The Complete Hong Kong + Macau Travel Guide 2018 Using iVenture Card (w/ Budget + Itinerary for 4D3N DIY)

Welcome to Hong Kong and Macau! I’ll be your guide, Juno.

Hong Kong and Macau 2018

Feel free to use this comprehensive 4D3N Hong Kong and Macau guide for your own travels. However, be warned. As in my previous itinerary for Taiwan, this Hong Kong trip will exhaust your legs, drain your energy, and possibly empty your pockets if you go overboard with the pasalubongs but will definitely fill you with magical moments that you’ll fondly remember when you’re old and going senile. Download the PDF of my Hong Kong and Macau 2018 Itinerary at the end of this post.

The Basics

Airfare

Booking flights to Hong Kong is as easy as ordering McDo delivery. It’s always available and almost constantly on sale. Local airlines such as Air Asia and Cebu Pacific usually have the best prices. We were able to book a MNL (Manila) to HKG (Hong Kong) round trip flight for only 5,000 PHP via Cebu Pacific. And you can go way lower than that, as low as 2,000 PHP. What a bargain.

Accommodation

If you research accommodations in Hong Kong, chances are you’ll be directed to the Tsim Sha Tsui area because it’s at the center of everything that a tourist needs. Luckily for me, I was able to book a room through Traveloka (not an ad) in one of Hong Kong’s most famous tourist building, the Chungking Mansions. And if you can’t withstand the cramp elevators and the constant hounding of Indian men who are just doing their jobs, then you can opt for a more expensive hotel within the area such as Holiday Inn. As for us, we stayed in a small, cozy room called V-inn for the low, low price of 835 PHP per night per person.

Transportation

Hong Kong’s transportation system is easy to understand and even easier to navigate. It’s efficient and comfortable and once again, unlike most rides here in Manila. We rode the MTR, the buses, taxis, a cruise on a “retro chinese-style” boat, two tour buses, and a TurboJet to Macau. And we did a whole lot of walking, of course. In most of these transports, we used the all-mighty Octopus card which you can top-up anywhere. The other rides we either got from Klook or from using our iVenture card. Use this guide to find your way: Hong Kong Fares.

WiFi

There are three ways to get online access so you can tell your followers all about your Hong Kong and Macau trip as you experience it. First is the free public WiFi which you can access from most places in Hong Kong such as the Airport, the ferry terminal, the hotel, and the theme parks. We opted for the second option which is the Hong Kong sim card that’s free when you avail the iVenture card. The third option is pre-booking a pocket WiFi via Klook (still not an ad).

Visa

Hong Kong and Macau are just a few of the territories that the Philippines has visa-free entry to. You can stay for as long as 14 days with no need to apply for visa. Other countries, however, have requirements. See the information on their official website here: Visas For Hong Kong SAR.

Pre-booking

There’s only one thing you need to know about pre-booking when  it comes to Hong Kong and Macau: the iVenture Card. With this all-powerful card, you can access most of the essential Hong Kong tourist spots from Oceanpark to Peak Tram to Ngong Ping 360 to Macau Tower. You are also given free entry to the lesser known tourist attractions such as Sky 100, the Victoria Harbour Cruise, and the Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus. What’s more is that it lets you skip lines and avail exclusive discounts. I’ll create a detailed post about it later. For now, see the full information by clicking here.

Food

I’m not much of a foodie but I do love eating. So, to truly experience Hong Kong and Macau through my mouth, I present to you my top five food among all the things that I’ve tried in my short four days of stay in Hong Kong and Macau.

1. The rice meals of Cafe de Coral – affordable rice meals that can be found anywhere in Hong Kong.

2. The siopao of Tong Bao Dim – even cheaper than Cafe de Coral, Tong Bao Dim offers siopao, rice meals, and dimsum at a very low, low price.

3. The meals at Mong Kok/Temple Night Market – the steamed fish are heaven especially if you’re not so much of a fan of the exotic dishes that the Chinese are known for.

4. The Egg Tarts of Koi Kei Bakery – one of Macau’s most famous food is the egg tart. It is a must-try at 10HKD per piece.

5. The Hong Kong egg waffle – another must-try. You can customize it by putting cheese inside.

Disclaimer: I’m not a reliable judge of food but you can trust me to choose only the ones that are generally edible and extremely affordable. Hehe.

Currency

Hong Kong Dollars are becoming more and more expensive nowadays with the exchange rate currently at 1 HKD = 6.95 PHP. We tried exchanging both here in the Philippines and in Hong Kong only to find out that the rates are basically the same. The good news is that currency exchanges in Hong Kong and Macau are abound and you’ll be able to exchange your Philippine peso practically anywhere there.

Weather

Hong Kong’s weather is fairly cold for a Filipino like me. We went there in the middle of January and I literally shiver every time a gust of wind hits me in the streets. My only advice is bring thick clothes if you’re from a sunny place or a scarf to keep the cold at bay especially during the evenings or a jacket to keep warm and in style with the locals.

The Itinerary

Hong Kong Day and Macau 1: Going up High in Ngong Ping and the Peak

Hong Kong’s main attraction is probably the Hong Kong skyline which has the right to be so. Its beauty and charm is a sight that no one can forget. For our first day in Hong Kong, we sought this legendary cityscape and rode cable cars, double-decker buses, and trams to see it. It was magical.

Hong Kong and Macau Day 1

DAY 1 – January 17, 2018
7:00 Airplane to Hong Kong, Breakfast
9:00 Claim iVenture at Airport counter
9:30 Cable Car at Ngong Ping 360
12:00 Check-in Chungking Mansions, Lunch
13:00 Get tickets to Peak Tram, book Oceanpark
15:00 Bus to The Peak
17:00 Ride Peak Tram
19:00 Ride Rickshaw Bus at Star Ferry Pier
21:00 Dinner at Temple Street Night Market

See exactly how high you can go in Hong Kong in my separate post about it. Click here.

Hong Kong Day and Macau 2: Sailing Across Ocean Park and Kowloon Bay

I’m not much of a fan when it comes to the sea and any body of water for that matter because I never learned how to swim but Oceanpark and a cruise around Kowloon Bay has revealed the mermaid in me. The ocean is a place to derive inspiration and enjoyment from. Fall in love with the sea on Day 2 of my Hong Kong trip.

Hong Kong and Macau Day 2

DAY 2 – January 18, 2018
7:00 Wake up, Breakfast in room
8:30 Meet tour bus at Holiday Inn
10:00 Ocean Park, Ride Ocean Express to Summit
10:30 Experience Thrill Mountain, Rainforest, Polar Adventure, Snack
12:00 Experience Adventureland, Marine World, Cable Car to Waterfront
13:00 Experience Amazing Asian Animals, Aqua City, Whisker’s Harbour, Lunch
15:00 Go up Sky 100
17:00 Get tickets to Victoria Harbour Cruise
18:15 Ride boat around Kowloon Bay
20:00 Watch Symphony of Lights in harbour
21:00 Dinner at Mong Kok Night Market

Let your heart be swayed by the sea by looking at my day in Ocean Park and Kowloon Bay. Click here.

Hong Kong and Macau Day 3: Meeting Lady Luck in Macau

Macau is where the rich and famous meets culture and architecture. See the astounding attractions that were made from both unimaginable amounts of money and a vibrant history. Be blinded by the vastness of every place in my Day 3 in Macau.

Hong Kong and Macau Day 3

DAY 3 – January 19, 2018
7:00 Wake up, Breakfast
8:30 Ride TurboJet at Ferry Terminal
10:00 Meetup with Macau Tour Guide
11:00 Ruins of St. Paul’s, Mount Fortress, A-Ma Temple
13:00 Lunch buffet at Riviera Hotel
15:00 Go up Macau Tower
16:00 Go to Studio City, The Parisian, The Venetian, City of Dreams
18:00 Go to Grand Lisboa, Wynn Hotel, Watch Dragon’s Treasure show
20:00 Ride Turbojet back to Kowloon, Dinner

Or better yet, see how lucky I got in Macau by reading my full post about it. Click here.

Hong Kong and Macau Day 4: Daydreaming in Disneyland

It is my mother’s dream to go to Enchanted Kingdom and what better way to shatter and surpass that dream by going to the happiest place on earth, Disneyland. Here, you’ll rediscover you inner child with the most fascinating shows, thrilling rides, and magical experiences that can be enjoyed by anyone at any age.

Hong Kong and Macau Day 4

DAY 4 – January 20, 2018
8:00 Wake up, Breakfast
10:00 Go to Disneyland
11:00 Ride HK Disneyland Railroad
11:30 Experience Toy Story Land, Mystic Point, Grizzly Gulch
13:30 Experience Adventureland, Watch The Festival of the Lion King
15:00 Experience Fantasyland, Lunch
16:00 Experience Tomorrowland, Watch Flights of Fantasy Parade
18:00 Go back to Fantasyland, Watch Mickey and the Wondrous Book
19:00 Main Street
19:30 Back to Airport, Dinner

Even better, experience the happiest place on earth through my eyes and reviews. Click here.

The Budget

Basic Budget Breakdown

Promo Airfare: 3,000PHP
Travel Tax: 1,620PHP
Accomodation: 2,505PHP
Transportation: 2,668PHP
Entrances: 8,878PHP
Food: 1,120PHP
TOTAL: 19,791PHP

This is my Hong Kong and Macau trip. Below is a comprehensive itinerary and budget sheet I’ve spent hours on making. Feel free to download it and use it for your own journey. I’ve put in here everything you need to know including how to navigate the various modes of transportation, tips for enjoying the place, suggestions on what to take pictures of, and of course, the budget. Click below!

Hong Kong and Macau Budget and Itinerary 2018

Icons made by Dave Gandy from www.flaticon.com is licensed by CC 3.0 BY