[lisaneal_vdb]

We need to do a visa run this weekend either to Macau or Shenzen. Any advice, tips or pointers regarding costs, which is easier, quicker etc. would be appreciated. We have South African passports, if that is at all rellevant. Thanks.

[jimbo]

pretty much the same to be honest, I'd go to macau as theres more to do than shenzhen.

with macau just jump on a ferry and you're there and immigration shouldn't take too long, Shenzhen is a nightmare to navigate and will take you a long long time queuing up for immigration etc.

[PDLM]

I'd do Macau - travel is a little more expensive (about $275 round trip if you go during the day, a little more if after 6pm) but (I assume - although I haven't specifically checked for S Africa) you have no visa cost at Macau. And more to do there - better food, excellent Portuguese wine, casinos, old architecture, museums, etc.

[lisaneal_vdb]

Thanks for the advice. Will probably end up doing both in the long run, but Macau sounds like a much better idea this time round. Any advice for getting tickets maybe accomodation for this weekend? Seeing that Monday is a public holiday! Is there usually any problem getting the visa restamped?
Thanks
L

[PDLM]

Tickets are like a bus - just turn up, buy and go, although the tickets are for specified sailings. Accommodation is getting a bit pricey as Macau booms, but with ferries running all night (every 15 minus until 01:30, a bit less frequent after that) I would just do a day trip.

One thing to beware of - you can buy roundtrip tickets but you need to take care specifying the time for the return. You can standby for earlier sailings (and will almost always get on the first or second one) but once the time on your ticket is passed it is worthless. The advantage of getting a roundtrip ticket is that you only have to queue once at the ticket windows (often there is no queue, but at peak times it can be more than 30 mins just to buyt the ticket) and that currently on roundtrip tickets bought in HK you can get 200 AsiaMiles per person.