restos and
clubs. This place is an expat magnet so if you’re into white boy
yuppies you may find your match here. However alcoholic beverages
sold at the bar are worth gold. The solution is to load up on the
nearest 711 (a 6pack Tiger beer cost about P300), get bubbly with booze
then head to Lan Kwai Fong and just go people oogling.
Shopping
MONGKOK STREET MARKET
Kowloon ongkok street is ‘The shopping tourist mecca ’. There are rows of shops that sell sports goods, branded clothes, computer items, comics, collectible toys, cellphones etc.
The most famous area is the Ladies Market. It is 3 blocks of tent domes
that sell stuff you can see in Greenhills. However there are nice items
to purchase like cute tote bags, hardcore rocker belts, bling quality
fake watches and the ubiquitous pasalubong keychains, ballpens,
wallets, t-shirts etc. If you decide to buy something here YOU MUST
HAGGLE like your life depended on it. Haggling in this area is like a
metaphor to a girl’s love life. Never show them (boys/hawkers) that
you’re into them (boys/items). Always bargain for the best deal which
is a 75 percent discount. And if they don’t give you what they want…
WALK AWAY. There will be an 80 percent chance the boy/hawker will give
in to what you want.
Another tip if your gonna buy the Hong Kong printed T-shirts the good price is 6 shirts for HK$100 (or P100 each)
LAI CHI KOK
Kowloon
This is fashion wholesale paradise! To get here ride the MTR, go down the Lai Chi Kok station. Take Exit C.
Cheap bags, t-shirts, jeans, belts, accessories, you name it’s here.
Haggling is a must. The US$30 leather bags you see in the US as
expensive stores are just worth US$15 here.
H&M
Causeway Bay ??? Hong Kong
For me this is the better than Mango, Sarah, Dorthy Perkin or Top Shop
combined. This Swedish brand has the cheapest yet trendiest goods.
Lucky for me and my friends we came in during sale season and we bought
kick ass shirts for as low as P300 and patent leather bags for as
cheap as P600! The accessories are lovely!
H and M caters to all kinds of taste whether you’re a wannabe hipster
like Lindsay Lohan or a polished trendsetter ala Ashley Olsen. You
cant go wrong with a store that has acquired the talents of such
bigwigs as Karl Lagerfeld, Viktor and Rolf, and yes… Maddona and Kyle
Minogue!
BOSSINI
Dowdy as the brand may seem this clothing store is practical and if you
look close enough you can find decent casual, office wear. Check out
their SIMPSON tees sold for a steal.
Giordano
Gone are the cheesy Giordano plain tees with Frog logos, remember the
90s? In Hong Kong, Giordano has put up a Concept Store that has become
classy and trendy. Check out their print ad which models Korean
Superstars including Rain! The Concept Stores have quality goods
and the designs are minimalist but well structured. As expected the
stuff is more expensive than your regular goods. A collared polo shirt
can cost US$20, but it’s worth it!
The question now is what happened to Giordano Philippines ?
HMV
CD heaven, enough said.
DOG FRIENDS FASHION STORE
Kowloon
Hipster clothing that street fashonistas will relish. I bought a trench patch jacket at a sale price of US$20.00 from US$100
Eats
STREET FOOD AT MONGKOK AREA = US$2.00
The way the Chinese cook their hawker food maybe gross but boy is it
yummy. Get authentic dim sum, pork buns, prawn dumpling and Chinese
Tea Here!
POPEYE’S CHICKEN = US$12.00
Order the chicken and the bread. Super worth it!
EGG TART = US$.40
This is Macau’s dessert speciality but HK version is also great. Buy at any local bakery
Raj Aryan is a content writer. Presently working with a Tour Package company. Find India vacation packages and online at Cheap flights tickets to India, providing the best selection and availability of cheap tickets.
