This family went to Hong Kong during the summer break to explore its iconic attractions like Hong Kong Disneyland, Victoria Peak, and Lantau Island. Here is their experience where they offer practical tips for family-friendly activities.
Like any typical Indian family, our search for an ideal summer break destination began in May when the children started to ask about our vacation plans. Not wanting to spend too much, we initially explored options like Dubai, Yas Island, Bangkok, and Koh Samui but finally settled on Hong Kong, primarily for Disneyland. We hadn’t taken the kids to Disneyland before, and this seemed like the most feasible plan. We quickly booked our tickets and were relieved to have made a decision.
Next came the hunt for the right hotel. We initially looked at hotels around Admiralty and Central, as these are the most popular spots in Hong Kong, but we eventually chose the Hyatt Centric Harbour View in North Point. It seemed well-connected with trains, buses, and trams and was within our budget.
We watched several travelogues on Hong Kong and learned that the best way to get currency was to buy US dollars and then convert them to Hong Kong dollars upon arrival. So, we secured some US dollars and decided to exchange them at the Hong Kong airport.
We landed at Hong Kong International Airport at around 5:30 am local time, which is about 2.5 hours ahead of IST. Exhausted and sleepy, we quickly exchanged our US dollars for Hong Kong dollars and began exploring the best way to reach our hotel. With four suitcases in tow, we were considering a taxi when a driver approached us, offering a ride for 500 HKD. That seemed steep, so we checked for train options. Soon, another Indian taxi driver offered us a ride for 450 HKD, which we accepted. He dropped us off at the hotel in his fancy luxury Tesla.
Once at the hotel, we faced the challenge of getting an early check-in. We requested early access, explaining that we were traveling with kids. The staff completed the formalities and asked us to wait for at least two hours as housekeeping started at 9 am. We decided to grab some coffee and croissants at a nearby Starbucks. The morning streets were full of elderly men and women practicing Tai Chi in every corner. We got our tables near two women practicing Tai Chi with swords and hand fans, with a nearby garbage picker mimicking their moves. I took a few pictures of the high-rise buildings next to the harbor and posted them on Instagram, only to be told they resembled buildings in Gurgaon, most likely because I failed to capture the mix of old and new structures standing next to each other in Hongkong.
We finally checked into our room, which had a stunning harbor view from two sides. The room was small but the view made up for it. We kept an eye on the weather map since we heard it would rain during all six days of our stay. Our main goal was to take the kids to Hong Kong Disneyland, so we bought tickets immediately with four early entry passes. We also got an Octopus card from the nearest train station. I was traveling with my 6 and 13-year-olds, but I conveniently lied that the older one was 11 to save some 150 HKD! Smart move, I must tell you as soon we were to realise that Hongkong was an expensive place to be!
Pro tip: Stand on the right side of the escalator as the left side for people wanting to walk on the escalator.
It was easy to reach the Disneyland station as the train maps are quite user-friendly. I took a photo of the map on my phone for convenience. We took the train to the last station, where we transferred to the Disneyland train, which was full of excited visitors, some dressed as Disney characters. The Disneyland train, with its Mickey-shaped windows and Disney-themed interiors, had cushioned seats unlike other trains. It dropped us right at the main gate of Disneyland.
We arrived at 9 am, even though the entry time was 10:30. The crowd outside was massive, but our early passes allowed us to bypass the rush and head straight to the newly added Frozen area. We avoided long queues and got on the first ride quickly. Using the app, we noted all the “must-do” rides and tried to cover as much as possible before the park officially opened. Despite the humidity and the extensive walking, we enjoyed several shows to rest our feet. We decided to skip the evening fireworks, as we had read they were overrated and wanted to avoid the rush of people leaving together after the show.
The next day, we planned a trip to Ocean Park. Just as we arrived at the station, it started raining heavily. While purchasing tickets, I once again bluffed, claiming my older child was 11 to secure a child pass (saved 100 HKD there as well). At the counter, we were informed that due to a storm alert, all outdoor activities would be closed. With limited options, we decided to proceed anyway. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Most visitors must have canceled their plans, and once the rains stopped and the outdoor rides reopened, we never had to wait more than 2-5 minutes for any ride. In fact, we were able to go on some rides two or even three times! We tried some chicken rice from a food stall near the merry-go-round, but it was quite disappointing. So, we relied on McDonald’s for a meal that was at least edible. Watching dolphins dance, observing sharks, sloths, pandas, and penguins in man-made habitats that almost mimic their real ones, enjoying water rides and the merry-go-round, and finally taking a thrilling cable car ride made the trip incredibly fun. We stayed away from the hair-raising rollercoasters, but everything else was quite enjoyable.
Having covered two major attractions, we reserved the remaining days to explore more of Hong Kong, including the Peak Tram ride, Big Buddha on Lantau Island, dinner on a cruise, Michelin-star restaurants, the sneaker market, ladies market, and toy market. However, starting on the third day, it rained so heavily that it was impossible to go out due to the risk of closures. Hong Kong takes its weather warnings very seriously.
When the rain briefly stopped on the fourth day, we immediately rushed to the Peak Tram, which turned out to be an unforgettable experience. However, due to the resumed heavy rains, we had to cut short our trip to Mong Kok and return to the hotel. That evening, we had dinner and drinks at the hotel, which ended up being quite expensive. We regretted not stocking up on ready-to-eat ramen boxes.
The next day, we visited the Monster Building. It was disheartening to see the residents’ living conditions while tourists flocked to take the perfect photo. We then took a cab to the sneaker market, where the driver took a longer route (thankfully, my Google Maps caught this). Afterward, we tried some Indian cuisine and local foods. The ladies market was nearby, so we did some souvenir shopping there. Also judging by the queues that formed everywhere, it seemed like queuing up is a favorite pastime for the people of Hong Kong.
We found a nice eatery near our hotel and went there for dinner, ordering a simple yet flavorful ramen bowl. As we packed for our flight back to India, we realized we had spent much more money than we had expected. Nonetheless, it was a fun family vacation, and our precious time together outweighed the coldness of the people there!
Here are some tips for your Hong Kong trip
1) Carry a light bottle with you from India which can be refilled otherwise you will spend a lot of money on buying water bottles (it costed 30 HKD in Disneyland).
2) Carry your child’s favourite snacks from India so you don’t have to keep visiting 7eleven.
3) Familiarise your children with some of the rules – like waiting for the passenger light to turn green before you cross a road, or standing on the right side of the elevator to avoid the cold Hong Kong stare
4) Try and use local transport – it’s very convenient. Use Google Maps to cover nearby places.
5) You will be walking a lot so make sure you carry comfortable shoes for the whole family.
6) Buy soveniers and gifts from Ladies market – you will find a lot of variety there.