Hong Kong is one of the busiest cities in Asia – a modern blend of tradition and economical success which attracts visitors from all over the world.
Here’s some great hacks for your next visit to the Pearl of the Orient.
Power up your adaptor
Hong Kong’s electrical sockets take a three-pronged, UK style plug which is the same used in Dubai and Singapore. Adaptors are readily available for purchase or buy one before you go so you don’t have to worry about charging up your phone, tablet or laptop, and avoid the dreaded recharge message on your devices. There’s too many incredible Instagram photos to take!
Octopus Card – a must have
The absolute first thing you should do upon arriving in Hong Kong is buy yourself an Octopus Card. This electronic smart card can be used throughout the city and can be used to pay for travel on every form of the city’s incredibly efficient public transportation system.
You can also use Octopus for purchases in some shops, markets and restaurants. Card charges vary from HK$20 – HK$35, with a refundable deposit of HK$50.
Getting to and from the airport
Hong Kong’s taxis are fantastic and readily available to take you anywhere you want to go. But to save a few dollars for the trip from and to the airport, which is located outside of the city centre, jump on the Airport Express – part of Hong Kong’s fabulous MTR network.
The fast train can whisk you to almost anywhere in Hong Kong. There are shuttle buses at the Hong Kong International Airport to take you to the nearest Airport Express station with free WiFi so you can check in online and let your friends and family know you’ve arrived.
Use Wifi, not your SIM card
Do you need to activate expensive roaming on your SIM card, or buy a local one? Absolutely not. Hong Kong has hundreds of free Wifi zones so you can easily stay in touch, upload your Instagram Story, check in on Path, and post some holiday snaps on Facebook.
Bring your own water bottle
You’ll likely get quite thirsty exploring this wonderful city, and one thing you can save some money on are bottles of water. Pack your own drinking bottle and refill anywhere. Hong Kong’s tap water is safe to drink and you can refill for free in many public spaces. Rehydrate and continue on your way!
Check-in and shop, dine, see more
Sometimes your hotel check-out and your flight departure times can leave a large number of hours in between. The government of Hong Kong placed an In-Town Check-In office for many flights at the Kowloon MTR station so you can go straight there from your hotel, drop off your luggage and check-in for your flight, then make the most of your last hours in the city with a late lunch, a city tour or some last minute shopping.
Check if your airline is connected to this handy service here.
Then travel at the appropriate time stress (and luggage) free on the Airport Express to the airport, and reflect on your Hong Kong adventure. Guaranteed you’ll be a little sad to be leaving this wonderful city, but you can use the time to reflect and plan your next visit!
The fast train can whisk you to almost anywhere in Hong Kong. There are shuttle buses at the Hong Kong International Airport to take you to the nearest Airport Express station with free WiFi so you can check in online and let your friends and family know you’ve arrived.
Use Wifi, not your SIM card
Do you need to activate expensive roaming on your SIM card, or buy a local one? Absolutely not. Hong Kong has hundreds of free Wifi zones so you can easily stay in touch, upload your Instagram Story, check in on Path, and post some holiday snaps on Facebook.
There are many access points – GovWifi provided by the Hong Kong government, most public spaces, even on the MTR. If you need a phone connection you can still purchase a local SIM card for around HK$88 up to HK$118 at most convenience stores.
Now you have all the travel hacks you’ll need to visit, but if you more hacks we should know about, share in the comment section below.
Find the best flights and hotels in Hong Kong on Wego and have a wonderful trip!
Images courtesy of Hong Kong In-Town Check in, Hong Kong Airport Express and Octopus Card (Discover Hong Kong).
