Joanna James
Hong Kong is truly a melting pot of various cultures and ethnicities making it a small world on its own. With iconic skylines that are quite breathtaking and other tourist hotspots, this metropolitan region draws many travellers each year. Here are some tips for first-time visitors to Hong Kong.
If you get an Octopus card, it would come in handy as they can be used to pay almost all types of public transport including the MTR, buses, and trams. It doesn't stop at that – you can use the Octopus card to pay at various shops, fast food restaurants, and even vending machines. Just make sure that you keep your card topped-up at all times to pay your way around Hong Kong. It is even possible to pay taxis using this card in recent years.
Tipping isn't considered essential in Hong Kong as many hotels in Wan Chai Hong Kong the likes of Cosmo Hotel Wan Chai Hong Kong impose a service charge on top of their usual bill, which is made transparent to the customers from the beginning. However, if you really need to reward the staff for exceptionally good service, you can proceed. But most of the time, you may find waiters chasing you down the street to return the balance. Taxi drivers in Hong Kong, too, don't expect to be tipped. Nevertheless, if the fare comes up at an odd number, round it up to the nearest dollar and pay.
Taxi drivers in Hong Kong maybe a little bit prone to mood swings. At times, they wouldn't want to take you to the place where you need to go, particularly if your destination is on the opposite of the harbour. A great tip to avoid these kinds of rejections is to get into the cab and shut the door before informing the driver about your destination, making it harder for them to reject your request.
If you're a history buff, then it would be pleasing to know that many of the best museums in Hong Kong offer free entry on Wednesdays. It's a great way to save some bucks, especially if you're on a tight budget. Several fascinating museums such as Hong Kong Museum of History, Hong Kong Space Museum, Hong Kong Racing Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Art, and Hong Kong Heritage Museum offer their visitors free entrance on Wednesdays.
The official languages in Hong Kong are Cantonese and English. While many residents speak English, it'd be worth learning a few Cantonese phrases to impress the locals by greeting them and making small talk in their mother tongue. However, it would be difficult to pick the correct tone to convey your message as there are nine tones in Cantonese. However, basic phrases such as 'nay ho' meaning hello, and 'jo san' meaning good morning can help you get started in the language.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
