Holidays to Hong Kong

Hong Kong - a neon-lit, hyper-shopping, food-obsessed city state

The pleasures of Hong Kong are much more in the vein of the incredible nightlife, the awe-inspiring shopping malls and multi-storied department stores (seemingly on every street corner) and the proliferation of restaurant of every shape, size, ethnicity and price point. The food quality is outstanding and the range of choices will leave you struggling to choose.

The speed and the noise and the traffic and the intensity of the exchanges you will undertake call for a state of mind that is constantly on. This is 7,000,000 people crammed into some 400 square miles and the pace is frenetic. Beach holiday? Not really...!

What you will love about Hong Kong is the nightlife and the sheer breadth of things to do. Even if you're not a nightclub person, the sense of invigoration as you walk streets still crowded at midnight, restaurants still serving and bars still open for a quiet beer is enthralling. The sights, sounds and experiences on this little series of islands is outstanding. A holiday in Hong Kong is like no other and Holiday Supermarket can get you there, into the best hotels at the best prices with minimal fuss. The major attractions include Hong Kong Disneyland (indeed, a vast exponent of the famous brand) and the restaurants off to the sides of the Central - Mid levels escalator. This extraordinary outside escalator system links Queen's Road Central in Central with Conduit Road in the Mid-Levels, passing through narrow streets with daily traffic levels of more than 55,000 people.

Your accommodation choices are really just twofold - stay on the mainland, Kowloon side or on the island of Hong Kong itself. The island has many salubrious hotels and is home to more of the glamorous high rise shopping malls. The famous Victoria Peak is here and the food scene is fairly extraordinary. There's a lot of nightlife and a big nightclub scene here and it's (mostly) where all the pretty young things gather.

Hints and tips for your Hong Kong holiday

Eating

Cheap, expensive and everything in between

The problem with eating out in Hong Kong is the choice - it is literally difficult to choose between the multitude of options. The cheap is easy - really, just drop in on any street corner noodle bar and you'll be royally fed for your $5. Be a little wary of the entirely upmarket choices - a few are in the $1000 and up range per head.

The budget options – look out for a street noodle bar called Tsim Chai Kee Noodle on Wellington St in Central. It's all noodles (of course), but the add-ins on offer are exquisite. Try the beef or the wontons. You'll know you're in the right area when you see a queue (always a good sign!) and, helpfully, the menu is in English so you'll understand what you're ordering.

Mid price options – The ABC Kitchen is at 1 Queen St, Sheung Wan and is more of an indoor cooked food market and Hong Kong's cooked food markets are traditionally the canteens of market workers, shoppers and residents. Queen Street Market also offers Beijing-style, Thai/Vietnamese, Nepali/Indian and excellent classic European fare.

Splurge – Chesa is in the glorious Peninsular Hotel on Salisbury Road and offers, wait for it, gourmet fondue in a Swiss style restaurant that takes risks with ordinary food and makes it all work in a country where it seems highly unlikely. It will seem a nice respite after the hustle and bustle outside. It's been an institution for many a year and there are many reasons why!

Sightseeing

Hong Kong - a mega metropolis

Hong Kong is on 24 hours a day. If you want to eat, party or just cruise the streets at 3am, you'll find something happening, particularly on the Kowloon side. Public transport is very easy, the bus system is excellent and getting to attractions like Disneyland is quite simple, requiring a change or two at most on the subway system.

The Cityscape view - walk the promenade by starting at the colonial-era Clock Tower and make your way along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. You'll meander past the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Hong Kong Museum of Art and Avenue of Stars and more. But the real attraction is the view of the Hong Kong Island cityscape. Towering high rises, the busy harbour and the crammed in look of the buildings on every conceivable space!

The Peak - is on the island and easy to get to via public transport. It's the highest peak on the island and the view out across the south China sea and back towards the mainland will give you an appreciation of how densely packed, yet, scenically beautiful, this city is. It's also home to some of the most exclusive real estate in the world, multi-billionaires abound.

The Ladies Market - shoppers beware! You won't leave this place without a bargain. The Ladies Market is on the Kowloon side in Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok and has over 100 stalls stretching more than a kilometre. It gets its name from the huge amount of clothing and accessories on sale for women of all ages; but happily there are also products for the men too with watches, computers, gadgets, bags, home furnishings, CDs and trinkets also up for grabs.

Weather in Hong Kong

The weather is generally warm and humid with the occasional cold snap in December to February. The summer months of June to September can get very hot and very humid and much more rain than you're used to. November is cool and pleasant.

Wear layers in winter and even in summer if you're intending to spend a lot of time in the malls - the air conditioning can be overpoweringly cool. Watch also for Chinese New Year, as this is a very busy period. Most museums and attractions won't mind what you wear but if you're intending to eat out at a fine dining restaurant you'll need a jacket at the very least. Hong Kong business wear is surprisingly formal.

HONG KONG WEATHER

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