Hong Kong travel tips

Currency: The Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar at the rate of HK$7.8 to US$1.

Climate: Late Autumn to early Spring is reasonably moderate in temperature, and the best time to visit. In January the temperature can drop to 10 degrees Celsius!

Language: English is one of the official languages, and is used on most street signs.

Medical: Healthcare is generally excellent — there are good private hospitals and English-speaking doctors, a holdover from the British days. No inoculations are required for visitors.

Nightlife: Hong Kong has a glitzy nightlife, and there are over 9,000 restaurants to tempt the taste buds.

Senior discounts: The Hong Kong Tourist Association offers 15 per cent discounts for visitors 60 years and over on three of their most popular tours. Five Hong Kong museums also over a 50 per cent discount. For seniors 65-plus, there’s a 50 per cent discount on public transport, as well as free travel aboard the Star Ferry from Hong Kong Island to the mainland of Kowloon.

Accommodations: There are hotels in Hong Kong in all price ranges. Ideal for Canadians on a budget is the YMCA atalisbury, which offers clean rooms for a moderate price. Pick up a copy of the Official Hotel Guide from any Hong Kong Tourist Association office.

More information: The HKTA Canadian headquarters is located at 9 Temperance St., Toronto, Ont. M5H 1Y6; phone (416) 366-2389; fax (416) 366-1098. HKTA has a wide variety of free brochures and guides. Check out its award-winning website at www.hkta.org/canada, which includes access to more than 2,000 pages of information.