by Kyla Ho Yin Chan

Created on: July 09, 2009

A budget travel guide from a local insider.

As both an experienced backpacker and a Hong Kong resident for 25 years, I am ready to show you how to enjoy this exotic place on a shoestring. Hong Kong is basically a cosmopolitan expensive for most tourists or travellers. However, you can still have fun with the tightest budget. If you are into budget travel, I bet you are the one who wants something different from this tiny lovely place instead of its renown shopping malls and stunning high-priced restaurants!

Lodging

To experience Hong Kong without using all the bucks inside your wallet, firstly you can choose to stay in YHA (Youth Hostel Association) . But I highly recommend you another option - to rent a flat on the beautiful outlying Islands, e.g. Cheung Chau, Lamma Island. You won't find the Islands a stranger's place because lots of expatriates live there in stone village houses enjoying the sunset in local bars and pubs. To stay in one of those flats, all you need is to approach the landlord directly when you arrive or any agents in Sino Centre in Mongkok. Don't fancy staying in any hotels in Hong Kong as even a three star hotel will cost you more than 60 USD per night.

Food

You won't find it boring to find things to eat in Hong Kong. Great food is available everywhere in a huge variety. To tease your taste buds with marvelous local style specialties, the most delicious must-try budget option is the local street snackies along the entire Dundas Street in Mongkok. All the things you have heard about Hong Kong snacks like fishballs and gai daan jai are ready to challenge your stomach's capacity. Cheap pastry like egg custard tarts is available in local bakeries around every street corner. Economical Hong Kong style 'Tea Restaurants' can give you a chic sense of British colonial history and the flourished culture mixing East and West. Finding a local Chinese restaurant for a Dim Sum Sunday brunch won't be too expensive to experience the family day atmosphere of Chinese people.

Transportation

Transportation in Hong Kong is convenient to a level out of your imagination. More than 10 bus routes can be found on the same street buzzing every tiny corner of the city. MTR (Mass Transit Railway or Underground) can take you easily from the hottest but flooded tourist spots to the characteristic countryside in the Northern parts of the territory. A favourite part of journey would be a ferry ride from Kowloon side across the Victoria Harbour day or night to Central,

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