3. Plan Your Own Itinerary (continued)

It’s quite easy to get around in Hong Kong because the public transportation’s very convenient. It’s a very tourist-friendly place. At the airport, keep an eye out for the stands where you can get free detailed maps of Hong Kong and other useful information for visitors. Get some extra maps for future reference.

And if you’re sentimental like me, remember to keep your all your tickets and brochures (to the Peak tram, HK Disneyland, or other attractions and receipts) for your travel scrapbook when you get back home.

For our vacation, we ended going to the following places:

Part of package tour

• Golden Bauhinia Square
• Repulse Bay
• Aberdeen Fishing Village (Sampan ride)
• Hong Kong Disneyland

On our own

• Kowloon park
• Clock Tower, Hong Kong Cultural Center, Hong Kong Space Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Avenue of Stars
• Cruise on Star Ferry to see the famous Symphony of Lights
• Hong Kong Science Museum
• The Peak Tram, Peak Tower Sky Terrace

I will tell you more about some of these places in future posts.

4. Pack Light And Pack Right.

Make a list of things to pack at least a week before your trip, so you have enough time to prepare everything. Check the weather forecasts on the Internet for your target destination, so you can pack the right type of clothes.

Make sure you don’t forget any important things like your digital camera and chargers for cellular phones and other gadgets. Check with your service provider to make sure your roaming service is activated. If you’ve got pets that need to be fed and exercised, or plants that need to be watered, ensure that you make arrangements for their care while you are away. Check if there are any bills that will be due while you are away, and settle them in advance if you have to. Plan how you will get to the airport from home and vice versa. You might need to ask a friend to drop you off and pick you up if you won’t be bringing a car and don’t wish to take a cab.

Bring a little more money than you think you may need, and don’t keep your cash in one place. If you need to buy US or Hong Kong dollars, remember to do it before you leave. If not, do it at the airport as they might offer a better rate than the hotel. Bring at least one internationally recognized credit card, in case of emergencies. They usually ask for it in the hotel upon check in, for security deposit in case you break anything in the room.

5. Relax and Enjoy Your Vacation.

Don’t get caught up in the details. The reason for all the planning is so that you have more time to do what you want to do during the vacation, instead of worrying about the myriad of little travel details. So sit back, relax, and remember to take lots of pictures and video.