Reasons to visit HK
#46
Join Date: Dec 2008
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Notwithstanding some explanation as to various cultural differences from other posters, there seems to be a bit of a "if it ain't like the US or U.K., then it ain't best practice" flavour in OP's posts...
Certainly that's how I perceive it.
Back to the topic, food, food and more food.
Certainly that's how I perceive it.
Back to the topic, food, food and more food.
#47
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
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If it were only that simple. Lot of things HK does well, which is why it's so wealthy. Innovation isn't one of them.
BTW, had about an 18-hour layover in HK before taking return flight.
It was fairly clear around 3 PM so thought I'd take the tram up to the Peak. By the time I arrived, around 4:30 PM, the line was crazy. Went all the way to the back of the parking lot and then right across the street from the ticket office, it was packed back and forth.
I'd taken the tram twice before and the line was never this bad.
Now, maybe the capacity of the tram wouldn't accommodate trying to improve throughput. One thing is they don't take credit cards. Fine, how about letting people tap their Octopus cards? No, you have to wait in line in order to buy tickets with the Octopus card.
Again, maybe they're stowing the customers behind the parking spaces because there's no room by the tram anyways and they can't load them fast enough.
But then someone started going around and offering "express" package that let you jump the queue if you bought various packages which include the wax museum. These packages were 315 and 335 HKD or about 8-9 times the normal tram return fare of 45 HKD.
I bailed after 15 minutes, headed towards LKF to get a bite.
BTW, had about an 18-hour layover in HK before taking return flight.
It was fairly clear around 3 PM so thought I'd take the tram up to the Peak. By the time I arrived, around 4:30 PM, the line was crazy. Went all the way to the back of the parking lot and then right across the street from the ticket office, it was packed back and forth.
I'd taken the tram twice before and the line was never this bad.
Now, maybe the capacity of the tram wouldn't accommodate trying to improve throughput. One thing is they don't take credit cards. Fine, how about letting people tap their Octopus cards? No, you have to wait in line in order to buy tickets with the Octopus card.
Again, maybe they're stowing the customers behind the parking spaces because there's no room by the tram anyways and they can't load them fast enough.
But then someone started going around and offering "express" package that let you jump the queue if you bought various packages which include the wax museum. These packages were 315 and 335 HKD or about 8-9 times the normal tram return fare of 45 HKD.
I bailed after 15 minutes, headed towards LKF to get a bite.
#49
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,369
It was fairly clear around 3 PM so thought I'd take the tram up to the Peak. By the time I arrived, around 4:30 PM, the line was crazy. Went all the way to the back of the parking lot and then right across the street from the ticket office, it was packed back and forth.
I'd taken the tram twice before and the line was never this bad.
I'd taken the tram twice before and the line was never this bad.
Anyways, for the first or second-timer, I'd suggest taking the cab up and riding the tram down. You'll want to make sure you don't get ripped off by the driver with a ridiculous flat fee to go up. Metered rate from Admiralty to the taxi station next to Peak Galleria should be ~60HKD or less.
#50
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Well after dinner, I ordered a Uber, which was showing only $54 HKD from Wyndham Road next to the Mid-Levels.
But the guy for some reason went all the way down to Wanchai and then back up. There was some traffic so it was about a 45 minute trip.
Instead, Uber HK charged me 116 HKD or more than double the initial estimate.
Now I guess they're allowed to readjust the fee if the ride took a lot longer than estimated but is there no way to go from the LKF area up to the Peak without going back down to Wanchai?
But the guy for some reason went all the way down to Wanchai and then back up. There was some traffic so it was about a 45 minute trip.
Instead, Uber HK charged me 116 HKD or more than double the initial estimate.
Now I guess they're allowed to readjust the fee if the ride took a lot longer than estimated but is there no way to go from the LKF area up to the Peak without going back down to Wanchai?
#52
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,369
ive had taxi drivers try to cheat me before starting the trip with absurd flat rate proposal. I've also had other problems like drivers trying to take me to HKIA instead of AE or driving unsafely. But I've never been ripped off in HKG in terms of tacking on unclear fees or taking me on a long detour, once I've sat down and committed to the ride. Maybe I've just been lucky. I dunno know about uber, though.
#53
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I got the sense that the guy wasn't that familiar with the roads there.
Especially when he got to the top, he mistakenly went into the garage where the buses and taxis line up and he was worried about getting a ticket. He went out and had to turn back around.
So maybe he honestly got lost and decided to go back down to where he was familiar. He was staring at the Uber app. screen on his phone.
It turned out to be more than double the original fare estimate but overall it was about $7-8 USD more so I'm not going to make a big deal out of it.
On another note, this Uber was a Benz C-class and then I took an Uber early the next morning from TST to Kowloon station for 25 HKD and the woman picked my up in a BMW 520i.
She asked if I wanted to go to the airport but I insisted I wanted to go to Kowloon station since I had a round-trip Airport Express ticket and I wanted to do the in-town check-in of my big suitcase.
I don't know how Uber drivers make money making a few bucks in nice cars.
Especially when he got to the top, he mistakenly went into the garage where the buses and taxis line up and he was worried about getting a ticket. He went out and had to turn back around.
So maybe he honestly got lost and decided to go back down to where he was familiar. He was staring at the Uber app. screen on his phone.
It turned out to be more than double the original fare estimate but overall it was about $7-8 USD more so I'm not going to make a big deal out of it.
On another note, this Uber was a Benz C-class and then I took an Uber early the next morning from TST to Kowloon station for 25 HKD and the woman picked my up in a BMW 520i.
She asked if I wanted to go to the airport but I insisted I wanted to go to Kowloon station since I had a round-trip Airport Express ticket and I wanted to do the in-town check-in of my big suitcase.
I don't know how Uber drivers make money making a few bucks in nice cars.
#55
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#56
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LKF to peak the easy route would be through Wan Chai and up Stubb's Rd and Peak Rd.
The direct way are unmarked directly, many curves, forks and narrow single lane. I only drive there to visit people.
Re: nice Uber cars - I know of a few families who terminated their driver for inappropriate use of cars.
The direct way are unmarked directly, many curves, forks and narrow single lane. I only drive there to visit people.
Re: nice Uber cars - I know of a few families who terminated their driver for inappropriate use of cars.
#57
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
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Assuming you were on the flat bit of Wyndham Street where the bars are, not the part already going downhill into Central, then the "correct" route to The Peak is Lower Albert Road, Cotton Tree Drive, Garden Road, Magazine Gap Road, Peak Road. The taxi fare would indeed be about $60.
Personally I don't see the attraction of Uber - taxis work fine for me.
Personally I don't see the attraction of Uber - taxis work fine for me.
#58
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Was right at the Mid Levels, right by the Marks & Spencer food market there.
Uber cars were nicer but the big appeal is I use credit card, don't have to hand over cash.
Uber cars were nicer but the big appeal is I use credit card, don't have to hand over cash.
#59
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: MP, BR
Posts: 375
Definitely sounds like the Uber driver is not familiar and took the sure route. Unless the driver lives around that neighbourhood, or is someone who drives as much as taxi drivers (and other public transportation), not many will know that you can get from Caine Road to Garden Road to Magazine Gap Road directly. Any missed turns will result in a long go-around.