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HK shopping ( photo by Arrivals Travel's Curt Woodhall)

Arrivals Travel Staff

As Western Canadians passionate about travel, we always viewed Hong Kong as a stop-over city en route to greater destinations.  After enjoying a three-day whirlwind tour of this ever-changing metropolis, we sheepishly realized that one could easily spend a week (or two) experiencing Hong Kong’s kaleidoscope of activities and attractions.

The territory of Hong Kong is comprised of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories, which is further divided into 18 distinct districts.  The Hong Kong Home Affairs Department has a very helpful interactive website that provides an overview of all the districts, including points of interests and local attractions.

Although the predominant language of Hong Kong is Cantonese, almost 90 per cent of the population speaks English, including most taxi drivers, sales people and restaurant staff, which allows for easy enjoyment of the seemingly endless attractions, shopping and cuisine.

Adding to the simplicity of exploring Hong Kong is the transit system, which is recognized as one of the world’s most efficient, frequent, safe, and affordable.  We were most impressed by the MTR rail system that services all major districts in Hong Kong, and is by far the cleanest train system we have ever used.

Look See:

Hong Kong cuisine ( photo by Arrivals Travel's Curt Woodhall)

There are so many sights and attractions in Hong Kong it is difficult to narrow them down to a manageable itinerary.  A great way to fit in the more famed attractions, while familiarizing oneself with the area, is to book a half day Island Orientation tour. Highlights of this four-hour tour include a tram-ride up Victoria Peak to take in the panoramic views of the harbor and surrounding islands, and a trip to lively open-air Stanley Market for some bargain shopping.

As shops in Hong Kong do not open until 11 a.m., booking a morning tour will free up the afternoon to shop (and shop and shop).  There are also full day Island Orientation tours departing from the airport, for anyone wanting to take advantage of a one-day layover in Hong Kong.   Families travelling with children will find hours upon hours of enjoyment visiting the many theme parks, entertaining museums (admissions to museums are free on Wednesdays), and educational attractions.  From a life-size Noah’s Ark to the Giant Panda Adventure at Ocean Park, there is something to delight every young and young-at-heart visitor to Hong Kong.

Yum Yum:

Our favourite way of experiencing Hong Kong was by taste.  Touted as the culinary capital of Asia, Hong Kong’s 11,000 (plus) restaurants offer some of the best Cantonese and regional Chinese food in the world. Peking Garden is extremely popular with locals and tourists alike, and is a wonderful spot for a meal after watching the famed Symphony of Lights Show.    The Peking Duck, for which the restaurant is world-famous, was rich and delicious; as was every other morsel of food we tried (including the lobster-sized prawns).

We also thoroughly enjoyed the incredible ‘noodle show’, where a man armed with a huge ball of dough and a knife created strands upon strands (we’re talking hundreds) of delicate noodles within the space of five minutes.  Dim Sum aboard the landmark Jumbo Floating Restaurant , and a trip to Lamma Island to select live seafood for the restaurant chefs to prepare (yum yum), were other culinary highlights that we recommend.   For night owls wanting after-dinner drinks, or to party ‘till the wee hours, the countless jazz clubs, neighbourhood pubs, wine bars and nightclubs are sure to satisfy any mood.  There are four main nightlife areas in Hong Kong: Central, Caseway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai, which is perhaps the most popular haunt filled with expatriates and tourists from around the world.   Happy hour in Hong Kong runs from 6pm – 9pm, with the bars and nightclubs picking-up around 11pm.

Good Buys:
Combine New York, London and Tokyo, and you have Hong Kong, which from a shopping perspective is pure nirvana.  Every imaginable brand of clothing, beauty product, technology and beyond can be found in this tax-free commercial paradise.

As it would be exhausting to read (and write) about all of these retail possibilities we have chosen to share only the ones that provide the greatest savings.  Glasses and designer sunglasses are up to 40 per cent less than Canadian prices, and filling prescriptions (for those without extended health care) is almost 60 per cent less.

Look for the smaller optical stores (versus larger chains), with a professional designation sticker in the window to ensure quality.  Fragrances and beauty products can be upwards of 25 per cent less, and there is a much wider array of products and brands available (including those often hard-to-find European brands).  Laptops, cell phones and cameras are also less expensive in Hong Kong, with the majority of brands offering international warranties.  Fashion deals are also to be had; however we enjoyed the unique finds more than the savings and were absolutely astounded by the countless shopping districts, endless stores, and volume of shoppers.

Night Night:
Like everything else in Hong Kong, accommodation is vast and varied.  We were fortunate to stay at the Harbour Grand, a luxury hotel offering unobstructed views of the world-renowned Victoria Harbour from every room.  Rooms at this five-star hotel start from $200 CAD per night and include an incredible buffet breakfast.  The Harbour Grand’s central location (walking distance from the MTR), exquisite decor featuring jaw-dropping Swarovski crystal chandeliers, five restaurants offering sumptuous Western, Japanese and Cantonese cuisine, and five-star service earned a well-deserved recommendation from us.   Of course, there are hotels to meet absolutely any budget in Hong Kong, and the Tourism Board website is a very useful resource for researching and booking accommodations.

Tips for Your Trip.
November through March is the coolest and driest time to visit Hong Kong, while Spring and Summer can be very humid with temperatures reaching the low 30s C.    When exchanging currency to Hong Kong Dollars, it is best to do so through a hotel or a money exchange, as the airport is privately run and charges higher fees.

Larger amounts should be exchanged through a bank, as they tend to offer the best rate.  As previously mentioned, the public transit system is fabulous for travelling around Hong Kong.  We suggest purchasing a pre-paid Octopus Card that is valid for all public transport fares (with the exception of taxis).

The best resource we can recommend for booking a trip to Hong Kong is the Tourism Board website, which is the most comprehensive and interactive tourism site we have ever used.

Tags: Arrivals Travel

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 4th, 2010 at 9:00 am and is filed under Arrivals Travel, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.