Escape Plan to Hong Kong November 2017

A brief summary on the itinerary

Escape Plan to Hong Kong 2017:

Total duration 5D4N
Singapore is in the same time zone as Hong Kong.
Flight time is 4hrs on Singapore Airlines from Singapore to Hong Kong.

Morning flight on 24th January at 955am and arrival in Hong Kong at 155pm.
Return flight is on the 28st January at 210pm and arrival in Singapore at 610pm.

Day 1 Arrival at Hong Kong and visit to the Peak
Day 2 Disneyland
Day 3 Ngong Ping and Citygate Outlet Mall
Day 4 Shopping Day – Esprit Outlet at CHKC
Day 5 Home Sweet Home

This escape plan was to get away from Singapore to celebrate our son’s birthday by bringing him to the nearest happiest place on Earth, Disneyland! It was also a good time to visit, given that the weather near the end of the year was nice and cool.

Budget nature: Slightly expensive due to costly hotels and Disneyland, but offset by outlet malls savings.

We had chosen to stay in a apartment close in Tsim Sha Tsui close to Harbour City for most of the days and accommodation in TST are priced higher slightly. The 1N stay in Disneyland was expected to be expensive, even on advance purchase with free upgrade. However, it was just worth it to experience this luxury once in a while

Complexity: Easy to get around with the MTR.

The places we covered were very accessible as every tourist would probably go. Plus the fact that the hotels we chose was in an accessible place, it was easier comparatively. We chose to take the taxi for both trips from and to the airport, just for convenience’s sake.

Escape Plan to Macau and Hong Kong January 2016

A brief summary on the itinerary

Escape Plan to Macau and Hong Kong 2016:

Total duration 6D5N
Singapore is in the same time zone as Hong Kong.
Flight time is 4hrs on Cathay Pacific from Singapore to Hong Kong.

Morning flight on 26th January at 10am and arrival in Hong Kong at 2pm.
Return flight is on the 31st January at 3:15pm and arrival in Singapore at 7pm.

Day 1 Arrival at Macau
Day 2 Ruins of St. Paul, Historical Town and Macau Tower
Day 3 Transfer to Hong Kong
Day 4 Wet weather program – Shopping
Day 5 Ocean Park
Day 6 Home Sweet Home

This escape plan was to get away from Singapore to celebrate our anniversary but at the same time, we chose a manageable place suited for a toddler. I haven’t visited the ever famous Ruins of St. Paul Cathedral in my last visit last year (for that matter, even way before) due to bad weather and would do it this time since we catered at least 2 days in Macau. It was during this time that a freak cold snap came down from China and froze the cities of Macau and Hong Kong. Weather man gave a rainy/cloudy report for the entire week we were there, which was just hell of a disappointment.

Budget nature: Slightly expensive due to costly hotels in both countries.

We had chosen to stay in more comfortable places and accessible and therefore it was slightly more expensive. Prices were increased as the dates were near the Lunar New Year. Plus my blunder with losing a ticket to Ocean Park, enough said.

Complexity: Easy to get around with the MTR and walkabout and buses in Macau.

The places we covered were very accessible as every tourist would probably go. Plus the fact that the hotels we chose was in an accessible place, it was easier comparatively. However, we tugged along a stroller that wasn’t really compact. That was a bit of a struggle.

Escape plan to Hong Kong and Macau September 2015

A brief summary on the itinerary

Escape Plan to Hong Kong and Macau 2015:

Total duration 5D4N
Singapore is in the same time zone as Hong Kong.
Flight time is 4hrs on Cathay Pacific from Singapore to Hong Kong.

Afternoon flight on 24th September at 12pm and arrival in Hong Kong at 5pm.
Return flight is on the 28th September at 3:20pm and arrival in Singapore at 7:20pm.

Day 1 Arrival at Hong Kong
Day 2 Prada Outlet and Bon Jovi Concert
Day 3 Macau City and Victoria Park
Day 4 Tin Lung Heen and shopping
Day 5 Home Sweet Home

This escape plan was to attend the Bon Jovi Concert since their last concert in Singapore some 20 years ago. I didn’t want to attend the F1 one thinking that it won’t be a official full concert and thankfully so, with the haze that was around during this time. At the same time, with a Hari Raya Haji on Thursday, a 2 days leave would have yielded 5 days of holidaying.

Budget nature: Expensive (for this itinerary) with the a visit to Prada outlet, Macau concert and 2 Michelin starred dining at 102nd floor.

Travelling in Hong Kong and Macau can be affordable if we had taken the cheaper alternatives of staying outskirts, taking free buses, eating cheap food etc. This itinerary wasn’t so basically due to attending a concert in Macau and having expensive dim sum at a 2 Michelin starred restaurant at 102nd floor of Ritz Carlton. For a one time experience, why not.

Complexity: Easy to get around with the MTR and the buses in Macau.

Major places of interests were well connected to the MTR in Hong Kong. Macau was well served with free hotel buses and public transport. Taxis were inexpensive too.

Escape to Hong Kong in July 2014

A brief summary on the itinerary

Escape Plan to Hong Kong in July 2014:

Total duration 3D2N
Singapore is in the same time zone as Hong Kong.
Flight time is 4hrs direct flight on Cathay Pacific from Singapore to Hong Kong.
Morning flight on 12th July and arrival in Hong Kong at 11am on the same day.

Day 1 Arrival in Hong Kong, Eat and Shop
Day 2 Eat and Shop and the Highest Room in the World
Day 3 Eat and Shop and Home Sweet Home

This escape plan was to celebrate my wife’s birthday with a short getaway. With the ticket prices for Cathay Pacific quite value for money, about $360 all in, it was good chance to escape for this special occasion

Budget nature: Affordable travel and affordable Michelin star eats. We splurge on the stay though.

Moving around in the MTR is cheap with Octopus card. But the train is just as crowded as in Singapore if you are there during the summer holidays, such as this period. Michelin stars eatery are everywhere and they are affordable. We tried only 2 places this trip and both are not expensive.

We splurged on one night stay in the Highest Hotel in the World (As of 2014) for that special day to celebrate my wife’s birthday. Luxurious yet of impeccable service. Probably worth the experience once in a lifetime.

Complexity: Easy to get around

The main shopping and eating places were easily covered with the MTR, made moving around effortless. There are signs in English, and people seemed conversant in English, shouldn’t be too hard to travel.