Hong Kong Airport to pier

[shoreboy]

Is it easy to get a cab from Hong Kong Airport to the pier and if so, how much? How about with 3 suitcases? Anything else I need to know about this trip?

Thanks!

[John Bull]

Is it easy to get a cab from Hong Kong Airport to the pier and if so, how much? How about with 3 suitcases? Anything else I need to know about this trip?

Thanks!

 

Very easy, assuming there are only 2 of you cos you'll share the seats with some of your luggage - many taxis are not ideal for the job with luggage.

I vaguely recall a cost of around USD50 (but in HK money), incl auto bridge toll (added to meter price) for the same journey in the opposite direction.

Don't know if you can pay by card or foreign currency.

John Bull

[Earl Rosebery]

Is it easy to get a cab from Hong Kong Airport to the pier and if so, how much? How about with 3 suitcases? Anything else I need to know about this trip?

Thanks!

 

That's NOT the way to go. There is an express dedicated train that runs from the airport to 1 station in Kowloon and 1 on Hong Kong island. Take the train to Kowloon and then a cab to the cruise terminal. Occasionally, your ship will be on the Hong Kong island side. In that case, take the train to the Hong Kong (last) stop.

[Earl Rosebery]

Is it easy to get a cab from Hong Kong Airport to the pier and if so, how much? How about with 3 suitcases? Anything else I need to know about this trip?

Thanks!

http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/transport/to-from-airport/airport-express.html

[EmsMom]

We just got back from Hong Kong last night.....we took a taxi to the airport and it was about $40US from Kowloon with 4 suitcases. The taxis in Hong Kong are very cheap. Personally, I would take a taxi for that price as we didn't have to get on and off of the MTR with our bags and then find a taxi. If you are trying to save money, you could do that but we thought the taxi was a great deal.

[mking8288]

Just to be sure, which cruiseline/ship are you disembarkating & time of year?

 

Most major cruises will be docked at the Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui area of Kowloon, the infamous Victoria Harbour. But, occassionally, cruise ships are known to be docked and/or anchored (tendor to shore with large boats) near the huge container port city's terminal near Tsuen Wan in NT, which is actually much closer HKIA. Huge ones like the QE2 are too big for the OT and ended up at Tsuen Wan instead.

 

http://www.12hk.com/area/TST/TST_OceanTerminal.shtml

 

I would highly recommend taking a taxi instead of dragging them to take the Airport Express Train, for which you need to transfer upon arriving at the Hong Kong Station at the island side and transfer (elevators are available) to another train back to the Kowloon side of the MTR station at Tsim Sha Tsui, go upstairs or outside & then walk over to the Taxi stand, then a short ride over to the Ocean Terminal. The one-way fare from the airport including tolls & tips to Ocean Terminal should be under $45 USD or $350 HKD.

 

There are 3 types of licensed taxis in HKG, all metered rates plus bridge tolls, and regulated - blue, green and red - with red taxis being most flexible on where they can and will go at the airport. When in doubt, ask before getting in and you will find bilingual English/Chinese signs at the airport with helpful info & estimated fares to popular parts of the city in HKD ($1 US Dollar = about $7.75 HK Dollar)

 

Generally speaking, only local currency accepted - there's a Foreign Currency Exchange counter at the HKIA Arrival area, just outside the immigration & customs area as you exit before reaching the meet & greet area (you will also find Airport Express & MTR counter and help nearby.) If you need help, just look for friendly airport volunteers for advice & directions - with English spoken by many - if not all - working at the airport.

 

Hong Kong's weather can be very humid even when it's just warm and only get worst when it's hot - and you will sweating like hell with luggages with the train & MTR transfer. In contrast, taxis are air-conditioned & well maintained, and you'll get practically door to door services from the airport to the terminal & the drivers are street smart to go around & avoid major traffic jams in doing their best to get you safely to your final destination - it's common & expected for all passengers to wear seat belts while riding, front and REAR. Also, the taxi ride is very scenic as you come into town & see the gradual & sometimes dramatic transition from the "countryside" to the "urban concret" jungle of ultra hi-rise residential & commercial office buildings towering into the sky. ;) You might want to consider this 45 minutes taxi ride a quick city-tour on your own with no narration, but what you see en route is self-explanatory & perfect for many photo ops.

 

There's a less expensive alternate to get into town, and that involved taking your own luggage over to the bus terminal just outside the airport passenger terminal - an easy 5 to 10 minutes walk and take the A21 limited stop CityFlyer Bus (quasi-express) to Tsim Sha Tsui via busy & historic Nathan Road lined with shops in Kowloon for about $5 USD per person. It's air-conditioned double decker coach with luggage racks downstairs (limited space) - bilingual signage indicating upcoming stops - and you can then take a short taxi ride at one of the Bus Stop over to Ocean Terminal. :D

 

http://www.nwstbus.com.hk/routes/routeinfo.aspx?intLangID=1&searchtype=2&orgdistrict=NLA&orgarea=000006&orgfbid=00000005390000002371&desdistrict=YTM&desarea=000132&desfbid=00000003020000001058&daytime=1&route=A21&routetype=D&company=5&routedirection=R&exactMatch=yes

 

 

It's our favorite city in the Far East - have a nice cruise: more questions, feel fee to ask. :)

Edited March 22, 2011 by mking8288

[Earl Rosebery]

We just got back from Hong Kong last night.....we took a taxi to the airport and it was about $40US from Kowloon with 4 suitcases. The taxis in Hong Kong are very cheap. Personally, I would take a taxi for that price as we didn't have to get on and off of the MTR with our bags and then find a taxi. If you are trying to save money, you could do that but we thought the taxi was a great deal.

 

One advantage of the express train is that you check your bags with your airline and get your boarding pass AT THE BEGINNING of the train ride at the Kowloon or Hong Kong island station. You do not have to pick your bags up at the airport and check in.

[Earl Rosebery]

 

I would highly recommend taking a taxi instead of dragging them to take the Airport Express Train, for which you need to transfer upon arriving at the Hong Kong Station at the island side and transfer (elevators are available) to another train back to the Kowloon side of the MTR station at Tsim Sha Tsui, go upstairs or outside & then walk over to the Taxi stand, then a short ride over to the Ocean Terminal. The one-way fare from the airport including tolls & tips to Ocean Terminal should be under $45 USD or $350 HKD.

 

 

Why wouldn't you take the train to the Kowloon station and then a taxi to the cruise terminal? No need to go to the Hong Kong station and transfer on the subway back to Kowloon.

[mking8288]

Why wouldn't you take the train to the Kowloon station and then a taxi to the cruise terminal? No need to go to the Hong Kong station and transfer on the subway back to Kowloon.

 

You're right on that point ! My bad - assuming that OP like most cruisers, would be sailing out of that 40+ years old Ocean Terminal in TST and not sailing out of the Container Port/Terminal at Tsuen Wan. Some of the cruises' embarkation port is HKG but disembarkation could be at Singarpore or elsewhere (not returning to the same port) so it might not involve a trip back to HKIA.

 

The last time we're in HKG, we used our Octopus MTR Card for the Cityflyer A21 bus into the "city" with a free above ground tour riding the double decker coach, putting us on busy Nathan Road in less than 45 minutes and it was cheap by U.S. standards. Our hotel wasn't on the Airport Express's free shuttle bus route (nor is the Ocean Terminal - the closest hotels are 5 to 10 long city blocks away crowded with people and thus, the short taxi ride on top of it all) When we flew out of HKIA, we took a taxi as our party of 3 with luggage fitted perfectly in the taxi, each with a checked luggage plus a carry-on (going inside the pax compartment.) and took care of our checkin online using wifi at the hotel on my notebook.

Edited March 23, 2011 by mking8288

[cruzenkidz]

Is it easy to get a cab from Hong Kong Airport to the pier and if so, how much? How about with 3 suitcases? Anything else I need to know about this trip?

Thanks!

 

we will arrive at the airport about 8 am. where to we go to get a taxi to the cruise terminal and how much will te fare be for two adults with luggage?

[mking8288]

Wow, now that's someone doing a deep search to find this old post 4 years ago :D -

 

Okay, HKIA (HKG) is 25 miles from the KTCT (new terminal on the old airport runway, with 2 berths for mega ships) - traffic conditions varying, 45 to 60 minutes travel time should suffice. Per taxi metered fare is about $300 HKD plus a nominal luggage surcharege and one (1) bridge toll - should be no more $350 to $400 HKD unless you are caught in super heavy traffic as your route will be mostly on the expressway/highway and/or elevated roadway with a few major rotary interchanges. Locals generally just "round" up the loose change as tips for the driver - so a 10% would be good to very good, 15% would be nice, nice. http://www.kaitakcruiseterminal.com.hk/facilities/getting-here/

 

Fare is about $45 to $50 USD (7:75 HKD to 1 USD is the rough conversion factor) plus tipping - note the driver's license & taxi plates, and they are required to issue the metered generated, computerized receipt, keep that for your records & proof - just in case, to file a complaint with the taxi regulators. Most drivers are honest, many speak limited, if any, English so have a simple bilingual sign printed or on the smartphone would be helpful & useful to ease the communications.

 

The typical HK taxi will seat 4, some licensed for 5, with capacity for about 3 medium-sized ++ luggage in the trunk, sometimes open but securely tied down with bungee cords - so it's good for 3 adults + luggage, definitely no problems for 2 with reasonable luggage in tow. Toward the end of this YT video - info on the "Urban Taxi" as you will be heading toward Kowloon - in one of the red taxi.

 

USA flights arrive at HKIA's T1, on arrival - at the lower level, follow the bilingual signs to luggage claim & ground transportation - you will take a short ride from the gates via the APM (Automated People's Movers) to T1, follow signage for border control/immigration - for non-HK citizens (locals have e-Channels, etc.) with your passports ready. Grab a free luggage cart at the carousal area and wait for your luggage, then, proceed thru customs (those with duty items to declare, and, for most - nothing to declare ...) Follow those signs & you will find yourself next in the meet-n-greet arrival hall area ... there's tourist info, ground transportation (MTR & AE or Airport Express) counters, currency exchange & traveler's aid by local volunteers. HKIA is 24/7 and everything will be up & running pretty much at 8 AM or 8:30 AM and very busy already.

 

There are also ATM's in this area and in the vast Terminal 1 area (HSBC is "the" banking giant ... don't recall if Citi has ATMs there) - where you can use your USA bank debit card to withdraw local currencies, as you will need it to pay the taxi driver as few are equipped with working mobile terminals for charging or debit purposes.

 

There are plentiful signs to the taxi stand, right outside the terminal in covered area - join the line and tell the dispatcher on duty your destination, s/he will help inform/tell the driver of your destination - be helped with loading & securing your luggage; and, you will be on the way moments later.

 

If you need to purchase bottled water, soda, etc. or other toiletry items - please do that while you are at HKIA's 7-11's or Watsons (local pharmacy chains), etc. first - as you will not be able to find them at the cruise terminal.

 

There's 2 recent threads where I linked / posted useful info - for those arriving at KTCT - you might find some of it helpful too. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2318806

 

Beware of jetlag, especially on TPAC flights - looking at 16+ hours non-stop from the gateway cities into HKG, more with connections - you aren't allowing yourself time to get use to the time zone changes ... day instead of night, night instead of day; as it will take easily 3 or 4 days to get adjusted, end up sleeping at odd hours for several days into your cruise :eek: :p - I strongly recommend flying in at least two, or one day earlier & let the body clock reset, do some local sightseeing. Depending on your arrival date in HKG, hotel rates have been coming down in the past year & it's well worth it.

 

Happy cruising :cool:

Edited February 26, 2016 by mking8288

[Keith1010]

we will arrive at the airport about 8 am. where to we go to get a taxi to the cruise terminal and how much will te fare be for two adults with luggage?

 

There are plenty of taxis at the airport.

 

Drive will be about 30 minutes.

 

Keith

[debzie essex]

What about other way around - going from Cruise Terminal to airport at 7:30 a:m? Is it easy and nearby to get a taxi?

[bronte2]

Just adding that large ships such as QM2 now berth at Kai Tak on the Kowloon side. We boarded her there in 2015 and when we were in HK earlier this year there were cruise ships at both the Ocean Terminal and Kai Tak. Perhaps the container terminal is still used on occasions but I think since Kai Tak opened up this is now the berth of choice. It's not as convenient as the Ocean Terminal but it's way better than the container terminal.

 

We usually take taxis from the airport to Kowloon and find them so simple and quick (and cheap). Excess luggage i.e. more than 2 suitcases goes on the front seat :D. The taxis only take HK$ and no credit cards.

[bronte2]

What about other way around - going from Cruise Terminal to airport at 7:30 a:m? Is it easy and nearby to get a taxi?

 

If berthed at Kai Tak there should be plenty of taxis lined up but not sure of the demand from departing passengers. I can't imagine the wait would be too long as there are gazillions of taxis in HK.

 

If at the Ocean Terminal, as there is very limited parking there can be a bit of a wait but attendants will usually escort you and your luggage to a waiting area on the pier. We disembarked at the Ocean Terminal earlier this year and had no problems with a short wait for a cab to take us to our hotel. Other pax were going to the airport.

[mking8288]

What about other way around - going from Cruise Terminal to airport at 7:30 a:m? Is it easy and nearby to get a taxi?

What time is your int'l flight out of HKIA - on ship days, there should be a decent # of taxis queued up for passengers; and, an airport run is considered good for them. Except for Sundays allow extra time due to local commuting traffic at 7:30 AM as that's prime, rush hour - but, should not be more than 45 minutes to 1 hour once you are in "your" taxi, ready to go.

 

There are taxi apps for iOS & Android that you can download, install & use to "call" or book a taxi in advance. one of the App has English functions = user friendly. Here's a link to an ExPat forum/site about what & how, etc. - as a fallback. Usually, drivers already there will contact others to come to the terminal if there are waiting customers and long lines, take them maybe 10 minutes to come from nearby places, i.e. MTR station's taxi stands.

https://geoexpat.com/forum/24/thread338504.html

 

Please note that Uber is illegal and their operations unlicensed and if something happened, insurance coverage will NOT be available for injuries, etc. - local police has been cracking down on them & other unlicensed grey market ride services (ditto, for the Macau market) ... but, there are still cross-border cargo/pax van services in the shadow, opearting ... I do not recommend them nor should anyone endorse them, get into one at your own unknown & full risks.

[debzie essex]

Thanks for info folks. I will be heading from port to airport at about 730am...on Christmas Eve!

[les37b]

Same question for a 7pm departure on a Saturday evening from Kowloon for a 2300 flight. (Better to ask in this old thread than make another!)

 

I was intending on using the free hotel transfer to the Airport Express station, but will arrive in Hong Kong with 2 suit cases plus cabin bags and quite possibly end with taking 3 cases! Whilst all our bags are easy to manoeuvre with 4 wheels and ability to partial stack, it may make the train journey uncomfortable... but will the taxi be fine with 2 pax, 3 suitcases and 3 cabin bags. On the seat is fine......

 

Shame it’ll probably be dark by then... I’d have loved to have time lapses the journey from Hotel to airport from the windscreen!

[LUV2TRAVELLINDA]

We are taking cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong on the Celebrity Millenium next Feb. 2019.

 

How many days before we depart on cruise should we arrive in Singapore to avoid jet lag on the cruise?

 

When we arrive back in Hong Kong at 8:00 a.m. will we be able to get off ship and get to the Hong Kong airport for a 12:20 flight back to the U.SA?

Or is it best to stay overnight in Hong Kong and depart the next day after this cruise debarks?

 

Also, is it best to use the cruise ship transfers or a taxi to get to the airport from the pier?

 

And what visas do we need to spend a few days in Singapore, and 1 day in Hong Kong?

 

Thanks.

Linda

[Globaliser]

How many days before we depart on cruise should we arrive in Singapore to avoid jet lag on the cruise?

Two or three days, if you are to get over the worst of it.

 

And what visas do we need to spend a few days in Singapore, and 1 day in Hong Kong?

If you are US citizens, none for either.

[Philob]

When we arrive back in Hong Kong at 8:00 a.m. will we be able to get off ship and get to the Hong Kong airport for a 12:20 flight back to the U.SA?

 

Thanks.

Linda

 

If the ship arrives at 8 am, it may be another hour before pax are let off.

 

If you are let off the ship at 8 am and you carry off your own luggage you'll still need to clear HK immigration and customs, maybe 15-45 minutes?

 

If no traffic the drive from the port to airport is about 45 minutes. Need to be in a taxi by 9:35pm.

 

Flight leaves 12:20pm; you'll need to check-in at least two hours before departure, so you need to be in line at 10:20. After checking in you'll need to clear HK immigration and airport security. They do a secondary screening at the gate for US bound flights, so they call for boarding about 45 minutes before departure

 

IMO While there's time to get to the airport, I'd avoid the stress and overnight in HK.

 

Side note, Chinese New Year 2019 is Feb 9th, the airport will be crazy-busy around that date.