Spanky

A little more gouge. I used the info I found in this thread earlier this month. I was staying at the Holiday Inn Shifu and the hotel staff took care of getting my ticket although they charged me 270 RMB for a 230 HK$ ticket. They said I needed to pay to get the bellboy to and from the train station to buy the ticket. I left the hotel 1+45 prior to my scheduled departure using a taxi and did not get to the train until about 20 minutes prior to departure. Cost was about 60 RMB but the driver left me at a bus station next to the train station. From there it took about 15 minutes to walk and find where I needed to go to catch the train to Hong Kong. Consequently I would take the metro next time as the metro station is right below the train station. The Guangzhou East station area is not easy to find your way around in as signs guiding to the train station are few, small and not easy to understand.

Everything else was great. I took the KTT train and then grabbed a taxi to the Sheraton about 30 HK$. I arrived early at the Hong Kong Sheraton and they were not expecting me but since it was within 24 hours of my departure time they did not charge me for an extra day.

I would do this again but would try the metro to the station vice a taxi. I would also buy the ticket ahead of time using the KTT website.

HazCan

Has anyone done this from the Garden Hotel in CAN? Thx

The Walrus

I am sure that soon the company will be putting out the gouge, since that is the way we will be scheduled.

SilverEagle

I just created an account on the MTR Intercity Through Train web site so I could buy a ticket online. The only hitch is that you have to pick up any ticket you buy on the web site in HKG. I thought I would get a head start by doing this in KIX, but it looks like I will have to wait until I get to CAN.

frozenboxhauler

Going from HKG to CAN, is the Sheraton able to set it up? Any additional customs issues?
xie xie ni!
fbh

BriLess

The Garden Hotel has a ticket office in the lobby of the hotel. Cash only. Then there is a hotel shuttle to the station direct. It has specified times to go and will match up with whatever train you plan to take to HKG. When you get to the station, there usually is a concierge who will walk you to the track you need to be. If it is your first time it is worth letting him take you for the small tip you will give him. Immigration on both sides has not been an issue. Then it is either a short taxi ride to the Sheraton or a two train MTR ride to Tsim Sha Tsui station by the hotel. Again first timers I would suggest the taxi.

machz990

This is good gouge from the Garden Hotel. I've done this. The ticket office referred to above is actually down the hallway to the left of the elevators as you face them, on the lobby level. For the first time let the guy at the train station when you arrive escort you. Once in HKG I chose to take the Metro (co-located with the train station) and I walked about 1 block to the Sheraton.

TheBaron

There is also a Metro station about 200 feet out the front door that you can take directly to the train station....about 49 cents.

SilverEagle

The last time I was scheduled to PAX from CAN to HKG, I took the scheduled China Southern flight and had a terrible day. So I decided to try the train this time and started at this forum to get the “gouge.” One post pointed me in generally the right direction, but there wasn't any information on the specifics of how to get to the MTR Intercity Through Train from the Garden Hotel. It turns out to be dead simple. You can buy the first class ticket at the Ticket Shop on the lobby level of the Garden Hotel for RMB156 (Hint: it is next to the Bank of China). Then tell the concierge desk you would like a shuttle to the MTR. They will provide a van for free and it takes about 20 minutes in traffic. The train ride takes about 1:50 and the name says it all – it is a non-stop. At the HKG end you can either stand in line for a taxi (about a HK$30 ride) or get on the subway for one stop.

Pros: Quicker security and immigration lines than the airport, cheaper than the accepted fare, travel when you want, carry on anything you can lift.

Cons: Pushy crowds, uncomfortable seat (straight back that doesn't recline and you knock knees with the person sitting across the small table from you), you need both RMB and HKD cash (for the van driver tip and the HKG subway), the only food and drink is sold by an attendant you only see once.

Bon Voyage

FlybyKnite

If you had stopped in at one of the Duty Free shops, you could have picked up some quality liquid pain killer to help you recover from the ordeal