The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Exploring Hong Kong

No need to donate. You can crash at my flat I own there. By the way what is the going exchange rate there for one USD?

Lucky, give me one reason why you don't move to Hong Kong for at least a few months??? Why not? You'll love it! It will probably be one of the best experiences of your life!!!

Amazing. I'm heading to HKG May 9-11th. Whats a must visit ?

I travel vicariously through Lucky's trips. Would love to visit Hong Kong and then Sai Gon city. What would be the better usage for this trip, Avios or AA miles? Thanks.

You see, Lucky, this is the kind of trip report that is excellent. You show a total appreciation of the world around you and the opportunity to travel. Reading this warms my heart.

I believe the Hong Kong dollar is pegged at $7.9 for every USD?

@ aznprzn -- Hah, thanks! Right now it's 1:7.76.

@ Wouter -- Cause it's damn expensive! But I am tempted.

@ Arthur -- I would do all of the above (Stanley, Symphony of Lights, Victoria Peak), as well as Temple Street Market, Ladies Market (not as dirty as it sounds), etc. If you have time, the New Territories are well worth a visit too.

@ Nguyen -- Thanks! Depends where you're originating, though generally the redemption rates from North America are lower through American. One-way tickets are 55,000 miles in business class or 67,500 miles in first class.

@ Frank -- Thanks!

Thanks Lucky. Actually, we would leave from SFO. Would love to try the business class for once, but probably travel the normal way in the coach class (no class) 🙂

@ Nguyen -- In coach you'd pay 35,000 Avios in coach, 70,000 Avios in business, or 105,000 Avios in first. With American you'd pay 30,000 miles in coach, 55,000 miles in business, or 67,500 miles in first. The only difference is that with British Airways you'd pay an additional ~$150 per direction in fuel surcharges. So you're probably better off using American miles regardless of which cabin you fly in.

Hope you have a great time!

I am doing LA JFK FRA HKG. I am still undecided on the best way back maximizing my UsAir miles. Uim doing all biz class. As of now I have HKG ICN LAX. suggestions? Maybe Europe?

@ Arthur -- Depends how you define maximizing. You're only allowed one stopover enroute to your destination, so if you stop in Europe on the way out there's no incentive to returning via Europe other than flying more.

If your return flight on Asiana is on the 777, I'd say that's a great option since it most likely has their new business class.

FRA is a layover

@ Arthur -- If it's only a layover, then I'd route the return based on where you'd prefer to stopover. Maybe Seoul, Zurich, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Copenhagen, Stockholm, etc.?

Great! ICN TO LAX is 747

Lucky
I was just going to ask you about what to do in HKG for a day or two. Thanks for the post!

HK is probably one of the best cities in the world. I hope I can retired there too. BTW, United should have two flights from SFO->HKG daily.

@Lucky: It's actually not that expensive; food & transportation is incredibly cheap; the only $$$ is housing. For eg. the apartment complexes that are adjacent to the ICC/Ritz Carlton and have harbor views start at around $5.5 Million USD. But, if you really want to live in HKG, you can live in other parts of Kowloon (not near Central) which are much cheaper from my understanding.

Lucky, I agree that Hong Kong is an awesome place to visit. A couple of years ago I actually went there 4 times within an 8 month period, and contemplated moving there myself. I love how it truly is where East meets West, so you can get a dose of familiar Western culture with an Eastern flair. The dim sum (or yum cha as they say in Cantonese) alone is enough for a trip, lol. However as awesome as HK and some other global cities are, New York is still the greatest city in the world! (Just my opinion of course.) 🙂

Lucky: I will visit Hong Kong twice (20 hour each time) in June & July. Will stay in Grand Hyatt & Hyatt Regency. Sha Tin.

What are the best ways to see HK within 2 (20-hr) stays?

By the way, do you use Bus service all the time in HK?

Thanks for your advise.

@ Peter -- When in Hong Kong I walk for the most part when exploring the city. I take the Star Ferry between Hong Kong and Kowloon, but other than that I walk. When I'm leaving the city (like to Stanley), I take the bus.

Hong Kong also has a great subway (the MTR), though I rarely end up using it.

Two 20 hour layovers should be more than enough to see all of the above, assuming you hit the ground running when you land. I saw all of the above in one day, so if the weather cooperates you should have no issue doing so either.

Don't you have to work before you can retire?

@ RakSiam -- Just because I enjoy what I fill my days with doesn't mean it's not "work!"

Can anyone recommend a good private guide in Hong Kong?

I "only" spent 2 weeks in Hong Kong on a trip, and would without a doubt say it's one of the best cities I have been to so far.

Do they still have the "Asia's World City" signs around, especially at the top of Victoria Peak? I always thought that was a bit peculiar.

Lucky,

I agree with you 100 percent. I love Hong Kong. The fast pace, great food, a wonderful mix of old and new, and the best Airport in the world. And to top it off, it's home to one of the finest airlines in the world, Cathay Pacific. With 4 daily CX flights from JFK to HKG (3 nonstops), you're only 16.5 hours away from a wonderful adventure. Thanks for the posting.

Visa needed for 3 days in Japan'.?

@Arthur
For U.S. citizens, no. U.S. Citizens receive a 90-day tourist entry permit on arrival in Japan.

@Lucky: Many students on internships and international university programs live in Hong Kong. They are your age, and I don't think they have more to spend than you do (you have a fulltime job, they don't!).

Of course, you might not be able to live in the center of Hong Kong, and you might have to share an appartment with other international flatmates, but that's just part of the experience! It's awesome 🙂

Quick question. You have 90,000 UsAirways miles. Flying from LA, how would you maximize this with a must in HKG with stopovers etc?

@ Arthur -- It all comes down to what you're looking to do. Do you enjoy flying different carriers or do you want to get there as comfortably and quickly as possible? What cities would you be interested in stopping in?

Love carriers! Like you. Always want to try different products, business class. I'm open to ALL cities. ZURICH, BKK, HKG, ETC.

@ Arthur -- Well in that case I'd route via Europe to maximize miles. Pending availability of course, maybe something like LAX-LHR on Air New Zealand, LHR-BKK on Thai, BKK-HKG on Thai, HKG-ICN-FRA on Asiana, FRA-VIE-JFK on Austrian, and JFK-LAX on United. Of course that's just a totally speculative routing because availability is usually not so great that you have so much of a choice, but that sounds like a good option to me.

Im slightly obssesed with your blog. It's like playing chess trying to maximize miles with dates, times. Etc

@ Arthur -- Hah, happy to hear. It can be a bit addicting.

That's all biz, and within rules?! Wow. Amazing. Thanx

@ Arthur -- That's correct. Again, it all comes down to availability, though.