| Hong Kong is an exciting all-year-round destination. | | | | personally asked several wait staff in regard to |
| It enjoys a mild climate from the middle of | | | | this and all have said that they receive no part of |
| September to the end of February, while the | | | | the service fee. If you receive good service, pay |
| weather from May to mid-September is rather | | | | a tip directly to the wait staff. |
| warm and humid. Eighty per cent of Hong Kong's | | | | The standard electrical voltage in HK is 220 volts |
| precipitation occurs between May and September, | | | | AC, 50HZ, so you will need an adaptor for your |
| with August registering the highest rainfall.During | | | | 100-volt appliances and electrical equipment.The |
| the summer months the heat and humidity is | | | | majority of electrical outlets in Hong Kong take a |
| basically what you might expect from a tropical | | | | three-pronged plug. You can buy an inexpensive |
| climate. Most women don't even bother with | | | | adaptor for your equipment when you arrive in |
| makeup and hair spray as within minutes of going | | | | Hong Kong.And also, most modern hotels will have |
| outside they will be soaked with sweat. | | | | at one or more 110V receptacles in the room for |
| Visitors from most countries can enter Hong | | | | a laptop or appliance.Feel free to ask the service |
| Kong without a visa for periods of seven days to | | | | staff for an adaptor, but beware that 95% of |
| six months, depending on nationality. If you have | | | | the staff will speak little, or no English,but will be |
| any questions in regard to visas for your specific | | | | extremely helpful regardless. |
| nationality you should check with your embassy | | | | Most hotels have Internet access.You need to be |
| or local consulate.. | | | | aware of the fact when you are choosing a hotel |
| Finding a place to stay is easy as Hong Kong is | | | | that complimentary High Speed Internet service |
| compact, so visitors are never too far from | | | | does NOT mean it is free. Obviously, |
| shopping and major sights. Hong Kong also has an | | | | complimentary has different meanings in different |
| excellent transportation system so visitors can | | | | parts of the world. You will have to pay for the |
| easily reach other areas, no matter where they | | | | connection by the day, and most hotels have |
| stay. Most hotels are located in the heart of the | | | | weekly specials, you should bring your own CAT-5 |
| city, in Central, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay on | | | | cable with you,or rent one from the front desk if |
| Hong Kong Island and in Tsim Sha Tsui and Tsim | | | | not available in the room. You can also access the |
| Sha Tsui East in Kowloon. There are also a | | | | Internet for free at many coffee shops, large |
| growing number of resort-style hotels in the New | | | | shopping malls, major MTR stations and public |
| Territories that offer relaxing alternatives. The | | | | libraries in town. For people bringing their laptops |
| only unfortunate problem, if you are a tourist that | | | | to Hong Kong, Wireless Broadband service is |
| is, is that Hong Kong has been enjoying the | | | | common at major shopping malls and coffee |
| highest hotel occupancy rates over the last year | | | | shops. If you use a modem, note that the BT |
| so you need to book far in advance. And beware | | | | system using in Hong Kong will gradually be |
| of bait and switch operators offering low cost | | | | replaced by the RJ system. If you are still using |
| Asian hotels on the Internet. They will offer you a | | | | the BT plug, you can buy a BT-RJ adaptor in |
| low price and after you pay and confirm, they will | | | | Hong Kong to solve the connection problem. |
| email back with a counter offer usually 2-3 higher | | | | Hong Kong is one of the safest cities in the world |
| then the price posted. Most of the hotel liquidators | | | | even at night, when people may walk alone with |
| are in Asia so there is little you can do but | | | | confidence.When you are walking around local |
| beware. | | | | tourist areas like Kowloon or Tsim Sha Tsui |
| You choices for Public transportation are varied | | | | expect a lot a hawkers targeting tourists, as well |
| from bus, ferry or train. The local underground | | | | as a lot of itinerant monks. |
| train is called the MTR and is efficient, relatively | | | | English is very widely spoken. There will be no |
| inexpensive and user-friendly. The system covers | | | | problems in communicating with people in most |
| extension areas of Hong Kong with signs in English | | | | hotels, restaurants and even some taxis.But the |
| and Chinese, and is one of the cleanest I have | | | | farther you get away form the business centers, |
| seen in some time. | | | | the more difficult time you will have finding English |
| Just like most international destination, most | | | | speaking people. Small shops like 7-11, which are |
| restaurants will levy a 10 per cent service charge | | | | everywhere will basically have no English speaking |
| but waiters will expect to be given some loose | | | | service. Taxis are mostly Chinese speaking |
| change. Restaurants that don't add a service | | | | drivers. |
| charge will expect a 10 per cent tip. However, | | | | Basically, in a nutshell, Hong Kong is a fast |
| tipping is left to your discretion. Bellboys, porters, | | | | paced,exciting city. Don't go there if you are |
| restroom attendants and taxi drivers will happily | | | | looking for peace and quiet, but if you are looking |
| accept loose change.Just because you see a | | | | for a high energy trip to Asia,Hong Kong is the |
| service charge added to a bill does not mean the | | | | place for you. For more in depth info on Hong |
| wait staff receives any of these tips. I have | | | | Kong visit the links in the authors bio. |