Flighthacker

Photo Credit: Andy Yip

Whether it be for a casino quick-break or a shopping blitzkrieg down Nathan Road, Macau and Hong Kong are two Asian destinations that have perpetually drawn travellers with their 24-hour energy, promise of good food and of course, shopping. Not only can a trip to either Macau and Hong Kong make for a satisfying holiday in its own right, but both cities serve as an easy gateway into China, thanks to a combination of English signage and tourist-savvy locals.

Now, the reason why I am discussing Macau and Hong Kong in the same breath is because you may know how expensive it can be to fly directly into HKIA and MIA from Australia. The weird thing about these destinations is that despite being a short ferry-ride apart, airfares between them can be substantially different, thus in order to get to one, it may be worth researching to see if its cheaper to travel via the other. With premium carriers asking for a base price of $970 and $1,600 upwards to Hong Kong and Macau respectively, it’s worth knowing how to use the discount carriers to get you there, with money to spare for your excess baggage bill on the return leg. Here’s a run-down of the “Gambling tigers, hidden dragons” of Southern China:

• Viva Macau – Second to their affordable fares from Sydney to Macau, what alarms me about this airline is that absolutely no-one seems to know about them. In fact, I only discovered them when I came across their near-missable stand at a Chinese New Year event in Sydney. However, where they stoop in the marketing stakes, they triumph with low, everyday fares, even extending into holiday periods. A return, non-holiday fare from Sydney to Macau is pegged at $670 including tax and this does not seem to fluctuate much from day-to-day. The caveat – there have been reports of old plane interiors and second-rate passengers to match, so should this occur, have the iPod ready and keep in mind that it’s a discount ride.
• Jetstar – Little needs to be said to introduce our discount Australian flagship, however what few people may know is that they fly from Perth to Hong Kong and Macau, via Singapore. Flights from Perth to Hong Kong start from $480 return including tax, however due to limitations with Jetstar’s booking system, the return leg from Macau to Perth needs to be booked separately from the trip there.
• Tiger Airways – Also plying the Perth to Macau via Singapore route is Singapore Airlines-backed Tiger Airways, who bank their advertising on Macau being not only a fun place to visit, but their nearest base to Hong Kong. They have a valid point – with fares starting around $500 return including tax, one could well discover travel to Hong Kong via Macau to be the cheapest option, especially during peak periods. Keep and eye on Tiger’s increasingly frequent “5c” and “tax-only” sales and you will be putting your money on a winner.

So… How do I travel between Macau and Hong Kong?

High-speed ferries sail very frequently between Macau and Hong Kong, information can be found here. Journey time is 60 – 75 minutes and from memory, the journey is quite pleasant (in good weather, that is).

Finally, keep me posted on your experiences as its been quite a while since I’ve visited either destination and would love to hear your traveller tales. See you at the night markets!

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