A guide to our former home and favorite city in the world.
Here, you’ll find tips and reviews on luxury hotels, flights, the best restaurants, and things to do in Hong Kong from someone who lived there.
Hi, I’m Katie and I used to live in Hong Kong. I’m excited to show you the best hotels, places to eat, and other things to do.
We have stayed at many hotels in Hong Kong (and lived in Four Seasons Place, the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong serviced apartments, for four years), so I have a lot to share. Some of the best hotels in the world are located here. Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong remains one of my favorites to this day.
The list of hotels at which we have VIP benefits in Hong Kong is quite long, and I have friends and colleagues who work in many of them. They help us push through upgrades and ensure you have a fantastic stay. These are our six most frequently booked places to stay in Hong Kong.
MTR: Central
I lived in the hotel apartments for four years. It is my favorite hotel in the world See why in my review.
LJM Perks:
MTR: Central
A local icon with harbour views, a club lounge, excellent dining. The social hub for many residents. My review.
LJM Perks:
MTR: Admiralty
A haven of themed family suites and a tropical pool on 15 lush acres. My review.
LJM Perks:
MTR: Tsim Tsa Tsui
A Kowloon side icon with a famous afternoon tea, Rolls Royce fleet, indoor pool and fab service.
LJM Perks:
MTR: Tsim Tsa Tsui
Newly renovated on the harbour with a nice outdoor pool deck and water views.
LJM Perks:
MTR: Admiralty
Moderately priced for its location with great buffets and pool deck above Pacific Place shopping mall.
LJM Perks:
We have stayed at many hotels in Hong Kong (and lived in Four Seasons Place, the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong serviced apartments, for four years), so I have a lot to share. Some of the best hotels in the world are located here. Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong remains one of my favorites to this day.
The list of hotels at which we have VIP benefits in Hong Kong is quite long, and I have friends and colleagues who work in many of them. They help us push through upgrades and ensure you have a fantastic stay. These are our six most frequently booked places to stay in Hong Kong.
MTR: Central
I lived in the hotel apartments for four years. It is my favorite hotel in the world See why in my review.
LJM Perks:
MTR: Central
A local icon with harbour views, a club lounge, excellent dining. The social hub for many residents. My review.
LJM Perks:
MTR: Admiralty
A haven of themed family suites and a tropical pool on 15 lush acres. My review.
LJM Perks:
MTR: Tsim Tsa Tsui
A Kowloon side icon with a famous afternoon tea, Rolls Royce fleet, indoor pool and fab service.
LJM Perks:
MTR: Tsim Tsa Tsui
Newly renovated on the harbour with a nice outdoor pool deck and water views.
LJM Perks:
MTR: Admiralty
Moderately priced for its location with great buffets and pool deck above Pacific Place shopping mall.
LJM Perks:
Many Hong Kong hotels only allow three people in rooms and suites. We can help families of four and larger find places to stay.
We offer two tools if you’d like to research hotels with VIP programs on your own.
In both cases, you’ll need to understand the occupancy and bedding of the room or suite you’re booking. You can find this information on a hotel’s website directly. We’ll receive your reservation within minutes and will follow up to help make sure everything is correct.
You will need to create a free account and log in to see the most accurate rates.
This tool allows you to see other VIP rates, such as Four Seasons Preferred Partner and Hyatt Prive, in addition to Virtuoso.
It’s hard for me to condense all of the fantastic things to do in Hong Kong because my personal list is long from the glorious dim sum to markets to street photography.
It’s a city of contrasts with important temples tucked in between modern skyscrapers. Bring the kids because while there’s Disneyland and Ocean Park, you can find plenty of cultural edutainment and outdoor activities that the whole family will love.
One of the things I miss most about living in Hong Kong is the food. While you can take advantage of Michelin-star dining, the street food from eggettes at Mammy Pancake to wonton noodle soup at Mak’s are experiences not to be missed. Learn where to go and what to eat in Hong Kong.
We seek out:
We’ve been to every Disney resort in the world, and this one is our absolute favorite for a number of reasons. It feels less crowded and tends to have shorter lines. It also incorporates Chinese culture throughout the park, has some great family hotels and the food is pretty good. I’ve been to Hong Kong Disneyland more than many of my friends who still live there.
Everything to know about visiting the theme park.
We’ve stayed in every HK Disneyland resort hotel. The Explorers Lodge is our favorite.
You can save money on tickets through Klook.
When you’re considering where to stay in Hong Kong, it’s helpful to know a bit about the neighborhoods people tend to stay in the most. That way, you can book a hotel that is close to the Hong Kong attractions you want to see or in a part of the city that you’ll enjoy.
We’ve also highlight a couple of outer islands you can reach from the ferries.
Hong Kong Island is where you’ll find some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world along with historic buildings, Victoria Peak, Ocean Park, and a bustling nightlife. The major island neighborhoods where travelers stay are listed below from west to east.
Island
For delicious authentic food and quirky markets, you can’t beat this Hong Kong neighborhood. Sheung Wan has quickly become a hipster paradise, with trendy vintage boutiques, lovely little cafes, great restaurants, and bars. That said, this is also where you’ll find some of the best antique shopping in Hong Kong along Hollywood Road and Cat Street Market. Do take a walk through Ko Shing Street, which is the Traditional Chinese Medicine hub of Hong Kong and the fascinating dried seafood street at Des Voeux Road West.
Island
This compact Hong Kong neighborhood is the hub of the city’s financial and business activity, where you’ll find the most luxurious hotels in the world, and where I lived. The waterfront (where harbor cruises and ferries to the islands depart) is lovely to look at, and the skyline is awe-inspiring, but as you explore, you’ll also catch glimpses of the city’s past. There are still traditional markets and shopping streets tucked away amid the skyscrapers in addition to modern attractions like the Hong Kong Observation Wheel, the Peak Tram Lower Terminus, and Mid-Levels Escalator.
Island
Admiralty is also a business district and not totally a tourist hot spot, but it is home to four luxury hotels adjacent to the fantastic Pacific Place shopping mall. Walk easily to Central through Hong Kong Park, a green oasis in the city for kid-friendly fun and exercise. You can also stroll over to Tamar Park, which connects to the Central and Western District Promenade for waterfront walks and people-watching.
Island
There’s always a lot happening in Wan Chai. You’ll find neat antiques on Queens Road East, the Tai Yuen Street toy market, and the gentrified Starstreet Precinct with its cafes and boutiques. You’ll also find temples, shops heaving with everything from electrical supplies to housewares, the Bowrington Road wet market, tenement houses like the Blue House Cluster, and other pockets of heritage. The white elephant in the room is that Wan Chai is also home to lots of bars and a red light district, but this is becoming less of a thing to point out. The convention center and Grand Hyatt are located here as are a handful of small boutique hotels.
Island
Also known as East Point, Causeway Bay is one of the city’s major shopping districts and is now home to several boutique hotels. Numerous notable shopping centers are in this Hong Kong neighborhood, from the Japanese-style department store Sogo to the 17 floors of retail space at Hysan Place. You can spend an entire day shopping in stores here, though take a spin through Jardine’s Crescent for a little market shopping along the way.
Kowloon has a reputation for perhaps being busier and a little grittier than Hong Kong Island, but if you’re not staying on this side, it’s worth checking out. Hong Kong neighborhoods on this side are full of older architecture (the further inland that you go), but in them, you’ll find some of the city’s best markets, amazing street food, interesting museums, and many hotels at more wallet-friendly price points.
Kowloon
Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) sits on the tip of Hong Kong’s peninsula by Victoria Harbour and is one of the busiest and luxe areas in Kowloon. As in all Hong Kong neighborhoods, there’s plenty of shopping — from local shops along Nathan Road to designer boutiques on Canton Road to the massive Harbour City mall. There’s plenty of culture, too. Visit museums (like the Hong Kong Museum of History), ride the Star Ferry, or take a walk along the waterfront promenade. Top pick for hotels here is The Peninsula, Hong Kong but look to Kowloon Shangri-La or Hotel Icon as more wallet-friendly options.
Kowloon
West Kowloon is a newer area designed to be one of Hong Kong’s cultural districts with its eclectic blend of arts, and entertainment on the waterfront. Here, you’ll find the Xiqu Centre, dedicated to traditional Chinese opera, and M+ , an art museum that Museum, showcases visual culture. Elements Mall is also here as are The Ritz-Carlton and W hotels.
Kowloon
Mong Kok is one of the most congested Hong Kong neighborhoods, but we go for the excellent market shopping and local food. We particularly like the Ladies’ Market, one of the city’s most popular markets, Fa Yuen Street, and the Flower Market. Plan to sample dim sum (Tim Ho Wan’s original location is here, along with numerous hole-in-the-wall and a few high-end options), egg waffles, walnut cookies, and other local delights. Not sure where to eat? A good rule of thumb is to go where the crowds do. You’ll know what I mean when you get there.
Kowloon
Love fashion? You could easily spend an entire day browsing the shopping streets of Sham Shui Po, where local and international fashion designers come to be inspired — and to take advantage of the wholesale pricing. It’s fantastic and one of my favorite clusters of shopping streets in the world. Like crafts or sewing? Your supplies await here.
Many people don’t know that Hong Kong has more than 200 small islands full of beautiful natural scenery and culture to explore. These are two of our favorites. Fun fact: There are no cars on either island.There is quite a bit of hiking to do on Lantau Island. And, of course, Hong Kong Disneyland is located here.
Hong Kong’s largest outlying island, Lantau Island, is a diverse hub of culture and history. Though it is the home of Hong Kong International Airport, it’s also where visitors can explore traditional fishing villages, tour beautiful Buddhist temples, and even relax on the beach. One of our favorite things to do is take the cable car to Ngong Ping Village, climb the steps to the vast Tian Tan Buddha statue, have a vegetarian lunch at Po Lin Monastery, and walk the Wisdom Path. Stop into the Citygate Outlets on the way back to the MTR.
There is quite a bit of hiking to do on Lantau Island. And, of course, Hong Kong Disneyland is located here.
Just 20 minutes away from Hong Kong Island by ferry, uncrowded Lamma couldn’t be more different. This island is home to only 5,000 people and is a lovely place to explore on foot, thanks to the walking trails that connect small villages. The main village, Yung Shue Wan, is home to good seafood restaurants. And it’s a pretty place to relax on the beach.
This idyllic island is typically peaceful, but on May 25th, throngs of people descend upon it for the annual week-long Bun Festival. While visiting during festival time means dealing with the crowds, the Piu Sik (floating colors) parade is a sight you should see at least once. Children in costume and paper mache gods seem to float in the air, there are bun-snatching competitions, and the atmosphere is exuberant. Outside of this, go to the beach at Tung Wan, see the pirate hideout at Reclining Rock, and enjoy a nice day out.
These services will make your trip to Hong Kong easier.
Can be a good value if you plan to see high-value, included attractions.
Board the MTR, busses, and trams using this prepaid card. Shops accept it, too.
Kind of like OpenTable for HK and easy for making dining reservations.
Cantonese (English is spoken in the tourist areas.)
Hong Kong Dollar.
220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. The luxury hotels I work with have international plugs in the rooms, but carry an adaptor just in case.
You can get around using public transportation. Taxis are plentiful, and the MTR train system is clean and reliable. Tip: Load an Octopus card with money so that you don’t need to buy MTR tickets every time. You can also use it to buy goods around town.
Visit between October and mid-December for the best weather and pricing. Chinese New Year in January/February is busy, and many shops will close during the actual holiday. March and April also see milder temperatures. It becomes hot and humid between May and September, but don’t let that stop you from going. Because of the weather, you can sometimes snag good hotel prices despite it being a peak travel season. Typhoon season is from June through October.
Many shops, market vendors, and small restaurants still do not take credit cards. Plan to carry small bills. It is difficult to break HKD 500 and 1000 notes in most places. You can ask your hotel concierge for change or use these notes at bigger grocery stores and shops.
Here is what it is like to stay at Disney’s Hollywood Hotel at Hong Kong Disneyland.
As a former Hong Kong resident, I’ve been to this Disneyland many times. I update this post every year to reflect new rides and other changes.
Find the best things to do in Hong Kong Park from a mom who has spent a lot of time in this HK park running, turtle watching, and enjoying the facilities.
Find the best family hotels in Hong Kong that have fun kids’ amenities, family quad rooms, connecting rooms and more.
Everything you need to know before booking Upper House Hong Kong, a luxury boutique hotel on the island, and how to secure my VIP amenities.
What it’s like to stay at Hotel Icon Hong Kong including location, breakfast buffet, in-room amenities and much more at this boutique hotel.
This is the list of things to do in Hong Kong that I email to my friends and readers when they tell me they’re planning a trip.
I lived in Hong Kong, my daughter was born there, and now I help families find the best place to stay in this city that I love so very much.
A list of the best Hong Kong shopping including markets, luxury malls, boutiques, outlets and shopping streets that I visit regularly.
Everything to know before booking Island Shangri-La Hong Kong from a former HK resident and travel advisor. I share how to choose a room, which VIP rates to book, and who this hotel is a fit for.
Hong Kong hotels excel at impeccable service and amenities. I lived in one and stay in many. Here’s what I think are the best hotels in Hong Kong and why.
Lean the significance of red envelopes is during Chinese New Year and other special occasions.
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