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Cars 4 Rental Guide To Travel In  Hong Kong

International Airports Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) (Chek Lap Kok) (website: www.hkairport.com) is located on Lantau Island, 34 km (21 miles) from central Hong Kong. It is one of 10 Airport Core Programme (ACP) projects, one of the largest infrastructural projects ever undertaken in the world. It includes the 2.2km (1.4 miles) Tsing Ma Bridge, the world’s largest road and rail suspension bridge, linking Lantau Island to the mainland New Territories. About three-quarters of the 12,480 sq km (7800 sq miles) airport site was constructed from land reclaimed from the sea, with the rest formed from the excavation of the existing islands of Chek Lap Kok and Lam Chau. The airport terminal building, designed by the British architect Sir Norman Foster, is Hong Kong’s largest single building and its wing-like roof and glass walls have been hailed as a landmark in modern architecture. Rail, bus and taxi links from Hong Kong International Airport to central Hong Kong leave from the Transportation Centre adjacent to the passenger terminal and cross the Tsing Ma bridge to the mainland New Territories. The easiest connection is via the Airport Express Line (AEL), an all-seater business class high-speed train. The AEL leaves the airport every 10 minutes, operating from 0545-0048. It is a 23-minute journey to Hong Kong station, also stopping at Kowloon, with free shuttle buses running from the rail stations to various hotels (a single ticket to Hong Kong station from the airport costs HK$90). Many bus routes operate between the airport and Hong Kong and Kowloon, including nine Airbus services. Fares range between HK$20-45. High-speed ferries run between Chek Lap Kok Ferry Pier and Tuen Mun, with a shuttle bus from the pier to the airport. Ferries operate from 0600-2200 and cost HK$15. There are also 18 pick-up bays for coaches providing group and organised tour hotel transfers, and a car park for more than 3000 vehicles. Taxis to Hong Kong are readily available. China Travel Service and a number of other coach companies offer a variety of travel services for journeys to mainland China or Macau. Facilities at Hong Kong International Airport include tourist information desks and computer kiosks, several currency exchange counters, banks and ATMs, food and drink outlets, a post office and medical centre, good physical accessibility for passengers with disabilities and a large Hong Kong Sky Mall shopping centre with duty-free shopping available. Hong Kong International is also one of only a few airports to have an Automated People Mover (APM), a driverless train at basement level that transports passengers between terminals. Departure tax: None. Back to Top Air Travel Hong Kong’s major international airline is Cathay Pacific (CX) (website: www.cathaypacific.com), which flies to Hong Kong thrice-daily from London Heathrow and Los Angeles, twice-daily from New York (JF Kennedy Airport) and Vancouver, and once a day from Delhi and Toronto. Cathay Pacific’s associated airline for flights to and from mainland China is Dragonair. Other airlines operating to Hong Kong include Air Canada, British Airways, China Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, SWISS, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. NOTE: Some civilian air routes over Afghanistan are threatened by military activity. Some airlines continue to use these routes to fly to destinations, including Hong Kong. Others, including all British airlines, use alternative routes, on which the threat is assessed as minimal. Travellers should check their routes directly with either travel agents or airlines when booking flights. Approximate flight times: From Hong Kong to London is 12 hours 50 minutes, to Los Angeles is 14 hours 15 minutes, to New York is 17 hours, to Singapore is 3 hours 40 minutes, to Sydney is 9 hours, and to Tokyo is 4 hours 20 minutes. Back to Top Travel By Water A large number of cruise ships visit Hong Kong port. The following is a list of those that are UK-based; Crystal, Cunard, P&O, Radisson Seven Seas, Seabourn and Silversea. Ferries and hovercraft link Hong Kong with mainland China. Departures are from the Hong Kong ferry terminal in Kowloon to Shenzhen or Guangzhou. Enquire locally for details. There are more than 100 daily scheduled sailings each way to Macau. The journey can be made by jetfoil, turbocat, jumbocat, hoverferry or catamaran. Travel time by jetfoil – 55 minutes; by catamaran – 1 hour 10 minutes. See also the Macau section. Cross-harbour passenger services (shortest route 7 to 10 minutes) are operated by Star Ferries (sailing every 5 minutes) from 0630-2330. There are frequent passenger and vehicle services on other cross-harbour routes. Wallah wallahs (small motorboats) provide 24-hour service. The outlying islands are served daily by ferries and hydrofoils. However, the opening of the Cross Harbour Tunnel means that wallah wallahs are decreasing in popularity. Tours of the harbour and to Aberdeen and Yaumatei typhoon shelters are available by Watertours junks, and visits to outlying islands are possible by public ferry. Ferries sail to Tuen Mun, Sha Lo Wan, Tai O, Discovery Bay and Cheung Chau. Weekdays are the best time to go, since ferries tend to be very crowded at weekends. During the typhoon season (May to November), all ferry services may be suspended during bad weather. Back to Top Rail The Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation (KCR) operates a service from Kowloon to Guangzhou (formerly Canton), several times a day. There are also services from Hong Kong to Foshan and Changping. Restaurant cars are only available if travelling first class. Local KCRC trains run regularly (every 5 to 10 minutes) to Lo Wu, the last stop before the Chinese border. It is then possible to cross the border to Shenzhen, a special economic zone, in China over the border. To go as far as Lo Wu, travellers must hold a visa for China, otherwise it is only possible to get to Sheung Shui. Children under 3 years old travel free. Children aged 3 to 9 years pay half fare. For more information, contact the KCRC information line (tel: 2688 1333; website: www.kcrc.com). Mass Transit Railway (MTR) has four lines and provides a cross-harbour line. It is more expensive than the ferry, but quicker, particularly for those travelling further into Kowloon than Tsimshatsui or to Lantau Island. Trains run between 0600-0100. A single ticket costs HK$4-11. For visitors staying for a week or more it is worth getting an Octopus Card, an electronic ticket from which the cost of the journey is automatically deducted when it is placed on a sensor. The card costs HK$50, and value can be added to the card at machines in any MTR station. Any other credit remaining is also refunded when the card is handed in. At present, the card may be used on MTR services, as well as on the Kowloon-Canton Railway, major bus routes and some ferries. The Airport Express Tourist Octopus Card is valid for 3 days, entitling passengers to one Airport Express journey and 3 days of unlimited travel by MTR. Plans are underway to extend its use to other routes and means of transport as Hong Kong’s transport system becomes more and more integrated. For further details, contact the MTR information line (tel: 2881 8888; website: www.mtr.com.hk). The Kowloon–Canton Railway Corporation (KCR) has 13 stations within Hong Kong. Trains run between 0530-0025 from Hung Hom (Kowloon) to Shenzhen in China; see Travel – International section for more information. KCR also run the Light Rail (LR) which connects the north west new territories Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. LR trains run from 0545-0030. For further information, contact Light Rail (tel: 2468 7788). Back to Top Travel By Road Traffic drives on the left. Bus: The Octopus Card (see above) can be used on buses. Routes run throughout the territory, with cross-harbour routes via the tunnels. These, however, are often very crowded. Exact change is required. Air-conditioned coaches operate along certain Hong Kong and Kowloon routes. Minibus: These can pick up passengers and stop on request except at regular bus stops and other restricted areas. Trams: The Octopus Card (see above) can be used on trams. They are only available on Hong Kong Island, running from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan (via Happy Valley racecourse). Double decker trams are also available. All trams run from 0600-0100 and fares are HK$2. Peak Tram on the Island is a cable tramway to the upper terminus on Victoria Peak. Taxi: These are plentiful in Hong Kong and Kowloon. There is an extra charge (HK$10) for the Cross Harbour Tunnel. Red taxis serve Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, green ones the New Territories, and blue ones Lantau Island. Maxicabs, however, operate on fixed routes without fixed stops. Many drivers speak a little English, but it is wise to get your destination written in Chinese characters. Rickshaws: These are gradually disappearing and are now purely a tourist attraction. It is advisable to agree the fare in advance. Car hire: A wide selection of self-drive and chauffeur-driven cars are available, although car hire is not that popular in Hong Kong. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is recommended, although it is not legally required. A valid national licence is accepted for up to 12 months. Minimum age is 18 years. Third Party insurance is compulsory. TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Hong Kong Island to main tourist districts and outlying islands. Road Metro Sea Kai Tak 0.35 - - Kowloon 0.20 0.04 0.10 Causeway Bay 0.10 - - Lantau Is. - - 1.00 Aberdeen 0.20 - - Cheung Chau - - 1.00 Back to Top

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Cars 4 Rental can provide car hire vehicles in all the popular locations throughout Hong Kong.

Whatever your requirements Cars 4 Rental will be able to provide a car to meet your needs. Our hire cars can be equipped with many optional extras including child seats so that your car rental is ideally suited to your needs.

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