Hong Kong Travel Tip: When To Go

While subtropical Hong Kong has four distinguishable seasons, generally good weather makes it an ideal destination all year round. The peak travel season is autumn, from September to around Christmas time.

Spring, from March to mid-May, tends to be warm and humid, accompanied by fog and drizzle. Sometimes air and ferry services are halted due to reduced visibility. The average Hong Kong temperature is 23C (73.4F) - light-overcoat-and-sweater weather. In summer, from May to the mid-September, frequent thunderstorms are the norm. Average temperature is 28C (82.4F). Bring an umbrella and dress lightly in cotton.

Dry and cool winter has an average temperature of 17C (62.6F). You need a wool sweater and heavy coat. Typhoon season in Hong Kong is possible in September. Don't venture out too far when the typhoon signal is lower than 3; stay indoors when it gets higher. All shops and banks are closed when typhoon signal 8 is raised.

Hong Kong celebrates traditional festivals such as Lunar New Year (The day falls between 22 January and 19 February, varying every year), Dragon Boat Festival (5th day of 5th moon of Chinese traditional calendar) and Mid-autumn Day (usually in September or October; many interesting activities are held that day in Hong Kong) plus Easter and Christmas. In addition, major expositions, car and horse races and golf tournaments take up the slack.

Hong Kong hotels are booked solid for April and October due to expositions and conventions. Christmas sales attract many visitors; hotel prices skyrocket, especially on weekends. Make reservations at least one week in advance to avoid disappointment. Budget travelers should stay away.

Hong Kong Travel Attractions

Hong Kong is full of fabulous events and attractions. The following are a few of the must-sees rated tops by tourists.

Hong Kong Island Tour

Hong Kong Island, the heart of Hong Kong, is the center of economy, politics, entertainment and shopping. From the Central District to Causeway Bay in Northern Hong Kong Island is the main commercial, shopping and entertainment area; the residential area is from Tin Hau to Chai Wan on the eastern part of the island; and Southern Hong Kong Island is the recreational area, where visitors can enjoy the natural beauty of the sea shore and bays, including the famous Repulse Bay and Ocean Park.

Two days is usually enough for tourists who want to see the main attractions on the island. Victoria Peak is the best place from which to admire the lights of this Oriental Pearl. Peak Tower with its famous wok-like architecture stands at the exit of Peak Tram. The amazing Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium, the exciting Peak Explorer Motion Simulator, and relaxing terraces and restaurants are among the favorite stops at this entertainment center. Another favorite attraction is the Madame Tussaud Wax Museum with figures of celebrities including local movie star Jackie Chan.

Ocean Park is among the top theme parks and aquariums in Southeast Asia, as well as the best marine education center, which makes it a must for families with children.

Aberdeen provides a glimpse of the essence of Hong Kong with hundreds of lighted trawlers on which fishermen and their families live. The Jumbo Floating Restaurant offers superb fresh seafood.

Stanley Market will satisfy epicureans with its many stands, shops, original restaurants, outdoor cafes, and even a performance stage.

The HK Convention and Exhibition Center and Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, which were established in 1997 to commemorate the Return of Hong Kong to Her Motherland, are also definitely worth a visit. From this vantage point, Victoria Bay at night presents a glittering spectacle that will delight the eye of even the most seasoned traveler.

Kowloon Peninsula Tour

Kowloon Peninsula, which links Hong Kong to the mainland, offers yet another view of this exciting part of China. Allow at least one full day to experience its sparkling delights, which include Tsim Sha Tsui , Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok.

Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple , patterned after an ancient Chinese palace and rich in Chinese culture, is the most famous temple in Hong Kong. Fortunetellers are active there.

The Star Ferry can be both inexpensive and romantic. For shutterbugs, a ride on the ferry provides the optimum angle from which to snap fantastic views of Victoria Harbor.

Open-air markets lure every tourist, and no one leaves empty-handed. There is something for every taste, from the fashionable bargains at Ladies' Market in Mong Kok to the electronic gadgets and souvenirs in Yau Ma Tei's Temple Street Night Market.

Kowloon Park and the Hong Kong Space Museum are also popular with tourists.

The New Territories and Outlying Islands Tour

The New Territories and Lantau Island , Cheung Chau Island , and Lamma Island were once fairly rural, undeveloped parts of Hong Kong., and there are still many areas where visitors can see villages that have remained unchanged for centuries. Today, however, Shatin and Tuen Mun in the New Territories and Tung Chung on Lantau Island are modern cities. Lantau Island has received attention in recent years as the home of the international airport, Tung Chung New Town and the new Hong Kong Disneyland , as well as the traditional Po Lin Monastery and Big Buddha. Hong Kong Tsing Ma Bridge connects Ma Wan and Tsing Yi. The world's longest suspension bridge carrying both motor and rail traffic, it is a world-class architectural achievement created to connect the new airport with the rest of Hong Kong.

Many of Hong Kong's most memorable attractions are free, but it takes some planning to create an itinerary that includes so much diversity.

Singapore Visa and Entry Information

Visa Requirements

Foreigners holding travel documents issued by the following countries will require a visa to enter Singapore:

Afghanistan
Algeria
Bangladesh (Except Diplomatic/Official passport holders)
Commonwealth of Independent States* (Except Diplomatic/Official/Service passport holders for a stay of up to 30 days )
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Georgia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Moldova
Russia
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Egypt
India (Except Diplomatic/Official passport holders)
Iran
Iraq
Jordan (Except Diplomatic/Official passport holders)
Lebanon
Libya
Morocco
Myanmar (Except Diplomatic/Official passport holders)
People's Republic of China (Except Diplomatic/Service/Public Affairs passport holders for a stay of up to 30 days)
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
Tunisia (Except Diplomatic/Official passport holders)
Yemen
In addition, visitors holding Hong Kong Document of Identity, Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Travel Permit, Palestinian Authority Passport, Refugee Travel Document issued by the Middle-East countries and Temporary Passport issued by United Arab Emirates will also require a visa to enter Singapore.

* Nationals of the Commonwealth Independent States may be granted entry into Singapore without visas if they are on transit to a third country. However, they are required to fulfil the following conditions:-

They are in transit to a third country;
They hold a valid passport, a confirmed onward air-ticket, entry facilities (including visa) to the third country and have sufficient funds for the period of stay in Singapore;
They continue their journey to the third country within the 96-hour visa free period granted; and
They satisfy Singapore's entry requirements. As in all arrivals, the grant of the social visit passes to travellers will be determined by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority officers at the Singapore Checkpoints.

Singapore is Asia's top convention city again;

The Amsterdam-based International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) has ranked Singapore as the world's second Top Convention City for the second consecutive year. Singapore has also maintained itsposition as Asia's Top Convention City for the seventh time since 1995 when ICCA launched its annual global rankings.

The accolades are in recognition of the sterling growth in the number of international conferences staged in Singapore last year. Singapore hosted a total of 125 international conferences, representing anincrease of 20 percent over 2004.

Singapore's position as the world's second Top Convention City in 2005 is a distinction which places it alongside the top performing city, Vienna, which hosted 129 conventions, and Barcelona which clinched third spot with 116 conventions.

Said Aloysius Arlando, Assistant chief executive (Business Travel and MICE Group) STB, "We are honored to be ranked the number two Convention City in the World by ICCA, and to retain our top position in the Asian region. This is a strong testimony of Singapore's competitiveness as a MICE city in the global arena, and reinforces Singapore's position as a pre-eminent BTMICE destination. This accolade would nothave been possible without the close partnership between the Government and the industry to rally together to turn the Singapore Inc. approach into a key success factor."

"We are fully aware that competition is fiercely heating up and the STB is committed to working together with our industry partners to build up a robust pipeline of business events and maintain our leadership position," he added.

ICCA is one of the most prominent organizations in the world of international meetings. The ICCA rankings take into consideration business events that are organized on a regular basis, attract international visitors and which rotate among at least three different countries. Winning this award means that Singapore had managed to secure a critical mass of conventions with global profile.

The Business Travel and Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions (BTMICE) Group of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) hasbeen aggressively attracting and bidding for business events of suchcalibre, amidst competition with established and emerging players inthe region.

To ramp up its efforts to entrench awareness of Singapore as a premier MICE destination, STB will launch an aggressive marketing campaign in the second half of 2006. This will include direct marketing andpublicity campaigns, roadshows and MICE seminars organized together with industry partners and regional offices in key markets.

The campaign launch will coincide with the announcement of a new suite of BTMICE incentive schemes. The new incentive scheme promises to support the evolving events development needs of the MICE business while enhancing the existing benefits under "Make It Singapore Plus."


--- lifted from HOTELS Magazine