Hong Kong is one of the most popular destinations for vacation and shopping for Filipinos. It’s just roughly a 2-hour flight from the Philippines, and with several seat sale options from different airlines, it really won’t cost you a lot in terms of air fare.
We went to Hong Kong last year, in August 2016 (Yes, I know. This blog is long overdue). This was a planned trip to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary. We’re about to be on our 3rd year, and we really haven’t planned on anything yet to celebrate the event. LOL.
If you plan to travel there soon, I have a few things in mind that can help, especially when you’re on a tight budget.
First – wait for seat sale promotions! Cebu Pacific announces discounted fares to Hong Kong. Make sure you follow them on Twitter and standby for those announcements. They have it all across the year, and you might even get lucky and get a chance to take advantage of their really popular Piso Fare.
Additionally, it’s best to travel there in October to early December as the weather is usually cool and pleasant during those months. When we were there in August, it was scorching hot, and we really weren’t able to enjoy the long walks.
Next, travel light! One carry on luggage should be enough for two people traveling for 2 to 3 days. Aside from the savings of not paying extra for checking in your luggage, it’s a lot convenient to just have 1 bag, which you can bring anywhere you go, without having to worry about where you’d leave it if you don’t plan to check in to your hotel yet.
Key preparation before you travel is to make sure you book your hotel in advance. Well, for us, Airbnb is always the way to go. They’re super cheap, plus if you’re lucky, you might even get a host who can give you a free tour around the city. Besides, I don’t think you’d need a fancy hotel when you travel there. You would mostly be out and maximizing your time touring and visiting different locations. Our Airbnb home while we were there was a 1-bedroom condominium unit, super clean and right at the heart of the central business district, which only cost us 1,500 PHP ($30/night). Not bad, especially with its location.
Lastly, find tickets for your tours online. Don’t wait for you to get to the airport in Hong Kong and get them there. You get to save about 20% from the actual ticket price when you get them online. Check out Klook. They offer great discounts for different destinations and activities.
You might be asking – how about pocket money. Well, we only brought 30K PHP ($600) with us for a 3-night stay. It was more than enough for food, transportation, a bit of shopping, and even some souvenir.
So there you have it! Don’t forget to bring your camera, take a lot of pictures and videos, and enjoy your trip!
A free-spirited, timeless soul 