Hong Kong Travel Updates as of December 2019.
Because of media coverage, travel to Hong Kong has greatly lessened because of safety fears. In reality, Hong Kong is still very safe and enjoyable so long as you actively find out if and where there may be protests. Here are Hong Kong travel updates and where is the best area to stay right now:
Hong Kong Hotels
Hotels are the best place to stay in Hong Kong right now because the staff can provide you immediate information about each day’s activities in regards to possible protests. Plus, if anything does happen outside your hotel, you can enjoy the facilities like the gym or spa as well as hotel restaurants and room service.
Best & Worst Areas to Stay in Hong Kong
At the moment, there are better areas to stay in Hong Kong to avoid being in the middle of more violent protests. The areas to avoid for now include the vicinities near the universities, New Territories, and Kowloon including Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui where there have been aggressive protests along Nathan Road.
Central remains the better area for tourists as it is the financial district with prestigious shops. While there has been an occasional protest, most have been peaceful demonstrations. In case, the hotel staff will advise if there is anything scheduled in your area.
The best hotels are those that are directly connected to malls, like the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, so that you can still enjoy shopping and eating out without the worry of going outside should there be a protest.
Tips for Hong Kong Travel
◦ Stay updated by asking the hotel concierge if your planned itinerary is safe for that day, including public transportation options.
◦ Plan backup activities in case you cannot go out, including walking around the connected malls, spa day at your hotel, gym and pool time at your hotel, lazy Netflix day in your hotel robe, etc.
◦ Attractions and landmarks remain open, including the Star Ferry, restaurants, and bars. Best of all, they are far less crowded than usual with fewer lines at Disneyland and Ocean Park.
◦ For airport transportation, check if the Airport Express and MTR are running that day. If not, you can take a bus or taxi if you have cash. The safest option is booking your hotel’s airport transportation so you have assistance during your entire journey into town.
◦ Hong Kong is safe and welcoming tourists with all businesses running as usual. In general, you can enjoy while remaining a cautious traveler.
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