World Country Guide

Accommodation

Hotels
Hong Kong offers a wide range of luxury hotels with all the major international chains represented. Smaller hotels specialising in ‘family style’ hospitality can be a cheaper alternative. There are also a number of fairly new hotels in the New Territories, providing a range of recreational facilities. Guest house accommodation, with good standards and facilities, is also available. In spite of the large number of hotel rooms available in Hong Kong, visitors are strongly advised to make an advance booking, especially during the peak season (May until November). There is a Hotel Reservation Centre at Hong Kong International Airport on Chek Lap Kok island (open daily from 0600-0100) which can offer assistance. A 10 per cent service charge and 5 per cent government tax are added to the bill. 80 member hotels belong to the Hong Kong Hotels Association, 508-511 Silvercord Tower II, 30 Canton Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon (tel: 2375 3838; fax: 2375 7676; e-mail: info@hkha.org; website: www.hkha.org). Grading: Though there is no grading structure as such, hotel members of the HKTA fall into one of four categories: High Tariff A Hotels, High Tariff B Hotels, Medium Tariff Hotels and Hostels/Guest houses.

Self-Catering
Resort houses on the outlying islands can be hired.

Camping/Caravanning
Permitted in the countryside, though permission is required within the Country Park protection area.

Youth Hostels
There are four main YMCA/YWCAs in Hong Kong. The YMCA in Kowloon is at 41 Salisbury Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon (tel: 2268 7000; fax: 2739 9315; e-mail: info@ymcahk.org.hk; website: www.ymcahk.org.hk). For further details, contact the Hong Kong Tourism Board (see Contact Addresses section). There are numerous youth hostels in Hong Kong, all of which are outside the city. Contact Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association Ltd, Room 225-227, Block 19, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Shamshuipo, Kowloon (tel: 2788 1638; fax: 2788 3105; e-mail: info@yha.org.hk; website: www.yha.org.hk).