Hong Kong Travel Fails: Essential Lessons from My Chaotic First Visit
I had meticulously planned a three-day teaser trip to Hong Kong, knowing I'd return in spring for warmer weather and deeper exploration. My itinerary featured the iconic Peak views, the Star Ferry crossing Victoria Harbour from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island, a hike to the Big Buddha, hipster neighborhood wanders, rooftop bar drinks, the nightly Symphony of Lights show, and dim sum at Tim Ho Wan, the world's second-cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant.
Instead, my Hong Kong adventure unraveled spectacularly. It started poorly: hours before my flight from Istanbul, I scrambled for a hotel. Options were scarce, overpriced, and poorly reviewed—mostly 2/5 stars. I settled on a Kowloon spot near the Avenue of Stars and waterfront views, upgrading from a 3m² to a 5m² room for the first two nights as a precaution.
Airplane worries faded upon landing on a sunny afternoon with stunning city vistas. Excitement surged as I easily found my hotel—room larger than expected—and dove into the electric streets. Fail #1: food. As a vegetarian, I struggled with Chinese menus. I grabbed only coffee before retreating for work. Lesson learned: Use apps like Foursquare beforehand.
Back at the hotel, I made a rookie jet lag error. Instead of sleeping at midnight, I stayed up, waking at 6:30am. Fail #2: Self-sabotaged sleep rhythm for days.
Success came in connecting with locals via insider tips. That night, I joined a lively lesbian party, meeting global expats who shared Hong Kong's subtle LGBTQ+ scene—local women, dubbed 'sticky rice' for sticking together, rarely mingle with expats.
Next morning, armed with recommendations, I faced hotel hopping. In our massive apartment block with multi-floor guesthouses, everywhere was booked for Saturday weekend rush. Fail #3: A horrifying 4-bed dorm offer. After an hour of checks, I booked online—a twin room to avoid coffin-like singles.
Signs for hourly hotels and massage parlors foreshadowed doom. Check-in took an hour in the labyrinthine building. The room? Unchanged sheets, broken bathroom door, hair-clogged shower-toilet combo. Half a day wasted.
I rallied, hitting a pre-mapped vegetarian spot and trendy cafe—Hong Kong's coffee scene shines.
Green tea soothed me; jet lag fix seemed imminent for a perfect trip.
Jet lag won. I missed most sights, photos mostly nocturnal. Yet, as a seasoned traveler jaded by years on the road, Hong Kong's awe endured. I savored the vibe over rushed tourism, excitement for Asia reignited.
Grey skies spared view-dependent spots like the Peak and Buddha—silver lining for my April return.
Key Lessons from My Hong Kong Misadventure:
- Plan ahead: Map sights early; note that Lonely Planet Southeast Asia skips Hong Kong.
- Book accommodation pre-arrival, especially weekends.
- Connect with locals via WithLocals, Meetup.com, Couchsurfing, or pub crawls for authentic insights.
- Combat jet lag effectively—tips here.
- Balance must-sees with meandering to absorb the city's energy.
Curious about my redemption trip? Read: Hong Kong, the Second Time Around.
