Last updated on June 20th, 2026 at 05:15 am
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For most people, visiting Hong Kong is an international vacation. Flying overseas means there’s a lot you need to consider.
This blog post outlines a step-by-step process for planning every detail of your Hong Kong trip.
Let’s get started!
1) Check Your Passport
You need to check two things: first, ensure you have enough blank pages for passport stamps and visas. The other is the expiry date. People generally don’t recommend travelling outside their country within 6 months of their passport expiring. Some countries might not even approve visas if your passport is near its expiry date.
A new passport can take weeks to process, so make sure you have plenty of time to renew or apply before your current passport expires.
2) Check Visa Requirements
Depending on your passport, you may or may not need a visa to visit this Chinese city.
U.S. and Canadian citizens don’t need a visa and can stay in the city for up to several months, but citizens of other countries may require a visa.
If you land in Hong Kong without one, it would be a big whoopsie, not to mention a lot of trouble.
If you need a visa, you’ll likely have to send your passport in to get one. That’s why you need to make sure you have enough blank pages in the first step!
Ideally, you have your visa before booking your trip to Hong Kong. If not, apply ASAP if you’re on a time crunch. Visa approvals can take weeks, and not all visas are approved immediately.
I had a co-worker who bought his plane ticket before his visa was approved (even though it wasn’t for Hong Kong). He was so sure that it would come in time, but there were issues, and he had to reapply several times before finally getting his visa. It was a stressful process, so I don’t recommend this route, even though you can probably get away with it most of the time.
3) Set Your Budget
If this is your first time in Hong Kong, you should do more research about the city. Google will give you a good idea of the cost of your trip.
What is your total budget?
This matters enormously because it will affect every single aspect of your trip.
Are you travelling luxuriously? Budget-friendly? Or somewhere in the middle?
Are you going to visit nearby cities too?
This is what you need to consider for your travel budget:
- Flight
- Accommodation
- Transportation
- Food
- Shopping
- Travel Insurance
- Miscellaneous
I’ll discuss flight and accommodation in more detail later, so let’s skip these two for now.
Transportation
Hong Kong has excellent public transportation. It’s one of the few places you don’t need to drive. The public transportation is affordable, convenient, and efficient. All you need is a contactless transportation card to hop around the city.
Even taking a cab in Hong Kong is cheaper than in many other regions worldwide. So allocating your budget for transportation shouldn’t be too much unless you’re taking cabs every single time you’re going from one place to another.
Food
When dining out in Hong Kong, there are many options for all budgets. There are street food, food courts, and HK cafes for those who don’t want to spend as much on food. There are also luxury restaurants all over the city for tourists willing to splurge.
Restaurant tip: tipping culture is nice, but not necessary in Hong Kong. Unless the service was exceptional, you don’t need to tip them. Many restaurants have already added a 10% service charge to the bill.
Shopping
How much shopping will you do here?
What do you want to buy?
Do you need to set aside some money to buy souvenirs?
Pre-loved designer bags?
Whatever you want to buy, Hong Kong has it. The shopping culture will satisfy you. Most people buy at least a few things here; make sure you have enough money.
Travel Insurance
Remember to include travel insurance in your budget. The price will depend on factors such as age and current health. Before you buy travel insurance separately, please check with your credit card company, as some cards include it.
This is an important step that is often overlooked.
Do not be that person!
I hope everyone is happy and healthy, but things do happen. What happens then?
Extra Cushion
I’m cautious, so I always have a little extra cash in case something happens. I also recommend this to everyone because it is better to be safe than sorry. You never know if you need money for an emergency.
How Much to Budget Per Day For Your Stay in Hong Kong
Not including accommodation and flights, a budget of USD 100-150 per day is reasonable for food, transportation, tourist attractions, and a little shopping.
Check Your Bank Balance
Now that you have a rough cost estimate, it’s time to check your bank balance.
Do you have enough money to travel to Hong Kong right now?
Or do you need time to save up?
It’s better to save more than less because you’ll likely overspend unless you’re very good with money.
4) Select Travel Dates
How long are you going for?
Are you picky about when you visit the city? For example, some tourists visit Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year to see the decorations and witness local celebrations. Others might be selective about the weather. They might not want to come to the city in July because it’s the hottest month of the year.
Does the flight and accommodation budget align with the budget you set for yourself in the previous step?
If you’re going with other people, what are their availability dates?
Since we’re all adults here, your workflow during scheduled vacation time is another consideration. How busy will it be? Will your manager approve of your vacation time?
These are all factors you must consider when choosing travel dates.
5) Booking Flights
The price will vary greatly depending on where you fly from. Flying from Korea to Hong Kong will be cheaper than flying from Toronto to Hong Kong. I, too, want to visit an international city like New York City with a budget of only USD 200, but that’s not realistic.
Do you have enough credit card points to redeem for free flights? The flights and accommodation are the two most costly expenses, so if you can cut the flight expenses, you’re good!
If price is your priority, you’ll want to be flexible with dates, as ticket prices are much higher during periods like long weekends. Also, compare the prices of budget-friendly airlines and bigger airlines.
I use Google Flights to compare flights, but people swear by Kayak and Skyscanner.
Try a bunch of websites to compare prices and different airlines.
Also, if the prices are currently out of your budget, keep checking back and tracking them as they fluctuate. You may be able to score a better deal later!
Don’t only pick the cheapest flights. You need to consider baggage and cancellation policies, as well as layover time.
At the same time, don’t spend all your money on flights. You won’t have enough money left to do things in Hong Kong, and what’s the fun in that?
6) Booking Accommodation
Besides your plane ticket, where you will be staying is the second most important thing to figure out when planning a trip to Hong Kong.
Questions to think about:
- What type of accommodation are you looking at? Hostel? Airbnb? Hotel?
- What’s your budget?
- What do the reviews on Google and TripAdvisor say?
- Are there amenities like a gym or pool that are important to you?
- What about a complimentary breakfast?
I usually prefer to stay in a hotel, especially when travelling solo. However, people travelling in large groups might prefer an Airbnb. More price-conscious travellers will look into hostels.
The next step is to research to decide which Hong Kong neighbourhood area best reflects your vibe.
For the shopping districts, it’s going to be Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, or Causeway Bay. Fancier hotels will be in Central, Admiralty, or Sheung Wan, as they are the city’s financial districts.
If you prefer quieter areas, you can look into hotels in the New Territories, where it’s generally more peaceful and closer to nature.
Thankfully, Hong Kong has hundreds of hotels for all budgets, so set realistic expectations.
This city is known as one of the most expensive in the world. Although you’re in Hong Kong as a tourist, your hotel room will be smaller than in many other cities you have visited, unless you’re willing to pay for a bigger room.
7) Drafting an Itinerary
What kind of trip do you want?
What you do in Hong Kong will depend on your interests and travel companions.
Although Hong Kong is known for shopping and eating, it’s not all about that. Plenty of activities and attractions will keep you busy during your time here.
When travelling with children, you can visit amusement parks and fun museums, such as the Hong Kong Science Museum.
Their schedules will differ from those who want to spend more time outdoors in Hong Kong, such as at the beach.
You don’t need to plan your schedule to the minute, but have a rough outline of what you want to do each day in Hong Kong.
I always leave half a day to a full day free in case something comes up. For example, I only allocated three hours to Myeong-dong in Seoul. But I liked it so much that I returned during the free day I had planned to continue exploring (and shopping, of course).
Booking Restaurants, Attractions and Experiences
Do you want to join any particular tours? Please keep in mind that not all tours are available every day.
Major tourist attractions, such as Hong Kong Disneyland, Victoria Peak, and Ngong Ping 360, rarely require booking. A few days before is more than enough.
(If you’re visiting other cities, I would advise you to consider how to get to certain attractions. But since Hong Kong has an excellent public transportation system, it’s not something you have to worry about.)
However, booking a table at your preferred restaurant may require advanced planning.
You can get a table at many restaurants by walking in, but there are exceptions like Yat Tung Heen and Above and Beyond, where it takes weeks to get a table. Research restaurants you want to eat at and book a table online if necessary.
8) Planning Time Off Work
As adults with full-time jobs, we need to plan to take time off.
Depending on how long your vacation is, you might need to hand over your work to a colleague when you’re not in the office.
This might take time to train them.
Companies also require a notice period, so your boss can approve your holidays. Most people prefer to take advantage of long weekends and travel internationally during those times. This makes sense because it means getting more time off without using up vacation days.
However, this does mean you need to submit your vacation request earlier. Your colleagues, who have their own plans, will likely share your idea.
Your manager will see who asks for vacation first and is more likely to approve it, since not everyone on the team can take time off at the same time. It will be a race test, so don’t wait too long to take this step, especially during busy times like summer and Christmas. Your vacation time will be denied if you don’t ask early enough.
Also, each job has its busier times. When you want to take a vacation at peak time, you’ll likely need more time to give vacation notice. It also gives you more time to pass off your work to colleagues who will help you out while you’re away.
9) Packing
As you prepare to board your flight, you should consider what to pack.
What are your must-haves on a trip?
Is there anything you need to buy before leaving?
When it comes to packing for your trip to Hong Kong, I have three tips:
1) Buy the travel-size version of your toiletries or travel-size bottles to squeeze your products in. If you bring your full-sized skincare bottles, they can take up a lot of space. Bring fewer things to Hong Kong, giving you more luggage space for shopping.
2) Pack a light sweater and always keep it with you. Although Hong Kong gets extremely hot in the summer, many indoor places, including restaurants, malls, and subways, blast the AC (even in the winter), so you’ll reach for your sweater.
3) Hong Kongers are known for carrying umbrellas. While an umbrella’s obvious use is to shield against the rain, locals also use them when it gets too sunny. This might seem weird to Europeans and North Americans, but it totally makes sense in Asia.
Buy a SIM Card
Does your current phone plan in your home country allow you to use data overseas? How expensive is the international plan?
Consider buying a temporary SIM card for Hong Kong.
It can be frustrating to go to a new city and figure out where things are without data or Wi-Fi. Although Wi-Fi is available in many places in Hong Kong, the signal can be spotty.
What about walking on the streets? Are you planning to keep asking people on the roads where to go?
Connecting to Wi-Fi consistently outdoors can be challenging when you’re on the go.
Or are you planning to use a physical map? Do people even do that anymore? I bet there are people out there who still do this.
Having mobile data means you have access to Google Maps. Following Google Maps directions can save you a lot of time.
So, buy a SIM card with a data plan for your time here.
10) Exchange Cash
After planning your budget and determining your approximate spending for the trip, you can visit your nearest bank or currency exchange to exchange Hong Kong Dollars.
Depending on where you’re from, cash might not be the most common form of payment anymore, but Hong Kong is still a cash-heavy society. It’s best to always have some cash on you. Although most stores accept other forms of payment, some, including cabs (which you might take from the airport to your hotel), accept only cash.
Wherever I’m going, I’m the type to always have some local currency on me.
Hong Kong has numerous currency exchange shops. Some are close to the official rate, too, so you know you’re getting a good deal.
If you plan to use your credit card in Hong Kong, please inform your bank and credit card company before visiting. You don’t want them to deny your transactions!
11) Learning Cantonese
Although this step is optional, you’ll be miles ahead of others if you do it. Many people don’t even bother learning the local language when they visit a place.
Learning simple phrases in Cantonese will help you connect with the people. A mundane interaction can turn positive once the locals hear you speak Cantonese. Hong Kongers will also sincerely appreciate your time and effort in learning their language.
12) Prepare For the Unexpected
Just like life, there will be unplanned surprises that will pop up here or there. Expect the unexpected, because not every part of your trip will go smoothly, and that’s okay. It’s the things that go wrong that make a trip memorable.
Final Thoughts – Planning a Trip to Hong Kong
There is much to consider when planning a trip to Hong Kong. All these steps might sound daunting—they were for me at first—but they can also be a lot of fun. Planning a trip to Hong Kong should excite you about what’s to come. Hong Kong has tons to offer — ENJOY and have fun!
Now to You – Planning a Trip to Hong Kong
There is a lot of work involved in planning a trip. That’s why I created this fillable digital planner to make your life easier! It’s detailed and can be reused for every trip!
Xoxo,
Nicole