This post revolves around my solo international trip to one of the most futuristic regions in the World and that is the Hong Kong SAR. I would say this was an unintentional solo trip since I had no plans of going in there alone but ended up winning a return economy ticket in the Worlds Of Winner contest of Cathay Pacific and @technofino’s visa and PAR both got rejected. I had booked on the last date of expiry of the voucher code for travel in February 2024 and paid approx INR 14500 in taxes. FYI you can fly via indigo at around 18K return fare also if you book in advance!
I am presenting a travelogue for the same which may help you in planning a trip. Since this was a solo budget trip so if you are going with your family carefully read on my alternative suggestions which would be a bit costlier but comfortable with your family.
Hong Kong SAR is technically a part of China but has special administrative powers. For Indians the region is visa-free and all you need to do is fill up a Pre Arrival Registration (PAR) form and it instantly approves or rejects your visit application. If rejected you need to apply for a visa by visiting the embassy. Also it has been observed that they have blacklisted certain cities and their PAR will get rejected for sure in such cases getting a visa is also quite difficult. Since I am from Delhi the PAR was accepted and I was good to go.
Now coming to insurance, although HKG doesn’t mandate travel insurance but I never travel without one. I got it using my newly made AMEX Platinum Charge Metal card since it provides travel insurance 5 times a year for free.
Day 0: Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 3
The airport transfer was taken care of using my Axis Reserve card and since I was alone I didn’t book the Meet&Assist service. The airport was all empty and I zipped to the lounge in approximately 10 minutes. Since Cathay is a full-service carrier so I had some light refreshments in the Encalm Lounge.
Day 1: Kowloon and MongKok (Ibis North Point)
Prerequisites: I landed at the airport in the morning and just after landing was bombarded with some questions from an immigration officer since I was travelling solo. I was asked about my purpose of visit, hotel bookings, itinerary and how I be funding my trip. All these are legit questions and quite normal from an immigration perspective. Since I am an avid planner I had my itinerary ready in PDF format which I showed to them. After my immigration, I straightaway headed to the HSBC ATM for some dollars (1HKD = 10.2INR). Here I used my IndusInd Exclusive Debit Card to withdraw at zero markup and zero charges also HSBC doesn’t charge you anything hence I was able to withdraw like a local.
After that, I went to get a local sim from 7-11 store which cost me approximately 750 INR for 7 GB of data for 7 days here. Getting a physical SIM was cheaper since I had researched all e-sim vendors and they were proving costly. The SIM got activated instantly. Further, I purchased an Octopus card for 200HKD which comes with 150HKD loaded and 50HKD as refundable security. Now to go to the city you can either take a bus, a hotel shuttle or the AirPort Express line. For taking a hotel shuttle you don’t necessarily need to stay in that hotel but since I had booked my stay in Ibis North Point which doesn’t operate any shuttle service I had to look for other shuttles. Since most of the shuttles were for other hotels and didn’t want to waste time searching their locations I went ahead with the airport line. When I exited the MTR I realised that it was too costly since I paid almost 1100 INR one way! If you are on a budget take a shuttle to any hotel in the city centre and take MTR further to reach your hotel else if you are with family then you can compare the taxi fare with the airport MTR fare and decide. For gauging fares of different transportation options, you can download the CityMapper app. Also, keep in mind that in HKG buses and trams have flat fares irrespective of the distance travelled and only for MTR do you have to double punch your Octopus card to pay distance-based fares. To handle HKG public transport like a pro always remember to board the bus from the front and pay the fare in advance and alight from the back. For the tram, it's the opposite since you have to board from the back and pay the fare while alighting from the front!!
View attachment IMG_3598.mov
I had booked a single room for the next 4 days by breaking the stay into single-day day bookings. The idea was to stay in a low-key comfortable hotel and save on points. Further, I had cancelled and redone many of the bookings many times since closer-to-stay points requirements kept on decreasing and I saved nearly 2000 Accor points easily by doing this. Since Ibis North Point is at one side of the city hence switching to Novotel City gate for Day 3 and Day 4 makes quite a lot of sense if points is not an issue. Total damage 11000 ALL Accor Points + 1000 INR in cash.
After check-in, I took MTR and explored Choi Hung Estate Car Park, Nan Lian Garden, Chi Lin Nunnery, and Tai Sin Temple in the order. Since all of these are close I chose to walk and avoided taking the bus and paying full fare for smaller distances. There is a very nice vegetarian restaurant in Nan Lian Garden if you fancy some local food.
After this, I took the MTR to MongKok and explored local markets like Sneaker Street and Ladies Market. If you are interested in buying cheap electronics or computers then Apliu Street or the Golden Dragon Shopping Arcade at Sham Shui Po will be a better choice than Mongkok. I had also bought some toys from Toys-pocket store on Toy Street which was selling genuine imported toys at very decent prices.
Day 2: Victoria Peak Tram and Victoria Harbour (Ibis North Point)
View attachment IMG_3664.mov
In the morning after breakfast, I went to see the famous Monster Building located near Tsuen Wan using the famous Hong Kong Tramways. Hong Kong tram operates at a flat fare of 3HKD for adults and is the cheapest mode of transportation in Hong Kong. Since VISA was giving a discount of 1HKD on each trip by using the card directly on Tap and Pay I simply used my Axis Reserve everywhere. After this, I took MTR to Central and took the Central and Middle-level escalators to Tai Kwun which is an erstwhile British Jail and now converted into a Museum. You can also visit the famous Graham Street Murals and Potting Street which is walking from here. The central and middle-level escalators are a series of escalators which facilitate pedestrians to climb the hills in Hong Kong and reach their destination from the Central MTR station.
In the afternoon I had my lunch at Ebezneer’s restaurant which is a chain of restaurants across Hong Kong that serves great Indian food and has a set menu for lunch which is value for money. After this, I walked to the Peak Tram Station to catch the famous heritage tram which goes to the Victoria Peak and is the highest point of Hong Kong Island. This tram has the highest vertical climb for a tram in the world. You can use your Octopus Card to catch the tram and avoid cash queues. Try to sit on the right side of the tram while going up and vice-versa to get the best of the views. Here after reaching the top, you can explore various viewpoints or simply take a walk on the circular route of Lugard Road and Harlech Road to enjoy complete views of Hong Kong. I would suggest you to avoid paying for The Peak since the same view you can get from nearby viewpoints as well. There is also a luxurious Indian restaurant on the top by the name of Rajasthan Rifles which is worth your money if you have time. You can also plan to have lunch here and then enjoy the sunset at the peak and have dinner in Tsim Sha Shui.
View attachment IMG_3674.mov
The tram costs around 115 HKD for a return and 75 HKD for a one-way journey. So on the way back, I took a bus to Central which cost me just 12HKD and for the views grab a seat on the right side while going down the hill. After this, I took the foot over the bridge to catch the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Shui which costs 5HKD and can be paid in cash/via Octopus or tap and pay. Everywhere I was using my Reserve extensively be it Ferry/MTR/HKG Buses or the Tramways to get the 2X multiplier on my international spending. After reaching Tsim Sha Shui you need to walk to the Avenue of Stars to enjoy the Symphony of Lights show which starts at 8 PM daily and lasts for approximately 10 minutes. To be honest I didn’t like the show and found it quite boring.
If you have another day to spare in Hong Kong Island then explore the vintage southern side of Hong Kong which includes Stanley and Repulse Bay. Since there is no MTR you can take a bus to explore this coastal route and beaches. In the evening you can explore the Causeway Bay Shopping area where you will find all the brand showrooms under a 500m radius.
Day 3: Lantau Island: Tian Tan Buddha and Tai O Fishing Village
I started early this day to explore the famous Buddha statue of Lantau Island and took the MTR to Tung Chung Station. You can also shift your base to any hotel near Citygate Outlet mall for the next two days to cut short your commute times. After reaching Tung Chung there were two options to reach Ngong Ping village I.e. the cable car and the bus. Cable cars also have two options one is with a glass bottom whereas the other is the usual one. You can book tickets for the same online via their own website. I took the bus since there was a huge difference in pricing. The buses here are operated by Lantau Bus and hence they don’t accept tap-and-pay Visa cards so keep your Octopus loaded for seamless travel on this island.
After visiting Tian Tan Buddha Statue I explored the Ngong Ping Village and Po Lin Monastery which in-houses a vegan cafe and serves the famous bean curd dessert. Further, I took another bus to visit the Tai O fishing village in which the houses are majorly built on stilts. To explore this village I took a boat which charged 50HKD and it showed the complete village and also took us deep into the sea near HongKong Zhuhai Macau Bridge for White Dolphin (Chinese Dolphins) spotting but I couldn’t sight one even after a long wait. Further, you can visit the village on foot and then catch the bus directly to Tung Chung.
In the afternoon I explored the City Gate outlet mall and shopped heartily since it was Chinese New Year time and huge discounts were running on apparel and other things.
Day 4: Disneyland
A complete day can be kept reserved for Disneyland. I would suggest you avoid going on weekends and since entry starts at 10 AM so leave early as per your stay location and rush to complete the following rides first. You can also find out the best day for visiting using this website https://queue-times.com/parks/31/calendar. You can carry your dry snacks and water also inside else there are loads of restaurants inside for having a good meal.
I skipped it since I would like to enjoy it with my family sometime later when I visit again. So instead of this, I explored the markets of Causeway Bay, IFC Mall, and Hong Kong Central areas.
Day 5: Macau (Sofitel at Ponte 16)
After having breakfast in Ibis I left my luggage with them since I didn’t want to carry it to Macau. Now Macau is another SAR under China which was an erstwhile Portuguese colony and the world’s most dense region in the world. The official currency is Macanese Pataca (MOP) but Hong Kong Dollars are readily accepted in Macau even in public transport. The conversion is 1:1 and no visa is required. The process is the same as in Hong Kong the only difference is that there is no requirement for PAR as well. You can simply arrive at any of their port with your Indian passport and they will let you in with a visa slip.
Now for going to Macau, you have the following two options
The ferry will cost you around 2000 INR one way and starts from Sheung Wan ferry terminal and can be booked via Klook. But I had opted for the HZM Bus since it was cheap and cost just 65HKD one way via the newly built sea bridge. For boarding the bus you need to reach the HZMB HK Port which is located near the HKI Airport. The journey lasted just 45 minutes with breathtaking views of the sea on both sides of the road.
After completing the immigration facilities you can take a shuttle to your hotel from the right side after exit. Else use Google Maps for transit data and board the city bus for your hotel the standard fare for adults is 6 Patacas. Remember to keep the exact change (HKD works) with you since Octopus won’t work here. Wish they made this seamless to make travel hassle-free for tourists.
For this day I had booked a Standard Room with Lounge access at Sofitel at Ponte 16 which was upgraded to a Luxury room basis my ALL Accor Gold status. I had used my staples for that night and had to use 2600 ALL Accor points and 286 INR cash for the lounge access. After having my high tea at the Club Millesime I checked into my room. The views of the sea and Mainland China were amazing from the room itself. The hotel also has an in-house casino though you won’t find any roulettes in here.
After my evening cocktail hours, I went to Venetian Mall by using the City Bus. I withdrew some 100 MOP cash from HSBC ATM which was inside the hotel itself. After this, I went to an adjacent 7-11 store to buy something just for the change.
View attachment IMG_3821-2.mov
In Macau, there are many hotels like Venetian, Parisian, Londoner, COD etc which comprise of casinos on the ground floor, malls on the floors and hotels on the upper floor. So finally played some bets on the roulettes of the Venetian Casino and after doubling my money I exited the Venetian. You can take Gondola rides inside the mall if you like. The nearby point worth exploring is the Eiffel Tower. Entry is free if you don’t want to go up inside the tower also you can see the well-lit casino street from here. You can also go to the nearby Wynn resort to enjoy the fountain show.
Finally, I took the Macau Light Rail Transit (LRT) (just for experience) which is the under-construction and not-so-popular metro of Macau. It currently has only one line operational so I went to Barra Station and took a bus back to my hotel. Else you simply take a City bus from the malls and save yourself from the hassles of walking till the LRT.
Alas, the bar had closed by the time I reached hence couldn’t redeem my Welcome Drink voucher which I had received based on my Accor Plus membership.
Day 6: Old Macau and Return Flight
Since I had lounge access with my room I had the option of having breakfast in the in-house restaurant or the lounge. I chose the lounge for a higher probability of getting some good food but was disappointed to see that there was no Indian counter unlike Sofitel Nusa Dua, Bali. After confirming late check out from the hotel reception I got ready to explore the island for one last time.
I had reserved this day to explore the older part of the city which is walkable from Sofitel and for the same reason I had chosen this hotel. Attractions like Senado Square, Ruins of São Paulo and Macau Fort can be explored in the morning easily. After this, I shopped to buy some souvenirs.
Finally, I checked out and boarded the shuttle from the hotel and bus back to Hong Kong. Since Hong Kong considers this as a reentry and issues a new visa slip hence you have to face immigration again. This time I was referred by the immigration officer to the immigration office for a brief interrogation. My passport was taken away in a bag and I was made to sit in a police station-like setting. The biggest thing in my mind was my evening flight and luggage which was at the other end of the city. Although I had kept enough buffer time for this! I requested them to expedite whatever process they wanted to follow plus was also a bit scared since I didn’t know why I was being apprehended like this in a foreign land. They confirmed my flight timings and I also told them about my luggage thing. So they quickly sent a female officer and I was taken to a room and asked some basic questions like where I stayed in Macau, return flight details and my occupation in India. After this, I was given my passport after some background checks I guess.
Hong Kong calls itself a tourist-friendly country but taking tourists to interrogation rooms that too on the 6th day of the visit when you are issuing a visa for 15 days is something they should think of. Other than this I would say the locals are very friendly to the tourists even though you may face a language barrier with elder people but most young people communicate well in English. Also, I suddenly realised that although we call Hong Kong a very costly city but I didn’t pay a single penny to enter any of the tourist attractions in all these days which I can’t even think of in any other country.
I dropped my luggage at the Hong Kong Station in Central and took the AirPort Express line directly. This facility you can avail if you are travelling to the HKIA via AirPort Express line and your carrier is Cathay Pacific. Thankfully I made it to the airport in time and finally relaxed in the Centurion Lounge using my recently acquired Amex Platinum Charge. Was delighted to see so many Indian food options there surprisingly!
My total out-of-pocket expenses were roughly 14.5K on flight taxes + 1.3K around hotels + around 14K on other expenses like food and transportation. So I was exploring HK and Macau for 6 days for just 30K INR!!! The rest was my shopping which was huge and is discretionary. I am also attaching my itinerary in PDF format. Please tell me what are your thoughts about exploring the world on points and miles?
I am presenting a travelogue for the same which may help you in planning a trip. Since this was a solo budget trip so if you are going with your family carefully read on my alternative suggestions which would be a bit costlier but comfortable with your family.
Hong Kong SAR is technically a part of China but has special administrative powers. For Indians the region is visa-free and all you need to do is fill up a Pre Arrival Registration (PAR) form and it instantly approves or rejects your visit application. If rejected you need to apply for a visa by visiting the embassy. Also it has been observed that they have blacklisted certain cities and their PAR will get rejected for sure in such cases getting a visa is also quite difficult. Since I am from Delhi the PAR was accepted and I was good to go.
Now coming to insurance, although HKG doesn’t mandate travel insurance but I never travel without one. I got it using my newly made AMEX Platinum Charge Metal card since it provides travel insurance 5 times a year for free.
Day 0: Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 3
The airport transfer was taken care of using my Axis Reserve card and since I was alone I didn’t book the Meet&Assist service. The airport was all empty and I zipped to the lounge in approximately 10 minutes. Since Cathay is a full-service carrier so I had some light refreshments in the Encalm Lounge.
Day 1: Kowloon and MongKok (Ibis North Point)
Prerequisites: I landed at the airport in the morning and just after landing was bombarded with some questions from an immigration officer since I was travelling solo. I was asked about my purpose of visit, hotel bookings, itinerary and how I be funding my trip. All these are legit questions and quite normal from an immigration perspective. Since I am an avid planner I had my itinerary ready in PDF format which I showed to them. After my immigration, I straightaway headed to the HSBC ATM for some dollars (1HKD = 10.2INR). Here I used my IndusInd Exclusive Debit Card to withdraw at zero markup and zero charges also HSBC doesn’t charge you anything hence I was able to withdraw like a local.
After that, I went to get a local sim from 7-11 store which cost me approximately 750 INR for 7 GB of data for 7 days here. Getting a physical SIM was cheaper since I had researched all e-sim vendors and they were proving costly. The SIM got activated instantly. Further, I purchased an Octopus card for 200HKD which comes with 150HKD loaded and 50HKD as refundable security. Now to go to the city you can either take a bus, a hotel shuttle or the AirPort Express line. For taking a hotel shuttle you don’t necessarily need to stay in that hotel but since I had booked my stay in Ibis North Point which doesn’t operate any shuttle service I had to look for other shuttles. Since most of the shuttles were for other hotels and didn’t want to waste time searching their locations I went ahead with the airport line. When I exited the MTR I realised that it was too costly since I paid almost 1100 INR one way! If you are on a budget take a shuttle to any hotel in the city centre and take MTR further to reach your hotel else if you are with family then you can compare the taxi fare with the airport MTR fare and decide. For gauging fares of different transportation options, you can download the CityMapper app. Also, keep in mind that in HKG buses and trams have flat fares irrespective of the distance travelled and only for MTR do you have to double punch your Octopus card to pay distance-based fares. To handle HKG public transport like a pro always remember to board the bus from the front and pay the fare in advance and alight from the back. For the tram, it's the opposite since you have to board from the back and pay the fare while alighting from the front!!
View attachment IMG_3598.mov
I had booked a single room for the next 4 days by breaking the stay into single-day day bookings. The idea was to stay in a low-key comfortable hotel and save on points. Further, I had cancelled and redone many of the bookings many times since closer-to-stay points requirements kept on decreasing and I saved nearly 2000 Accor points easily by doing this. Since Ibis North Point is at one side of the city hence switching to Novotel City gate for Day 3 and Day 4 makes quite a lot of sense if points is not an issue. Total damage 11000 ALL Accor Points + 1000 INR in cash.
After check-in, I took MTR and explored Choi Hung Estate Car Park, Nan Lian Garden, Chi Lin Nunnery, and Tai Sin Temple in the order. Since all of these are close I chose to walk and avoided taking the bus and paying full fare for smaller distances. There is a very nice vegetarian restaurant in Nan Lian Garden if you fancy some local food.
After this, I took the MTR to MongKok and explored local markets like Sneaker Street and Ladies Market. If you are interested in buying cheap electronics or computers then Apliu Street or the Golden Dragon Shopping Arcade at Sham Shui Po will be a better choice than Mongkok. I had also bought some toys from Toys-pocket store on Toy Street which was selling genuine imported toys at very decent prices.
Day 2: Victoria Peak Tram and Victoria Harbour (Ibis North Point)
View attachment IMG_3664.mov
In the morning after breakfast, I went to see the famous Monster Building located near Tsuen Wan using the famous Hong Kong Tramways. Hong Kong tram operates at a flat fare of 3HKD for adults and is the cheapest mode of transportation in Hong Kong. Since VISA was giving a discount of 1HKD on each trip by using the card directly on Tap and Pay I simply used my Axis Reserve everywhere. After this, I took MTR to Central and took the Central and Middle-level escalators to Tai Kwun which is an erstwhile British Jail and now converted into a Museum. You can also visit the famous Graham Street Murals and Potting Street which is walking from here. The central and middle-level escalators are a series of escalators which facilitate pedestrians to climb the hills in Hong Kong and reach their destination from the Central MTR station.
In the afternoon I had my lunch at Ebezneer’s restaurant which is a chain of restaurants across Hong Kong that serves great Indian food and has a set menu for lunch which is value for money. After this, I walked to the Peak Tram Station to catch the famous heritage tram which goes to the Victoria Peak and is the highest point of Hong Kong Island. This tram has the highest vertical climb for a tram in the world. You can use your Octopus Card to catch the tram and avoid cash queues. Try to sit on the right side of the tram while going up and vice-versa to get the best of the views. Here after reaching the top, you can explore various viewpoints or simply take a walk on the circular route of Lugard Road and Harlech Road to enjoy complete views of Hong Kong. I would suggest you to avoid paying for The Peak since the same view you can get from nearby viewpoints as well. There is also a luxurious Indian restaurant on the top by the name of Rajasthan Rifles which is worth your money if you have time. You can also plan to have lunch here and then enjoy the sunset at the peak and have dinner in Tsim Sha Shui.View attachment IMG_3674.mov
The tram costs around 115 HKD for a return and 75 HKD for a one-way journey. So on the way back, I took a bus to Central which cost me just 12HKD and for the views grab a seat on the right side while going down the hill. After this, I took the foot over the bridge to catch the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Shui which costs 5HKD and can be paid in cash/via Octopus or tap and pay. Everywhere I was using my Reserve extensively be it Ferry/MTR/HKG Buses or the Tramways to get the 2X multiplier on my international spending. After reaching Tsim Sha Shui you need to walk to the Avenue of Stars to enjoy the Symphony of Lights show which starts at 8 PM daily and lasts for approximately 10 minutes. To be honest I didn’t like the show and found it quite boring.
If you have another day to spare in Hong Kong Island then explore the vintage southern side of Hong Kong which includes Stanley and Repulse Bay. Since there is no MTR you can take a bus to explore this coastal route and beaches. In the evening you can explore the Causeway Bay Shopping area where you will find all the brand showrooms under a 500m radius.
Day 3: Lantau Island: Tian Tan Buddha and Tai O Fishing Village
I started early this day to explore the famous Buddha statue of Lantau Island and took the MTR to Tung Chung Station. You can also shift your base to any hotel near Citygate Outlet mall for the next two days to cut short your commute times. After reaching Tung Chung there were two options to reach Ngong Ping village I.e. the cable car and the bus. Cable cars also have two options one is with a glass bottom whereas the other is the usual one. You can book tickets for the same online via their own website. I took the bus since there was a huge difference in pricing. The buses here are operated by Lantau Bus and hence they don’t accept tap-and-pay Visa cards so keep your Octopus loaded for seamless travel on this island.
After visiting Tian Tan Buddha Statue I explored the Ngong Ping Village and Po Lin Monastery which in-houses a vegan cafe and serves the famous bean curd dessert. Further, I took another bus to visit the Tai O fishing village in which the houses are majorly built on stilts. To explore this village I took a boat which charged 50HKD and it showed the complete village and also took us deep into the sea near HongKong Zhuhai Macau Bridge for White Dolphin (Chinese Dolphins) spotting but I couldn’t sight one even after a long wait. Further, you can visit the village on foot and then catch the bus directly to Tung Chung.
In the afternoon I explored the City Gate outlet mall and shopped heartily since it was Chinese New Year time and huge discounts were running on apparel and other things.
Day 4: Disneyland
A complete day can be kept reserved for Disneyland. I would suggest you avoid going on weekends and since entry starts at 10 AM so leave early as per your stay location and rush to complete the following rides first. You can also find out the best day for visiting using this website https://queue-times.com/parks/31/calendar. You can carry your dry snacks and water also inside else there are loads of restaurants inside for having a good meal.
- Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars
- Mystic Manor
- Iron Man Experience
- Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle!
- “it’s a small world” (Fantasyland)
I skipped it since I would like to enjoy it with my family sometime later when I visit again. So instead of this, I explored the markets of Causeway Bay, IFC Mall, and Hong Kong Central areas.
Day 5: Macau (Sofitel at Ponte 16)
After having breakfast in Ibis I left my luggage with them since I didn’t want to carry it to Macau. Now Macau is another SAR under China which was an erstwhile Portuguese colony and the world’s most dense region in the world. The official currency is Macanese Pataca (MOP) but Hong Kong Dollars are readily accepted in Macau even in public transport. The conversion is 1:1 and no visa is required. The process is the same as in Hong Kong the only difference is that there is no requirement for PAR as well. You can simply arrive at any of their port with your Indian passport and they will let you in with a visa slip.
Now for going to Macau, you have the following two options
- Ferry
- HZM Bus (Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau Golden Bus)
The ferry will cost you around 2000 INR one way and starts from Sheung Wan ferry terminal and can be booked via Klook. But I had opted for the HZM Bus since it was cheap and cost just 65HKD one way via the newly built sea bridge. For boarding the bus you need to reach the HZMB HK Port which is located near the HKI Airport. The journey lasted just 45 minutes with breathtaking views of the sea on both sides of the road.
After completing the immigration facilities you can take a shuttle to your hotel from the right side after exit. Else use Google Maps for transit data and board the city bus for your hotel the standard fare for adults is 6 Patacas. Remember to keep the exact change (HKD works) with you since Octopus won’t work here. Wish they made this seamless to make travel hassle-free for tourists.
For this day I had booked a Standard Room with Lounge access at Sofitel at Ponte 16 which was upgraded to a Luxury room basis my ALL Accor Gold status. I had used my staples for that night and had to use 2600 ALL Accor points and 286 INR cash for the lounge access. After having my high tea at the Club Millesime I checked into my room. The views of the sea and Mainland China were amazing from the room itself. The hotel also has an in-house casino though you won’t find any roulettes in here.
After my evening cocktail hours, I went to Venetian Mall by using the City Bus. I withdrew some 100 MOP cash from HSBC ATM which was inside the hotel itself. After this, I went to an adjacent 7-11 store to buy something just for the change.
View attachment IMG_3821-2.mov
In Macau, there are many hotels like Venetian, Parisian, Londoner, COD etc which comprise of casinos on the ground floor, malls on the floors and hotels on the upper floor. So finally played some bets on the roulettes of the Venetian Casino and after doubling my money I exited the Venetian. You can take Gondola rides inside the mall if you like. The nearby point worth exploring is the Eiffel Tower. Entry is free if you don’t want to go up inside the tower also you can see the well-lit casino street from here. You can also go to the nearby Wynn resort to enjoy the fountain show.
Finally, I took the Macau Light Rail Transit (LRT) (just for experience) which is the under-construction and not-so-popular metro of Macau. It currently has only one line operational so I went to Barra Station and took a bus back to my hotel. Else you simply take a City bus from the malls and save yourself from the hassles of walking till the LRT.
Alas, the bar had closed by the time I reached hence couldn’t redeem my Welcome Drink voucher which I had received based on my Accor Plus membership.
Day 6: Old Macau and Return Flight
Since I had lounge access with my room I had the option of having breakfast in the in-house restaurant or the lounge. I chose the lounge for a higher probability of getting some good food but was disappointed to see that there was no Indian counter unlike Sofitel Nusa Dua, Bali. After confirming late check out from the hotel reception I got ready to explore the island for one last time.
I had reserved this day to explore the older part of the city which is walkable from Sofitel and for the same reason I had chosen this hotel. Attractions like Senado Square, Ruins of São Paulo and Macau Fort can be explored in the morning easily. After this, I shopped to buy some souvenirs.
Finally, I checked out and boarded the shuttle from the hotel and bus back to Hong Kong. Since Hong Kong considers this as a reentry and issues a new visa slip hence you have to face immigration again. This time I was referred by the immigration officer to the immigration office for a brief interrogation. My passport was taken away in a bag and I was made to sit in a police station-like setting. The biggest thing in my mind was my evening flight and luggage which was at the other end of the city. Although I had kept enough buffer time for this! I requested them to expedite whatever process they wanted to follow plus was also a bit scared since I didn’t know why I was being apprehended like this in a foreign land. They confirmed my flight timings and I also told them about my luggage thing. So they quickly sent a female officer and I was taken to a room and asked some basic questions like where I stayed in Macau, return flight details and my occupation in India. After this, I was given my passport after some background checks I guess.
Hong Kong calls itself a tourist-friendly country but taking tourists to interrogation rooms that too on the 6th day of the visit when you are issuing a visa for 15 days is something they should think of. Other than this I would say the locals are very friendly to the tourists even though you may face a language barrier with elder people but most young people communicate well in English. Also, I suddenly realised that although we call Hong Kong a very costly city but I didn’t pay a single penny to enter any of the tourist attractions in all these days which I can’t even think of in any other country.
I dropped my luggage at the Hong Kong Station in Central and took the AirPort Express line directly. This facility you can avail if you are travelling to the HKIA via AirPort Express line and your carrier is Cathay Pacific. Thankfully I made it to the airport in time and finally relaxed in the Centurion Lounge using my recently acquired Amex Platinum Charge. Was delighted to see so many Indian food options there surprisingly!
My total out-of-pocket expenses were roughly 14.5K on flight taxes + 1.3K around hotels + around 14K on other expenses like food and transportation. So I was exploring HK and Macau for 6 days for just 30K INR!!! The rest was my shopping which was huge and is discretionary. I am also attaching my itinerary in PDF format. Please tell me what are your thoughts about exploring the world on points and miles?
