We all walk the fine line between wanting to see the world but being shackled by our limited PTO. If you haven’t already been introduced, the magical loophole to this dilemma is the revolutionary long weekend. With a holiday off, you may get 4 days off from work without ever needing to dip into your PTO.
Most people use long weekends for domestic trips, which is all fine and dandy, but if you live on America’s West Coast, Asia has now entered the chat.
With Cathay Pacific now flying from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the long-awaited Seattle route, the neon-lit magic of Hong Kong is closer than ever for West Coasters. It’s a city where you can hike a lush mountain trail in the morning, feast on Michelin-starred dim sum for lunch, shop ’till you drop until the sun goes down, and sip a world-class cocktail in a sky-high bar by night.
I’ve visited Hong Kong twice, and even though it’s not the biggest city, I keep finding new and exciting things to fill my itinerary. Four days in Hong Kong is the perfect amount of time to see the sights, eat a lot of incredible food, get a foot massage (or three), and return home feeling rejuvenated instead of exhausted after a long trip.
Getting to Hong Kong
To start off your long weekend in Hong Kong, you’ll want to hop on a flight with Cathay Pacific. Cathay Pacific is a top-three airline in the world, as recognized by Skytrax, and sets the bar for both service and food. Usually I dread economy flights over five hours, but thankfully Cathay Pacific was also named the World’s Best Inflight Entertainment AND World’s Best Economy Class Airline, so it’s a flight you’ll actually look forward to.
But if you can fly Cathay Pacific business class, you’ll really get your weekend started on the right foot. Since Cathay Pacific is part of the oneworld Alliance, you can even book this flight with miles and points earned from other airlines, including Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, Qatar Airways, British Airways, and many more.
Where to Stay in Hong Kong
Once you finally land in Hong Kong, you’ll want to pick the right hotel so you are comfortable and centrally located to make the most of your short but sweet time.
For the best bang for your buck, stay at New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel. Suitable for any traveler at an incredible price, New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel is a 5-star hotel in the vibrant Tsim Sha Tsui East district, putting you right in the middle of the best shopping, entertainment, and delicious restaurants. The hotel is well connected to all parts of the city, with two Mass Transit Railway (MTR) stations, Hung Hom and East Tsim Sha Tsui, just a five-minute walk away.
A special note about this hotel: while New World Millennium is my best pick for family travelers, it also has a private wine cellar featuring some of the most exclusive pours from around the world. Vinos, this is the hotel for you.
Rosewood Hong Kong room with view of the skyline on a cloudy day
(Kay Kingsman of The Awkward Traveller)
My second hotel pick is a bit of a splurge, but honestly you’re just in Hong Kong for a few days so why not treat yourself. Rosewood Hong Kong was crowned Best Hotel in the World, and after staying there I can verify the claim. Aside from just being an incredibly beautiful hotel with (literal) Michelin star restaurants and one of the best spas in the city, but also (yes, there’s an also), Rosewood Hong Kong is a cultural centerpiece, so travelers who are interested in cultural experiences would love how much art revolves around this hotel.
Long Weekend Itinerary for Hong Kong
Now that you’ve booked a great hotel, it’s time to plan your fun weekend getaway to Hong Kong!
Technically, your first day will be…night. Flying into Hong Kong from the West Coast means you’ll arrive in the late afternoon on most flights. Once you check into the hotel, you can have a leisurely night in and get to bed early… or head out on the town!
Since both hotels are in the same neighborhood and extremely walkable, grab a bite at one of the hotel restaurants, then hit the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. Hong Kong has one of the best skylines in the world, and seeing it all lit up at night is breathtaking. Hong Kong is also very safe and there are lots of other people going for night walks along the promenade. Just don’t stay out too-too late, because you have a fun day ahead of you.
Day 2 in Hong Kong will focus on seeing all the iconic sites. Wake up early to visit Victoria Peak, Hong Kong Island’s highest point at 552 meters (1,811 feet). The views from the Peak are incredible; you can see not only the city and harbor but also fantastic sea views dotted with islands. Grab lunch at any of Hong Kong’s fantastic restaurants before checking out Kowloon Markets for street shopping.
As night rolls in, find yourself in Hong Kong’s Soho neighborhood. Soho is Hong Kong’s hip nightlife area where expats and tourists come to relax after a hard day of work or sightseeing. You can find some of the best bars in Hong Kong here, especially along the mid-levels escalators that run through the area, so whether you stay for one drink or… a few, you’ll get to see a livelier side of the city.
Now depending on if your return flight is on Day 3 or Day 4, you can pick and choose how you’d like to spend your last bit of time in Hong Kong. If you leave on Day 3, then keep it lowkey with a morning spa treatment and last-minute shopping or browsing; you’ll appreciate stretching your legs and relaxing your muscles before the flight back.
But if you have a full extra day, choose between visiting Hong Kong Park and Repulse Bay, or a day out to Hong Kong Disneyland and Lantau Island. Either way, it’ll be a great note to end on. Well, until your next trip to Hong Kong!
