Travel Insurance and Safety Advice for Visitors to Hong Kong
Hong Kong has become one of the most popular travel destinations around the globe in recent years. Rightfully so, as it has much to offer. The country is a traveling hub and is home to flashing lights, restaurants, culture, beaches, and nightlife. To ensure you are in the know while traveling to and from Hong Kong, we’ve outlined information that will help you during your trip.
Hong Kong Travel Insurance Plans
Medical care standards are excellent but costly. Healthcare is divided into public and private. In the case of emergency care, you will be taken to a public hospital, where you must pay for emergency services. There are many English-speaking doctors throughout Hong Kong. Purchasing travel insurance when visiting Hong Kong is recommended before your arrival.
Travel Medical Insurance Plans for Visitors to Hong Kong
For visitors to Hong Kong, a quality travel insurance plan is a must. These plans will cover your medical expenses if you get sick or injured while traveling abroad.
Atlas Travel Insurance
- Emergency medical, evacuation, repatriation benefits
- Choose between the basic and more extensive coverage
- Meets Schengen visa insurance requirements
- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency medical assistance
Patriot Platinum Travel Insurance
- Maximum limits up to $8,000,000
- IMG pays 100% of medical expenses in-network
- Evacuation due to Natural Disasters & Political Unrest
There are no required vaccinations to obtain before traveling to Hong Kong unless you are coming from a country with a yellow fever outbreak. Over the winter months from December to March, Hong Kong is known to have an intense flu season. If you plan on traveling during the winter, a flu vaccine is recommended.
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Safety Tips for Visiting Hong Kong
Drinking tap water is not recommended as its quality can vary immensely depending on the pipes of the building you are in. It is safer to stick to bottled water or boiling tap water for 3 minutes.
Mosquitoes are prevalent. Therefore, you should always wear insect repellant and put hydrocortisone cream on any bites you receive.
If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 999 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.
When to Travel to Hong Kong
The climate is a subtropical climate with humid and hot summers and cool, dry winters. The best months to travel are October, November, and December. June to August is the rainy season. September holds the greatest threat of typhoons.
Getting Around
The only way into the country is through the mainland of China. Transportation to and from China is easy to find, with buses and trains traveling back and forth several times each day and too many destinations.
The country has an extensive public transportation system, including buses that take you all over the island, trains, ferries, subways, and taxis. Taxis are a bargain and are easily found on the streets. The drivers are said to be quite honest, but if you feel that you have been overcharged, there is a complaint hotline you can call to report it.
Social Interactions
Because it is so densely populated, it is common to show respect to strangers by paying as little attention to them as possible as you pass them on the street. For tourists, this can be taken as unfriendliness when, in reality, it is helpful in making sure each person has as much personal space as needed. With the busyness of many people, necessary interactions are efficient and quick, not like the typical warm encounter you may be used to.
Cost of Visiting Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a costly destination. The biggest expense is accommodations, with nightlife coming in a close second. As mentioned earlier, taxis and transportation are incredibly cheap compared to other parts of the world. Another tip to know is that there is no sales tax. You will see a 3% government tax on hotel stays. ATMs are widely found and are linked to international banking systems.
Travel and Safety Advice for Visitors to Hong Kong
Formerly a British colony, Hong Kong is now an independent part of the People’s Republic of China and ranks as one of the top world cities. Home to more than seven million people, it is one of the most important centers of finance, second only to New York and London. It also hosts more than fifty million visitors each year.
At International Citizens Insurance, we strive to ensure you have all the information you need to travel safely to the most sought-after destinations in the world. Hong Kong travel insurance can go a long way in protecting your health while you’re abroad, but there are also a few things you should keep in mind while getting ready for your trip to Hong Kong.
1) Air Quality
Air quality in Hong Kong is among the poorest in the industrialized world. Travelers who are prone to asthma or bronchial infection should take special precautions. Plan to minimize time spent outdoors. Daily air quality index updates are available through news media and smartphone apps, so stay indoors during the worst conditions. Use a mask to reduce pollution intake.
One important thing to remember about Hong Kong’s air quality is that it can drastically reduce visibility. During the worst pollution, smog significantly reduces the number of daylight hours. For that reason, plan to return to your hotel early if you are not comfortable navigating Hong Kong in the dark. The summer months tend to be the best regarding air quality.
2) Typhoon Season
Typhoon season can be unpredictable throughout much of Asia. Luckily, Hong Kong’s advanced early warning system reports typhoons on all TV channels and in many major buildings. Typhoons are ranked between T1 and T10, with T3 typhoons considered serious enough to avoid coastal areas and take shelter. During a rare T8 typhoon, most workers will be excused.
If a typhoon of at least strength T3 is reported, return to your hotel to take shelter. Hotel staff can direct you to other shelters if needed, but this is very rare. Typhoon seasons run from May through September, but most storms skirt Hong Kong and create minimal disruption. A T10 typhoon occurred in 2012, but before that, the last T10 was all the way back in 1999.
3) Pickpockets & Scams
As with any major destination, con artists are always at work to relieve tourists of their money. Pickpockets, in particular, focus on visitors from abroad, not locals. Use a safe at your hotel to avoid carrying valuables into crowded city streets or public transportation. When carrying a wallet, keep your IDs separate, so you do not lose them in the event of theft.
There are more than 18,000 taxis in Hong Kong, most driven by independent owner-operators. As in other cities, you should be alert to unlicensed taxis. Insist that your taxi driver uses the meter to determine your fare. A semicircular, green emblem on the front grill and rear of a vehicle indicates a licensed taxi, with the number of available seats displayed.
4) Vaccinations
According to the Centers for Disease Control, travelers should strongly consider hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations before traveling to Hong Kong. Hepatitis is frequently passed to visitors through contaminated food, especially street food, as well as contaminated water. Typhoid is particularly important if you will be traveling anywhere outside of central Hong Kong.
5) Medical Care
The healthcare system in China is one of the most advanced in Asia. However, care can be costly. In an emergency, you will be transported to a government-run hospital, typically charging a flat fee of over $500 (USD) for services. Other costs may also apply. Emergency care is guaranteed, so you will be billed later if you cannot pay immediately.
By contacting your local consulate or the private hospital of your choice, you can find a variety of doctors, dentists, and others who speak English. Private care is less expensive than a public hospital for visitors to Hong Kong; however, appropriate travel insurance can help you significantly reduce what could be very hefty bills for specialized treatment.
For visitors to Hong Kong, a quality travel insurance plan is a must. The recommended plans below will cover your medical expenses if you get sick or injured while traveling abroad.
Atlas Travel Insurance
- Emergency medical, evacuation, repatriation benefits
- Choose between the basic and more extensive coverage
- Meets Schengen visa insurance requirements
- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency medical assistance
Patriot Platinum Travel Insurance
- Maximum limits up to $8,000,000
- IMG pays 100% of medical expenses in-network
- Evacuation due to Natural Disasters & Political Unrest
Enjoy Your Visit to Hong Kong
Despite the precautions, Hong Kong is a very rewarding place to visit for business or pleasure. I hope you will find your trip goes even more smoothly with these details in mind.