Asia - Various transportation to/from HKG and in the city

What are the various modes of transportation to/from HKG to the city?

What is the best time/$ value for the airport? (i.e. bus may be only $.50 but takes too long whereas taxi may be quickest time wise,but very $.)

What is generally the best way to get around the city?

Best way from the airport to the city is the MTR airport express, straight out of arrivals onto the train, airconditioning, fast, quiet, clean and reliable...

Check this link: http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/train/ae.html

At the airport foreign exchange points you can buy airport express tourist "octopus" cards with unlimited rides in the city for 3 days and a return on the airport express. The cards are contactless so they can just stay in your wallet and you don't need to bother with seperate tickets for each ride.

The MTR system is excellent and has stops all over the city, combined with the bus services you won't be using a taxi much.

I can't imagine taking anything other than the MTR Airport Express train. Granted, I've only been to Hong Kong twice but there is no question that the train is the quickest, easiest, and most hassle-free way into the city. Cabs are surely way more expensive. And both cabs and buses are slower. The train is really amazing and each time I rode it (4 times in all -- counting both ways), I wondered to myself, why can't the Blue Line be anything like this (inside joke on the train from downtown Chicago to O'Hare).

The Airport Express is certainly a very good choice and value. However, especially after a long flight to HKG, a private car service can be welcome. The advantages (compared to AE) include door-to-door service without any need for a transfer to a bus, plus you'll have someone to carry your luggage every step of the way. Transport is usually in a Merc (or a Rolls or Bentley if you go upscale), a bit more comfortable than the train.

A private car is not a big time saver in HKG, though it probably beats the train by a small amount. The train gets from the airport to Kowloon or HK Island faster than the car, but with the car you don't wait for the next trains nor do you transfer to a bus.

Most hotels can arrange for a private car to/from the airport. If you book a hotel through CX, you can also add a private car transfer for a very reasonable sum. If you haven't arranged for a car in advance, there's a kiosk just outside the customs hall where you can get a car, almost always on the spot.

THanks for the replies

What is the ~cost of the airport train?

How much travel time on the train should I allow from hotel (conrad) to the airport?

My flight is at 10:40am and I'm hoping I'll be able to enjoy breakfast.

Wideman, fully agree on the car after a long flight, did this in SIN and BKK, however there it is very very cheap. What is ~US$ cost for a car from HKG to city center?

[This message has been edited by Sweet Willie (edited 11-12-2002).]

It all depends on how much luggage you'll carry.

The MRT "Airport Express" will drop you in around 25 min at Central station, from where you can:
a) connect through the regular MTR to "Admiralty", which is just one station far;
b) take a taxi (US$ 5 to 10);
c) walk (15 min if you know the way).

Now if you're with heavy luggage, just take a shuttle bus instead, it will drop you right at the hotel. On the way back, the Airport Express makes more sense because it allows to "City Check" up to 24h before your flight.

As I recall the Airport express was ~US$20-25 Round trip. The price includes a shuttle bus from the city station to your hotel (and back).

The key variable in the ride back to the airport is the timing of the shuttle bus from your hotel back to the Airport Express station. From the Conrad it's anything but a straight shot back (it's one of the first hotels on the route). You'll be able to save 15 minutes or so by taking a taxi from the hotel to the station.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Sweet Willie:
What is ~US$ cost for a car from HKG to city center?</font>

I believe that's about $60-80. If you've booked a room through cathay Pacific Holidays, I believe it's $50 each way.

http://www.hkairport.com/eng/aguide/transport.html

It shows the timetables and costs for bus, express train, taxis...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PremEx2000:
The train is really amazing and each time I rode it (4 times in all -- counting both ways), I wondered to myself, why can't the Blue Line be anything like this (inside joke on the train from downtown Chicago to O'Hare).</font>

I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to say about this, but an express train to ORD that would use the blue line right-of-way is on the discussion board...

The best part of taking the AE BACK to the airport is the abilty to check your baggage and get your boarding pass at the AE station downtown.

Every airline has a ticket counter and there is never anyone in line.

Smooth ride to the airport and straight to immigration.

BTW, one way is HK$100, or US$13. plus a taxi - HK$35 to my hotel, The Grand Hyatt.

The Grand Hyatt wants HK$680 for the limo.

The best part of taking the AE BACK to the airport is the abilty to check your baggage and get your boarding pass at the AE station downtown.

Every airline has a ticket counter and there is never anyone in line.



IIRC, the AE station check-in option may not be available for flights to the USA, for security reasons.

Since I don't like lugging luggage on trains, I took the Hotelink shuttle bus both times in the past two weeks. First time, I asked at the information desk about buses and got a 25% off coupon (with expired date but honored anyway) to use at the Hotelink desk to get to the Sheraton. Round trip was $21.86 U.S.

Second time I went to Conrad. Tried the information desk again but didn't get a coupon; had to book at the Conrad desk. Was $140HK to the hotel and $100HK back to airport.

It all depends on how much luggage you'll carry.

The MRT "Airport Express" will drop you in around 25 min at Central station, from where you can:
a) connect through the regular MTR to "Admiralty", which is just one station far;

Just be aware it appears to be quite a hike between the AE central station and the MTR Central one.

don't forget the helicopter! it's not a very affordable option though.