But nor is this Asia lite. Beneath the surface Hong Kong and Hong Kongers are strongly attached to their heritage and traditions and the streets still throb to the sugar sweet sounds of Canto-pop and the lick of Mahjong tiles, temples are still packed during festivals and life revolves around truly superb, classically cooked Cantonese cuisine.
When to Go
The most important question to ask yourself when planning a vacation to Hong Kong is when to go. The city suffers under a steamy cloud of humidity for much of the summer (northern hemisphere) and this can turn any holiday into a sweaty mess. Quite simply put, you don’t want to be outdoors during June, July and August. If possible, the best time to book in is during Autumn or in early Spring.Visas
Likely the least of your worries when plotting your vacation; visitors from the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and other European Union countries are given visa free access to the city for 90 days (180 days for UK citizens) on arrival in Hong Kong. Immigration officials are polite, efficient and speak English. Those traveling onwards to China will, however, need a visa. Hong Kong and China maintain separate immigration and visa policies and a full international border and all of the nationalities above require a visa to visit China. There are a variety of Chinese visas on offer that may suit your purposes and you’ll find more information on each one via the links below.- Do I Need a Hong Kong Visa?
- How to Get a Chinese Visa in Hong Kong
- Chinese Consulates in the US
- The Shenzhen Visa - Who and How
- The Guangdong Group Visa - Who and How
Hotels
Ironically, accommodation may cause you a sleepless night or two when planning your Hong Kong vacation. Hong Kong is home to some of the swankiest hotels not only in the region but in the world and rates are aimed at those who don’t sweat their monthly credit care statement. Of course there is more modestly priced accommodation available, it just requires a little bit of hard work to find good deals and booking ahead is essential. We’ve taken away some of the hard work below.- Guide to Budget Accommodation in Hong Kong
- This Months Hong Kong Hotel Deals
- Top 10 Luxury Hong Kong Hotels
- Top 5 Budget Hong Kong Hotels for Less than $100
How to Travel to Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of the busiest air hubs in the world and you’ll have little problem in finding flights. In Europe, London is by far and away the most frequent connection with dozens of airlines servicing the route, but there are also flights from almost all major, western European capitals. In North America, San Francisco and Vancouver – thanks to their large Hong Kong immigrant communities – offer frequent flights, while New York is the only east coast city that has a direct Hong Kong connection. Your go to airline should be Hong Kong flagship, Cathay Pacific, who connect the city to more destinations than anyone else. For a better price, head over to Zuji.com where you can get live prices from all the carriers and who also offer some fantastic deals. There are currently no budget airlines flying long-haul to Hong Kong although there are a number of short haul budget airlines that connect Hong Kong with Asia destinations.
Health and Safety
Hong Kong is incredibly safe. Crime, particularly violent crime, is rare here, and the streets feel much safer than in comparable cities in the US, Europe or Asia, especially after dark. Healthcare is also first class and you won’t have to worry about diseases common to other areas of Asia, such as malaria. Unfortunately, Hong Kong and Southern China are susceptible to periodic epidemics and many headline grabbers such as SARS and Bird Flu got cooked up in the region; that’s what happens when you mix millions of people, close quarters living and a humid atmosphere.Should you be worried? In general, no. Epidemics are rare and the city has become extremely vigilant in recent years and taken action against outbreaks immediately. Of those outbreaks that have taken place only a handful of people have become ill. Nevertheless, do keep an eye on the news in the run up to your trip and follow any advice issued by the CDC or Hong Kong authorities.
- What You Need to Know about Bird Flu and SARS in Hong Kong
- Required Vaccinations for Hong Kong
- Can I Drink the Water in Hong Kong
- Are There Triads in Hong Kong?
Cost
Hong Kong’s reputation as an expensive city is not undeserved but sometimes overblown. The main enemy of a sensible budget is accommodation, which usually involves handing over hefty sums for very mediocre rooms. Beyond that, your budget is very much in your control. If you enjoy Cantonese food, you’ll find the best in the world here and at prices little more than pocket change. Moving around the city and sightseeing are fairly inexpensive thanks to an excellent public transport system and the simple fact that many of the best sights and attractions are free, Including accommodation.Of course you’ll probably want to try some of the western restaurants and a night out in the pubs of Wan Chai or Lan Kwai Fong is not to be missed, but this is where you can start bleeding money. Western food tends to be fairly pricey, even for sandwiches and small pasta dishes, and if you plump for some of the high end restaurants, you’ll be amazed at just how much a meal costs. Inside pubs prices for beer and wine are little short of bare faced extortion and when you’re having five, six or more, followed by a kebab and a taxi you can soon find the day’s budget dumped down the drain.
As a guideline, $150 a day should be a comfortable budget for most and if you can stick to local food, public transport and free sights, you can trim that budget fairly substantially.
Of course after all that hard work, you deserve your reward - Hong Kong. Below find our top tips and top lists and what to see and do when you're in town.