Hong Kong Great Values

Smack-dab in the middle of Causeway Bay, the 266 rooms in this friendly property aren’t exactly spacious, but they’re modern, comfortable, and have excellent views of the Harbor and Victoria Park. The rooftop pool is a nice bonus, and the hotel is close to metros and trams.

Smart décor and reasonable rates don’t always go together in Hong Kong but Hotel Jen manages to pull it off. Each of its 280 trendy rooms is functional, yet creative, with clean lines and amenities like WiFi, satellite TV, and MP3 connectors. Watch the ships pass by from a bath literally right next to the window or from the rooftop swimming pool. For a fully equipped kitchenette, upgrade to one of the five Jen Suites. Jen Café, which offers an international buffet and an à la carte menu, is packed with locals most nights.

Forget everything you thought you knew about YMCAs; this 16-floor property knocks the grimy stereotype on its head and replaces it with more than 300 clean, comfortable, and surprisingly nice rooms – some with a view of the Harbor – and seven four-person dorms.

Located close to the escalator system that runs from Central up to Mid-Levels, this is a good-value three-star hotel owned and operated by the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. The smallish rooms are clean and comfortable with simple décor and furnishings, en suite bathrooms, free wi-fi Internet and daily newspaper; some yield stunning views over Victoria Harbor and the Central skyline. Basic facilities are available to business travelers, including a business center and well-equipped function room. Other amenities include a swimming pool and free buses to scenic spots, including The Peak and Ocean Park. There is also a free shuttle bus to the Airport Express station.

These iconic wooden ferries have been plying Victoria Harbor since the late 19th century and you simply can’t visit Hong Kong without boarding one of them. Take the route between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui for staggering views of both skylines.

This unassuming hole-in-the-wall serves soul-restoring bowls of some of the city’s best...more

Northern Chinese-style dumplings – either boiled or fried, depending on how healthy...more

Famous for allowing – nay, encouraging – its patrons to dance on the bar, this Hong Kong landmark all but guarantees a good time. As a side note, they don’t just have Happy Hour, they have Crazy Hour (6-7pm), when all drinks are spectacularly cheap (less than $3.50).

Carve out a morning for this shopping extravaganza. The market’s best buys include Asian-style home décor items, well-priced cashmere, seconds from U.S. brands like J.Crew and Gap, and souvenirs. Afterwards, catch your breath with a drink on the pretty waterfront.

The Hong Kong Museum of Art’s permanent collection of Chinese fine arts and antiquities is supplemented by regular visiting displays in the contemporary exhibition hall, which features popular shows organized by guest curators and new media artists. It’s not just the exhibits at Hong Kong’s largest arts venue that makes this museum so spectacular – the waterfront location next to the Star Ferry Pier is equally stunning. Ticket prices (under $2 for adults) are very reasonable.