Arriving in Hong Kong [waiting/transfer options]

[albatross710]

Albatross will be heading to a landing ground in HKG later this year. As always he needs to be well prepared.

For an upcoming trip I'll be waiting a few hours for a colleague to arrive on his flight into HKG. I was thinking of waiting at the airport to link up and travel to the city hotel together.

Is this practical to wait in the arrivals area? Is the arrival area like SIN where arriving and departing just mixes in together or is it more like BKK where arriving is segregated unless you have onward connections?

Are there places suitable for a longer wait upon arrival?

Alternatively, is it realistically easier for me just to taxi into the city? Any tips on the average level of a taxi fare from the airport to a city hotel?

Apologies for the questions but it is the Questions thread!

Alby

 

[nlagalle]

Re: Arriving in Hong Kong

Albatross will be heading to a landing ground in HKG later this year. As always he needs to be well prepared.

For an upcoming trip I'll be waiting a few hours for a colleague to arrive on his flight into HKG. I was thinking of waiting at the airport to link up and travel to the city hotel together.

Is this practical to wait in the arrivals area? Is the arrival area like SIN where arriving and departing just mixes in together or is it more like BKK where arriving is segregated unless you have onward connections?

Are there places suitable for a longer wait upon arrival?

Alternatively, is it realistically easier for me just to taxi into the city? Any tips on the average level of a taxi fare from the airport to a city hotel?

Apologies for the questions but it is the Questions thread!

Alby

The departures level is above the arrivals and you need to have an owards BP to go through the transit back upstairs AKAIK. I can't remember what was beyond Immigration where you could wait.

 

[moa999]

Re: Arriving in Hong Kong

As nlagalle says, the Airport is split.

The public side area is quite large with a couple of cafes, and even more if you head up a level to the back of departures.
If flying CX you have access to The Arrival, and there is also a paid arrivals lounge.

Generally viewed as simpler (and cheaper) to take the Airport Train into the city, then taxi or shuttle (depending on your hotel)

 

[albatross710]

Re: Arriving in Hong Kong

thanks moa999 & nlagalle I found the info on the train. Certainly does look like a simple solution.
Transport - To & From Airport - Airport Express - Hong Kong International Airport

 

[yohy?!]

Re: Arriving in Hong Kong

you could pop into the plaza premium arrivals lounge if it's only a short wait for a shower - then sharing a cab together will probably cost close to the same as 2 airport express tickets without the hassle of having to get from the station to your hotel.

 

[serfty]

Re: Arriving in Hong Kong

The "Airport Express" has a two person one-way fare for HKD160.

You can purchase these at the airport public transport booths.

Airport Express - Group Ticket

The HKD160 is for "Central", it's less for closer stations.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[albatross710]

Re: Arriving in Hong Kong

Cheers to all. I'll spend my time in that Arrivals Lounge and we can use that as a meeting point.

The Group fare to the Centre does look attractive. Depending on how late the final rendezvous turns out, then we'll make a business/convenience decision on the taxi v train.

Thanks for the help.

Alby

 

[straitman]

Cheers to all. I'll spend my time in that Arrivals Lounge and we can use that as a meeting point.

The Group fare to the Centre does look attractive. Depending on how late the final rendezvous turns out, then we'll make a business/convenience decision on the taxi v train.

Thanks for the help.

Alby

The train is a much better option IMHO. Cheap, fast, frequent and efficient. (23 min to central & $A10 each)

 

[NM]

Re: Arriving in Hong Kong

There are plenty of restaurants, eateries, shops etc land-side after you exit the arrivals formalities. Much more to do there than remaining air-side where there is only a basic duty-free shop to browse.

I always use the train from the airport to HK. Its fast, comfortable and reasonably priced.

 

[simongr]

Re: Arriving in Hong Kong

Another one for the train. I only either use the train or a Hotel Limo - never a cab. A cab generally is around HK$300 - HK$380 depending on how much attention you pay to the route...

 

[Boris spatsky]

+1 for the train. So quick! They also have a bus at the city end that goes to most hotels for free.

I have had terrible cab rides where i ended up paying over $400HKD and sitting in traffic for over an hour. Likewise with the buses/shuttles.

 

[11sjw]

Re: Arriving in Hong Kong

Used a Limo (well flash van that it turned out to be) late last year due to late arrival time for US$90. Not cheap but it took all the hassles out of getting into Kowloon which at 11pm, with a 5 yr old in tow, was very important.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Re: Arriving in Hong Kong

If you use the Airport Express, you can then jump onto a complimentary shuttle at the Hong Kong station that goes to most of the major hotels on HK island. Hong Kong stations is well connected to Central station where the rest of the MTR lines are. The Aiport Express is indeed one of the best ways to get into Kowloon.

Last time I went to HK, to be a little different, I caught the Cityflyer A11 bus into Hong Kong (Novotel Century in Wanchai to be exact).



Buses run every 20mins and costs HKD$40. It does take about twice as long as the train, but certainly another way to view the city. As you head out of the Arrivals terminal, rather than heading up to the trains, turn right and walk down the ramp, then outside, the A11 rank is the first rank on the right hand handside.

I would highly recommend getting an Octopus Card with about HKD$200 loaded onto it, even if you only intend on visiting Hong Kong once every 5 years!

 

[yohy?!]

I would take the train if you are staying right near one of the Airport Express stations otherwise the hassle of schlepping luggage out of the station, finding a cab or bundling onto the hotel shuttle really removes the convenience (and you end up sitting in traffic anyway). The cost difference is really negligible split between 2 people (compared to SYD or MEL anyways!).

 

[amaroo]

We use hotel cars for late night arrivals or family trips with lots of luggage - usual costs is around $100+ each way.

When we have a longish wait for the next flight (next Weds) we dump the hand luggage, hop on the train & enjoy some dumplings/shopping/foot massage