Hong Kong

Hong Kong holds a special place in my heart because it was the first place I traveled to outside of the U.S. I was 21, alone, and eager to explore. Everything was new and exciting to me. It was my first time seeing street signs in a foreign language, holding a different currency, or being a foreigner in a different country. I spent three days in Hong Kong, and the first day was torture. I was lost, confused, and lonely. The second day, I managed to find my way to Harbour City mall and catch the Star Ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui to Wan Chai. By my third and final day, I found myself feeling confident and comfortable. I woke up and took my morning jog through Kowloon Park to the harbor. By that afternoon, I was sitting on top of a Big Red Bus riding around West Kowloon. It was on that bus that my love affair with travel began. That trip to Hong Kong ripened me and transformed me into the independent solo traveler I am today. On that day, I promised myself I would go out and see the world. Since that trip, I have traveled to India, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mexico, China, Thailand, and Japan.  I will always attribute Hong Kong as the birthplace of my love affair with travel.

How to get there: Cathy Pacific is my favorite airline to fly from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. The flight from LAX to HKG is 13.5 hours. I recommend reserving a bulk head seat if you are flying economy, it almost feels like business class.

How to get around: The easiest way to get around Hong Kong is the MTR. Buy an Octopus pass and put money on it. An Octopus card is an accepted payment almost everywhere in Hong Kong including Starbucks, 7 Eleven, and the MTR. Taxis are great for short rides, the meter starts at 22HKD which is about 3 USD.

Where to stay: While I lived in Shenzhen, I would hop over to Hong Kong every chance I could get to do a little shopping and exploring. I stayed in a variety of hotels to find my favorite. I have put the hotels in order of which I liked the best and why.

Kowloon

Pentahotel: By far my favorite hotel in Hong Kong! Pentahotel is a brand new hotel located in East Kowloon, formerly the airport area. Just an 8 minute walk to the Diamond Hill MTR station, the hotel is located centrally surrounded by shopping, historical attractions, and shopping. Room rates average around $100/night and well worth it.

Hotel Sav: A 5 minute taxi ride from the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, Hotel Sav was definitely the most convenient of the hotels on the Kowloon side. It's a new and super modern hotel that also has the sweetest hotel staff I've experienced in Hong Kong. The rooms are small, but extremely clean and chic. I would definitely recommend this hotel to a young travelers but possibly not a family. Hotel Sav also offers a Handy cellphone you can take with you while you explore the city.

Central:

Mini Hotel: Located on the Hong Kong Island side in the heart of Central, the Mini hotel is indeed mini but conveniently located a minutes’ walk from art galleries, restaurants and shopping. Hotels on the Hong Kong island side tend to range from 250/night upwards, so Mini Hotel offers a great room for an affordable price. Rates average around $70/night

Where to eat:

House of Jasmine: Located in Harbour City Mall, House of Jasmine offers the BEST lobster dim sum I have ever had. Every time I go to Hong Kong, I make sure I stop at this traditional Chinese dining restaurant. 

Things to see & do:

Victoria Peak: The Peak is located on the Hong Kong Island side and offers a breathtaking view of the bay and the Kowloon side. Take the tram to the top and make sure you sit on the right side to get a view while you ride up. Check the weather before you go and make sure it's a clear day otherwise you won't see much.

Night Market: You can find anything your heart desires at the night market. Food, clothing, electronics, art, etc. Located on Temple Street on the Kowloon side, I recommend heading over there for some barbecue and be prepared to bargain

Flower Market: I adore the fresh flowers and if you love flowers the way I do, then the flower market is a must go. Go early in the day to take in the sweet smells of the flowers.

Big Buddha: Be sure to either buy your ticket in advance or purchase the package which I highly recommend because it allows you to skip the line to catch the sky tram, which normally take about an hour. Go and be absolutely blow away by the size and magnitude of the Big Buddha. Make sure to check out Po Lin monastery while you are there as well it's absolutely beautiful. 

Tips:

• Hong Kong currency is called the Hong Kong Dollar. 1.00 USD = 7.7 HKD on average
• Hong Kong consist of three district, Hong Kong, Kowloon, and New Territories
• Hop on the Star Ferry at least once to cross the bay. From the Tsim Sha Tsui to Hong Kong Island side its 2HKD and coming back its 2.5hkd
• Check out the live band at the Salon de Ning in the basement of the historic Peninsula Hotel
• Book a hotel that offers a Handy Phone, a phone in your room that allows you to make calls, gives you a guide to the city, and used by over 18 million visitors between Hong Kong and Singapore