Rediscover Hong Kong
If you’re like me and you’ve always had fond memories of your stays in Hong Kong, then you’ll be over the moon to know that Hong Kong is now well and truly open for business again. Whether as the perfect stopover city for some serious shopping and dining, or as a holiday destination in itself, if Hong Kong has always been on your bucket list, then there’s never been a better time to visit!
Like Australia, Hong Kong was shut off to the world during most of the pandemic. Just like us Aussies, Hong Kongers had restrictions on travelling, and entry to Hong Kong for visitors was just as difficult. Now, like most countries, Hong Kong is open again to the world and there’s a real buzz of excitement in the air.
At the Match Box Cafe, Causeway BaySo what is Hong Kong like now? I was eager to know too, and after a long absence of 3 years, my partner, a native Hong Konger who now lives in Australia, and I recently spent 2 weeks in the city to find out.
The first thing we noticed is that it’s not as crazy busy as it usually is. Don’t get me wrong, there are still crowds at the markets and plenty of tourists taking the obligatory selfie with Victoria Harbour in the background, but in general, it was just a lot more relaxing and easy. Restaurants had little or no queues to enter and the famous double-decker busses and the underground subway trains were less crowded (you could even get a seat!). Shopping malls were less busy and the squeeze at markets like the famous Ladies Market in Mongkok was a little less ‘squeezy’. All in all, Hong Kong felt like a more relaxed version of itself, the way it used to be many years ago.
It's now a simple process to enter Hong Kong again. There are no longer any testing requirements or quarantine required, and just like before, Aussies can stay for up to 90 days without a visa. When I arrived in Hong Kong, the lines at immigration were short and the entry process was simple. Masks are also not required anywhere in Hong Kong, unless you’re visiting a hospital and the like. There are hand sanitiser pumps at the entrance to most shops and restaurants, helping to keep things well-sanitised. The only time I used a face mask was on a crowded bus or train, but other than that I was comfortable wandering around mask-free.
So why go to Hong Kong now?
If you’re looking for a place to stop over on your way to Europe, North America or other Asian countries like Japan, Hong Kong offers the perfect mix of excitement and relaxation. Stay in the heart of the action and enjoy noodles and wonton soup at your door, or venture to a resort-style hotel for some ‘R and R’ before continuing on your journey. Hotels currently have some incredible deals. I managed to get a 1-bedroom suite in a 5-star hotel in the heart of Mongkok for around A$300 per night. Airfares to and via Hong Kong are terrific value for money right now too, with some great deals, especially in Premium Economy and Business class.
Hong Kong is so much more than just a place to stopover.
With two weeks in Hong Kong, we felt like we could have stayed another week! Some of the highlights of my recent trip were taking the ferry to Cheung Chau, one of Hong Kong’s small outlying islands. It's only 45 mins from downtown, where we walked along the seafront promenade, stopped for lunch at one of the many seafood restaurants and explored the quaint alleys and shops before heading back to the city for dinner.
Wonton Noodle at a local noodle shop in the Sham Shui Po District
A new favourite experience was boarding a specially chartered luxe Star Ferry for a high tea afternoon cruise hosted by the iconic Peninsula Hotel. As we sailed around Victoria Harbour with sights from every window, we enjoyed a five star selection of sweet and savoury treats prepared by chefs at The Peninsula Hotel, with white-gloved silver service to boot.
 About to embark our High Tea Cruise on the The Peninsular Star Ferry with Hong Kong Island in the background |  Some of the delicious sweet and savoury treats onboard our High Tea Cruise on the Peninsular Star Ferry |
No trip to Hong Kong would be complete without a little retail therapy.
We always head to the outlet shopping mall at Tung Chung (both high-end and classic brands there) which has just been expanded. However, we discovered a little-known outlet centre at Ap Lei Chau which was refreshingly crowd free. The fabulous new K11 Musea Mall on the harbourfront is worth a look, if only for the delectable treats from the stylish basement food court. Next door is the new Regent Hotel which hosts a gourmet lunch buffet with spectacular views. I could go on about Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park, and many of the other famous attractions in the city, and then you’ll know why it was hard to fit everything into 2 weeks!
The Regent Hong Kong Hotel lunch buffet, with amazing views of Hong Kong Island and Victoria Harbour
Hong Kong is truly a unique one-of-a-kind world-class city. It’s the perfect place to stop over for a few days or a great destination for a family holiday or a getaway with friends and loved ones. Now has never been a better time to visit, so hop on a plane and get there soon!
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 The famous Hong Kong egg tart |  The Giant Wheel - Central District |  Fresh Pineapple Smoothies |
