The Hong Kong–Macau trip was originally supposed to happen on September 3, but the weather forced us to push it back to the National Day holiday.
At first, I was fully prepared to do it as a self-guided family trip. Based on what I learned from the last visit, the idea was to plan everything carefully, take the whole family along, focus mainly on Ocean Park, and spend one night in Hong Kong.
But in practice, the schedule never became firm. Toward the end of the month, the driving school also arranged the Subject 2 test, which made timing even harder to lock down. There was another concern too: if we went independently, Little Honeydew probably wouldn’t get to see much in Hong Kong anyway. After checking with tour groups, I found that hotel prices in Hong Kong during the National Day holiday were outrageously high. In the end, we dropped the idea of a free-and-easy trip and booked two separate one-day tours instead—fast, simple, and much less trouble. Ocean Park and Disneyland can wait for another trip.
What we packed
Baby items (for 1 child)
- 1 light blanket
- 2 belly bands
- 1 large thermos
- 3 portable formula containers
- 1 baby bottle
- 1 bottle cover
- 1 drinking cup
- 6 gauze handkerchiefs
- 40 diapers
- 2 packs of wet wipes
- 2 packs of tissues
- 1 bottle of baby shampoo
- 1–2 sets each of dresses, short-sleeve outfits, and long-sleeve outfits
- 1 jacket
- 2 pairs of shoes
- 4 pairs of socks
Adult items (for 3 people)
- 2 rolling suitcases
- 2 backpacks
- 2 crossbody bags
- 3 ID cards
- 4 Home Return permits / Hong Kong and Macau travel permits
- 1 household registration booklet
- 1 bank card
- some cash, including small change and Hong Kong dollars
- 4 mobile phones
- 2 phone chargers
- 1 camera
- 1 spare camera battery
- 1 camera charger
- 1 rain umbrella
- 2 parasols
- clothes, shoes, socks, towels
- toothbrushes
- skin cream
- sunscreen
- snacks for emergencies, including Wangzai mini steamed buns and Garden animal biscuits
Gifts (2 sets)
- 2 tins of Phoenix Dancong tea
- 1 Ecovacs handheld vacuum cleaner
- 1 gift box of Olivoilà olive oil (750ml*2)
- 2 bottles of Xiaohutuxian liquor
- 2 bottles of Hokkaido horse oil from Japan
- 1 set of women’s thermal underwear from Yiershuang
Itinerary
- October 1: Chaoshan Station (14:40) → Shenzhen North Station (16:54)
- October 2: One-day sightseeing tour in Macau
- October 3: One-day sightseeing tour in Hong Kong
- October 4: Shenzhen
- October 5: Shenzhen North Station (09:55) → Chaoshan Station (12:10)
Total cost of the trip
The final total came to 2761.6 RMB.
Breakdown:
- Hong Kong and Macau travel permits:
(160+35)+(120+120+140+25*3)=650元 - High-speed rail tickets:
89.5*3*2+18*3*2=645元 - Tour group fees:
158*3+159*2=792元 - Accommodation:
0元(stayed at my younger uncle’s home) - Part of the gift shopping:
138*2+24.8+189+7.8=497.6元 - Taxi fares:
35+35+30+28=128元 - Dinner:
49元(Kungfu)
Looking back, choosing two one-day tours was probably the most practical decision for this round. It kept the trip manageable, avoided expensive holiday lodging in Hong Kong, and made traveling with the whole family—especially with a baby—a lot less exhausting.