My Family's Hong Kong Adventure: 5 Days & 4 Nights!
Getting Around Hong Kong (Easy Peasy!)
We flew with VNA, and the flight times were perfect for our little one. Just a quick hop of 1 hour 30 minutes, so no cranky kids!
Transportation Tips
- Airport Transfers: Buses were our go-to from the airport to our hotel and back. Google Maps will be your best friend – just search for your hotel, and it'll show you the bus number. Costs around HK$40 each way.
- Ding Ding Tram: You HAVE to ride the Ding Ding (tram) on Hong Kong Island! So cheap at only HK$3 per ride. It's slow, though, so take the bus or MTR if you're going far.
- MTR (Subway): Super fast way to get from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon. Buses can be a bit confusing! Prices depend on your destination, but it's generally quite affordable.
- Taxis: Can be pricey, around HK$15 per kilometre. If your child's tired or you're just going a short distance (under 5km), then a taxi is a good option.
Hotel: Location, Location, Location!
Everyone told me to stay in Tsim Sha Tsui (TST). But, after planning our itinerary around the kiddo, I chose a hotel near Time Square in Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island. Best decision ever! So many brands, shopping spots, yummy restaurants, and cute streets. Plus, some brands were out of smaller sizes in TST, but they still had them here! (Maybe TST is just too crowded? 😉)
Our Hotel Experience
We booked at Best Western Causeway Bay through Trip.com – around RM750 per night without breakfast. Our room had a high-floor view of the harbour! It was small (it's Hong Kong, what do you expect?), but clean, and the staff were friendly and provided daily housekeeping.
Money Matters
Bring some cash for smaller places that only accept cash. Otherwise, use your credit card and the Octopus card.
Octopus Card Hacks
Download the "Octopus for Tourists" app, add your bank card, and top up anytime! You can even get a refund on the remaining balance when you leave. We only exchanged about USD$100 for the whole trip.
Stay Connected with a Local SIM
We got an eSIM from Hico on Shopee – 5GB for 5 days was more than enough. Cost us about RM35.
Food, Glorious Food! (But Expensive!)
Hong Kong food is so delicious, but pricey! 😅
Must-Try Dishes
- Roast Goose: We tried three places, and the two on Hong Kong Island were the best – Yat Lok and Kam's Roast Goose. The one in TST was just okay. At Yat Lok, order a quarter, half, or whole goose – don't just get the rice set. Their roast goose is so flavourful and juicy, especially with the plum sauce! Kam's is near our hotel, and their crispy roast pork is amazing. Personally, I prefer the BBQ pork (char siu) – that flavour is unique to Hong Kong!
- Dim Sum: We only went to Lin Heung Tea House (open until 4pm). The service is an experience! They push carts around, and you choose what you want; they mark it on a paper on your table. Try the shrimp dumplings, xiaolongbao, steamed custard buns, braised beef ribs (so good!), coconut jelly… just a little something before heading to the next place to eat! 😜
- Milk Tea: I tried a few places like Lan Fong Yuen (bland), Tenren, and Heytea, but they were all just okay. The winner is "My Cup of Tea" – they've won awards! Their hot milk tea is so creamy and rich, and they have amazing English breakfasts too! A must-try.
- Noodles: I wasn't impressed with the wonton noodles I had in Hong Kong, but I loved the Lanzhou Beef Noodles (Wu Zhi Jian)! They make the noodles fresh in the kitchen. I ate it every day – made me miss our local phở less! They have many locations, even one near our hotel.
- Seafood: SingKee Dai Pai Dong in Stanley is a classic Hong Kong-style outdoor restaurant. The seafood is decent, but it's more for the experience – don't compare it to the amazing seafood we have back in Malaysia! 😆
Other Delicious Finds
Yee Shun Milk Company (steamed milk), Kau Kee (beef brisket noodles), and local restaurants packed with people were all surprisingly good and cheaper than the touristy spots. You really can't go wrong with just picking a random restaurant in Hong Kong! 🥰
Sweet Treats
Bakehouse near our hotel has amazing egg tarts. I even brought some sourdough bread back to Malaysia because every pastry was so good. Jenny Bakery cookies are just like Danisa, so get some cute magnets at Elegant Tang Dynasty as souvenirs instead! 😅
Sightseeing with a Toddler
We only went to TST and Mong Kok twice – for food, souvenirs, Avenue of Stars, and the shopping malls. The rest of the time, we explored Central, Wan Chai, and Causeway Bay (near our hotel).
Worth Checking Out
- Kennedy Town: It's pretty, but maybe not ideal with a toddler. If you go, take the MTR for a faster trip.
- Ying Fat Building: Ask locals for directions! Hong Kong people are so friendly, so don't be afraid to ask. We went early to get % Arabica coffee – love it!
- Peak Tram and Victoria Peak: We booked tickets on Trip.com for the best price – around RM250 per person (round-trip Peak Tram and Sky Terrace 428 entrance). Buying tickets in advance saves you from long queues. Lots of good places to eat up there, including the famous Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. from the movie Forest Gump.
- Ocean Park: One day, we took our child to Ocean Park to see dolphin and panda shows, a market, and lots of interesting animals. Tickets were about RM1500 for two adults. The fried chicken restaurant in the park was surprisingly good and reasonably priced.
Overall Cost
Okay, so the whole trip cost about RM6000 per adult. Our child is only 2 years old, so we didn't have to pay for tickets or transportation, and they mostly shared our food!
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