![\"Travel](\"https:\/\/www.saporedicina.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/travel-to-hong-kong.jpg\" "\\"Travel")
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<\/strong><\/p>\n Visa regulations are significantly more relaxed compared to mainland China<\/a> and travelers from 160 countries can stay in Hong Kong visa-free between 7 to 180 days. For a complete overview of the regulations by country, you can check the Hong Kong immigration\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Travelers from countries like Vietnam and Uruguay need to apply for a visa, which should be carefully studied beforehand. The reason is that it\u2019s very difficult to get a visa on arrival, you don\u2019t want to face the risk of being refused entry.<\/p>\n If you need a visa, you can send an application to the Hong Kong Immigration Department, or visit a Chinese consulate or embassy overseas. Examples of documents needed include:<\/p>\n Also, here you find our article on how to get a visa for Hong Kong<\/a>. <\/p>\n Before you visit Hong Kong, you need to have good travel insurance. Why? Because Hong Kong has the second most expensive healthcare system in the world, only behind the US. <\/p>\n Sure, Hong Kong is considered safe in terms of crime rates and the risk of coming across pickpockets or experience unprovoked violence is low. But, you never know if you\u2019ll become unexpectedly ill, get involved in a traffic accident, fall down the stairs, you get my point.<\/p>\n Staying as an inpatient for just a few days can cost you tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the seriousness of the accident.<\/p>\n We recommend World Nomads insurance<\/a><\/strong> if you plan to stay in Hong Kong for, let\u2019s say, a week. It\u2019s a flexible and affordable insurance, covering costs for medical care and other add-on items, such as for flight cancellations or theft (just make sure to read the terms of service before buying it!).<\/p>\n Also, here you find our article dedicated to travel insurance for Hong Kong<\/a>. <\/p>\n Hotels and hostels nights are expensive in Hong Kong, but you can find plenty of options with discounts on Agoda Hotels<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you are on a budget, let\u2019s say 20 to 50 US dollars per night, don\u2019t look for hotels in the most central areas (like Central or Tsim Sha Tsui). You should also have hostels as an option. At the end of the day, Hong Kong is a vibrant city with so much to see and you won\u2019t spend much time inside.<\/p>\n Worth mentioning is that you generally don\u2019t have any issues to communicate in English with the hotel staff, but don\u2019t forget to bring your passport when checking in, as they need to register your passport.<\/p>\n Click here to discover our top picks among Hong Kong hotels<\/a>; we choose several hotels for each budget!<\/p>\n Government websites<\/a> recommend travelers to get vaccination for at least Hepatitis A\/B and Typhoid. If you plan to hike on the islands or \u2018jungles\u2019, you should also consider getting a shot for Rabies. Even though there\u2019s no vaccination for Dengue fever, which is transmitted from mosquitoes, try to wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, and use mosquito spray while outdoors.<\/p>\n In any case, you should contact your doctor, as he\/she will know your immunization history and can decide what\u2019s best for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n Before departing, you should also bring some medicine, especially if you need prescription medicine. First of all, many local pharmacies in Hong Kong mainly sell Chinese traditional medicine and it can take some time before you find drug stores that sell the Western medicines you need. <\/p>\n I highly recommend you to bring Aspirin, anti-diarrheal pills, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory drugs. If you stay in a hostel, I also recommend you bring earplugs and an eye mask.<\/p>\n I always search for the cheapest flight tickets on flight search engines<\/a> to see the best offers. After, you can buy the tickets on that website or simply go to the airline company\u2019s website directly (it\u2019s easier and cheaper to communicate directly with the airline company if you want to make any changes later).<\/p>\n Arriving in Hong Kong by air is convenient as you can reach the city center in around 25 minutes by using the Airport Express. Trains depart every 12th minute, between 05:50 AM until 01:15 AM the next day.<\/p>\n When you\u2019ve arrived in the city center, you can either take the MTR, a taxi, or the free shuttle buses which drop of passengers to different hotels.<\/p>\n I recommend you to buy a local SIM card directly when arriving. It can be hard navigating the streets and areas in a metropolis like Hong Kong, you can save plenty of time by using applications like Google Maps. Also, you\u2019ll be able to find the best shopping areas and restaurants with just a click.<\/p>\n Many operators are offering SIM cards for tourists who stay short term, such as China Mobile Hong Kong and CSL. The options vary but you can normally get 8GB of 4G data for 3 to 8 days, costing no more than 6 to 10 US dollars.<\/p>\n Preferably, you should buy the SIM card at the airport arrival hall, but can also find them at 7-Eleven, Circle K, CSL or HKT shops, and more.<\/p>\n Hong Kong\u2019s currency is called Hong Kong dollars (HKD), where 1 US dollar equals to around 7.85 Hong Kong dollars. As the currency is pegged to the US dollar, there\u2019s very little fluctuation between the two. <\/p>\n You\u2019ll find ATMs that accept foreign credit and debit cards practically anywhere and withdrawing money is easy. Scams are uncommon so you should also try to use your bank card in restaurants and stores, whenever you deem needed. <\/p>\n I also recommend you to buy an Octopus Card<\/a>, which only requires a deposit of HKD 50 (around USD 6.35). It\u2019s a smart contactless payment tool that can be used in the MTR, convenience stores, entertainment, and department stores. <\/p>\n One of the main reasons why you should get the Octopus card is that you\u2019ll save time and energy in the MTR. The ticket machines only allow exact change and can have long queues. Running around trying to find tickets offices or stores to get exact change is a hustle and you don\u2019t want to leave Hong Kong with your pockets full of coins.<\/p>\n Every time I go to Hong Kong, I mainly use the MTR system to get around. Sometimes, I take the Star Ferries, but that\u2019s only if I want to reach any of the islands. Taxi fees are high compared to mainland China<\/a> and Southeast Asian countries, a reason why I\u2019ve only went by taxi a couple of times.<\/p>\n The MTR<\/a> is claimed to be the best in the world and highly efficient. Being an international city, you\u2019ll have no issues to find your destination as signs and sound announcements are in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.<\/p>\n Train fares are cheap and generally set you back between 5 HKD to 10 HKD, if you move around in the city center, not going to the outskirts. Worth bearing in mind is that you\u2019ll get an 8% discount if you use the Octopus card.<\/p>\n Not only is the MTR fast and cheap, other advantages include:<\/p>\n The only disadvantage of using the MTR is that it can be crowded during rush hour. If you only want to travel a short distance, you should also check the buses and ferries which are convenient to use as well. <\/p>\n In addition to medicine, you should bring a universal plug adaptor as Hong Kong most electrical outlets take three-pronged UK-style plugs. <\/p>\n If you want to read, you can find plenty of English books, but should also consider bringing an Amazon Kindle before departure. It\u2019s practically impossible to find Amazon Kindles in Hong Kong and I spent half a day<\/a> trying to find one myself. One store clerk told me that the demand is simply too low. <\/p>\n When it comes to the climate, Hong Kong is hot and humid during most months of the year so you should bring t-shirts, thin cotton or linen shirts, thin pants, and shorts. High-end restaurants and bars generally expect that you wear pants during nighttime.<\/p>\n As temperatures can drop down to 15 degrees Celsius from December to February, you should bring a thin jacket and a sweater if you travel during this time.<\/p>\n Bring a pair of comfortable sneakers and perhaps leather shoes as tourists tend to walk a lot in the city center. You can also bring a swimsuit or water-friendly outfit as it\u2019s not rare that tourists visit the islands for a swim.<\/p>\n It\u2019s best to visit Hong Kong from March to April and October to November, as it\u2019s sunny but with cooler temperatures. That said, you should consider visiting Hong Kong during Christmas or New Year\u2019s Eve, as the entertainment and views are spectacular. <\/p>\n If you want to experience any of the city\u2019s local Chinese festivals, January and February are probably your best months as the Lantern Festival and Spring Festival are celebrated during this time.<\/p>\n For shoppers, December to February is the best time to visit as you\u2019ll find many products on sales during Christmas and the Chinese New Year. There\u2019s also summer sales from July to September, but it would avoid traveling during the summertime as the temperatures can be uncomfortably high.<\/p>\n Hong Kong has so much to offer when it comes to bars and nightlife. Here, the top entertainment hotspots are Lan Kwai Fong, SoHo, and Wan Chai. You\u2019ll find everything from high-end sky lounges to local British owned bars. Yet, many just prefer to buy some beers at 7-eleven and to sit on the streets or in parks.<\/p>\n If you want a more relaxed experience, you can also go to any of the islands, like Lamma Island, and visit local restaurants and bars.<\/p>\n With that in mind, I also want to mention that alcohol is more expensive in Hong Kong compared to mainland China and Southeast Asian countries, except for Singapore. Oftentimes, you need to pay 8 to 10 US dollars for a pint in places like Lan Kwai Fong.<\/p>\n Being one of the most visited cities in the world, many travelers, Asian and Westerners alike, simply go to Hong Kong for shopping. Two of the main reasons are that Hong Kong has many department stores and local markets, at the same time as the government doesn\u2019t levy any VAT.<\/p>\n If you plan to buy a new laptop or shaver, for example, you should consider waiting until your next trip to Hong Kong. With that said, you should be careful as some products have \u201cHong Kong warranty only\u201d.<\/p>\n For the record, bargaining is not common except in local markets and sometimes in owner-operated stores. I\u2019d never bargained in Hong Kong except in local markets.<\/p>\n So where should you go for shopping in Hong Kong? Below I\u2019ve listed the most interesting areas and what kinds of products you can find there:<\/p>\n Central<\/strong><\/p>\n Central is your choice if you look for high-end shopping and luxury brands. Gucci, Prada, and Chanel all have stores here.<\/p>\n Causeway Bay<\/strong><\/p>\n Causeway Bay has many products in the medium price segment, including cosmetics, clothing, jewelry, toys, and electrical goods. It\u2019s sometimes referred to as the shopping Mecca of Hong Kong.<\/p>\n Tsim Sha Tsui<\/strong><\/p>\n TST has everything from affordable to luxury products for eyeglasses, crafts from the mainland, shoes, cameras, clothing, jewelry, electronic goods, handbags, luggage, watches, and more<\/p>\n Mong Kok<\/strong><\/p>\n Mong Kok is one of the busiest areas with cheap watches, handbags, Chinese fashion, computer accessories, and fake designer products. <\/p>\n Sham Shui Po<\/strong><\/p>\n Sham Shui Po is a highly local area with many electronic markets. Here, you can find computer accessories, shavers, laptops, video games, second-hand phones (like iPhones), and cheap fashion products.<\/p>\n Photo Credits: Travel to Hong Kong – Index Getting a visa to travel to Hong Kong Travel Insurance for Hong Kong Hotels and hostels in Hong Kong Vaccines and medicine for a trip to Hong Kong Flying to Hong Kong Internet and phone cards Money, ATMs and credit cards The MTR system in Hong Kong What to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22718,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[323],"tags":[47,101],"class_list":["post-22717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hong-kong","tag-hong-kong","tag-travel-in-china"],"yoast_head":"\nGetting a visa to travel to Hong Kong<\/h2>\n
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Travel Insurance for Hong Kong<\/h2>\n
Hotels and hostels in Hong Kong<\/h2>\n
Vaccines and medicine for a trip to Hong Kong<\/h2>\n
Flying to Hong Kong<\/h2>\n
Internet and phone cards<\/h2>\n
Money, ATMs and credit cards<\/h2>\n
The MTR system in Hong Kong<\/h2>\n
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What to bring to Hong Kong?<\/h2>\n
When to travel to Hong Kong?<\/h2>\n
Common sense and cultural issues in Hong Kong<\/h2>\n
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Food and drinks in Hong Kong<\/h2>\n
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Nightlife in Hong Kong<\/h2>\n
Shopping and bargaining<\/h2>\n
![\"Creative](\"https:\/\/www.saporedicina.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/icon\/cc.png\")
<\/a> Hong Kong Central District<\/a> by IQRemix<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"