19 Feb 09 A Few Hong Kong Travel Tips

Travelling to Hong Kong can be a completely different experience for you, especially if you’ve never been to the country before.  It’s a very interesting mixture of cultures, one that is very fun to experience.  Here are a few tips if you plan on travelling to Hong Kong.

During the winter months (December – February), Hong Kong can experience temperatures in the single degrees.  You’ll certainly want to pack heavy coats.  Even between March and May, temperatures rarely rise about 30 degrees, although the humidity is fairly high.  Summer can be pretty warm, however, as can the beginning of autumn.  It’s often almost too humid for a coat, especially during the warmer seasons.

If you easily get cold, however, you may want to take a long-sleeved shirt or jacket for when you’re inside your hotel or eating at a restaurant.  That’s because they tend to have the air conditioning set on high, making them very cold.  While this may feel good at first, by the end of your meal, you may be freezing.

When you plan your travel dates, you may want to avoid April through October if possible.  This is Hong Kong’s busy tourism season, and while it is a fairly lengthy part of the year, you’ll also find a lot to during the rest of the year.  Also note that hotels in Hong Kong are much more expensive on the weekends, and you’ll certainly want to book in advance, especially if you’re visiting during the peak season.

You won’t have to worry too much about the language barrier—Hong Kong’s officially has two languages, English and Chinese (Hong Kong was actually a colony of Great Britain until about 15 years ago).  Note, though, that not everyone speaks English fluently, and some signs and restaurants feature Chinese characters only.  If you’re uncertain how to find your destination, you may ask your hotel staff to write the address for you in Chinese just in case.

Tags: Chinese, Hong Kong, hotel, hotels, travelling