Bangkok To Hong Kong

[peter991]

I am planning to escape Songkran in April next year. My Thai other half wants to visit Hong Kong Disneyland. Looking for the best way to get from Bangkok to Hong Kong.

Air Asia flies BKK to Macau (then a ferry trip to Hong Kong). Quite a few airlines fly BKK to Hong Kong. Any suggestions?

Also, any suggestions on accommodation in Hong Kong? Package perhaps - want to stay 3 or 4 days there.

Peter

[onethailand]

Emirates has flights around 8,000 baht. If you fly Thai, it will probably cost over 12,000 baht. Cathay probably more.

Some Thai travel agents market packages to HK Disneyland, so that would be a good place to start - if you can't find a good package deal, then I would suggest looking for hotels in Tsuen Wan, Tsimshatsui or Central, from where you can catch the MTR line direct to Disneyland.

I would not fly to Macau and then take the ferry into HK - too much hassle, unless the fare is substantially cheaper than Emirates (and it won't be).

[enyaw]

Royal Jordanian have an APEX BKK-HKG return of just 4815 bht maximum stay 7 nights.

For this ticket you would have to travel outside the blackout dates:

>FN*P11

BKKHKG 12MAY08 RJ THB 4815 SLABTH STAY---/07 BK-S

11. BLACKOUT DATES

FOR S- TYPE FARES

OUTBOUND -

TRAVEL IS NOT PERMITTED 08FEB 08 THROUGH 10FEB 08 OR

10APR 08 THROUGH 15APR 08.

If you wanted to travel out and back inside these dates then they have a fare of 5885 bht

but you could mix the classes for example:

1. RJ 180 S 12APR BKKHKG HS2 1525 1910 O E SA

2. RJ 181 S 17APR HKGBKK HS2 2040 2225 O TH

traveling out to HKG inside the blackout and then back outside the blackout this ticket would cost

half of each fare added together which is 5350 bht plus tax of around 2000 bht.

Emirates have an apex of 8640 bht plus tax.

But this Fare is more restricted:

FN*P11

BKKHKG 12APR08 EK THB 8640 V2E1MTH1 STAY---/1M BK-V

11. BLACKOUT DATES

BETWEEN BKK AND HKG FOR V2E1MTH1 FARES

TRAVEL IS NOT PERMITTED 01OCT 07 THROUGH 31OCT 07 OR

27DEC 07 THROUGH 03JAN 08 OR 05FEB 08 THROUGH 10FEB 08 OR

01MAR 08 THROUGH 04MAR 08 OR 01APR 08 THROUGH 14MAY 08.

If traveling inside the black out dates the fare is 10,800 bht with Emirates.

These fares are IATA fares for net fares or console fares you will be able to get those from a tour op within Thailand.

[Mighty Mouse]

I recently flew from Bangkok to Hong Kong with China Airlines.

I found them the cheapest and with the best flight times. I did all my booking on-line, including the check-in procedure.

On-board service was very good.

At Hong Kong, I invested in the Octopus Card which took care of all my traveling expenses.

We stayed at the Stanford Hillview Hotel in Kowloon. This hotel is centrally located, was very comfortable, good rates with friendly, courtious service.

There are many on-line travel sites where you can read reviews of all Hong Kong/Kowloon hotels.

[Governor]

I recently flew from Bangkok to Hong Kong with China Airlines.

I found them the cheapest and with the best flight times. I did all my booking on-line, including the check-in procedure.

On-board service was very good.

At Hong Kong, I invested in the Octopus Card which took care of all my traveling expenses.

We stayed at the Stanford Hillview Hotel in Kowloon. This hotel is centrally located, was very comfortable, good rates with friendly, courtious service.

There are many on-line travel sites where you can read reviews of all Hong Kong/Kowloon hotels.

I would go along with the China Airlines suggestion, we recently flew with them and agree that the flight and service were very good. We booked and checked in on line and, at least when we booked, no local agents could match their fare. They are currently quoting about 8250 Baht for a return flight in April.

We went to Disney and it was good and a lot cheaper than the US or Paris, though a lot smaller. I agree that some agents offer packages for a Disney that are good value. The park is easy and cheap to get to by the HK Metro.

Have a good trip,

[Old Man River]

I cannot say for Songkran, but there are currently very good packages being offered by TG and Cathay for stays at one of the two hotels at HK Disneyland along with free two day Park entrance tickets. We just went and found these to be the best ways to get to Hong Kong if you are planning to go to Disneyland as well. Perhaps it will be the same during Songkran.

The Park itself is a lot of fun. While it doesn't have normal favorites such as "Pirates of the Carribean" and "Its A Small World", it has other things that are a lot of fun. The Park is the busiest in the late afternoon, with the longest lines being for Autopia (30-45 minute range). Lines for most other rides are in the 20 -30 minute range, which is not bad if you have been to any other Disneyland Park. They don't use Fast Pass nearly as much as other Disneyland Parks. I am not sure the rationale for this, especially since one of the rides where Fast Pass is not used is Autopia, the most popular ride at the Park.

In any event, we had a great time. Don't plan on going to the park for more than two days, as it is small and two days is enough. I am not sure if their hours will change at Songkran, but currently the park is open from 10AM to 8 PM, which makes for a very long day when chasing a little one around.

[doctormann]

I made my Great Songkran Escape to HKG this year (2007). Flew with Emirates at a very reasonable cost. Don't know what they're charging for 2008. In 2007, Emirates was the one of only two airlines using the new Terminal 2 at HKG. You take a look at this, think about Saweatybum Airport, and muse, 'If only ...'

The Octopus card is worthwhile just for the return journey from the airport to Kowloon / Central. The Airport Express train is very fast and clean and uncrowded.

I recommend staying at the Salisbury YMCA. Don't be put off by the YMCA tag as it is actually a 4* hotel. There is some backpacker dormitory accommodation but most of the place is just a normal hotel, with the usual facilities. The location is second to none, right next door to the Peninsula hotel and virtually on the Kowloon waterfront. The shuttle bus from the Kowloon airport transfer terminal stops just accross the road. This hotel is arguably the best value for money in HKG. They have a website (URL not to hand - Google for it).

If you've not been to HKG before you will be visiting a unique place. Very interesting and very, very busy. Also not exactly cheap. Everyone should go there at least once. If you have time, may I suggest that you visit the Giant Buddah on Lantau island as a quiet retreat from the mayhem on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. If you have a Thai partner they would be sure to enjoy this (mine did). You take the local rail network (MRT or MTR, can't remember which - the other is in Singapore) out to Lantau and then take a cable car - and it's quite some ride. especially on a windy day. The views are spectacular and the Giant Buddah is, well, how can I put it? - Giant! There's a gift shop inside him (inevitable really). If you stay at Disneyland you are very close to Giant Buddha - a couple of stops on the rail network.

Stanley market is worth a visit as well, even if a bit touristy. Catch a bus for a death-defying ride over the central spine of Hong Kong Island to the other side. When we did it the driver had lunatic tendancies, I'm sure.

Re-reading this I think I'll apply for a job with the HKG Tourist Office!

Have a good time.

DM

Edited December 14, 2007 by doctormann

[onethailand]

I made my Great Songkran Escape to HKG this year (2007). Flew with Emirates at a very reasonable cost. Don't know what they're charging for 2008. In 2007, Emirates was the one of only two airlines using the new Terminal 2 at HKG. You take a look at this, think about Saweatybum Airport, and muse, 'If only ...'

The Octopus card is worthwhile just for the return journey from the airport to Kowloon / Central. The Airport Express train is very fast and clean and uncrowded.

I recommend staying at the Salisbury YMCA. Don't be put off by the YMCA tag as it is actually a 4* hotel. There is some backpacker dormitory accommodation but most of the place is just a normal hotel, with the usual facilities. The location is second to none, right next door to the Peninsula hotel and virtually on the Kowloon waterfront. The shuttle bus from the Kowloon airport transfer terminal stops just accross the road. This hotel is arguably the best value for money in HKG. They have a website (URL not to hand - Google for it).

Good post.

As of last week, there are about 15 airlines using Terminal 2 - Thai, Emirates and Bangkok Airways amongst them. However, if you've done the city check-in, and have no overriding desire to buy Krispy Kreme donuts before you go, I suggest you go through Immigration at Terminal 1 instead. Terminal 2 does not have any great attractions, plus you will have to ride at least one additional train which will end up taking you basically to Terminal 1 for further connection.

On the other hand, immigration lines at Terminal 2 might be shorter. But I happen to like Terminal 1, especially now that I have a HK ID card.

If you need to check in at the airport, you *must* select the correct terminal for your airline, however.

I also keep an Octopus card handy. And the YMCA is indeed a 4* hotel now but they are usually quite full. If you do this though, make sure you are getting this hotel - http://www.ymcahk.org.hk/sales/html/hst001e.htm - rather than the YMCA International House on Jordan Rd, which is this hotel - http://www.intlhouse.ymca.org.hk/e_index.php.