On the day of the tour I will pick you up at your hotel (or at a mutually agreed place) at the agreed time and then drop you off at the hotel at the conclusion of the tour if you wish.
I am able to plan a tour very quickly depending on what you want to see and in the time you have available.
As far as the itinerary goes, clients are usually more than happy to leave it to me, particularly first timers to this wonderful city, I normally work out the itinerary in my head once I have met you to give you a rather unique, highly personalised tour of Hong Kong with someone who has lived here for 52 years!
There is always an element of mystery and surprise to my tours by the way....
Finally, I invite you to go to my Flickr site (link on the navigation bar) to help see what Hong Kong is all about, many clients use my site to decide what they want to visit.
You will need HK$ cash for your tour as we will need this for transport, minor purchases etc. Most shops and restaurants will accept credit cards but if we go off the beaten track cash is needed as many food stalls and market stalls work on a cash basis only. As a guide HK$400 - HK$500 cash should cover most eventualities and it is better to purchase an Octopus Card™ for transport rather than use cash.
One of our old banknotes, sadly no longer in circulation
As there is a bit of walking involved (even when using public transport) you will need to let me know in advance if you have any walking issues
3 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours - whatever the tour length I structure the pace accordingly and to your needs.
I am not a big fan of steps (hey, I walk all day!) but please note there are times when they just cannot be avoided - if you have issues, then please let me know.
The usual rules of walking apply, be prepared and make sure you wear appropriate clothing and shoes, water and soft drinks can be purchased at the thousands of convenience stores found on the streets in Hong Kong.
Finally and to emphasize - all tours are done at a reasonably leisurely pace, do not worry about this too much, the tour is part walking / part hopping around on public transport with plenty of rest periods, remember I want people to enjoy themselves!
My Private Tours are a combination of walking / using public transport with emphasis on using the MTR (Subway System) which is NOT subject to road traffic conditions - this is by far the best way to see Hong Kong and the most optimal use of your time. I am very sensitive to peoples physical condition (and my own!) and I adapt accordingly no matter what the season
Generally tours will go ahead unless we have some serious issues such as heavy rain or we are caught up in a typhoon, in other words I will normally follow guidelines issued by the Observatory in Hong Kong, in a nutshell tours will be cancelled at the start of the tour, if:
it is raining very hard and it is likely to carry on for a few hours
there is a typhoon near to Hong Kong and the weather is forecast to get much worse
For up to date weather, it's always best to refer to the Hong Kong Observatory
Common sense will prevail.....!
Click on the image to enlarge the image
October 8th 2021 - we had 13 inches of rain in one day and a further 5 1/2 inches on October 9th 2021
But gorgeous days like this are very common as well! | This is Repulse Bay, Island South, Hong Kong
I always give clients the option to cancel / reschedule a tour if we have persistent heavy rain.
Trust me, touring in this sort of rain can be just plain miserable but then again I have been out many times in tropical rain and it can be fun!
Please also take into account that from May to September it is always hot and humid (with or without the rain) in Hong Kong, we are talking 30 - 33oC or 86 - 91oF and 65% - 90% humidity during the day and the temperature does drop some in the evening. It is not anywhere near as bad as you think.
See below
I love food, and I estimate I have eaten in well over 1,200 + local restaurants in 52 years here but that does not make me a foodie! food is such a subjective matter, what I like you may well hate!
I will categorically state now, that I do not do food tours, but I am perfectly happy to stop and eat at restaurants (or sample egg tarts!!) on tour and I know some great places to fit any budget.
If you want a specific food tour then there are other dedicated food tour companies who have excellent reputations, these would be a much better bet for you and I am happy to refer quality companies.
I am not a foodie, nor do I do specific food tours but boy, do I know my food and I am always happy to fit in a snack / meal at your request.
Hong Kong Disney is great for adults and kids alike. If you wish to visit such attractions as Disneyland or Ocean Park then you need to allow 6 - 8 hours as an absolute minimum. They are very easy to get to but in order to get the best out of the visit, you need to allocate time as many of the popular attractions have big queues. Visiting any outlying Islands will also require a good part of the day.
I would also point out that hiring me to take you to Disneyland or Ocean Park is just not necessary, you can easily do these on your own, they are both pretty easy to get to.
Please note that my tours are Private Tours I do NOT do PUBLIC GROUP TOURS In other words just you and me, it is NOT possible for other people to join the tour unless you invite them!
Of course I might be willing to do a tour in this awesome Mercedes Benz AMG G63 G Wagen - this is currently one the most awesome and most expensive SUV's on the planet and I have to say it is a beautiful car, - I am of course joking, I imagine the cost of hiring this car to be quite prohibitive....
I specialise in Hong Kong tours only - by Hong Kong tours I mean Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories including Lantau Island.
Please do note that I cannot do HIKING TOURS or similar in remote locations, Hong Kong is huge roughly 426 sq miles (1,100 sq km) and doing tours in the remote regions of the New Territories is not possible. There are a number of companies that specialise in Hiking Tours and such and I am happy to refer them.
Please note that my tours are part walking and part using Public Transport, this is the best way to see Hong Kong. It is not all walking, there are rest breaks and I am very sensitive to peoples physical condition (and my own!)
One of life's great adventures, riding the MTR (subway) in Hong Kong! Hong Kong simply has the best public transport in the world.... and that is a fact!
I may still be available even on days where I have an existing tour (ie. on TOUR on my calendar) depending on your timing and the number of hours for the tour, if needs be please contact me for confirmation.
I am always happy to work on Sunday's and public holiday's including Christmas Day and New Year's day.... I would say that Sunday is absolutely the most popular day to do a tour in Hong Kong, so much to see and do!
Yes, I am a very busy chap so prompt booking is always advisable as I work on a first come, first served basis and I work 7 days a week! I do love a good night tour as well... however there are times when I simply will not be able to fit you in, sorry!
I have no issues at all about giving you a recommendation for other excellent private guides in Hong Kong.
Absolutely! I specialise in family tours, I am a family man with 3 kids of my own (and I used to regularly supervise school trips) so children are welcome (of any age).
We have raised 3 boys who are now 24, 31 and 41! you never stop thinking of them as kids though and I get great joy in explaining Hong Kong to young folk!
........but be mindful that keeping small kids under 4 interested for 3 - 8 hours can be a problem depending on what type of tour you schedule, however I have been told that I can even keep moody teenagers amused, my badge of honour so to speak…
In a nutshell, when I am on tour I simply DO NOT answer my telephone and I extend this courtesy to all clients.
Indeed I turn off the volume on my phone when I go out and I quite often forget to turn it back on!
I am utterly useless at languages, I speak English only, sorry! I actually know lots of words and phrases in Cantonese but I cannot get the tones right!!
Cantonese is one of the hardest languages in the world to learn ...and no, it is not some colonial mentality I have, I am just plain stupid! Cantonese is not a problem, my wife and other Chinese family members are a phone call away should there be a problem, and frankly, English is widely spoken in Hong Kong as it is after all, one of our official languages.
© Jamie Lloyd | J3 Group Hong Kong | J3 Consultants Hong Kong | J3 Private Tours Hong Kong | J3 Tours Hong Kong |
2010 - 2024. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise stated, all images on this site have been taken by Jamie.
Photographs / Images appearing on this website and on my Flickr Site should be used solely as an indication of attractions. Actual attractions may vary according to the itinerary as well as the tour we do.
I reserve the right to photograph any event and participants, as well as use any images taken for promotion and/or commercial purposes without further recourse or compensation.
I do like to take photographs and will keep this to a minimum and I am always happy to take quality images of you and send them to you.
Tipping is always optional and boy, what an awkward subject to broach! if you have had a great time and want to thank me in this manner, then gratuities are very much appreciated!
...however, let me be clear, I will never ask, I will never be offended if you do not offer a tip and I am not going to claim that 50% of the tip will go to charity! ( I have been giving to charities all my adult life in Hong Kong! )
Hong Kong is a major international city with an excellent reputation and is very tourist friendly. It is a very safe place so carrying expensive camera equipment and wearing a Rolex watch will not increase your chances of getting robbed.
However you need to look after your wallet and mobile phones on the MTR (subway system) and in crowded markets like you would in any bustling metropolis.
I am a keen amateur photographer and I will sometimes take pictures on tour, I keep this to a minimum. I am also more than happy to take pictures of you!
Have you ever seen a burnt out / melted phone box before? whoever was in there obviously had a heated conversation with someone!
Hong Kong is fast paced and a bit in your face, but it is also very civilised; remember we can get (pre - covid) between 55 - 65 million visitors a year ( but only 3.5 million in 2020 ) so we know how to look after our guests. Take it from me, you will absolutely enjoy your time in Hong Kong!
Me and my personality....
I arrived in Hong Kong as a child and have been here ever since and I love it here, I am married with 3 boys who where all born and raised in Hong Kong.... my wife is a local, born and bred in Hong Kong! and Cantonese is her first language.
I have a somewhat evolved (and understated) dry English sense of humour! and you should take this into account when I regale stories about living here.
I am full of completely useless facts about Hong Kong...(and I know plenty of historical facts as well!)
I tend to say it as it is, Hong Kong is NOT perfect by any means and naturally I will answer any question you throw at me, I DO NOT offer up sanitized answers or opinions, I do not sugar coat things and can be quite blunt on certain issues so please take this into account.
Sometimes you just have to shake your head in wonderment - Gold Mickey Mouse, 23lbs of pure 24k gold, roughly US$468,000
All information provided on the J3 Private Tours website is correct to the best of my knowledge, errors, omissions and exceptions not withstanding.
J3 Private Tours / Jamie Lloyd do not assume responsibility or any liability for any tour participant’s own misunderstanding or misinterpretation of any information provided on this site.
Parents accept full responsibility for the behaviour / actions of their children whilst on tour.
Refund Policy
Refunds will be dealt with on a case by case basis depending on the circumstances
You agree to notify me by email in advance of any pre existing health / medical condition including food allergies and such which may well be an issue with regards to you participating in one of my private tours.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition then Personal Accident Insurance is strongly advised.
Please bear in mind that my private tours are walking tours incorporating public transport as needed. although not particularly strenuous, you should bear in mind that some parts of Hong Kong are hilly and the weather can be very hot and humid particularly the Summer. In this regard, you should consider your ability to engage in medium aerobic urban style walking. If you are unsure about this, please consult your Doctor
All tours are undertaken at the tour participants own risk. J3 Private Tours / Jamie Lloyd accept no liability or obligation in the event of illness, injury, death or loss or damage to personal property.
It is recommended that you arrange your own Travel Insurance that covers - inter alia, accidents, personal injury, property loss and emergency medical services.
Hong Kong follows the British style traffic flow and crossing rules. To avoid accidents, please be vigilant and remember to follow all road crossing signals and traffic warnings, our Police Officers and Traffic Wardens take great delight in giving a jaywalking ticket to foreigners
Finally - J3 Private Tours / Jamie Lloyd reserves the right to take photographs and film footage of clients on tours and / or any activities and to use the material in any way we deems appropriate including but not limited to featuring it on our company website and on promotional materials.
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