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MICENTRAL Banner Space AP Wire U.S. News World News Michigan News Entertainment Sports Strange News Politics/Elections Health Business/Finance Science Technology Travel Travel Main Destinations Metro Connections News Airport Maps Airline Reservations Global Weather Contact Us More Info Personals Photo Galleries General Info About Us Subscribe Place A Classified How To Advertise Travel Main | Destinations | News Travel and Entertainment Provided by The Oakland Press, The Macomb Daily and Heritage Newspapers TRAVEL - Dec. 18, 2005 Swimming with stingrays not as scary as it sounds TRAVEL DEALS - Best bargains this week Warming up to Quebecs Tremblant ski resort TRAVEL BRIEFING - See the Keys from the sky TRAVEL - Dec. 11, 2005 Ski destinations prepare for snow season Best time to visit Alaska is on 24-hour day Marrakech opens its 8 gates to the world You can take home a little hotel luxury for a price Holiday gifts sure to please travelers Interconnect tour stitches together six Utah ski resorts in a single day TRAVEL DEALS TRAVEL - Dec. 4, 2005 Make waves on Hawaiis North Shore When lawyer gets bumped, airline pays Hurricanes, themed trips and 6 new ships Flying with disabilities Holiday gifts sure to please travelers TRAVEL BRIEFING Whats the secret for getting the best hotel rate? TRAVEL - Nov. 27, 2005 TRAVEL - Nov. 20, 2005 TRAVEL - Nov. 13, 2005 Detroit Air Travel News Provided by Metro Connections a publication of Heritage Newspapers Metro Connections - Dec. 15, 2005 - Jan. 4, 2005 Standing by Volunteer group keeps travelers on course Holiday handbook: Tis the season to plan your trip with extra care Getting There Keep cool when confronted with road rage Go&Do Shows highlight Michigan artists Auto show preview bash marks 30th year Fliers oppose cell phone use in-flight Airport merchants offer some last-minute hope for travelers Metro Connections - Dec. 1 - Dec. 14, 2005 Getting in the Spirit TSA has holiday list of its own Roads and bridges get funding boost Auto industry is star of new documentary Authority appoints chairman for 2006 Prepare children for travel challenges Safety huge concern for kids flying solo Traveler beware: Bargains can turn out to be scams AirTran a welcome addition Metro Connections - Nov. 17 - Nov. 30, 2005 Parade set to take over downtown Plan ahead before heading to the airport Getting There 'Flex' fuels may ease energy woes Go&Do Exhibit compares Rome and Detroit Survey sees improvement in airport food choices Gibby is designated booster for AirTran Tour group impressed with city Noises raise funds for parades DTW Views Better water quality a team effort Metro Connections - Nov. 3 - Nov. 16, 2005 Ceremony marks end of one era, new beginning Consumers lack time, not money for travel Getting There Better awareness keeps roads safe Go&Do Event gobbles up funds for charity New casino plan now on the table for north airport area Holiday stress buster No. 1: Plan ahead! Construction now under way on airport ARFF unit DTW Views Plan will benefit region Return to your local newspaper... Daily Publications The Daily Oakland Press The Macomb Daily The Daily Tribune The Morning Sun Weekly Publications Advisor & Source Press & Guide The Chelsea Standard The County Press The Dexter Leader The Ile Camera The Manchester Enterprise The Milan News-Leader The News-Herald The Saline Reporter The View The Voice The Ypsilanti Courier Niche Publications Job Search MI Travel Home | About Us | Subscribe | Place A Classified | How To Advertise 2005 Journal Register Company MICENTRAL.COM is a network of Michigan newspaper Web sites.

Austria Travel

sterreich Hotels Reisen Urlaub Last Minute -- mytiscover tiscover.com English Suche Österreich Burgenland Niedersterreich Obersterreich Steiermark Tirol Vorarlberg Wien Krnten Salzburg Sie befinden sich in: Österreich -- Aktuelle Angebote Österreich Burgenland Niedersterreich Obersterreich Steiermark Tirol Vorarlberg Wien Krnten Salzburg Unsere Partner burgenland.info oberoesterreich.at niederoesterreich.at steiermark.com tirol.at vorarlberg.cc Newsletter Bitte whlen Sie ... 50plus Hotels Austria Classic Hotels -- Austria Kuschelhotels Best Wellness Hotels Austria Bio-Hotels Europa Wanderhotels Familotel Feng Shui Hotels Fischwasser sterreich Golf in Austria Gsund & Vital Kinderhotels Landhotels sterreich Landidyll Langlaufen Privatvermieter Radhotels Reiten in sterreich -- Relaix & Chateaux Romantik Hotels Schlank & Schn Schlosshotels & Herrenhuser TopRadStop -- Thermenhotels Urlaub am Bauernhof HV Service Jobs im Tourismus Videos -- Jobregistrierung2 -- ORF ON Tourismuspresse Google Aktuelle Angebote fr Ihren sterreich - Urlaub Pulverschneewochen am Arlberg Genieen Sie den Wintertraum im Hotel Mondschein in Stuben am Arlberg! An einem der schnsten Skigebiete der Alpen erleben Sie eine 7 Tage zum Preis von 6 Tagen inklusive Genieerpension und 6-Tages-Arlbergskipass ab Euro 679,00 pro Person! Impressionen Entdecken Sie die schönsten Seiten Österreichs Gewinnspiel WIN! 1 Romantik-Wochenende fr 2 im Hotel Galtenberg! Winter im Groarltal Das Hotel Viehhauser in Groarl bietet Ihnen eine besondere Wohlfhlatmosphre, eine grozgige Wellness-Oase und ein herrliches Skigebiet vor der Haustre, in der Ski amad sterreichs grtem Skiverbund! Eine Woche mit Halbpension und 6-Tages-Skipass ab Euro 524,50 pro Person. Bundeslnder-News Krnten Auf Skiern und im Sattel Obersterreich Glcklerlufe im Salzkammergut Salzburg Hotel Europischer Hof im Gasteinertal Steiermark Winteropening in der Urlaubsregion Murtal Tirol Gletscherspa im Stubaital Vorarlberg Vor mir der Winter Wien Mit Pummerin und Donauwalzer ins Neue Jahr! Wien Silvester im Hotel Bristol! sterreich Skispa am Arlberg Region: Österreich... Vorarlberg Tirol Krnten Salzburg Steiermark Obersterreich Niedersterreich Burgenland Wien Anreise am: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 2004 2005 2006 Aufenthalt: Reisende: Nächte Pers. Anzahl / Zimmerart: Ferienwohnung Ferienhaus Zimmer Suite Unterkunftstyp: (Alle) Hotel Ferienhaus Gasthof Pension Privatvermieter Bauernhof Hütten & Herbergen Aktuelles Wetter - berspringen B NÖ OÖ K ST T S V W Wetterbersicht Wettervorschau Wasserbericht Schneebericht Rodelbericht Eisbericht Langlaufbericht Lawineninfo About Tiscover Presse Links Partnerprogramm Extranet © 2005 Tiscover AG , © Tiscover Österreich andall its suppliers. All rights reserved. Tiscover terms and conditions. Privacypolicy. Tiscover AG is not responsible for content on externalWeb sites.

vacation package to Europe

NWA WorldVacations - Offers air and hotel vacation packages to destinations around the world like Las Vegas Hawaii Maui Mexico Cancun Riviera Maya Jamaica the Caribbean Orlando Florida Disney World Europe Asia Hong Kong with Northwest Airlines airline tickets and WorldPerks vacations Say "Sì" to 25% Savings on European Vacations! Purchase your qualifying air and hotel vacation package to Europe by January 31, 2006 and save up to 25%! WorldVacations Package Specials View all specials Search by: Price Schedule Package Type: Air and Hotel Air and Car Departure City: Choose a City Aberdeen,SD Akron/Canton, OH Albany, NY Albuquerque,NM Alexandria, LA Allentown,PA Alpena, MI Amarillo,TX Anaheim/Orange County, CA Anchorage, AK Appleton,WI Arcata/Eureka, CA Aspen, CO Astoria,OR Atlanta,GA Austin, TX Baltimore, MD Bangor, ME Baton Rouge, LA Bellingham,WA Bemidji,MN Benton Harbor,MI Bethel, AK Billings,MT Binghamton,NY Birmingham,AL Bismarck,ND Bloomington,IL Boise,ID Boston, MA Bozeman,MT Brainerd,MN Buffalo,NY Burlington,VT Butte, MT Calgary, Canada Cedar Rapids,IA Champaign,IL Charleston,SC Charleston,WV Charlotte,NC Charlottesville,VA Charlottetown,PR ED IS Chattanooga,TN Chicago, IL (Midway) Chicago, IL (O'Hare) Cincinnati,OH Cleveland,OH College Station, TX Colorado Springs, CO Columbia, SC Columbus,GA Columbus,MS Columbus,OH Cordova, AK Corpus Christi, TX Dallas/Ft. 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ID Port Angeles,WA Portland, ME Portland, OR Presque Isle, ME Providence, RI Pullman, WA Quebec City, Canada Raleigh/Durham, NC Rapid City, SD/Black Hills Redding, CA Redmond, OR Regina,Canada Reno, NV Rhinelander, WI Richmond, VA Roanoke, VA Rochester, MN Rochester, NY Rockford, IL Sacramento,CA Saginaw, MI Salida, CO Salt Lake City, UT San Antonio, TX San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA San Jose, CA Santa Barbara, CA Sarasota, FL Saskatoon,Canada Sault Sainte Marie, MI Savannah, GA Seattle, WA Shreveport, LA Sioux City,IA Sioux Falls,SD Sitka, AK South Bend, IN Spokane,WA Springfield Springfield, MO St. Cloud, MN St. Louis, MO State College, PA Steamboat Springs, CO Sun Valley,ID Syracuse,NY Tallahassee Tampa, FL Thief River Falls, MN ThunderBay,Canada Toledo,OH Toronto, Canada Traverse City,MI Tri Cities Regional, TN Tucson, AZ Tulsa,OK Tupelo,MS Vail/Eagle County, CO Vancouver, Canada Victoria, Canada Walla Walla,WA Washington, DC (Dulles) Washington,D.C.(National) Waterloo,IA Watertown,SD Wausau, WI Wenatchee,WA West Palm Beach, FL White Plains,NY Wichita,KS Wilkes Barre,PA Winnipeg,Canada Wrangell, AK Yakima,WA Yakutat, AK Youngstown,OH Destination City: Choose a City Acapulco, MX Amsterdam Netherlands Anaheim/Orange County, CA Anchorage, AK Atlanta,GA Baltimore, MD Banff/Lake Louise, Canada Bangkok,Thailand Barcelona, Spain Beijing, China Berlin, Germany Boston, MA Brussels,Belgium Burbank,CA Cabo San Lucas, MX Calgary, Canada Cancun, MX Chiang Mai, Thailand Chicago, IL (Midway) Chicago, IL (O'Hare) Clearwater Beach, FL Cozumel, MX Denver, CO Detroit, MI Edmonton, Canada Florence,Italy Fort Lauderdale, FL Fort Myers, FL Fort Walton Beach, FL Frankfurt, Germany Grand Cayman, BWI Guilin Gulfport/Biloxi, MS Hamilton, Bermuda Hawaii - Hilo (Big Island) Hawaii - Honolulu (Oahu) Hawaii - Kahalui (Maui) Hawaii - Kona (Big Island) Hawaii - Lanai Hawaii - Lihue (Kauai) Hawaii - Molokai Hong Kong, China Ixtapa, MX Jasper, Canada Key Largo, FL Key West, FL Kyoto, Japan Las Vegas, NV Liberia, Costa Rica London, Gatwick Long Beach, CA Los Angeles, CA Madrid, Spain Manzanillo, Mx Marco Island, FL Mazatlan, MX Memphis, TN Merida, MX Mesa, AZ Mexico City, MX Miami, FL Milan, Italy Minneapolis/St.Paul, MN Montego Bay, Jamaica Montreal, Canada Munich, Germany Napa, CA Naples, FL Nashville,TN Nassau, Bahamas Negril, Jamaica New Orleans, LA New York,NY (JFK Airport) New York,NY (La Guardia) Newark, NJ Nice, France Ocho Rios, Jamaica Ontario, CA Orlando, FL Osaka, Japan Ottawa, Canada Palm Springs, CA Paris, France Pensacola, FL Philadelphia, PA Phoenix, AZ Phuket,Thailand Portland, OR Puerto Plata, Dom Republic Puerto Vallarta, MX Punta Cana,Dominican Republic Quebec City, Canada Rapid City, SD/Black Hills Reno, NV Rome,Italy San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA San Jose, CA San Jose, Costa Rica San Juan, Puerto Rico Santa Barbara, CA Sarasota, FL Scottsdale, AZ Seattle, WA Sedona, AZ Seville, Spain Shanghai,China(Pu Dong Arpt) Singapore, Singapore St. Petersburg, FL Tampa, FL Tokyo, Japan Toronto, Canada Tucson, AZ Tulum, MX Vancouver, Canada Venice, Italy Victoria, Canada Washington, DC (Dulles) Washington,D.C.(National) West Palm Beach, FL Whistler, Canada Departure Date: Return Date: # of Adults: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 # of Rooms: 1 2 3 4 Children's ages: Ages 0-2 Promo Code/MLT E-Cert: More package options: • Purchase a Gift Card • Book using your WorldPerks miles • Visit our Ski Vacation Packages web site View all WorldVacations destinations • Cash & Miles! Airfare from $109 and 10,000 Miles • Reduced Prices to Europe — Up to 25% in Savings! • Lower rates with Alamo and National • Jim Brickman in concert! • Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Hong Kong from $1054 • New language translator option • Earn more or redeem fewer WorldPerks® Miles with NWA WorldVacations® • "Park and Stay" and "Park and Fly" programs Unless otherwise noted, prices listed do not include allapplicable taxes, charges, and government imposed fees. View additional tax information . WorldVacations News • Cancún/Riviera Maya Update • New! Gift Cards More Nonstop Vacation Choices… To Las Vegas To Mexico and the Caribbean From the West and Pacific Northwest Featured Destination Featured Partner Travel Corner Riviera Maya — the Mexican Caribbean Cancún City of the Sun Getaway Giveaway Win a Vacation to the Riviera Maya, Mexico! Before You Go Check in for flights, view flight status, and find other helpful information . Gift Card Purchase a Gift Card Check Gift Card Balances E-mail Sign-up Get specials sent to your inbox via NWA Weekly Deals and News. Earn 1,000 Bonus Miles . © 2005 Northwest Airlines

RUSSIA TRAVEL GUIDE |

Travel to Russia - *Escorted St. Petersburg tours* HOME | TOUR GUIDES | ESCORTED TOURS | SHORE EXCURSIONS | VISAS | CLIENTS | RUSSIA TRAVEL GUIDE | HOTELS The State Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg City of St. Petersburg Destination guide for independent and cruise travel to Russia City of Moscow Cultural capital of Russia Michael's Palace St. Nicholas Cathedral Stroganoff Palace Palace Square Hermitage Theater If you are going to travel to Russia or need first-hand information about Moscow and St. Petersburg - this site is for you! Your Personal Travel Concierge Planning a trip to Russia can be strenuous and time-consuming. As many experts agree, engaging a company with local expertise can save time, money and offer a high level of flexibility. With over 12 years of experience serving foreign guests who choose Moscow and St. Petersburg as their destination, we are ready to alleviate your burden of making travel arrangements half a world away. We are a St. Petersburg based tour operator offering top-rated service at a reasonable price. Our art-savvy tour guides will introduce you to the world-famous art exhibits and bustling nightlife of Russia's both capitals. Our friendly drivers will meet you at the airport and get you to your hotel at any time of day or night. Our free travel concierge will help you plan every detail of your trip making sure your visit to Russia is enjoyable and fun. Russia Travel Guide To help you prepare for your trip even further, we have created a comprehensive Travel Guide where you can get the latest news and practical advice on travel in Russia. Our Guide features information on Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Greater Area, and covers such topics as transportation, money, arrivals guide, museums, and many others. It is an indispensable companion both for first-time and seasoned travelers. For more information visit Russia Travel Guide , St. Petersburg City Guide , Moscow City Guide . Private Escorted Tours Our tours are designed for those seeking to maximize their time in Russia. We are delighted to offer individual and group tour programs of any duration tailored to your unique interests and tastes. Whether you are coming on a business trip or as a tourist, we have a variety of tour options to accommodate even the most demanding time schedule. During the tour you will be accompanied by one of our licensed guides who will ensure that you visit the venues of your own choice at your preferred pace with all of your questions or concerns being addressed right away. For more information visit Escorted Russian Tours . Cruise Shore Excursions We offer individual and group shore excursions in Moscow and St. Petersburg for both sea and river cruisers. Regardless of whether you will stay for only a few hours or for 2 weeks, we will tailor your tour program according to your individual needs. This high level of flexibility will be especially appealing for those travelers who wish to avoid all the inconvenience of ship-organized group tours and prefer to spend less while experiencing more. Read what our clients say and get in touch with us before you book the cruise tour package. For more information visit Baltic Shore Excursions , St. Petersburg Shore Excursions , Moscow Shore Excursions . Russia Travel Services Russian Visas : Free tourist visa invitation letters for customers booking our tours. Russian Hotels : Online hotel reservation system for Moscow and St. Petersburg hotels. Folk Show and Ballet Tickets : Get front of the line tickets for performances in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Official capital of Russia Red Square The Dashkov House Ivan the Great Tower Annunciation Cathedral Kremlin Cathedrals 2005 Optima , B. Konyushennaya St., 9 suite 9. St. Petersburg 191186 Russia. Tel/fax: +1 253 5507816 E-mail SITE MAP | TERMS | FAQ's | GLOBAL RESOURCES

Asia Travel || Hong

Hong kong Travel Information Provided by Asia Travel Hong Kong Country and Travel Information Climate || Entryregulations || Airport facilities || Transfer information Hong Kong's new airport at Chek Lap Kok || Currency || Tipping Telephone || Gettingaround in Hong Kong Hotels Reservation in Hong Kong at upto 75% discount from published rates TourReservation in Hong Kong Hong Kong in a Nutshell ( Don't miss ) Map of Hong Kong The Fragrant Harbour ( click for postcard ) Lying at the southeastern tip of China, Hong Kong adjoins the province of Guangdong (Canton), and is just south of the tropic of Cancer. The total land area of Hong Kong is 1,078 square kilometers, comprising Hong Kong Island (77.5 square kilometers); Kowloon (45.5 square kilometer); and the New Territories , including 235 outlying islands (955 square kilometers). Today Hong Kong has become a great international trading post, a powerful manufacturing base and one of the world's largest financial centres. Population and Language The population as of 2002 was about 7.5 millions, almost 95 per cent of which is Chinese. Chinese and English are the official languages. Cantonese is the most widely spoken Chinese dialect, though Mandarin, Shanghainese and other Chinese dialects are also spoken. Many people, especially in shops, hotels, and service industries, speak English. Climate Hong Kong has a subtropical climate: Spring (March - mid-May): Temperature and humidity rising. Jackets or sweaters suggested. Average temperature: 23C (73F), humidity around 82%, sea temperature, 22.3 C (72 F) Summer (late May - mid-September): Hot and humid. Temperature may rise to 33C (91 F) with humidity up to around 90%. . Shirtsleeves, cotton clothing, a sweater for indoors and an umbrella for outside suggested Average temperature: 28C (82F), humidity 80%, sea temperature 28C (82F). Autumn (late September - early December): temperature and humidity drop. Clear sunny days. Shirtsleeves to sweaters and light jackets suggested. Average temperature: 23C (73F), humidity 72%, sea temperature 17C (63F). Winter (late December- February): Cool with low humidity. Suits, light woollens and sometimes overcoats suggested. Average temperature: 17C (62F), humidity 72%, sea temperature 17C (63F). Top Entry Regulations Visitors must hold a valid passport, endorsed where necessary for Hong Kong. Citizens of some 24 countries, including the USA, Japan, and certain Western European and South American nations are permitted one-month visa-free visits. Three-month visa-free visits are available to another 23 countries as well as all Commonwealth countries. Visitors from most countries can enter Hong Kong without a visa for periods of seven days to six months, depending on nationality. Check with any Chinese embassy or consulate for the latest status. Health Regulations Vaccination certificates are not required for yellow fever, cholera and typhoid for visitors travelling to Hong Kong. Check with your travel agent well before your departure, however, as requirements can change without notice. Customs Allowance Visitors may bring into Hong Kong free of duty: Liquor - A one-litre bottle of wine or spirits. Ivory - The importation and exportation of raw or worked ivory is governed by strict regulation. Firearms must be declared and handed into custody until departure. Top Airport Facilities A baggage storage service is available in the departure hall and the arrival hall. Other services include a bank, moneychangers, gift shops, duty-free shops, snack bars, restaurants, payphones, a police station, post office, a HK Telecom International Ltd. Office, HKTA Information Centres and private reception rooms. Airport Departure Tax Adults: HK$80; children (aged 12 years and under) free. Safety Hong Kong is generally considered a safe city by day or night. Policemen are very helpful, and those who speak English wear a red label under their shoulder badge. As in all big cities, avoid carrying large amounts of cash; traveller's cheques or credit cards are preferable. Make use of your hotel's safe-deposit boxes. Top Currency The unit of currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HK$). Notes issued by two private banks (the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank and Standard Chartered Bank) have denominations of $10, $20, $50, $100, $500, and $1000. The Bank of China issues all of the denominations except HK$10. There are silver coins for HK$1, HK$2, and HK$5, bronze coins for HK10 cents, HK20 cents and HK50 cents, and a new nickel and bronze coin for $10. Most foreign currencies and traveller's cheques are easily changed in Hong Kong, either at banks, hotels or moneychangers (check how much you will get in return before handing over your money). Top Tipping Most restaurants add a 10 per cent service charge but an additional 5 per cent may be given, where deserved. When a service charge is not automatic, 10 per cent is acceptable. Small tips may also be given to taxi drivers, bellboys, doormen and washroom attendants. Electricity The voltage in Hong Kong is 200/220 volts, 50 cycles. Most hotels provide adaptors. Water All water direct from government mains in Hong Kong satisfies the United Nations World Health Organization standards. Bottled water is widely available in hotels and supermarkets. Top Telephones Telephones in Hong Kong are advanced, economical and easy to use. Local calls are free, and many stores and restaurants offer use of a telephone free of charge to patrons. Calls from public coin phones cost HK$1. Most hotels have International Direct Dialling (IDD). Please note that some hotels charge a handling fee for local and/or international calls. You can also make long-distance calls from (IDD) Public Coin Phones and from HK Telecom International Ltd. Offices. An easy method of making calls is to purchase stored-value phonecards (HK$50, $150 and $200), which can be used in any Cardphone box. The new Hello Phonecard (HK$100, $200,$300) is a stored value card that enables the user to place calls to and from over 30 countries from a touch-tone phone. Both types of cards can be purchased at HKTA Information and Gift Centres and most convenience stores. Call 013 for information. Post Offices The main post offices are on Hong Kong Island, next to the Star Ferry and in Kowloon at 10 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Both are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and 8am to 2pm on Saturday. All post offices close on Sunday and public holidays. Television There are two English-language channels. Programmes include a selection of locally produced shows as well as features from the UK, the US, and Australia. Also available is STAR TV (a satellite channel) and, in some areas, Cable TV (subscription television). Radio Fifteen radio channels are broadcast in Hong Kong. Six English-language channels provide a wide range of programmes and the BBC World Service is available 24 hours. Office and Banking Hours Most offices open from 9am to 5pm with a lunch hour from 1 pm to 2pm. On Saturday the hours are 9am to 1 pm. Some Chinese businesses open at 10am and close around 6pm or later. Major banks are open from 9am to 4.30pm on weekdays, 9am to 12.30pm on Saturday. Top Getting Around In Hong Kong Airport Transport After you have reclaimed your baggage and passed through Customs, you will find yourself in the Buffer Hall of Hong Kong International Airport where the Hong Kong Tourist Association Information Centres are located . There you can obtain free visitor publications and any other assistance you may need. Hong Kong International Airport is approximately 40 minutes' drive by car from all major hotels in Kowloon and about 50 minutes' drive via the Cross-Harbour Tunnel from all major hotels on Hong Kong Island (under normal traffic conditions). If you are making your own way to your hotel, follow the signs directing you to the Transport Terminus for taxis or use the airport coach service. If you have no local currency on arrival, change only enough at the airport to get you to your hotel. Hotel Transport Hotel bookings do not normally include transportation from the airport. However, if you have a prearranged hotel booking that includes an airport transfer, you should leave the Buffer Hall via the exit marked Hotel Transport and look for the hotel representative waiting to meet you. Taxis Taxis are numerous and readily available, and fares are low compared with those in most cities. Red taxis serve Hong Kong Island and Kowloon; green ones in the New Territories and blue taxis on Lantau Island operate at even lower rates. Many drivers speak some English but it is wise to have your destination written in Chinese characters. Rates for red taxis start at HK$16.5 on the flag fall plus HK$1.60 for every 200 metres after the first two kilometres. Waiting time is HK$1.10 per minute. Pay, in Hong Kong dollars only, the fare shown on the meter, plus any additional charge where applicable. A HK$20 surcharge applies to cross-harbour tunnel trips (includes the driver's HK$10 return toll). There is also a surcharge for rides through the Lion Rock (HK$6), Junk Bay (HK$3) and Aberdeen (HK$5) tunnels, and a HK$5 charge for each piece of luggage. Taxi drivers expect a tip, but just round up the fare to the nearest dollar. Drivers cannot pick up or drop off passengers on restricted streets, which are marked with yellow lines. New Territories taxis will pick up and drop off only in the New Territories. If you have any queries or complaints, note the taxi's number and call the 24-hour Police Hotline on 2527 7177. Buses Double-decker buses, which run from 6 AM till 3 midnight, cover most parts of the territory. Fares range from HK$1 to HK$30.60. Exact change is required. You'll find that, in general the drivers do not speak much English. Minibuses Minibuses are small passenger vans which are yellow with a red stripe. They can pick up passengers and let them off anywhere except regular bus stops and the usual restricted areas. Fares range from HK$2 to HK$7. Maxicabs Maxicabs are yellow with a green stripe. They run along specific routes and have fixed prices ranging from HK$1 to HK$8. A sign on the front indicates the destination. Pay as you get on. Trains The Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) is 34 kilometres long and runs from Hung Hom in Kowloon up to the border with China. Trains run every tour to 10 minutes in each direction, and vary according to the ordinary single trip to Sheung Shui, the farthest you can go without a China visa). It's a go way to visit some of the New Territories' towns and villages. The Mass Transit Railway (MTR), Hong Kong's fast, efficient and air-conditioned underground system, runs not only along the north side of Hong Kong Island, but also from Central across the harbour to divide into east and west branches in Kowloon. Stations are located by a X symbol. Fares range from HK$4 to HK$11. MTR and KCR stored-value tickets (HK$70-200) are also available. The Light Rail Transit (LRT) is a high-speed surface system linking the New Territories towns of Tuen Mun Yuen Long. The LRT runs from 5.30am to 12.30am daily. Fares range from HK$3.20 to $4.70. Ferries The Star Ferry, which has connected Hong Kong and Kowloon since 1898, runs regularly between 6.30am to 11.30pm. At HK$ 2.20 (upper deck), it must be one of the cheapest and most scenic ferry rides in the world. The crossing takes approximately eight minutes. The Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) Company provides other regular and inexpensive services which connect Hong Kong Island to other parts of the Kowloon Peninsula and to the outlying islands. Trams ( click for postcard ) Since 1904, the tram system has run east to west along the north side of Hong Kong Island, and still provides a leisurely, grandstand view. The flat fare is HK$1.20 (exact change required) and the service operates between 6 AM and 1 AM. The Peak Tram is one of the most advanced tram systems in the world, taking just eight minutes to climb Victoria Peak. The service operates from 7am to midnight and the single fare is HK$12 (HK$19 return). The funicular railway has run since 1888 and is still the quickest way to reach the Peak. Car Hire Self-drive rental cars are not often used in Hong Kong, but chauffeur-driven cars are widely available. Hotels have their own limousines for hire. Rickshaws The only means of travel in the old days, rickshaws today are used mainly for fun rides and photo sessions. Rickshaw drivers congregate at the Star Ferry on Hong Kong Island and charge for a trip round the block or for a photo session. Negotiate the price first. Top Asia Travel || Hong kong Hotels Page