Arranging your own air travel allows more flexibility

Rikza Abdullah, Contributor, Jakarta

Tourists pursuing special interests generally arrange their own travel to ensure that they have unlimited flexibility on their trip.

Flying with an airline or staying at a hotel of their own choice will suit them most both in terms of budget and length of stay.

Arranging a tour on your own to Hong Kong is easy, especially since Indonesian tourists do not require a visa in advance if they plan to stay there for less than two weeks.

Visas are granted upon arrival at the international airport. Furthermore, Hong Kong, hailed as the top financial center in the region with the best open market and most inviting tax breaks, has accessible information for tourists.

Finding a good, reliable airline is also not difficult. For those who want to keep their expenses down, for example, they may want to purchase a restricted economy class ticket, which is valid for a maximum of three months. This is the most suitable choice because it offers the lowest rate. And tickets of this kind provided by China Airlines are the most favorable as they cost just US$469, including a high season surcharge of $25. In comparison, Singapore Airlines charges $595 for the same ticket, while Malaysia Airlines charges $880 and Cathay Pacific $1,015.

Economy class tickets valid for one year are offered by China Airlines for $565, including a high season surcharge, Malaysia Airlines for $1,300, Cathay Pacific for $1,309 and by Singapore Airlines for $1,320, while business class tickets from these airlines will set you back $819, $1,660, $1,688 and $1,699 respectively. First class tickets from Cathay Pacific cost $1,897, while Singapore Airlines will charge you $1,908 and Malaysia Airlines $1,940.

"But you'd better buy tickets from a travel agent," said Sugi, an airport traffic control officer for Cathay Pacific at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta. "They usually offer discounts with various rates of reduction."

Travel agent Vayatour offers restricted tickets for China Airlines at $472, Garuda Indonesia at $485 and for Cathay Pacific at $637, excluding a high season surcharge, while travel agent Smiling Tour offers ones for Garuda Indonesia at $487 and Singapore Airlines at $625.

Economy class tickets valid for one year from Vayatour are priced at $575 for China Airlines, $530 for Garuda Indonesia and $890 for Cathay Pacific. Smiling Tour offers the same tickets at $534 for Garuda Indonesia and $990 for Singapore Airlines.

Business class tickets from Vayatour are priced at $837 for China Airlines, $871 for Garuda Indonesia and $1,610 for Cathay Pacific, while Smiling Tour offers a business class seat on Garuda Indonesia for $875.

A special price of $606 is offered for business class tickets on Garuda Indonesia from Vayatour or $610 from Smiling Tour.

Tourists who want to fly nonstop to Hong Kong can take China Airlines or afternoon flights on Cathay Pacific, while those wanting to take in some quick shopping at Singapore's Changi Airport can take Garuda Indonesia, Singapore Airlines or one of Cathay Pacific's morning flights.

China Airlines flies the Jakarta-Hong Kong route every day at 3:15 p.m., while Cathay Pacific has two flights departing at 7:55 a.m. and 2:50 p.m. and Garuda Indonesia has one flight that leaves at 8:35 a.m.. Singapore Airlines' flights from Jakarta to Singapore are scheduled at 6:25 a.m., 9:40 a.m., 12:25 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 7:10 p.m. and 9:50 p.m. and those from Singapore to Hong Kong leave at 7:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Passengers on Singapore Airlines will have to change planes in Singapore.

Eva Air does not have any direct flight from Jakarta to Hong Kong but travelers can fly with the airline to Hong Kong via Taipei. From Taipei, visitors can fly to Hong Kong with the airline which serves its Taipei-Hong Kong route five times a day.

Meanwhile, tourists who want to meet friends or do some shopping in Kuala Lumpur should take Malaysia Airlines because there is a one-night stopover. They will have more time in Kuala Lumpur if they take a morning flight, instead of flying on an afternoon one from Jakarta.

Malaysia Airlines serves the Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur route three times a day at 6:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., and the airline serves the Kuala Lumpur-Hong Kong route at 9:15 a.m..

Hotels

For accommodation, Indonesian tourists can choose hotels and make reservations through the Internet or by telephone before they leave the country. They can also make reservations as soon as they arrive at Hong Kong's airport.

According to TravelNow.com, room rates at Hong Kong hotels range from HK$65.95 to as high as HK$15,000 a night.

Room rates at the Royal Windsor on Kimberley Road, for example, are set between HK$65.95 and HK$333.32 per night. This 15-story hotel is located in the premier shopping district and entertainment center of Hong Kong and is merely 36 kilometers from the Hong Kong International Airport. It offers easy access to anywhere in this exciting, multifaceted city.

Rooms at the Hotel Holiday Inn Golden Mile range from HK$109.95 to HK$129.95. The hotel is located 34 km from the Hong Kong International Airport and is close to several sights worth checking out, including Kowloon Park, Star Ferry Terminal and the Clock Tower. It is also close to dining, shopping and entertainment venues.

The Emperor Happy Valley Hotel, which is located in a peaceful corner of Happy Valley in Hong Kong, has 159 rooms at rates ranging from HK$450 to HK$2,000 a night. The Marco Polo Prince Hotel in Harbor City sets its prices for rooms from HK$769.20 a night. This hotel features 396 guest rooms, including 51 suites, and is situated in Harbor City. It is just steps away from the Star Ferry Terminal and renowned historical Clock Tower, a treasure of the Kowloon-Canton Railway terminal building, built in 1916.

Those interested in the stunning views of Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong island can stay at the Peninsula Hong Kong hotel, which is located in the heart of Tsimshatsui-Kowloon's central business shopping and tourist district. It offers easy access to Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway, the Star Ferry and Nathan Road -- Hong Kong's premier shopping area. Rates for rooms range from HK$1,980 to HK$15,000 a night.

The Harbor View International House also offers harbor views with lower room rates that start at HK$800 and go up to HK$4,450 a night. Located on Harbor Road, Wanchal, the hotel is a neighbor to the Hong Kong Art Center and the Academy for Performing Arts and is located opposite the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. It is situated exactly in the Wanchal Business District, where commercial and shopping centers, such as Pacific Place and Times Square, are close at hand.

The rates for rooms charged by other hotels can be found on the Internet. TravelNow.com, for example, quotes room rates of HK$65.95 to HK$199.95 for the Majestic, HK$65.95 to HK$209.95 for the Royal Kaitak, HK$69.95 to HK$149.95 for the Best Western Rosedale Park, HK$75.95 to HK$129.95 for the Newton Hotel Hong Kong, HK$89.95 to HK$219.95 for the Miramar Hong Kong, HK$99.95 to HK$229.95 for the Excelsior Hong Kong, HK$279.95 to HK$379.95 for the Island Shangri-La and HK$769.20 for the Marco Polo Prince.