Hong Kong has a subtropical climate and is pleasant to visit year-round. Spring can be a bit rainy and cool and summers can sometimes be humid.
Costs
An October 2006 Hotel Benchmark Survey by Deloitte found the average room rate was $163 per night.
Health requirements
None for visitors from most Western countries.
Safety
Hong Kong is generally very safe.
Language
Cantonese and English are the official languages. Most shopkeepers, hoteliers, restaurant, and service staff speak some English. Cantonese is the most widely spoken dialect, though the use of Mandarin is growing. All major signage is in English or is bilingual.
Electricity
The voltage is 220 volts/50 cycles. Most hotels provide adapters for travel appliances.
Money
The local currency is the Hong Kong dollar. The Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar at a rate of HK $7.8 to $1, although the rate varies slightly. Currency and traveler checks are easily changed in banks, hotels or exchange kiosks.
Tipping
Most restaurants add a 10 percent service charge, marked on the bill. An additional 5 percent can be given as a tip. When a service charge is not included, tipping 10 percent is acceptable. Small tips may be given to service workers. For taxi drivers, round up to the nearest dollar.
Visas
Not necessary for visitors from most countries. Visitors must hold a valid passport effective for at least one month after their planned departure from Hong Kong. Visas for mainland China are easy to obtain in Hong Kong. They require one photo and usually take three days to process.
