NCLEX in Hong Kong

lawrence01 · Nov 21, 2006

Accommodations and airfares in HK are seasonal so prices may vary if on peak or off-peak season but some local hotels also offer discounts during HK's Winterfest Festival. Sometimes they do not advertise for it but if you ask they will give you one. This is esp. true for new hotels, 3-star or boutique hotels.

You may find these links helpful:

Welcome to DiscoverHongKong

Welcome to Hong Kong International Airport

Vietnam hotels, Morocco hotels, China hotels, Japan hotels, Bali hotels and other related websites.

I highly recommend using the airport express (then taxi) rather than the bus going to your hotel but if your the scenic route type and wouldn't mind the extra 1 to 1-1/2 hour travel plus traffic then it's ok to take the bus to and from the hotel.

If you choose the airport express route then I recommend buying a 3 day unlimited tourist card. Unlimited use of their MTR for 3 days and round-trip ride to their airport express is good bargain. Really convenient and there are some bonuses if you ride airport express. Just check out their website for details.

The testing center (Grand Millenium Plaza) is in their Central District so find hotels in that district but their MTR is so efficient that you are just 10-20 or so minutes away from anywhere. Their are 2 boutique/3 star hotels that are just walking distance to the Grand Millenium Plaza w/c I recommend if you are on a budget. You can book to the hotels directly or via asiarooms.com or related websites you trust.

I must warn you though that hotel rooms in HK, esp. local ones are generally much smaller than usual.

Also, you may check out the testing site the day before your appointment and the desk officer there will give you some instructions for the next day to make sure everything is in order. They are very strict on seeing your hand-written (printed) name in English on your passport.

That's all I can think for now. Goodluck. :nuke:

elenova · Nov 22, 2006

Thank you, Lawrence, as usual, fast and competent. The information you gave me is very helpful, I already booked 2 different places in Central Hong Kong and was surprised that the hotel gives me higher price than the agency saling there rooms. Seems they have some kind of agreement.

I have an agent here that is trying to get me the best package with 3 nights hotel and a ticket.

Do you think I will have enough time if arrive the day before the exam, noon?I will stil be able to go to the test center, I think!

And would you tell me what do you mean by hand-written name on the passport? I have my name typed in English and my signature is different, the way I sign is not just writing my name, it is kind of a symbol that I use for signature. Is this a problem?

Wow, I have so many questions about all this exam and visiting the Hong Kong. I keep on looking at Hong Kong from the sky, using Google Earth and can not stop doing it ... After all the research I do about the city and the hotels I think I can change my profession and become an agent if I dont pass the NCLEX :)

Thank you for your time and effort!

lawrence01 · Nov 22, 2006

Thank you, Lawrence, as usual, fast and competent. The information you gave me is very helpful, I already booked 2 different places in Central Hong Kong and was surprised that the hotel gives me higher price than the agency saling there rooms. Seems they have some kind of agreement.
I have an agent here that is trying to get me the best package with 3 nights hotel and a ticket.
Do you think I will have enough time if arrive the day before the exam, noon?I will stil be able to go to the test center, I think!
And would you tell me what do you mean by hand-written name on the passport? I have my name typed in English and my signature is different, the way I sign is not just writing my name, it is kind of a symbol that I use for signature. Is this a problem?
Wow, I have so many questions about all this exam and visiting the Hong Kong. I keep on looking at Hong Kong from the sky, using Google Earth and can not stop doing it ... After all the research I do about the city and the hotels I think I can change my profession and become an agent if I dont pass the NCLEX :)
Thank you for your time and effort!

That is ok. They need to verify that the name on your passport is the same as the name in your ATT and that you are the same person. As long as they can read it there are no problems. Problems arise when the name is written in another language and therefore they cannot verifiy your identity for sure.

Best if you arrive in HK the earliest possible time available and leave on the last flight. However, most hotel rooms there esp. if it's peak season will only be available at 2:00 PM (check-out time) unlike if it's off-peak when you can actually request to check-in early (if unoccupied).

Normally, I would suggest people to be in HK at least 24 hours before just to be sure. This is just in case of cancellation of flights, etc.. But that time of the year is not typhoon season anymore and I think you are coming from the middle-east? So, I see no problems.

I suggest that you visit the testing center beforehand to get you acquainted w/ how to get there fast and get some instructions from the desk officer there and show her your passport and ATT just to be sure everything is in order.

HK can be tricky if you're not use w/ cramp streets and side streets. What may be just a couple of minutes walk may take longer if you're not familiar or took a wrong turn but if you booked to any of the hotels that are just walking distance to the testing center there will be no problems. :smilecoffeecup:

elenova · Nov 22, 2006

Thanx again! Regarding the transportation, you were advising me to use the express bus, isnt it? And I can buy a 3 days pass from the airport?

Regards

lawrence01 · Nov 22, 2006

You are right about the pricing. Sometimes, the travel agency may give a more affordable package. But if you try to book directly and ask for a discount or promos the price would be the same. Well, at least for the hotel I booked directly because they gave a special promo package and I booked early.

Sometimes, it comes out just the same because sometimes there are no breakfast included in agency packages so it looks cheaper. You might be surprised that McDonald's in HK or local fast foods aren't cheap . :nuke:

lawrence01 · Nov 22, 2006

Thanx again! Regarding the transportation, you were advising me to use the express bus, isnt it? And I can buy a 3 days pass from the airport?
Regards

No, the airport express is a train to and fro the airport and is connected to the MTR as well. How convenient. You can buy the 3 day tourist card upon arrival in the airport. You won't miss it. It's strategically placed at the one exit coming out from the immigration check. Beside it is a money changer as well.

Better check HK airport's website if the set-up is still the same. Details for the airport express/MTR can be located in that website as well. There are certain perks they give for riding the express such as in-town check-in where you can actually check-in your luggages ahead of time (and do some more sight-seeing) and they won't charge for terminal fee/travel tax anymore, etc.. Just not sure if that is still the case. That particular convenience is esp. useful if you went shopping and have lots of luggages. You can have your free hotel shuttle bring you at the check-in on the Central Station and have your luggages checked-in hours before your flight then go out again via the MTR and go sight-seeing some more or more shopping. :chuckle

Just go back on time before your flight and have yourself checked-in at the airport. Remember, only your luggages where checked-in.

JentheRN05, RN · Nov 22, 2006

Good Luck! Don't have advice, just wanted to wish you luck!

elenova · Nov 24, 2006

Good Luck! Don't have advice, just wanted to wish you luck!

How nice!

Thank you, JentheRN2005

elenova · Nov 24, 2006

No, the airport express is a train to and fro the airport and is connected to the MTR as well. How convenient. You can buy the 3 day tourist card upon arrival in the airport. You won't miss it. It's strategically placed at the one exit coming out from the immigration check. Beside it is a money changer as well.
Better check HK airport's website if the set-up is still the same. Details for the airport express/MTR can be located in that website as well. There are certain perks they give for riding the express such as in-town check-in where you can actually check-in your luggages ahead of time (and do some more sight-seeing) and they won't charge for terminal fee/travel tax anymore, etc.. Just not sure if that is still the case. That particular convenience is esp. useful if you went shopping and have lots of luggages. You can have your free hotel shuttle bring you at the check-in on the Central Station and have your luggages checked-in hours before your flight then go out again via the MTR and go sight-seeing some more or more shopping. :chuckle
Just go back on time before your flight and have yourself checked-in at the airport. Remember, only your luggages where checked-in.

Thanx, Lawrence!

Do you mean that I can check out from the hotel earlier then go to the Central Station (is this MTR station), leave my lagguage for few hours and pick it up before I go to the Airport?

I will get one of this 3 days tourist cards. And can you use the airport express or the busses if you have luggage? I am not planning in bringing a lot, but stil, it is a bag.

And yes, I was surprised to find that its an expensive city in general.

:thankya: Thanx!

lawrence01 · Nov 24, 2006

Thanx, Lawrence!
Do you mean that I can check out from the hotel earlier then go to the Central Station (is this MTR station), leave my lagguage for few hours and pick it up before I go to the Airport?
I will get one of this 3 days tourist cards. And can you use the airport express or the busses if you have luggage? I am not planning in bringing a lot, but stil, it is a bag.
And yes, I was surprised to find that its an expensive city in general.
:thankya: Thanx!

Yes and even more. The lugguages are actually checked-in already in the Central Station, hence the term in-town check-in and automatically transported to the airport hours before your actual flight and you don't have to check it in again in the airport or don't have to pick it up at the airport either as you had literally checked-in your luggages for your flight. They will check your passport and ticket as well because they will tag your luggages right there and then. If I'm not mistaken, you can even do this 24 hours before your flight for certain partner airlines only. I think this idea was formulated for shoppers in mind for their convenience but is exclusive for patrons of the airport express.

Not sure about the boarding pass, though. I can't remember if I was able to get my boarding pass while I'm still in the in-town check-in (I think you can) or if I chose to just get it at the airport for fear of losing it while I'm out in town again. Anyway, having your bags checked-in early is convenient enough already.

Please check this link:

MTR

elenova · Nov 26, 2006

Very useful link, thanx! I like the idea of octopus card... Getting excited

Can I ask you as well what hotel did you stay in while in Hong Kong. Was it in Central district? What were the rates?

I am getting hard time selecting the hotel. I want it to be walking distance from the test center as my appointment is 9 am.

Thanx again!