Hong Kong

Where to stay

Chungking Mansions on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui has the densest cluster of budget guesthouses, most of them on the upper floors of its five blocks. Jordan and Mong Kok, a few stops north on the Tsuen Wan MTR line, tend to run slightly cheaper and put you closer to Temple Street's night market and the Ladies Market on Tung Choi Street.

Getting around

• Get an Octopus card at any MTR station on arrival. It covers the MTR, buses, trams, and the Star Ferry, and single-journey tickets cost noticeably more.
• The lower-deck Star Ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui Pier to Central costs around HKD 3.40 and takes about eight minutes. It is cheaper and often faster than the MTR for that crossing.
• Guesthouses on the higher floors of Chungking Mansions are quieter and sometimes cheaper than the ones advertising heavily at ground level. Walk up to a few before committing.

When to go

Chinese New Year (usually late January to mid-February) and National Day Golden Week (first week of October) fill hostels fast and push prices up sharply. September and April tend to be the most affordable months.