Hong Kong has something for everyone. Sun worshippers can revel on the beaches of the hundreds of islands that dot the South China Sea. Gamblers can hydroplane over to Macau and play mahjong or blackjack. History buffs can steep themselves in the study British colonization and Chinese Imperialism. Foodies can relish Peking Duck, roasted goose, sea slugs in oyster sauce and an endless variety of dim sum. Shall I go on?
What you care about is how to get there and how much it'll cost you. Or, better yet, how little. Let's start with the basics. Normally around $1,000, airfares to Hong Kong have dropped in recent years to below $700. United Airlines (www.unitedairlines.com), for example, offers roundtrip fares from New York from $670 if you book two weeks in advance. From Los Angeles, it's around $675 on Korean Air (www.koreanair.com).
That's good news for you do-it-yourself travelers. For help sorting through the mass of hotels, check our listing of accommodations reviews beginning at www.frommers.com/destinations/hongkong/78_indacc.html (look to the right to find links for information on hostels, guesthouses and family-friendly businesses as well.) You can also head over to Hotelclub.com, which offers plenty of deals on HK hotels and contains up-to-date prices in U.S. dollars. For a current listing, go to www.hotelclub.net/searchresults.asp?id=142&curr=USD.
For you package lovers, the folks at Pacific Delight Tours (www.pacificdelighttours.com/2004-2005_china/HongKong_Cultural_Discovery_7days_5nights_SS07HKXN2.htm) are offering seven-day/five-night combos (you'll be flying two of the nights) including roundtrip air from Los Angeles starting at $889 per person based on double occupancy staying at the either the Newton or the Majestic hotels. Add-on fares to get you to LA run from $0 (that's right, nada) for west coast San Francisco, Seattle or Portland, and a multitude of other gateways served by Northwest Airlines run an additional $120 to $190. This base price is for a scattering of travel dates in November and December 2004 and from January through March 2005. See the site and read the fine print for all the details including cancellation fees, insurance, deposits, and ancillary tours to China. You need to book this tour by December 31, 2004 for the remaining 2005 dates.
With the Chinese New Year just around the corner (in travel booking time it is -- next February), several tour operators are offering great deals that get you there for the festivities. Amongst the slew compiled on www.discoverhongkong.com, we like E-Best of Asia's (www.e-bestofasia.com) air-inclusive tour departing out of L.A. and San Francisco starting at $784. The five-night package needs to be booked by October 31, 2004, and there's only one departure date, February 6, 2005. But any New Year's celebration means good times. Just bring some clear plugs and stay clear of stray bottle rockets. Every night should be a feast though, as all Chinese restaurants offer New Year's banquets with enough food to feed the Chinese Army.