Guest GaySacGuy Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 I was fortunate to have an opportunity to take a trip to Hong Kong and Macau with my Thai boyfriend. Several people have asked for info about the trip, so will give you a little review. My bf had a new passport issued in December having never been out of the country before. We went through imigration in Phuket, flying to Bankok on Thai Air, and on to Hong Kong on Emirates. The only hitch was getting by boyfriend out of the country. At immigration he had to go back to the check-in counter and get an arrival/departure card. In the future, I will make sure he has a departure card before arriving at immigration. Upon arrival at Hong Kong, immigration went smooth, with my boyfriend receiving a visa for 30 days on arrival, and mine for 90 days with a US passport. Long long lines caused about an hour delay. We then got a cab to Disneyland, and were there in just about 15 minutes. We stayed at Disneyland Hollywood Hotel, and it was very nice, but very pricey...about $200/night. The trip to Disneyland the next morning was a five minute bus ride, and about a 10 minute walk to the entrance gate. I had a good time, and my boyfriend had a great time. If you have been to LA Disneyland, or Orlando Disney World, lower you expectations. The Hong Kong Disneyland is really nice, but smaller. We spent one day there, and that was really enough. If I had it to do again, I would stay in Hong Kong City, and just take the high speed train to Disney for one day. We spent a day in Hong Kong City, and took the tram to the top of Victoria Peak. Also, I should warn all of you that they have some really nice shops in Hong Kong, and great cell phones...lots of them. We then took the ferry to Macau. The lines were a little delay getting to the ferry and immigration, but no real hitches. The ferry took about an hour, and unfortunately it was rainy and foggy, so we couldn't see much. Arrival in Macau was simple, but again about an hour waiting in line. We both received 30 day visa on entry, and weren't asked one question. Our stay in Macau was at New Century Hotel, which has a very large casino on the lower floors...like three of the lower floors. The casino is huge with over a hundred table games...but most of them are Asian games. There were a totla of three Blackjack tables (with really weird rules) and no crap tables. There were only a few slot machines. I am a casino king of person. but didn't really enjoy any of the casinos...We checked out the Wynn, Sands, and a couple of others. I tried to get a city tour, but was unable to find one at the hotel, or anywhere else. We some some tour by taxi, went through a shopping center, walked the beach, and checked out several casinos. There aren't too many people that speak English in Macau. My bf flew back to Bangkok on Air Asia, and there were no issues of problems. They actually left Macau early. I waited another 8 hours before catch an EVA flight to Taiwan and on to San Franciso. I found Hong Kong to be really good, and would visit again, staying in the city. I would probably take one day to go to Disneyland. Macau was an experience, and I had some fun and enjoyed it, probably because my bf was with me. I don't thing I would go back, but if in Hong Kong, I would take an early ferry to Macau for a day, and just stay in Hong Kong city hotel. The trip overall was really good, but a little pricey. My boyfriend put it pretty clear "Hong Kong good like to come back. Macau good but no come back. This was an excellent chance for my bf and I to spend some time w/o any contact with family or friends, both his and mine. We had a really great time together, and definitely improved communication between the two of us. If anyone is planning a trip there and would like some input, drip me a note or email. Quote
TotallyOz Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 Thank you for a great post. I have wanted to take the BF to Hong Kong for a while. Your post convinced me and gave some great advice! Quote
Gaybutton Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 I'd like some more information about the casinos and hotel prices in Macau. When you said it's mostly Asian games, what were the games? I'm thinking of Pai Gow Poker. Other than that one, I don't know which games would be considered particularly Asian. What were some of the weird Blackjack rules? What were the table minimums? Most important of all, did you come out a winner? Quote
Guest GaySacGuy Posted April 19, 2007 Posted April 19, 2007 I'd like some more information about the casinos and hotel prices in Macau. When you said it's mostly Asian games, what were the games? I'm thinking of Pai Gow Poker. Other than that one, I don't know which games would be considered particularly Asian. What were some of the weird Blackjack rules? What were the table minimums? Most important of all, did you come out a winner? The hotel prices in Macau varie widely, but I had a really nice room in a nice faility for $75 US per night. There are some a little cheaper, and a bunch much higher. There is a huge MGM Grand under construction at this time, and it would be a great place for a future trip...better location, and next to the Wynn, but the Wynn is quite pricey. The games were some Pai Gow, and several I have never seen before, including one with three dice underneath a cover...you can't see them roll. I play craps as my favorite game, and there were none anywhere...and I looked. I wish I could help more with the names of the games, but English isn't really available muich there...Chinese and Portugese ?sp . Is Pai Gow the game where you bet with or against a "banker"? If so, there are lots of those. There were also a couple of card games with boards of chinese symbols. The Black Jack rules are a little strange...let's see...anyone standing behind you can put money on your card area and bet with you...and there can be several people putting money on one person's cards. The dealer shows one card face up, and doesn't take another card till all the betting is over, where in Nevada, they take both cards, and if a face card or Ace is up they check for a blackjack first. Where this really comes into play, is if you split pairs or double down, and then they later draw a blackjack....they take all the money. This places some longer odds against you winning. The lowest minimum play on a table I saw...and the ones I looked hard for...were 100 Hong Kong dollars. Yes, were in Macau, but they play mostly with Hong Kong dollars. They have different colored chips, based on whether you bought in with HK dollars or Macau money...can't say it or spell the name of their "dollar". The $100 HK works out to about $12.50 US, pretty comparable to US $10 minimum tables in the US, which is what most of the Indian Casino have except on off hours. If you look in Vegas, you might find a $2 or $3 dollar table, but on weekends you don't find much under $5 to $10. Of course I came out a WINNER!. How could I not be a winner after a great 5 holiday with my boyfriend!!! Now, as far a gambling, I came out about even, as I didn't play much. I went prepared to play quite a bit, but it just wasn't the fun that Vegas/Reno casinos are, and there were no crap tables...but the great time with the bf made it well worth while, and I feel like a winner!!!! Quote
Guest Boxer Posted April 19, 2007 Posted April 19, 2007 Nice report. I did this trip a short time ago and the pictures and report are here http://www.boxertravels.net/disneyHK/index.htm Quote
Guest pete1969 Posted April 19, 2007 Posted April 19, 2007 What a great report. I hope I can get to HK next year. The BF has already been, but he wants to go again (go figure). Pete Quote
Guest GaySacGuy Posted April 19, 2007 Posted April 19, 2007 Nice report. I did this trip a short time ago and the pictures and report are here http://www.boxertravels.net/disneyHK/index.htm The pictures look very familiar, and my bf seemed more interested in photos with the various Disney characters. Goofy was in the halls of the Hollywood Hotel our first night in town, and my bf was hooked for the rest of the trip. Quote
Guest kenrfc Posted April 21, 2007 Posted April 21, 2007 This is the kind of topic post I crave on these boards! BF got his passport last year (I think as a "status symbol" to impress his friends) and I've been mulling over some foriegn trip to break him in. As I'm always stopping in Hong Kong en-route to BKK this is a perfect jaunt for us to try sometime. Thanks for the great idea! B) Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted April 21, 2007 Posted April 21, 2007 Having lived in Hong Kong for more years than I care to remember, I'd suggest to everyone thinking of visiting that fascinating city to stay in the urban area rather than at Disneyland. Disneyland is a great one-day trip, but not more, whereas there is so much to do when exploring Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. I notice from recent visits that Hong Kong hotel prices are getting astronomically high again for most of the year. Book well in advance and check out websites like asiarooms.com which has about the best rates I've found on any site. There are three mid price hotels near the Causeway Bay area worth considering - Metropark Hong Kong, Rosedale on the Park and L'Hotel Causeway Bay. All are close to the subway, spotlessly clean with friendly staff. Rooms in the first two are smallish, but with extremely comfortable beds and well-equipped showers. For a unique experience totally unlike the usual hotel, try the Jia Boutique Hotel. This was an old apartment building recently renovated into modern designed suites. Also in bustling Causeway Bay, it's a bit pricier than the others, but it's fun and throws in free continental breakfast and wine in the lobby in the early evening. Quote
Guest gonefishing Posted May 2, 2007 Posted May 2, 2007 All good advice; if you are on a budget but want something a bit better than Chung King Mansions (the nearest Hong Kong has, at least in price, to Kau San Road) then you could do much worse than the YMCA next to the Peninsulsa Hotel, between Nathan Road and Star Ferry; good rooms, swimming pool, etc, and an excellent location. Quote
Guest MonkeySee Posted May 2, 2007 Posted May 2, 2007 Looking to stay a night or two in Hong Kong in November. Thought I would take Gonefishing's advice and check out the YMCA. Is there only one YMCA hotel in Hong Kong? I checked this link: http://www.ymcahk.org.hk/sales/html/e_specialrates.htm and they have a special rate of a $770 HK a night for a single. The place looks nice but $100 US seems a bit pricey for the YMCA, but I know downtown Hong Kong is expensive. Anything else besides the closet space at Chung King Mansions? Quote
butterfly Posted May 3, 2007 Posted May 3, 2007 A few weeks ago I stayed in the Stanford Hillview Hotel off Nathan Road. Excellent hotel with very helpful, and cute, staff. Just a 5-minute walk to the new Wally Mats bar. hongkong-hotelguide.com are offering the Stanford Hillview Hotel for 660 Hong Kong dollars. Good value I think. If you are looking to for something a little naughty and different during your visit try the Ni-Chrome all-nude sauna off Nathan Road. Excellent eye candy from early evening onwards. Enjoy Quote
Guest gonefishing Posted May 3, 2007 Posted May 3, 2007 MonkeySee, there are at least 3 YMCAs in Hong Kong; the one next to the Peninsula is by far the best location and most convenient for shopping, transport (Star Ferries, MTR, etc). Do not expect "YMCA-type" accomodation, as it is a reasonable hotel - the only concession to the YMCA being that you have to carry your own bags! Quote
