Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Destinations > Asia > Hong Kong and Macau
Reload this Page >

Bridge opening and 13 hotel Macau opening dates ?

Bridge opening and 13 hotel Macau opening dates ?

Old Jul 7, 2018, 7:16 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,592
Bridge opening and 13 hotel Macau opening dates ?

any idea ?
Didn’t understand if a regular taxi can take the bridge ?
CGRA is offline  
Old Jul 8, 2018, 1:32 am
  #2  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
No, regular taxis will not be able to take the bridge. A opening date has not yet been announced, but it is expected to be before the end of 2018. The general concensus seems to be that it will be no quicker and no more convenient than taking the ferry.
christep is offline  
Old Jul 8, 2018, 4:36 pm
  #3  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
Originally Posted by christep
No, regular taxis will not be able to take the bridge. A opening date has not yet been announced, but it is expected to be before the end of 2018. The general concensus seems to be that it will be no quicker and no more convenient than taking the ferry.
If everyone believes in this consensus, then it will be quicker taking the bridge.
cxfan1960 is offline  
Old Jul 8, 2018, 8:24 pm
  #4  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: MP, BR
Posts: 375
Originally Posted by cxfan1960
If everyone believes in this consensus, then it will be quicker taking the bridge.
For all the hassles in how you pass the immigration if you take the bridge, I'll take the ferry.
garykung and kaka like this.
Chromie25 is offline  
Old Jul 9, 2018, 9:01 pm
  #5  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
FWIW - I simply can't trust the building standard of the bridge.

Beside - ferry is a better option, at least for now, in term of convenience.
DragonSoul and kaka like this.
garykung is offline  
Old Jul 9, 2018, 11:37 pm
  #6  
:D!
Hilton Contributor BadgeIHG Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,321
Originally Posted by Chromie25
For all the hassles in how you pass the immigration if you take the bridge, I'll take the ferry.
What are these hassles?
:D! is offline  
Old Jul 10, 2018, 1:45 pm
  #7  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
Originally Posted by :D!
What are these hassles?
going to somewhere to take a bus to go to the HK immigration centre (Near HKIA) to take another bus to pass the bridge that goes to Macau immigration centre (Near the Outer Macau Ferry Pier) then to take another bus again.

That said, it's still not known if you have to officially enter china after the first (departure) immigration centre and the 2nd (arrivals) immigration centre. probably not.

Logistically it's already a farce from what's described above. That is before....
Originally Posted by garykung
FWIW - I simply can't trust the building standard of the bridge.

Beside - ferry is a better option, at least for now, in term of convenience.
Neither can I, as a civil engineer.

Last edited by kaka; Jul 10, 2018 at 1:59 pm
kaka is offline  
Old Jul 11, 2018, 11:24 pm
  #8  
:D!
Hilton Contributor BadgeIHG Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 6,321
Originally Posted by kaka
going to somewhere to take a bus to go to the HK immigration centre (Near HKIA) to take another bus to pass the bridge that goes to Macau immigration centre (Near the Outer Macau Ferry Pier) then to take another bus again.
OK, leaving aside the engineering concerns, how is that different from taking a bus to the ferry pier, then ferry, then bus into Macau.

Looks like a few of the HK airport buses will go to the bridge immigration centre on the HK side, and probably the casinos will make new routes for their buses to the Macau side.

If my local HK airport bus route is extended to the bridge, then the bridge might actually be more convenient for me. Also the buses are supposed to be significantly cheaper, which is going to attract plenty of people even if the bridge starts to collapse.

Anyway my question was in response to Chromie25 stating specifically that immigration would be more of a hassle. Surely for HK residents it will just be ID card and thumb (though I don't know why the Macau e-gates can't use the same design, I'm still not sure how to place my ID card in them and just move it around until it works...) Why would the mainland immigration want to process thousands of extra people needlessly?
:D! is offline  
Old Jul 12, 2018, 12:56 am
  #9  
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 969
Originally Posted by kaka
going to somewhere to take a bus to go to the HK immigration centre (Near HKIA) to take another bus to pass the bridge that goes to Macau immigration centre (Near the Outer Macau Ferry Pier) then to take another bus again.

That said, it's still not known if you have to officially enter china after the first (departure) immigration centre and the 2nd (arrivals) immigration centre. probably not.

Logistically it's already a farce from what's described above. That is before....

Neither can I,
as a civil engineer.
"...the project adopted a method whereby the artificial islands were built without removing sludge from the sea bed."
kaka likes this.
DragonSoul is offline  
Old Jul 12, 2018, 5:07 am
  #10  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
Originally Posted by :D!
...how is that different from taking a bus to the ferry pier, then ferry, then bus into Macau.
Travelers transit via Skypier will not officially enter Hong Kong, bypassing immigration and customs. Travelers transit via Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal/HZM Bridge will have to enter Hong Kong officially.

Originally Posted by :D!
If my local HK airport bus route is extended to the bridge, then the bridge might actually be more convenient for me. Also the buses are supposed to be significantly cheaper, which is going to attract plenty of people even if the bridge starts to collapse.
While I can't answer which A routes will be extended, for sure, the HZM Bridge transborder bus service will not be significantly cheaper.

Both TurboJET and Cotai Water Jet are either owned or affiliated with casino holding companies (TurboJET - Shun Tak; Cotai - Las Vegas Sands). Their success or survival are mainly contributed by the casinos. Unless the casinos are involved in the transborder bus service, I am pretty sure that both ferries will take necessary actions to protect the market, including, but not limited to, reducing the ticket prices.

Originally Posted by :D!
...though I don't know why the Macau e-gates can't use the same design, I'm still not sure how to place my ID card in them and just move it around until it works...
A little bit show and tell:

kaka likes this.
garykung is offline  
Old Jul 23, 2018, 7:59 am
  #11  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Omaha
Posts: 1,674
Originally Posted by christep
No, regular taxis will not be able to take the bridge. A opening date has not yet been announced, but it is expected to be before the end of 2018. The general concensus seems to be that it will be no quicker and no more convenient than taking the ferry.
You should be comparing the current drive time to the new drive time. I can't take my AMG Mercedes onto the ferry with me.
CrazyInteg is offline  
Old Jul 23, 2018, 9:38 am
  #12  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
But nor will you be able to drive it into Macau! You will have to leave it in a car park at the Macau end of the bridge and then take local transport. And that's after you've jumped through numerous bureaucratic hoops for the priviliege of being able to drive it across the bridge.
kaka likes this.
christep is offline  
Old Jul 25, 2018, 12:14 am
  #13  
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: MP, BR
Posts: 375
Originally Posted by :D!
OK, leaving aside the engineering concerns, how is that different from taking a bus to the ferry pier, then ferry, then bus into Macau.

Looks like a few of the HK airport buses will go to the bridge immigration centre on the HK side, and probably the casinos will make new routes for their buses to the Macau side.

If my local HK airport bus route is extended to the bridge, then the bridge might actually be more convenient for me. Also the buses are supposed to be significantly cheaper, which is going to attract plenty of people even if the bridge starts to collapse.

Anyway my question was in response to Chromie25 stating specifically that immigration would be more of a hassle. Surely for HK residents it will just be ID card and thumb (though I don't know why the Macau e-gates can't use the same design, I'm still not sure how to place my ID card in them and just move it around until it works...) Why would the mainland immigration want to process thousands of extra people needlessly?
It's not related to the documentation. Not having read up on the specifics recently, I understand the arrangement was that you have to get off the bus to walk into the immigration building on HK side to exit HK immigration, then walk out to the bus terminal and take the cross-border bus. Similar arrangements when you get to the Macau side. You still need to walk if u take the ferry but the walk within the ferry building is more pleasant. I guess the best comparison is comparing China border crossings by train through Lowu or by bus from Lok Ma Chau.
kaka likes this.
Chromie25 is offline  
Old Jul 26, 2018, 2:11 pm
  #14  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 104
Has anyone heard any official word on whether a bridge traveller will be entering China? I have a tiny civil engineer in training who would very much like to see this bridge. Said tiny civil engineer in training and family hold US Passports, so it would be helpful to know whether we would need to apply for Chinese visas or not.
szehui is offline  
Old Jul 26, 2018, 7:31 pm
  #15  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
Not to travel from HK to Macau, no. It's a Y-shaped bridge.
christep is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.