English speaking driver in Hong Kong

[Patti]

We are looking for a driver to meet our cruiseship when it docks in Hong Kong, take us to our hotel, and then act as driver/guide for various places on Victoria Island and in the New Territories. I wonder if they will be plentiful at the pier or if I need to search for one on the internet. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[steveadmin]

Hi Patti,

No driver suggestions from me I'm afraid - but I would be tempted to use public transport and taxis. Hong Kong is small and blessed with a superb metro, plus you have trams overland which you take for the fun of them rather than to get anywhere quickly! The same would go for a driver... why struggle through clogged roads when you can buzz yourself around underground in air-conditioned spotlessly clean luxury?

So If I were you I'd grab a meter cab on landing and once you are settled into your hotel, take a look at the extensive MTR map. Grab yourself an Octopus Card (a pass you top up with money which allows you to beep yourself in and out of the transport system without worrying about zones, fares, tickets or the like) and work out where you want to go on the subway map.

Oh, and make sure you make the Star Ferry crossing over to Hong Kong Island too!

[steveadmin]

Here are some pics of public transport in HK:


Hong Kong MTR (Mass Transit Railway)
A spotlessly clean and airconditioned subway system


Hong Kong KCR (Kowloon Canton Railway)
An extensive light rail system that links in with the MTR


Hong Kong Star Ferry
The legendary crossing!


Hong Kong tram
Slow - but fun on the top deck!

[Patti]

Thanks, Steve. Do any of the new transportation systems go to the back side of Victoria Island? I want to go to Shek-o, Repulse Bay, Stanley, and Headland Road (where my parents used to live) to see what's happened to those areas. I've not been there since any of the new systems---all we could take to get to Kowloon was the Star Ferry in the "old days".

[steveadmin]

Hi Patti,

The MTR only stretches as far as Chai Wan, unfortunately, but tonnes of buses ply the routes to the more remote south part of the island. Try to get a double decker bus and sit on the top deck at the front - you'll have a great view as you traverse the rolling hills The 16X bus goes from Chai Wan to Stanley - it's about a 15 mile journey - but it might be a more breathtaking ride from Causeway Bay (also on the MTR) to Stanley, as it takes you up and over the mountain and through Repulse Bay to Stanley. The bus ride is a tourist experience in itself!

Would be interested to hear of any changes you see - I always had the impression that Stanley was stuck in a timewarp - in a nice way!

Here's the MTR map for your reference. As you can see, it's quite extensive.

[Patti]

Thanks again, Steve. Are you saying that an MTR from Causeway Bay to Stanley is the one that goes over the mountain? I remember that mountain well as we had to go over it to get to downtown. We lived on Headland Road between Repulse Bay and Stanley (I think). I remember we would go to the market in Stanley.....We lived at #10 (which I understand has been torn down) which was above Lookout (C.V. Starr's palatial home complete with the only private tennis court on the island---he was a lovely man and let us use that and his little rock "beach"). I have such fond memories of those times.

[steveadmin]

Sorry, that wasn't very clear of me - when I said "it might be a more breathtaking ride from Causeway Bay (also on the MTR) to Stanley, as it takes you up and over the mountain" I meant Causeway Bay is on an MTR line. Just to be clear, there is no MTR service to the south side of Hong Kong Island - you have to take the bus.

Stanley Market is still there, so you'll be able to see that at least Your memories sound fantastic. I'm sure they will return even more vividly when you disembark in Hong Kong and visit these places again and see them with your own eyes...

[MistaDirtybootz]

Those double-decker buses look like the haven't made up there minds about staying upright or tilting over. Listing is the right word, more like undecided :)