Worldwide Insure

Hong Kong is a popular destination for travellers of all ages, from backpackers to visitors who want to enjoy the very best luxuries that it has to offer.  Before you travel, there are some important facts and advice you should know, which will help to smooth your path and ensure your trip is both safe and enjoyable.

Junk, Hong Kong by Dan Neveill

Entry

Hong Kong retains its own immigration controls, despite being part of The People’s Republic of China.  When you are entering Hong Kong with a UK passport, from an international flight or cruise, there is no requirement to get a visa before you enter.  Visitors can stay for up to six months, as long as their passport is valid for this time.  If you choose to exit Hong Kong into mainland China, you need to arrange a visa for China before you arrive at the border.

Health

When planning a trip to Hong Kong, or indeed any other long haul destination, all travellers should consult their doctor at least 6 months prior to leaving, to ensure there is adequate time for all vaccinations to be carried out, should you not already have them.  Your doctor can recommend which injections are advisable for your particular trip, and provide prescriptions for any medications, which you may need to take with you.  Ensure you have a basic first aid kit in your bag, along with insect repellent and sun cream.  Depending on the time of year, temperatures in Hong Kong can exceed 30 degrees with high humidity, so ensure you stay hydrated, drinking plenty of bottled water.

Hong Kong by Mitch Altman

Etiquette

As a fairly Westernised society, Hong Kong is easy for the traveler to adapt too, as there are no problems with causing major offence.  The residents of Hong Kong embrace a multicultural society and are accepting of Westerners.  Most women in Hong Kong, although keen on fashion, do tend to dress fairly modestly, so do keep this in mind and refrain from wearing anything too revealing.

Money

The currency of Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Dollar, there are ATM’s widely available, along with places to change money, but do check the amount of commission that will be charged before committing to these services.

Tipping is not essential, just rounding up the bill in restaurants, or giving an extra dollar or two to taxi drivers is enough to ensure you do not cause any offence.

Safety

For the first time traveler to Asia, Hong Kong is an excellent place to start, there is little violent crime, and as a generally stable society with many western influences, it is a generally safe place to travel, whether you are alone or in a group.  Petty theft can be an issue, as with any destination, so common sense should be exercised.  Do not wear expensive watches or jewellery, which could tempt thieves, and keep your cash and valuables secure.

Hong Kong Skyline by Sanfa Media

For more advice, take a look at FCO travel advice for the latest, up to date information.

I sometimes like to think that suffering from jetlag somehow means I am suffering from life as a time traveller.  However, I have to accept that I am not a Time Lord, a flight of fancy too far that does nothing for the jet lag anyway. Here’s how to cut your chances of getting jet lag and how to cope if it gets you!

The Moon by Dr Wendy Longo

What is jet lag anyway?

Jet lag is a disturbance in your sleep patterns, and it is generally worse when travelling from west to east because it is easier for your body to adjust to a longer day than a shorter one! Our bodies are primed to respond to regular cycles of night and day, so if it is light when we are expecting darkness, the body can take a day or two to adjust.

Before you travel

Sleep well before you go, and on the plane if possible. By cramming in as much asleep as you can, you stand a better chance of staying awake until night in your next destination.

Change your sleep pattern a few days before you travel. Get up and go to bed earlier if you are travelling east, later if you are travelling west.

During your journey

Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated. Dehydration can make the effects of jet lag worse, especially if you have been consuming alcohol.

Use an eye mask and earplugs to get some rest while you travel. You stand a better chance of getting some rest if you shut out unwanted light and noise!

When you arrive

Get out in the daylight as this will help your body to adjust to the new tie zone quicker.

Get your normal resting hours in on the first night. Even if you only manage a short chunk of time, napping during the next day to top this time up will help alleviate the effects of jetlag.

Need more help? Read our Jet Lag Genie review – a handy smartphone app that helps users adjust their sleeping pattern to avoid jetlag.

After our fabulous guide to surviving a festival, we thought we would bring you information about some of the best festivals you can visit around the world this summer!

Benicassim Festival – Spain

This is a 4 day music festival on the east coast of Spain – and this year the fun kicks off on the 18^th July with the incredibly popular American band The Killers will be headlining. Valencia is the closest airport to the festival. Alternatively festival goers are known to fly to Barcelona for a pre-festival warm-up before heading to Benicassim Festival by train.

Burning Man 2010 by eponamusic

 Burning Man Festival – Nevada USA

Located out in the Nevada Desert, the Burning Man Festival is certainly not for the faint hearted. It is an event dedicated to ‘community, art, self-expression and self reliance’ and lasts one whole week. This year the theme is Cargo Cult, kicking off on 26^th August. This is a ‘leave no trace’ festival – so newbies need to do their research and adhere to the common cause. To get to Black Rock City you’ll need to book a flight to Reno airport then hit the two lane rural highway with around 60,000 other festival goers.

Soundwave Festival – Tisno Croatia

Held on the shores of the Adriatic coast, this music festival is perfect for sun worshippers who like a good tune. At Soundwave you can swim in the sea and sunbatheto your favourite DJs and bands, go on a boat party or head to one of the many stages if you like the volume turned up loud. It is a relaxed event and this year starts on 18^th July with performers such as Bonobo, Quantic and Doom. To get to Tisno, get on a plane to Zadar or Split and get a transfer from the airport to the Island of Murter.

FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL by Kentaro Ohno

Fuji Rock Festival – Niigata Prefecture Japan

This is the largest outdoor music event in Japan showcasing over 200 musicians from Japan and around the world in the space of 3 days. Fuji Rock takes place at the Naeba Ski Resort starting on 26^th July with an eclectic bunch of people performing, including well known names such as Skrillex, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, Mumford and Sons and DJ Shadow. Revellers will have to fly to Tokyo and then catch a train to Yuzawa, a 1.5 hour journey, followed up by a (free) 40 to 60 minute bus ride to the festival site.

Bestival – Isle of Wight England

Late on in the festival season, Bestival is a great way to kiss the summer season goodbye in style. This year the festival starts on the 5^th September and has some great headlining acts including Sir Elton John, Franz Ferdinand and Snoop Dogg. The crowd that attends is as diverse as the range of acts, so a great option if you are only going to go to one festival this year. If you are taking a car, head to Southampton where the Red Funnel ferry service will take you to West Cowes in Just 20 minutes. Foot passengers can also catch a train to Southampton and board the ferry, alternatively ferry services run from Portsmouth harbour, right near the train station.

Bestival by Mike Mantin

Camp Bestival – Dorset England

This is a family friendly alternative to the summer festival mayhem, held in the delightful county of Dorset on the south coast of England. The fun and frolics take place over the space of 4 days starting on 1^st August with established acts such the Levellers and Billy Bragg, as well as more recent music talent like DJ Yoda. There is also a wealth of theatre, comedy, poets and talks to keep festival-goers of all ages entertained. This is a great festival to choose if taking to the skies or the open sea is not your cup of tea!

Ok so we all know that we need to drink responsibly, avoid illegal substances and watch out for strangers at festivals – but it is traditionally a time of excess and exuberance for the young at heart. So what do you really need to know to survive the festival season this year?

Let’s find out!

From the ‘Soundwave Croatia 2010’ collection by Ant Freeman

WHAT TO PACK

• Sun cream – just in case your wishful thinking pays off
• Rain mac – or a roll of bin bags, great for makeshift waterproof festival gear
• Wellies – people charge a fortune for them at a stall once the skies turn grey
• Ear plugs – essential if you want ANY sleep, also good for protecting your ears if you like dancing near speakers
• Condoms – you never know your luck (and you don’t want to catch something yuck)
• Spork – trust us, a pack of these will get you a long way in festival heaven
• Wet wipes – you aren’t going to feel fresh for a few days, but at least you’ll know your hands are clean
• Loo roll – it WILL run out at a festival, guaranteed
•  A flag – or something similar to attach to your tent so you can find your way back

DRINK

OK Water – dehydration is very dangerous and when you have been drinking it is even more of an issue. PLUS if you are lucky enough to have sun during your festival the likelihood of dehydration is even greater. Make sure you pack plenty of water and take some fruit juice to water down for a bit of variation.

From the ‘Soundwave Croatia 2010’ collection by Ant Freeman

BOOZE

Find out what you can and can’t take into the camping area and the festival arena (these are likely to be different). Most places have banned glass bottles for safety reasons, and it is unlikely you can take spirits into a main arena area IF you are even allowed to take alcohol in.

Importantly make sure you keep your drink with you to avoid any nasty spiking incidents, oh and drink responsibly!

FOOD

Liquid diets and festivals go hand in hand, but you must remember to eat – if not, your energy levels will be low, you will be less aware of any dangers around you and alcohol will have a rather nasty effect on your body; but enough of the negative side! This is the perfect opportunity to make the most of munching on the vast array of fast foods on offer to keep yourself ready to party!

From the ‘Soundwave Croatia 2010’ collection by Ant Freeman

SEX

Hmm, a muddy field amongst thousands of happy campers isn’t the most romantic place to hook up with a new flame, but if you are going to indulge, make sure you use a condom – you’ve no idea how many lucky people might have been part of that person’s pleasure fest already!

 DRUGS

They are illegal, so you could get into a lot of trouble for being in possession of them, in addition to this, there are other potentially more serious risks involved – The NHS offer this information

“”Try not to mix drugs and drink as it will make you sick,” says Dr Howes. “If you’re a regular drug user, don’t take more than you’re used to.” You can also get sick and have bad reactions to “legal high” drugs. “People think these herbal pills are like taking a vitamin pill but they’re not,” says Deborah Rees, founder of the Safeconcerts website. “With herbal highs, people can get paranoid or have other nasty side effects.”

ROCK N ROLL

Don’t try and be more rock n roll than you really are. Stage diving is best left to the pro’s and don’t go on a bender and decide to ditch your well paid day job by phoning your boss there and then announcing that you are destined to be a professional face painter.

VALUABLES

Just don’t take any. They are likely to get lost, broken or stolen. You are better off buying a cheap unlocked phone so you can keep connected – smart phones won’t last beyond the first festival day with their infamous battery life anyway.

From the ‘Soundwave Croatia 2010’ collection by Ant Freeman

 FUN

Make sure you have some. It is important to exercise caution but be open to new experiences. it’s what festival season is all about. Funnily enough, the best way to have fun is by not getting so trashed you can’t remember anything (including where your tents is), and making sure you indulge in all the lovely food available. Get a bit of sleep on top of that and you’ll have a great time!

From the ‘Soundwave Croatia 2010’ collection by Ant Freeman

All Images Courtesy of Ant Freeman of FortyThree Photography