Tips for moving to HK?

Posted by veganjenny (47 days ago)

I'm coming to Hong Kong for a couple months starting next week. I was wondering how people first get around? I'm just realizing that there are some logistical things I need to figure out, like how to pay for the apartment, how to get to the apartment from the airport, etc. I don't want to carry a bunch of cash with me, but I can't think of a better way to pay for the apartment when I arrive. Are there better alternatives? Also, where's the best place to exchange U.S. currency for Hong Kong currency? I have heard it's better to do this in Hong Kong than in the U.S. but would love to hear what folks here think.

As for getting to the apartment ... I have directions to get there by bus, but ... I'm afraid I'll get overwhelmed trying to figure out whether I'm at my stop or not. Any suggestions? My current plan is to just try to figure out the stops preceding and following the stop I'm getting off at and hope that I'll be able to figure out how to spot street signs from the moving bus by the time we arrive at my stop.

Thanks!

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Posted by aussieinla (47 days ago)

I have found that changing my money in the bank is the best rate. You can also open a local bank account if you bring a form a address proof with you from the us. All you need is your passport and the address proof and you are good to go. Where is you apartment and maybe people can tell you the easiest way. By the way taxis from the airport are a fair price and you will go straight to your address you need without the stress.

Posted by axptguy38 (47 days ago)

1. Getting around: Public transport is excellent. Taxis are cheap and plentiful.
2. Carrying cash around. I suppose you could use traveler's checks and change them to a cashier's check when you need to pay for the apartment. You can also use your credit card to get a cash advance at most ATMs.
3. US for HK currency:Any money changer or bank. My guess is you'll get a better deal in HK, but I have no hard data to back it up.
4. Getting to apartment. Just ask the driver and your fellow pax. People are quite helpful that way in HK. And while we are at it why don't you take a taxi the first time?

Posted by veganjenny (47 days ago)

Oh, right, taxis! Do you know how much it might cost to take a taxi from the airport to Causeway Bay?

What is an address proof? Is this something I get from my apartment in Hong Kong?

Thanks!

Posted by aussieinla (47 days ago)

Airport to CB is about 300 hkd. The address proof is like a phone bill or gas bill etc or the like from your home with you name and home address on. Strange thing about the banks - You need the address proof to open the account and then once open you can change the address to your HK apartment.

Posted by veganjenny (47 days ago)

So they want proof of an address outside of Hong Kong first? Whoa, very odd!

Taxi fee sounds reasonable. Does that include luggage? I'll be carrying two full suit cases as well as a backpack. My dad told me that they used to charge per item. Is this still the case?

Thanks!

Posted by jjanssen (47 days ago)

i would take the airport express train from the airport to central hong kong..only 3 stops, takes about 25 minutes. from central you can take a taxi to causeway bay, will take about 10-15 minutes. taxi will charge an extra $5 for each piece of luggage you put in the trunk.

Posted by veganjenny (47 days ago)

Good idea. Thanks!

Posted by aussieinla (47 days ago)

The address proof does not need to be outside of HK it is just that when you move here you wont have anything that has been mailed to you with your HK address and name on it, but if you do all is good.

Posted by axptguy38 (47 days ago)

"Oh, right, taxis! Do you know how much it might cost to take a taxi from the airport to Causeway Bay?"

350 perhaps. I would instead take the Airport Express (100), then take a taxi to CWB from HK Station (another 60-80).

Posted by aleung128 (47 days ago)

Hi veganjenny - I would recommend you take a taxi from airport to Causeway Bay, unless you can easily handle the 2 full suitcases plus your backpack and you are not arriving in the middle of the nite or early morning. Even if it's HK$400 it's going to be around US$50. Plus - I dont know where you are staying, maybe the apartment (if it's a service apartment) will be able to provide some means of transportation from airport to the place at a fee.

I take care of ppl travelling and relocating in my company. Feel free to share your Qs.

Posted by spaceren (47 days ago)

A bit more detail would help.

For example, if you are a poor student, catch an airport bus (they must go to Causeway Bay). T

If working, taxi is fine. But airport express then taxi is what most people do.

HK is very safe, but getting here may not be so I would definitely carry some other form of money (travellers cheques likely are best, as ATM fees could be high - again, depends on amounts being transferred and your cost of time, you pay for the convenience, as you know). Others had good suggestions.

Definitely need good proof of who you are - HK does have anti-money laundering legislation, don't want any old veganjenny opening an account, just the real one.

I wouldn't pay the deposit in cash in any event, get proof + be safer by buying a bank draft in HK.

Posted by cara (46 days ago)

travellers cheques are a royal pain in the butt... DO NOT BRING THEM! no one here, excepting banks, takes them. i, personally, would come with $X and then ATM out a larger sum when i get here. that way, you are not travelling with it, ATMs are everywhere and even if you pay a one-off fee for using your overseas card, it ain't such a big deal.

transportation would, for me, depend on what time of day you are arriving. i would not want to arrive at 1am and have to struggle through unknown territory with 3 large bags. i would suggest that for your first time, just for peace of mind, take a taxi the entire way. that is door-to-door, you dont' need to worry about missing your stop, struggling on/off the train, getting to the taxi stand, waiting for a taxi, then the ride to the flat (apartment). it would probably be money well spent, at least this time.

Posted by totty chaise (46 days ago)

Tips for moving to HK ?

Yes. Stay at home.

You cannot hire an apartment for 'a couple of months', unless you move into a serviced apartment. And they are expensive.

In order to open a bank account you need to show proof of a local address. It is NOT a piece of cake.

When I wanted to open a new bank account 2 years ago, in a bank where I used to be a client, it was a MAJOR hassle. And I am a long term permanent resident.

And no, you cannot 'walk into' a job if you haven't anything lined up yet. Those days are long gone.

Posted by funbobby (45 days ago)

Tips for moving to HK ?

Yes. Stay at home.

You cannot hire an apartment for 'a couple of months', unless you move into a serviced apartment. And they are expensive.

> define 'expensive'... maybe for you, who knows for jenny

In order to open a bank account you need to show proof of a local address. It is NOT a piece of cake.

When I wanted to open a new bank account 2 years ago, in a bank where I used to be a client, it was a MAJOR hassle. And I am a long term permanent resident.

> jenny NEVER SAID she wanted to open a bank account...that was a suggestion (and wholly unnecessary) by other posters

And no, you cannot 'walk into' a job if you haven't anything lined up yet. Those days are long gone.

> where did you get the idea she is looking for a job??? Maybe re-read THE FIRST SENTENCE of her initial post again...

Jenny, dont' sweat it....take a taxi straight to your apt, forget about the train and taxi hassle (some people here probably forgot how confusing landing in a new city can be, tho HK is pretty simple), change enough cash at Travelex in the airport for your first 1/2 month's rent (explain this to the landlord if possible), then head over to the link below for very competitive exchange rates
http://berlincompanyexchangelimited.blogspot.com/

Posted by veganjenny (45 days ago)

I found a place to live. I'm definitely on a budget, but I found a service apt that's comparable in cost to what I was paying to share an apt in Oakland, although it from the photos it looks really, really tiny. I'm hopeful it'll be a good home for the next two months, though! I'm not planning to get a job in Hong Kong, although I might volunteer at a few places to practice speaking Cantonese.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! And Cara, I think you might be right ... taking a taxi direct might be the best thing. I don't want to get lost on the way ... it'd be a bad way to start things off!

Posted by aussieinla (45 days ago)

Totty I may have this wrong, but am I reading it right that you are saying "stay at home". If this is right, why would you ever suggest that. Is it that you find this difficult to understand that someone may want to live somewhere different for a few months. Jenny visit HK and enjoy all it has to offer, good and bad.

Posted by beerboy (45 days ago)

Hi Jenny, glad to hear you found a place even if its tiny. Since you're here to visit, don't worry as you probably won't stay in it to much as there is so much to see and do here.

When you get here, go to a book store like Page One and get the Fun Excursions in Hong Kong guide which is really a deck of cards and each card has a place on it to visit and directions on how to get there, bus routes etc. This link will give you more information about the cards.

http://www.journeywoman.com/bestbooks/hongkong2.html

Have fun !

Posted by spaceren (45 days ago)

Cara - please stop yelling at people, it is not nice and unnecessary to make your point (this is twice you have done it to me and for one don't appreciate it ONE BIT, see not nice to yell at fellow opinionaters, so I apologise in advance for my rudeness).

Posted by totty chaise (45 days ago)

And don't worry about the food either: there is a McDonald's on every corner, and a Starbucks on every other corner, "just like home".

The local food is over-priced and over-rated: mostly dumplings and noodles. One hour later you are hungry again. But that's why we have Pizza Hut.

Posted by axptguy38 (45 days ago)

Personally I'm not a huge fan of the local food, but it is hardly "overpriced". You can eat your fill for next to nothing in any number of eateries. And then there is Japanese, Korean, other Chinese than "local", Italian, French, Indian, etc etc etc.

Posted by cara (45 days ago)

I was not yelling. I was trying emphasize. There is no other way to do that ok here. There is no choice for colour, bold, or italics. I apologize if it came across as yelling. It was unintentional. I rarely capitalize, so when I do it is only for emphasis.

Posted by Ed (45 days ago)

Ooooh let's not get too excited... I'm going to interrupt this discussion with a little Pink Floyd... peace to all on this glorious TGIF!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-oLx8aynsY&feature=related

Posted by veganjenny (45 days ago)

I do appreciate all the advice. Glad I found this forum! I'm vegan so I probably won't be eating at fast food restaurants much. But I've heard that Hong Kong is one of the most vegetarian friendly cities in the world so I think I'll be okay. :-)

Posted by aussieinla (45 days ago)

Try the "World Peace Cafe" in Wanchai - 100% Vego, I tried to eat there one night soon after opening but they told me all the food is gone. I was sure if popular or just bad kitchen planning. I see it full quite a bit so it may be good. Enjoy.

Posted by raje_naidu (45 days ago)

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Posted by GreenValleys (45 days ago)

Jenny,
Somewhere above you mentioned that you might do some volunteer work somewhere to give your language skills a work-out. However, you should bear in mind that engaging in any kind of work - including voluntary/unpaid - will be a violation of your tourist visa. But if you're dead set on that Immigration very rarely knock back requests from people wanting to do that. Good luck and enjoy HK - it can be a very enjoyable place.

Posted by totty chaise (45 days ago)

You are vegan, luvvie ?
You should be staying on Lamma Island then.
You can eat tofu till the sprouts come out of your ears.

And once a month they have a Full Moon happening on the beach on Lamma, where all the Wiccans, Lesbos, Vegans and Bra-Burners gather in a sisterly coven, and chant -bare breaste, of course- to Mother Earth.

Ommmm..............ommmmmmmmmm.............ommmmm.....

Posted by veganjenny (42 days ago)

Thanks for the additional info everyone!

I just arrived in Hong Kong. The taxi ride was easy, but a bit more than I thought it would be (about $360), possibly because of bad traffic.

Also, I just had a bad realization -- the power adapter I bought isn't quite the right thing. Anyone have suggestions on where I can buy a transformer, plug adapter, or something that combines the two? One problem is that my laptop (MacBook) needs a three prong adapter. Alternatively, anyone know where they sell Apple stuff around here? Maybe I could just try to get a Hong Kong style plug from them.

Thanks!

Posted by aussieinla (42 days ago)

Wanchai computer Centre. It is above the MTR exit in Wanchai on hennessy road. Does open until about 12 but around there you should find everything. If you dont see it ask someone and they will point it out. The entry is beside the M'doanlds.

Posted by axptguy38 (42 days ago)

Most of the stores open at 11-12 as aussieinla says. However Foresoon on 1/F opens at 10. They have transformers and plug adapters.

Posted by veganjenny (42 days ago)

Great! I walked by Wan Chai and found a three prong adapter easily. I'll think about whether I need a transformer or not ... this will probably involve patiently reading the tiny nearly illegible printing on the electronics I brought from the U.S.

Posted by cara (42 days ago)

you will probably need something else...we use different voltage here.

Posted by axptguy38 (42 days ago)

Depends on the device. Plenty of modern electronics, including almost all chargers, can run any voltage worldwide. These will say 100-240V on the tiny nearly illegible printing.

Some devices that are still typically on regional voltage:
- Kitchen appliances large and small.
- HiFi equipment.