Did this last year -- Hong Kong and Seoul -- and agree with the other pps that jet lag on the return is the worst

Hi from Hong Kong.

I usually tell people 4-5 days of on the ground touristy stuff in HK, including a day trip to Macau or, if you have a visa, over to Shenzhen for some shopping. See the Peak, Star Ferry, Times Square, Stanley, Mongkok (or the more gritty Sham Shui Po). Maybe Disney or Ocean Park if into that sort of thing. Skip the Big Buddha. If you have family visits you might need another day or two for events with them.

However, with that caveat is the jet lag. It's a bear. We're currently 13 hours off DC time so there is basically no easy way around it. The flight from DC is not direct so you have to hop either through NYC or Tokyo/Seoul as the most preferred routes. It means that you'll spend, easily, 18-24 hours in transit, plus adding a day to get here. Basically you land about 30-36 hours after you left on your clock, so that can eat up a day of your trip.

Generally we tell friends don't come to Asia for a week. It's a waste vs. the time spent in transit. Come to Asia for two weeks minimum and spent 5-7 days in Hong Kong and another week somewhere else (Tokyo, Thailand, Korea, etc) to make the long haul worth it.

We did HK for spring break leaving Wednesday (took off school 3 extra days) and returning the following Saturday. We arrived late Thursday so really only had 8 full days. I think it was perfect. We also spent 2 nights in Macau. There's so much to do that we did not get a chance to do, so I would definitely go back. Kids are 7 and 9, so the tv screens during the flight made it bearable.

Personally, I'd do HK a few days and then hop a quick budget airlines flight to Thailand or Philippine islands for a few days of beach time.

I'd say at least 10 days (3 for travel, 2 days to get there as you lose 12+ hrs and one coming home) then 7 full days there. Jet lag going isn't too bad and won't totally screw up sightseeing the first few days. I recommend flight times that allow you to arrive in the evening so you can go straight to bed vs having to try to force everyone to stay up all day after long flights where no one gets much sleep.

Now I will warn, the jet lag coming back is pretty rough and going straight back to school/work will be really hard. It took up a solid 5 days to adjust coming back.

FWIW we went to Taiwan recently. Total trip length was 13 days (3 travel, 10 full days there). We were all done and ready to come home after 10 day, not because we we bored, but more because we were just all tired from visiting and sightseeing. jet lag was only really bad on the first full day. We arrived in the evening and went to bed around 9pm, but were all up early around 4am. We all took an afternoon nap before heading out to dinner.

Agree with pp that 3-4 days would allow you to see all there's to see in Hong Kong.

Jet lag could take 2-3 days to get better, so plan at least a week long trip. Do you have plans to visit other places outside of HK?

Anonymous wrote:We are traveling with two kids (ages 10 and 12). We want to visit family living in Hong Kong, but only have the week at Spring Break. We may be able to stretch it into a second week, but I am wondering how long you need to go to make it worth the travel?

Thanks so much!

I'd say 10 days at the very minimum to make those flights worthwhile.

I'd also note that 3-4 days (max) is enough to see the sights in Hong Kong.

We are traveling with two kids (ages 10 and 12). We want to visit family living in Hong Kong, but only have the week at Spring Break. We may be able to stretch it into a second week, but I am wondering how long you need to go to make it worth the travel?

Thanks so much!