The smorgasbord of travel apps have made planning and executing travel plans so much easier. But which ones do you need for a trip to Hong Kong? Here are my tried and tested favorites:
HK eTransport
Hong Kong’s public transportation system, in my opinion, is what every other system in the world hopes to become. (Of course, this is helped by the fact that Hong Kong is smaller compared to everywhere else but that’s besides the point.) Everything runs like clockwork: the trains, the buses, the ferries, even the taxis! But navigating the entire system can be confusing to the newcomer (like me!) so this is where HK eTransport comes in.
The HK eTransport app was created by Hong Kong’s Transport Department and gives you a complete guide on how to get from Point A to Point B. Just enter your starting location and your ending location and the app will calculate the various commuting routes available to you using the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), Light Rail Transit (LRT), franchised buses, green minibuses, ferries (the famous Star Ferry and the ferries that service the Outlying Islands), regular trams, the Peak Tram, cross-boundary coach to Huanggang (China), and the bus to Ma Wan and Discovery Bay. It will even give you a detailed breakdown of each route and you can sort through the routes according to the number of interchanges, total fare, and estimated trip time.
Cons: Requires an active data connection to use. Also, the suggested routes only include stops that are a maximum of 400 meters away from your origin or destination, thus potentially limiting your route choices. For example, there are normally two options for getting to the Hong Kong Heritage Museum from where we stayed in Tsim Sha Tsui: 1) taking the East Rail line from East Tsim Sha Tsui to Sha Tin (no transfers) then walking for 15 minutes to the museum), and 2) taking the East Rail line from East Tsim Sha Tsui to Tai Wai, transfering to the Ma On Sha line and take it to Che Kung Temple station, and walking for 5 minutes. But because of the 400 m restriction, the first option doesn’t appear. While it’s not necessarily a bad thing, there are bound to be times when you just want to walk and see the sights.
Official MTR app
This standalone application developed by the MTR gives you a detailed guide to Hong Kong’s MTR system. Enter your start and end stations and the app will give you the line you’ll take (and any line changes, if ever), estimated trip time, and total fare. It also lists the different points of interest accessible at each stop.
If you don’t know the specific name of the station, you can search for popular landmarks instead.
Pros: The app works even without an active data connection. However, you should have an active data connection when you first open it so it can download the latest fare guides.
Cons: The app is redundant if you already have the HK eTransport app.
OpenRice Hong Kong
Hong Kong is all about the food and the OpenRice Hong Kong app is your best guide to Hong Kong’s best eats. It has an extensive list of restaurants, where they’re located, estimated cost per person, and reviews from the community. Aside from searching for a specific restaurant, OpenRice can also use your location to suggest nearby restaurants that you can sort according to cost, cuisine, and review scores.
My friend Eric used it to bring up restaurant recommendations for me and sent the information via Facebook. You can also send the information through email, SMS, Twitter, and WhatsApp. In my case, Eric suggested that I try Honeymoon Desserts in Sha Tin (this was after our visit to the Hong Kong Heritage Museum). Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to eat there at the time as I accidentally left my wallet at home (long story). No sweat though, as I used OpenRice to find the Tsim Sha Tsui branch (it’s located inside Harbour Mall) and I was able to walk there from where I was staying.
Cons: Requires an active data connection to use.
General travel needs:
XE Currency Converter
This app is a staple in my phone, regardless of whether I’m traveling or not. The user interface is easy to use and very pretty. Don’t forget to check the exchange rate for the day to make sure that you’re getting the most out of your money.
Pro: the app works even without a data connection. Just remember that the exchange rate you’ll be using is the one the app got the last time it was online.
Download for iOS, Android, and Blackberry 10.
A SIM card and a data plan:
If your (unlocked) phone uses a micro or nano SIM card, you’re only in Hong Kong for 5 days or less, and don’t mind throwing the SIM card away after your trip, get the PCCW Discover Hong Kong Tourist SIM card. The HK$69 SIM card is the cheapest available, is valid for 5 days, and you get 1.5 GB of data (3G speed), unlimited local calls, unlimited csl Wi-Fi, and HK$25 of usable value. If you want to extend the validity for another 5 days, you pay an additional HK$50 and get the same benefits. There’s an 8-day SIM card for HK$96 (gives you 5 GB data and HK$35 of useable value) but you cannot extend the validity of this card. Please note that this SIM card does NOT work on Blackberry devices. BOOOO!
If you’re staying for more than 5 days, I suggest that you get the regular China Mobile SIM card instead. The SIM card sells for HK$80 (HK$78 consumable) and is valid for 180 days since the last time it’s used. However, be sure to subscribe to the data plan you need. If you don’t, you’ll be charged HK$0.5/MB. I went with 1.5 GB data for 5 days (same as the Tourist SIM), costing HK $48. Subscription codes are here.
Many, many thanks to Eric who suggested all the HK apps and the China Mobile SIM card! 😀
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