Happy holidays Insiders!

From the Going Awesome Places family to yours, we're sending you warm wishes and hope you get that time off you so deserve.

For this newsletter, we're giving you the details of our trip to Hong Kong which will be helpful for anyone thinking about going in the future. Make sure to scroll to the bottom as we also have an exclusive map of everywhere we went and other places that were shortlisted.

If you're new to the fam, welcome! Before you go, make sure to follow us on Instagram, Youtube, TikTok, and Facebook!

Hong Kong Delight

Following our adventures in Japan doing the Golden Route, I split my week in Hong Kong between exploring with my parents and on my own.

We've visited Hong Kong before which you'll see from our HK's best restaurants guide and 2 day itinerary, but the goal for this trip was to show my my parents a more authentic side to the city while also blending in photography and the outdoors.

💡 Star this e-mail if you're thinking about going in the future or forward this to a friend!

The Food

If you're planning a trip to Hong Kong and want to eat at local and authentic food, make sure to save this e-mail so you know where to go.

While a lot of these spots are super busy for travellers in the know and might require a bit of waiting, that doesn't diminish how delicious these spots are.

You quickly learn that the unpretentious, unfussy, and grungy restaurants are often the best places to eat.

Hing Kee Restaurant - That's what you see in the photo above. Claypot rice is the perfect blend of fresh ingredients, crispy bits at the bottom, and drizzle of deep soy.
Oi Man Sang - This is a classic dai pai dong that's best known for their potato and beef stir fry, garlic steamed razor clams, and more!
Australia Dairy Company - You have to try milk pudding at least once on your trip. Beyond that, they have HK cafe classics such as egg sammies and french toast. Another one to try is Yee Shun Dairy Company.
Sun Hing Restaurant - A chaotic dim sum experience that has a unique ordering system. Make sure to try their custard buns.
Tei Mou Koon Dessert - If you're looking for a super local HK dessert spot, don't miss this one.
Shek Kee Wonton Noodles - The definition of a hole-in-a-wall joint that won't blow you away with its decor but does one thing incredibly well - wonton noodles.
Tim Ho Wan - They're a huge dim sum chain now but these are the OG 1 Michelin-star dim sum specialist. Their baked BBQ pork buns are still untouchable!

The Classics

You can't go to Hong Kong and not go to these iconic locations/activities.

Victoria Peak - They've completely rebuilt the tram experience from the ground up and worth doing again even if you've been.
Junk Boat Cruise - There are two companies that run this - Aqualua and Dukling. We ended up with Aqualuna because Dukling wasn't operating for our dates. This is the first time I've done this cruise and it's my new favourite thing in HK. The cruise even comes with a glass of wine or beer too.
Star Ferry - Still the cheapest way to cross from Hong Kong to Kowloon and vice versa and another great way to see the skyline.
Man Mo Temple - One of Hong Kong's oldest temple best known for its incense coils.
Ladies' Market - The market itself is nothing to write home about but Mong Kok (MK) is always buzzing with energy and has a lot of great food and shopping.
Tai Kwun - This may not be as well-known but it was fascinating to learn about how this heritage and art space used to be a former police station and prison in the heart of Hong Kong Island.
Causeway Bay - A more upscale vibe compared to MK and Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) where classic shopping malls such as SOGO and Times Square can be found.

The Other Side of Hong Kong

It's easy to think of Hong Kong as just this megatropolis that's dominated by skyscrapers, fast-paced speeds and neon lights but there exists another side which is calm, nature-filled, and beautiful.

We've always found that a perfect itinerary weaves in Hong Kong's Green Outdoors with the city.

Kowloon Peak - This is the epic hike that I did on Day 6 (photo above). The views from here are just plain ridiculous.
Hong Kong GeoPark - You can easily combine this with the sea-side town of Sai Kung. There's so much to see in this park but the main highlight is the High Island Reservoir East Dam.
Peng Chau Island - On previous trips, we've done Cheung Chau Island and Lamma Island. This is another day trip we recommend that has fantastic hiking, great views, and delicious food (although not as much seafood as Cheung Chau). This a completely opposite pace to the city that'll feel like you've been transported to somewhere completely different.

Get the Map

If you've used any of our popular itineraries, you'll know that we love our custom Google Maps. This particular one for Hong Kong hasn't been released to the public.

HK Google Map

This Month's Travel Deals

While Black Friday is in the rear-view mirror, the holidays can also be a good time to look for travel deals. Here are a few that caught our eye!

Remember, the most up to date page is the deals page and we also share the really good ones on our special FB group.

Secret Flight Club: Use our exclusive code GOING45USA to save 45% off your membership AND a free 7 day trial.
Travelzoo: Luxurious Costa Rica beach retreat incl. $300 credit for $899 USD. Offer ends Jan 8, 2024.
Travelzoo: Bangkok 5-star hotel w/breakfast & more for only $109 USD/night. Offer ends Jan 1, 2024.
Travelzoo: Cabo 5-star suite for 3 nights for $799 USD. Offer ends Jan 5, 2024.
Avis: Winter Sale - Save up to 35% off when you Pay Now. Promotion is running until March 2024.
YETI: If you purchase $200 from YETI, you can get 2 free 750ml Yonders with a Chug Cap. Expires Dec 31.
Mountain Hardwear US: 60% off select apparel and gear with code MHWDEC60. Ends 12/31/23.
Columbia Sportswear US: Holiday Deals - Get Up To 50% Off For A Limited Time. Ends December 25, 2023.
Belkin: Holiday Sale! Save Up to $60 and a FREE Gift with Qualifying Purchases at Belkin! Use Code GIFT23, valid 12/4-12/25
IHG: Flash sale - Save 20% or more on end-of-year travel at participating hotels in the US. Book by 1/3 and stay by 1/6/24.

What's next at Going Awesome Places

It's kind of hard to top 3 months of straight travel. Between you and me though, I'm happy to be home for a little bit.

I'm sure that'll be short-lived though as the nature of our industry is that stuff always comes up last minute.

For the next little bit though, we'll be busy putting together useful articles and videos from our time in Hokkaido, Shikoku, Tokyo, and Hong Kong so stay tuned!

Watch our first Hokkaido video

Again, to see the latest of where we are and what we're up to, the most consistent place we post is on Instagram so make sure to catch us there!