Review Episode 1: Flying to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific (CX616)

This review is based on my personal experience and expenses. I hope it will be helpful for your travel planning. I will gradually share more detailed reviews.

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Hong Kong: A City of Easy Transportation

Hong Kong boasts a remarkably convenient transportation system, making it one of the easiest cities in the world to navigate. The majority of tourist attractions are readily accessible via the MTR, the city's extensive subway network. Various passes are available to cater to different travel needs. For destinations beyond the reach of the MTR, buses provide an efficient alternative. While the Octopus card is the preferred payment method for buses, other passes may be used depending on the specific route. Ultimately, the choice of transportation rests with the individual traveler's preferences.

After passing through immigration, the Airport Express counter at the exit provides information about passes. The easiest way to enter the city is by train, which offers various passes. Popular passes include:

Airport Express - Round Trip

I prefer to spend money on convenience. I take the Airport Express round trip and relax. On the return trip, I also use the In-town Check-in service. This means that after checking out of my hotel on the return leg, I can check in my luggage and board the plane up to 12 hours in advance (I don't remember the exact number of hours, I'm not sure). Then I can walk out and explore the city without having to carry or store my luggage. I won't see my luggage again until I arrive in Bangkok.

Airport Express - Single trip: You can choose to use the AE for one trip, which is usually on the way back, as most tourists prefer in-town check-in. On the way back, you can take bus route A21 to get to the city. However, I find that Hong Kong is very congested these days, so I don't like it.

Octopus - A reloadable card suitable for bus rides, MTR journeys, and in-store purchases.

In addition, you can also inquire at the counter for other types of products.

For my convenience, I used a round-trip Airport Express Pass, which also provided free MTR rides for 3 days, for $350 HKD. Upon returning, I returned the card at the airport before leaving (the counter is located downstairs and is easy to find). I received a $50 HKD refund for the card (which was the card deposit).

The atmosphere on the AE is spacious and comfortable. The specific location where you get off depends on the location of your hotel. However, most people get off at Kowloon because the hotels there are affordable.

Upon arrival at Kowloon Station, follow the signs for the Free Shuttle Bus. The lift pictured above will take you to the Free Shuttle Bus counter.

The Free Shuttle Bus service has staff who will ask you which hotel you are staying at. They will then direct you to the appropriate bus stop for your destination. In my case, Hotel Benito was located near Park Hotel, which is in the Tsim Sha Tsui district. This district is conveniently located near Victoria Harbour, the MTR, and shopping areas. It is a very desirable area.

"Take the K4 Free Shuttle bus and get off at the Park Hotel stop. Once you get off, walk straight ahead and cross one intersection (the road is one-way, so follow the direction of traffic). After passing Watson's, you will see an alleyway. Turn right and walk about 5 meters to reach the Benito Hotel."

Let me take a moment to explain why I recommend using the Free Shuttle Bus (K4). The simple reason is that I am lazy and don't want to walk. As you can see on the map, my hotel is located at Tsim Sha Tsui station (follow the dark green line from the Airport). You will need to take the AE to Hong Kong station, which is the terminal station. Notice the connection point? You will need to walk with your luggage from Hong Kong station to Central station, which is quite a distance, in order to transfer to the red line train to Tsim Sha Tsui station. Additionally, if you are visiting for the first time, you may encounter large crowds at Hong Kong and Central stations, which could be overwhelming. Therefore, I recommend using the Free Shuttle Bus. However, if you are experienced and have minimal luggage, feel free to walk at your own pace.

For first-time visitors, it is highly recommended to obtain a free MTR map, which is available at all stations or when purchasing an Airport Express (AE) ticket. When you arrive at the platform, look for the signs indicating the destination of each train. There are two sides to the platform, left and right. Take your time and choose the correct train, as trains in Hong Kong arrive frequently and on time. If you miss one, the next one will arrive within 2-5 minutes. It is important to note that the carriages closest to the escalators tend to be crowded. Consider walking further down the platform to find a less crowded carriage for a more comfortable ride.

Let's get back to our topic. The atmosphere in the Free Shuttle Bus is like this: it's a small bus (I've noticed that most people take the K4 when I come to Hong Kong, and all the other K buses I've seen are big buses. I wonder why they don't change it? Maybe it's because the road that the K4 goes through is narrow, so they have to use a small bus). I was just kidding about the K4, but what I'm not kidding about is that the driving is … very … every time I get on it, the driving is … very … It swerves and lurches so much that I feel like I'm going to faint, but it's only for a short time, so it's okay.

Take the Free Shuttle bus line K4 and get off at the Park Hotel stop. Walk straight ahead and cross one intersection (the road is one-way, so follow the direction of traffic). Walk past Watson and you will see an alley on the right. Turn right and walk about 5 meters to reach the Benito Hotel.

If you are coming by MTR, exit at Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit B2. Walk straight for 20 steps, turn left at the alley, and you will reach the hotel.

The service staff here, every time I come, they wear the same uniform. I remember their faces. Especially the uncle who lifts the bags, we are close. He has been working here for 7 years. He remembers me too. He looks friendly.

The walkway to the room. I'm staying in room 508. Last time I stayed in room 408. The room structure is all the same. I know because my Wi-Fi automatically connects to room 408 haha. Oh, the Wi-Fi here is free in every room. The speed is good, the internet is not bad.

The bedroom features a queen-size bed, comfortably accommodating two guests. However, the room's size is somewhat limited, making it challenging to perform certain activities. (Perform certain activities, haha!)

In the room, there is a TV and a small refrigerator.

The room provides a safe, two bottles of drinking water daily, and an electric kettle.

The bathroom is a shower room, which is almost as big as the bedroom. Haha!