Taxis, Hong Kong

On your departure from Hong Kong, the quickest and cheapest way to get to airport is by the Airport Express, no matter how much the taxi driver insists. However, the easiest way to get to the Airport Express Station in Hong Kong or Kowloon are by taxis. On that short ride, the taxi driver will try their best to convince you to take the taxi ride all the way to the airport with him.

Unique Suggestions: A typical single travel journey from either Hong Kong Island or Kowloon Airport Express Station to the airport is about $80-$100HKD. A taxi ride is about $300+, not including the bridge/tunnel tolls and any extras the taxi driver wants to rip you off on.
The Airport Express is fast ~20mins, whereas depending on traffic, a taxi ride may be more than 1hour.
You can check-in your luggage for most airlines at the Airport Express Station, so you only have your carryon on the ride to the airport.

Fun Alternatives: Tell the taxi driver some story that you have to get to the Airport Express Station, like you bought the Airport Express return ticket already, or you are meeting up with other people at the Airport Express station.

When arriving at HK airport, a guy came up and said he'd take us to the taxis. When he grabbed a cart for our luggage and started pushing it, I figured he was a fixer (note: HK does not have taxi fixers like some other countries). We followed him and the taxi signs, but then he took a turn and went out toward the private car pick-up. There were a couple of vehicles with 'taxi' logos on the doors, so I didn't think anything of it. He loaded our stuff into a "taxi", wouldn't take a tip, and off we went. We were told a taxi from the airport to TST would be about HK$350. When we pulled up at the hotel, the driver asked for HK$1280.

Unique Suggestions: We said we wouldn't pay $1280 because we were told a taxi was $350. He said that was for a taxi, not a private car. He called the "fixer" and after arguing paid HK$980 (since we wanted our luggage back).

Fun Alternatives: If you're on this site, then you already know what the real taxis look like in HK. The HK International Airport site also has maps and photos of the cab stands.

If taxi-ing from the mainland to the Island or vice versa you should ask for the route via the Kowloon. Going via the Cross Harbour Tunnel (unless it is closer to your destination) incurs an additional charge for the drivers return.

Taxis with their flags covered with a Hong Kong or Kowloon sign signal that they intend to return to their original district. If you need the destination shown, you could save and only pay a single fare going via the Cross Harbour Tunnel.

Its handy to have your hotel write your destination in Chinese to assist the drivers. Always keep a hotel business card with you as well. Taxi rides start at HK$15.00.
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We got fleeced by a cab driver at the airport who charged us Singapore $ ( about 4 times Hkg $) to take us to chunking mansion in the city.
usual cost $40 hkg. Cab driver charge $ 40 singapore( 160 hkg) and did not return the things which we forgot in his cab.