Macau and Hong Kong are one of the countries that is easy to enter by Filipinos with a Philippine Passport because it doesn't require any Visa.
Here is our 4D3N Itinerary for Macau and Hongkong:
DAY 0: ARRIVAL
8:21 pm - Arrival at Macau International Airport
8:30 pm - Buy local sim for internet connection - MOP 150 - Php 900.00/3 - Php 300.00 each
8:45 pm - Bus to the Hotel - MOP 6 - Php 36.29 each
*Note: Macau's minimum bus fare is MOP6 per person. If you will pay in cash, make sure to give the exact amount as no change is given on the buses, all of which are air-conditioned.
9:30 pm - Hotel check-in, Hou Kong Hotel - HK$ 2,098.80 - Php 13,009.69/3 - Php 4,336.56 each
*Aside from securing your plane ticket, make sure to secure your accommodation when travelling to Macau, as most of their hotel are expensive. Hou Kong Hotel is a budget hotel with good reviews online, a short walk away to Senado Square, near to bus stops, restaurants, convenience stores and other tourist attractions in Macau.
*If you are staying on this hotel, take Bus#26, alight at Rua das Lorchas. From the bus station, turn right, cross the street to find the hotel. See photo below.
10:00 pm - Dinner - HK$ 25 - Php 155.00 each
*We had Chicken Feet Rice Noodles. Honestly, we have no idea what we ordered. Everything on their menu was in Chinese characters. The reason we had this because there was one Filipino eating at this resto and we asked him what was he was eating. He said this dish was the restaurant best seller. With all honestly this may look not appealing but it tastes good. We loved it! But we won’t recommend!
10:30 pm - 7 Eleven - MOP 90 - Php 541.61 each
*We bought water/coffee/bread for breakfast. (This is optional)
11:00 pm - Back to the hotel, rest.
DAY 1: HONGKONG DAY TOUR
6:30 am - Ride bus to HongKong-Zhuhai-Macao Bus Terminal - MOP 6 - Php 36.29 each
*HZMB is the alternative option to ferry services which was previously the most popular means to travel between Macau-Hongkong vice versa.
*A short walk away from Hou Kong Hotel, there is a bus stop right in front of Sofitel Macau, take bus#101, last stop would be HZMB.
7:00 am - Arrival at HZMB-Macau Port/Immigration
7:15 am - Buy ticket - MOP 65 - Php 391.23 each
7:30 am - Departure
8:00 am - Arrival at HZMB-Hongkong Port/Immigration
9:00 am - Bus to Tsim Sha Tsui - HK$ 33 - Php 204.58 each
*Take the A21 buses bound for Kowloon and Tsim Sha Tsui. A21 buses are located at B5, beside the ticketing booth.
10:00 am - Arrival at Tsim Sha Tsui Bus Station
10:05 am - Buying a sim card for internet connection - HK$ 150 - Php 929.83/3 - Php 309.94 each
*A few steps away from the TST bus station, you will see the Chungking Mansions building, this is where you can buy your HK sim card, you may be able to haggle the price down as most of the prices were overpriced. Do note that, Macau sim card does not work in HK.
10:10 am - Buying metro card (Octopus) - HK$ 150 - Php 930.26 each
*Octopus card comes with a refundable HK$50, while the remaining HK$ is your Initial stored value. You can return the card for the refund or keep it as a souvenir. We keep ours as part of our memorabilia.
10:48 am - Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade - FREE
*Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade offers the most picturesque views of the famous harbour and the worlds iconic Hong Kong Skyline which is overly amazing to see on clear sunny days or at night when the skyline is lights up.
11:30 am - Hongkong Clock Tower - FREE
*Clock Tower, is a declared monument and historic landmark next to the Star Ferry terminals in Tsim Sha Tsui (TST).
11:35 am - Victoria Harbour - FREE
12:30 nn - Lunch, McDonalds - HK$ 100 - Php 619.91 /3 - Php 206.63 each
1:00 pm - Star Ferry Ride from TST to Central Hong Kong (Lower Deck Price) - HK$ 2.2 - Php 13.64 each
1:00 pm - Arrival at Central Hong Kong
1:20 pm - Bus ride to The Peak (use your Octopus card for the fare)
2:00 pm -Arrival at The Peak Observatory Deck - FREE
2:30 pm - The Peak Tram ride to Central HK (one-way) - HK$ 14 - Php 86.79 each
*The Peak Tram is an old-fashioned tram that still operates for over 100 years. Which carries both tourists and residents to the upper levels of Hong Kong Island.
2:52 pm - Arrival at The Peak Tram Central Station
3:18 pm - Train going to Quarry Bay "Monster Building" (use your Octopus card for the fare)
*From Chai Wan Station (5stops away). Exit at Letter B Kornhill
3:52 pm - Arrival at Quarry Bay "Monster Building"
*The complex is also known as Yik Cheong Building. Because of its photo-friendly symmetry and aesthetically striking architecture, this building is one of the most favorite spots for explores and instagrammers. This building has been used as a set in multiple film, including "Ghost in the Shell", and "Transformers". It's free BUT due to its growing popularity, public access to their inner courtyard is strictly prohibited to protect their resident's privacy. Quarry Bay is a private residential area. People live in these apartments and you're a stranger in their yard. So, it might be a little challenging to take your photo in the inner courtyard.
4:15 pm - Bus going to Lantau Link Toll Plaza (use your Octopus card for the fare)
*From Quarry Bay bus station, board the A12 bus, 12 stops away.
6:15 pm - Arrival at Lantau Link Toll Plaza
6:20 pm - Bus to Inspiration Lake Recreation Centre (Disneyland) - (use your Octopus card for the fare)
*1 Stop
6:44 pm - Arrival at Disneyland Hong Kong
7:00 pm - Train ride to Sunny Bay Station (2 station away) - (use your Octopus card for the fare)
7:05 pm - Arrival at Sunny Bay Station
*Exit A and walk towards to Sunny Bay Public Transport Interchange.
7:20 pm - Bus ride to HZMB-Hong Kong Port/Immigration - (use your Octopus card for the fare)
*Take bus# B5, (2 stops)
8:00 pm - Arrival at HZMB-Hong Kong Port/Immigration
8:30 pm - Bus going back to Macau - HK$ 65 - Php 402.82 each
9:00 pm - Arrival at HZMB-Macau Port/Immigration
9:20 pm - Bus ride going to the hotel - MOP 6 - Php 36.29 each
10:00 pm - Arrival at the hotel
10:20 pm - Dinner - MOP 250 - Php 1,504.59/3 - Php 501.53 each
11:00 pm - 7 Eleven - MOP 85 - Php511.56 each
*We bought water/coffee/bread for breakfast (This is optional)
11:30 pm - Rest
At
the end of the day, our Octopus card had still some money left, we opted to use
it when we were at the border immigration. We bought water, chocolates and snacks
to eat on the bus. Because we wanted to keep it as part of our souvenir
memorabilia in Hong Kong.
DAY-3: SIGHTSEEING MACAU PENINSULA
8:20 am - Walk to Senado Square from the hotel
8:40 am- Senado Square/Sto. Domingo Church/Koi Kei Bakery
*Senado Square or Lagro De Senado, is a 3,700-square meter public plaza at the Historic Center of Macau.
*Sto. Domingo Church is a historical church founded in 1587. This church is included in the list of the 29 sites that form the Historic Center of Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
*Koi Kei Bakery is a famous pastry shop in Macau where you can buy your pasalubong or souvenirs. They are known for its Almond Biscuit or cookies.
10:00 am- St. Paul's Ruins
*They are the ruins of a 16th century complex and iconic landmark Macau is known for.
10:20 am - Macau Museum and Mount Fortress
11:00 am - Bus to Grand Lisboa - MOP 6 - Php 36.29 each
*Grand Lisboa, is a hotel and casino establishment in Macau, currently the #1 tallest building in the country.
11:30 am - Walk to Sands Macau to catch the free shuttle bus bound for Cotai
12:00 nn - The Grand Canal Macau
1:40 pm - Old Taipa Village
*One of only two traditional 'villages' that still exist in Macau.
2:25 pm - Lunch
Macau Pork Chop Bun - HK$ 48 - Php 288.94 each
Curry Fish Balls - HK$ 20 - Php 120.39/3 - Php 40.13 each
Xing Fu Tang Bubble Tea - HK$ 28 - Php 188.55 each
3:00 pm - Bus going to hotel - MOP 6 - Php 36.29 each
After resting at our hotel, we decided to check the Senado Square at St. Paul Ruin's at night since it is close to our hotel.
7:00 pm - Walk towards to Senado Square and St. Paul Ruin's
8:00 pm - Bus to Cotai Strip - MOP 6 - Php 36.29 each
8:30 pm - Arrival at Eiffel Tower Macau
9:00 pm - Bus going back to the hotel - MOP 6 - Php 36.29 each
9:30 pm - Dinner - MOP 24 - Php 144.40 each
10:00 pm - Rest
DAY-4: LAST DAY IN MACAU
8:00 am - Check out hotel
Since our flight back to Manila is at night, we left our luggage's at Hou Kong Hotel lobby and went to check out A-Ma Temple and Mandarin House. Another tourist attraction's close to our hotel.
8:30 am - Bus going to A-Ma and Mandarin Mansion - MOP 6 - Php 36.29 each
*Few steps from Hou Kong Hotel you will find the Ponte Cais N.14 bus station, take bus #5 and get off at Templo A-Ma bus station. See photo below.
8:40 am - Alight at A-Ma Temple Bus Station
*You will see a park and the Maritime Museum Building in-front of the bus station
9:00 am - Arrival at A-Ma Temple
*Is most famous and oldest temples in Macau, and is an exemplary representation of Chinese culture inspired by Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and multiple folk beliefs.
9:20 am - Walk to Mandarin Mansion
9:40 am - Arrival at Mandarin Mansion- FREE Admission
*Listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site, the Mandarin House is the largest family residential complex still standing in Macau.
11:00 am - Bus going back to the hotel - MOP 6 - Php 36.29 each
11:30 am - Bus going to the airport - - MOP 6 - Php 36.29 each
12:00 nn - Macau International Airport
06:35 pm - Departure
08:40 pm - Arrival at NAIA Terminal 3
9:30 pm - Dinner at Jollibee - Php 150.00 *Optional
10:00 pm - Taxi going home - Php 200.00
Total cost: Php 14,247.07
Excluded cost:
Travel Tax: Php 1,620.00
Allowance for Pasalubong and Souvenir's
Taxi going to NAIA
Usually, tourist comes to Macau for a day tour,
their port of entry would be Hongkong, but for our case it was the other way
around. Because at the time we were booking our ticket, there was some sort of commotion going on in Hongkong. It was when we were departing, we realized Hong
Kong then was safe to visit. So, we revised our itinerary and visit Hong Kong
for a day tour.
Things to remember while in Macau:
- Always carry your passport with you wherever you go.
- Bring an eco-bag when shopping in Macau, particularly in groceries and convenience stores, because the government of Macau has signed an order for the charge for a single-use plastic bag in retail locations and it cost one pataca (MOP1-Php 6.02)
- Most of the restaurants in Macau does not have free drinking water. So, make sure to bring your bottled water wherever you may go. Bottled water (8oz-12oz) in restaurants cost around MOP7 to 10 Php 42.00 to 60.00.
Must try in Macau:
- Macau Portuguese Egg Tart
- Original Castella Cake
- Pork Chop Bun
- Curry Fish Balls
- Almond cookies
- Bubble Tea
- Meat Jerky
Travelling doesn’t have to be as expensive as you are imagining. If you can afford your life now, you can likely afford to travel. Just make sure to DO YOUR RESEARCH. Having an idea of how much things will cost you before visiting a place or a country is a MUST. Always, do your research beforehand; have an idea of how much their transportation will cost you, search for Anything FREE to do in the country you’re visiting to, including FREE admission for museum, tourist attractions and FREE WIFI.
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