As a part of our 3-week trip to Asia, Kevin and I made a stop in Hong Kong to visit family before continuing to Vietnam.  With its population density being one of the highest in the world, Hong Kong can be quite overwhelming for first-time visitors.  The lifestyle there is very different from what we’re used to in North America – everything is faster & fancier.  As much as I normally travel on a fairly tight budget, I let myself loose here and splurge.

Hotel: We stayed at Butterfly on Morrison.  It’s a modern boutique-style hotel right in Causeway Bay (8-10min walk from Causeway Bay MTR).  At just over $150/night, I felt it was pretty reasonable for the location as well as the quality.  The room itself was comfy enough.  Our only issue was that someone left one of the windows open throughout our entire stay.  We had no idea why we were violently woken up by the sound of traffic every morning, and our room was super humid (even with air conditioning).  We only realized this just before we were checking out!

The minute I land in HK international, I notice myself adapting and falling into step with the locals; walking at double my normal speed.  But don’t let that deter you.  I just spent 4 days chilling out at various cafés throughout the city.  There are ways to escape the chaos, & I choose to do it over some caffeine and sugar  🙂

Shopping :  One of the questions I get asked a lot by friends/acquaintances is where to shop in HK.  This topic warrants an entire post, but here is a quick reference guide to shopping in Causeway Bay.

1. Island Beverley – Independent designers, unique finds – 1 Great George St, Causeway Bay MTR Exit D, across from SOGO 
2. Apple Mall – Designer clothing at a fraction of the cost (Note:  if you are lucky enough to find a great piece, you will notice that the designer labels are cut) – B/F, 15 Hysan Ave, Causeway Bay MTR Exit A 
3. Laforet Excelsior Plaza – A younger & cheaper version of Island Beverley – 24-26 East Point Rd, Causeway Bay MTR Exit D, very close to SOGO & Island Beverley
4. WTC more – 280 Gloucester Rd, Causeway Bay MTR Exit D1
5. SOGO Department Store – A fun place to visit with many floors, each one categorized; My favourite is the grocery store on the lower level – 555 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Direct MTR access
6. Times Square – Another must-visit, with a mix of high-end and mid-end shops – 1 Matheson St, Causeway Bay, Direct MTR access
7. Lee Gardens – High-end designer shops – 33 Hysan Ave, Causeway Bay MTR Exit F