Hong Kong Travel Guide

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How to Get Out on the Water in Hong Kong

Where: Hong Kong
April 8, 2013 at 5:38 PM | by | Comments (0)

All this week we'll be answering the Who, What, Where, When, Whys and Hows of Hong Kong. Of course the answer to "WHO should go to Hong Kong" is YOU. Whether you've never been or you're a regular through Chek Lap Kok, this no-visa-required peninsula hanging off of China should absolutely your next stop.

WHAT 21 foods you absolutely have to try
WHERE to escape the skyscrapers for a breath of fresh air.
WHEN to visit
HOW to get out on the water
WHY

Hong Kong from a distance seems all skyscraper and modernity. In reality, there's a great mass of water slicing through those 'scrapers, and even this area—Victoria Harbour—has a personality all its own.

We like to think of sailing on the Harbour as traversing the water between Scylla and Charybdis. Pardon the Odyssean comparison, but for us, the skyscrapers and mountains of Hong Kong Island become the sea monster Scylla, and the markets and bustle of Kowloon is the whirlpool of Charybdis. It's out on the water between them that you find some silence, some calm, and the perfect position for reflecting on your time in this metropolis.

So here's three ways to get out on the water in Hong Kong:

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In Search of Perfect Weather: When to Travel to Hong Kong

Where: Hong Kong
April 1, 2013 at 4:19 PM | by | Comments (0)


Hong Kong in April. Victoria Harbour.

All this week we'll be answering the Who, What, Where, When, Whys and Hows of Hong Kong. Of course the answer to "WHO should go to Hong Kong" is YOU. Whether you've never been or you're a regular through Chek Lap Kok, this no-visa-required peninsula hanging off of China should absolutely your next stop.

WHAT 21 foods you absolutely have to try
WHERE to escape the skyscrapers for a breath of fresh air.
WHEN to visit
HOW to get out on the Harbour
WHY

Thinking of taking the leap and a long flight to visit Hong Kong? Excellent idea, but you should know that it is a destination with weather mood swings.

Hong Kong sits in the Northern Hemisphere, so the summer and winter coincide with that of New York or Europe. Still, when NY or London are being battered with below-freezing temps and blustery winds, HK is enjoying ideal weather with maybe a light jacket needed at night. To make sure you book that dream trip and have the best possible time, we've got some recommendations for when.

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Where to Find Hong Kong's Greenest Spaces for a Breath of Fresh Air

Where: Hong Kong
March 28, 2013 at 10:31 AM | by | Comments (0)

All this week we'll be answering the Who, What, Where, When, Why and Hows of Hong Kong. Of course the answer to "WHO should go to Hong Kong" is YOU. Whether you've never been or you're a regular through Chek Lap Kok, this no-visa-required peninsula hanging off of China should absolutely your next stop.

WHAT 21 foods you absolutely have to try
WHERE to escape the skyscrapers for a breath of fresh air.
WHEN to visit
HOW to get out on the Harbour
WHY

Hong Kong is a teeming city of over 7 million people, with seemingly as many high-rise skyscrapers. Doing business in Central or deep in the markets of Mongkok, a visitor is quick to feel a part of the buzzing urban beehive keeping the metropolis ticking. If you can spare an afternoon or even an early morning, take a step outside the structures of glass and cement for a breather in Hong Kong's natural green spaces. These are our three favorites:

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What to Eat in Hong Kong: 21 Foods That'll Rock Your World

March 18, 2013 at 10:54 AM | by | Comments (0)

All this week we'll be answering the Who, What, Where, When and Whys of Hong Kong. Of course the answer to "WHO should go to Hong Kong" is YOU. Whether you've never been or you're a regular through Chek Lap Kok, this no-visa-required peninsula hanging off of China should absolutely your next stop.

WHAT 21 foods you absolutely have to try
WHERE to escape the skyscrapers for a breath of fresh air.
WHEN to visit
HOW to get out on the Harbour
WHY

Put down the Chinese take-out menu and learn the words "cha chaan teng." Pronounced just as it looks, a cha chaan teng is the term for the Hong Kong-typical casual restaurants serving up cheaply priced, richly flavored eats at all hours of the day. Yeah, they're kind of like diners—diners with specialties like roast goose, pineapple buns and hot ginger Coca-Cola—and they're a lifeline to locals and adventurous travelers willing to step outside malls and Michelin-starred restaurants.

One more thing? Remember this mantra: If it looks ugly, it tastes awesome. Now you're ready to have your world rocked.

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Inside Cathay Pacific's 'The Arrival' Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport

February 20, 2013 at 6:19 PM | by | Comments (0)

Flying Cathay Pacific or Dragonair in Business or First Class to Hong Kong? Lucky you, not just because you'll be kicking back in bigger seats on what is a very long flight, but you're heading for one of our absolute favorite places in the entire world. Sure, Hong Kong is excellent, but we're talking about the airport itself!

Cathay Pacific, being the flag carrier and largest airline at HKG, takes huge pride in their elite lounges. Airside, we've already toured you through the premium playgrounds that are The Wing, The Cabin and The Pier, but there's also one sweet little secret lurking on the lower level of the arrival hall, outside security. It's simply called "The Arrival."

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The City via 'Vine': Six Seconds in Hong Kong

February 18, 2013 at 6:05 PM | by | Comments (0)

Video-sharing app Vine has existed on the social media scene now for several weeks and, though we've already made our feelings on the Twitter-owned newbie well known, we're still giving it a chance. After all, though the "Instagram of video" lacks so much now, there's real potential for the future if Vine gets cracking on some fresh coding.

Anywho, over two trips in the last two weeks we've attempted to find some usefulness in Vine, and—get this—we succeeded. Vine is best deployed for sharing the tiniest moments in travel, those which would be easily lost in the static menagerie of Instagram. Below are six examples, all shot while we tooled around Hong Kong during Chinese New Year last week.

Note: Control each Vine by clicking on it to pause. Also, click the sound square at the top right of each Vine to enable the audio.

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Scenes from Celebrating Chinese New Year in Hong Kong

February 11, 2013 at 5:39 PM | by | Comments (0)

恭禧發財 or Kung Hei Fat Choi! That's us wishing you a prosperous new year in Cantonese, seeing as how we've hightailed it out of the United States just in time to miss the big blizzard and instead fall into another kind of blizzard—of red hóngbāo envelopes, the kind filled with money given at the start of the Chinese New Year.

Celebrating Chinese New Year is not so simple as getting drunk and standing in one spot to watch some spectacle, a la Times Square; instead, Hong Kong throws a massive bash that lasts for several days of public holiday and focuses on food, family, fun and travel.

By tradition, there's a whole series of "auspicious" things to be accomplished in order to guarantee a lucky, successful year ahead. Some examples are wearing the colors red and gold, dressing up in traditional Chinese attire, tossing and eating a Yusheng Salad, and decorating with tangerines and plum blossom flowers.

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Cathay Pacific's First Flashmob Stays Out of the Airport

December 18, 2012 at 5:17 PM | by | Comments (0)

Yep, it's time for yet another travel flash mob as Cathay Pacific, for the first time, joins in the trend for holiday synchronized dancing. Forget for a moment that the flight crew are due to stop smiling and reserve service to argue for a pay increase this season, and just enjoy that they can still get together for a good cause. This performance of 115 crew at their Hong Kong HQ (named Cathay City) helped solicit donations for the charity Operation Santa Claus.

It's too bad that they didn't pull this off inside an airport terminal, but the touch of the Macarena is nice, as is the moment of simulated airplane seating when the attendant walks down the "aisle" with the holiday decoration bedecked cart, but we won't spoil anything else for you. Just watch it, below.

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Cathay Pacific Flight Attendants Threaten No-Smile Strike During Holidays

Where: Hong Kong
December 17, 2012 at 11:23 AM | by | Comments (0)

Here's some news of a looming airline strike just in time to throw a wrench in holiday travel plans. This time it's Cathay Pacific and, instead of reduced flying schedule or cancelled flights, the cabin crew will be cancelling meals and reducing smiles.

Last week, Cathay's flight attendant union asked for a 5% pay increase, but the airline only offered an additional 2% with a 13th month bonus. The union isn't cool with this and voted to withhold meals, drinks and smiles from passengers during the busy holiday season. If it comes down to not serving some food, the union will notify passengers to bring their own food aboard.

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The Adventures of Travel Cat: Hong Kong

Where: Hong Kong
October 3, 2012 at 1:37 PM | by | Comments (0)

Kitty cats. They rule the internet and, whether we realize it or not, pretty much the world too. Ever noticed how cats sometimes stake out the coolest spots in a city? This new feature—Travel Cat—focuses on exactly that. Submit a photo to be featured by tweeting or Instagramming it to us (details below).

Travel Cat spotted in: Hong Kong

This week's Travel Cat comes from reader John Schweitzer, who says of this cute little scene:

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So, What Does Economy Class Eat on a 16-Hour Flight Anyway?

Where: Hong Kong
September 27, 2012 at 5:24 PM | by | Comments (0)

We make no bones about the fact that the 16-hour Cathay Pacific CX 831 nonstop stretch from New York-JFK to Hong Kong International happens to be one of the our favorite flights. While the thought of a 16-hour flight may faze most people, we've done it enough now to embrace the in-flight time and—gasp—even enjoy the foil-wrapped meals that appear every several hours.

We've shown you our steak from Cathay's Biz Class and even the boxed chocolates from Cathay's Premium Economy, but trust that we mostly fly in Economy on this route and, so, can just as ably share what the whole back of the plane is chewing on.

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In-Flight Meals Return to Comfort Food Classics, Even on Cathay Pacific

Where: Hong Kong
August 28, 2012 at 10:31 AM | by | Comments (0)

Just when we thought American Airlines' onboard comfort food was really hitting the spot, another airline antes up. Cathay Pacific has taken that idea to the next level by introducing Signature Chinese Dishes to their in-flight menu. Best part of the announcement is that every passenger will get the opportunity to sample the new dishes.

From August to October, Cathay will be refreshing the dishes on-board long-haul routes from the front of the plane all the way to last row. The new menus will feature Hong Kong specialties and traditional tastes while adding a level of service for premium cabins. Each dish is designed to capture local cuisine in cooking style, ingredients, taste and appearance.

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