I usually plan everything. This time I didn’t… what happened in Hong Kong & Taiwan
I haven’t always been a solo traveler. I’ve taken plenty of trips with other people, but there was a time when the thought of traveling alone scared me. These days I have become quite the adventurer in my family, and when I decided I was going to go on another trip, a few people wanted to come along. And honestly, the more the merrier.
For a previous trip, I’d joined a travel group that my friend had chosen for her birthday. I was just along for the adventure, making my payments and enjoying the experience. It was an amazing time. So when my friends asked what I thought about using that same group for our next trip, I didn’t see a reason not to use them. With all the chaos happening at my 9-to-5 at the time, letting someone else handle the planning sounded like a good idea.
What could go wrong?
Well… let’s just say the second experience was a little bit different.
We were SO excited when we landed in Hong Kong and couldn’t wait to drop our bags and start exploring.
Day 1: A Little Luxury and an Emergency Shopping Trip
We checked into the Mondrian Hong Kong and the building is absolutely gorgeous inside and out.
This hotel was one of my favorite parts of the trip… I might be a little too fond of the luxury hotel life. Specifically, having a doorman. I never touched the door as I came and went and It. Was. FABULOUS. (in my Jim Carey voice)
Our afternoon was intentionally left open, so we didn’t have a strict schedule to worry about. That turned out to be a good thing because one of the travelers had a luggage hiccup and needed clothes. So, off to the mall we went!
We ended up at Times Square in Hong Kong, and while I was able to fix a nail that had broken and found the most amazing denim duster (a win for me) my cousin had a slightly harder time trying to find clothes that fit both her style and size. After some searching, we finally found an H&M, pulled together a few pieces and were able to get her styled and ready to go. Not exactly the afternoon of exploring we’d imagined, but sometimes travel requires a little improvising.
Day 2: Hey Hong Kong… Nice to meet you
After an amazing traditional breakfast and watching the sunrise over the city, we were ready to get the day started…. and this is where things began to turn.
The plan for the day
- Explore Central & Sheung Wan District
- Victoria Peak Tram Ride
- Sky Terrace 428
- Star Ferry Ride
Our first stop was supposed to be the Victoria Peak Tram Ride, but when we arrived, our travel escort informed us that the travel coordinator had booked the ticket for the previous day. While the travel escort worked with our travel coordinator to figure out what to do next, we pivoted to exploring Central & Sheung Wan District no big deal right…. and this part of the day was pretty cool.
Learning about the history and seeing how modern technology has been integrated into its historic districts is fascinating… at least in my opinion. Experiencing the Central-Mid Levels Escalator , which is over 800 meters long (about half a mile for us who use the imperial system) was pretty cool. It is one of the world’s longest outdoor covered escalators! I didn’t even know that was a thing.
Next stop was the Former Victoria Prison Compound located in Tai Kwun, where we got to admire the architecture and see how Hong Kong has preserved its history while giving these spaces new life with restaurants, shops, and living quarters. I would have loved to spend time here beyond the museum.
BUT.. we learned about how trials were held, how prisoners were sometimes moved, and some of the reasons people went to prison. And some of them were WILD.
Did you know that back in the day… people could go to jail for being out past curfew… as someone who likes to be in the bed by 9 I don’t know that I would have had that problem.
A few missed opportunities
As interesting as the history was, the entire day felt rushed, and I found myself wishing we could spend less time at certain stops and more time at others.
It also would have been nice if our travel coordinator had considered the holiday hours when planning our visit to Central Market. The shops were closed, so we wasted time and missed out on something I was looking forward to.
Its those little things that can really make or break a trip. The destinations themselves weren’t necessarily the problem; it was how the day was planned.
We eventually made our way to Victoria Peak and Sky Terrace 428, with tickets for the afternoon and we took the tram up. If you get the opportunity try to sit in the front facing the outside for the view of the city. It will feel backwards but it’s worth the view. When the tram stopped, we spent time in a souvenir shop where we were treated to a few gifts from the travel company. I’m not sure if it was to make up for how the day was going or if it was something that we should have already received and was just forgotten. In my other experience we were given gift baskets on arrival, this felt like an afterthought. Once we made it up to the Sky Terrace we were met with fog… bummer I KNOW… so we weren’t able to see the city clearly except for a brief moment when the clouds passed. I am happy to say that we were able to see the city in a group photo.
By the afternoon, I was feeling a little disappointed and hungry. Between the ticket mix-up, the rushed schedule, and the limited time we had with out travel escort, the day wasn’t quite living up to expectations. We squeezed in a quick walk through what appeared to be a street market, although I couldn’t tell you its name, before heading to our final stop; the Star Ferry. I’d never been on a ferry before, so I was curious about the experience.
Was it thrilling? Not, particularly. But, it did allow us to take in beautiful scenic views of both Kowloon and Hong Kong Island which made for a nice way to take in the city from the water.
Was the guided experience worth it?
We really enjoyed our travel escort, and she did give us some food recommendations for dinner, but I found myself questioning whether we needed a guide for this particular day. We had a car service taking us from place to place, but personally, I would have preferred to explore more independently and use Hong Kong’s metro system. I really enjoy learning about a city’s history, but I also want the freedom to linger where I’m interested and move on when I’m ready.
As I reflected on the day, I found myself thinking that a good itinerary isn’t just about fitting in all the major attractions. It’s about timing, flexibility, and making sure the experience actually works for the people taking the trip and hoping the next day would go a little more smoothly.
Day 3: Lantau Island, the Big Buddha & an Unexpected Surprise
Hong Kong in April = HUMID!
I genuinely thought I’d packed well for this trip, but the humidity had other plans. The air felt so heavy that I was sweating everywhere. At some point, I had to accept that no outfit or fan was going to save me.
Despite the heat, this ended up being my favorite day in Hong Kong.
We took the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car to visit the Big Buddha and the views along the way are spectacular. I would recommend the cable car, should you get the chance. I also learned that some people hike up Lantau Peak for sunrise views, while others take on the steep climb sometimes referred to as the “Stairway to Heaven”. Now THAT sounds like something I’d love to come back and do one day.
I’ll be honest: seeing the Big Bhudda wasn’t necessarily at the top of my list. But the architecture of the surrounding area was incredible. The ornate gold finishes inside the temples were absolutely gorgeous, and there was even a spot at the base of the stairs, where there is a large circular plaza where you could stand an hear your voice echo ( Di’ Tan Earth Altar).
Those unexpected little details made the visit more interesting than I’d anticipated. Plus our travel escort took amazing photos of us and shared facts about the religious aspect. While I am not someone who practices Bhudism the dedication that the people in the temples had, made me think about how I approach things in my own faith and the role it plays in my everyday life.
Tai O: A Glimpse into Local Life
My favorite part of the day, though was visiting Tai O, a small fishing village on Lantau Island. Tai O offers a glimpse into everyday life in Hong Kong beyond the major attractions. Tourism plays an important role in this village, but we also had the opportunity to see local markets and interact with people going about their daily lives.
Visiting local markets is one of my favorite things to do when I travel. I get to discover local foods, support small vendors, and experience a place beyond the usual tourist stops. I also think it’s important to be mindful of how we show up as visitors. These communities aren’t just attractions; they’re home to real people. I know I’m only one person out of billions, but I like to support the local economy and be respectful of the places I visit whenever I can.
A Pink What??
Now, THIS was a surprise I wasn’t expecting.
Our travel escort/guide suggested an unplanned boat ride, and it ended up being one of the highlights of the entire day. Not only did we get to enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding area, but we also spotted a pink dolphin!
A PINK DOLPHIN….. AAAHHHHH! As we moved through the waters, our guide suddenly screamed. We all looked over just in time to see the dolphin surfacing again and again. I didn’t even know they existed. Naturally, once we got back to the hotel, I had to look them up and learned that dolphins found in Hong Kong are endangered and that their colors can vary, oftentimes with males being more pink than females.
The fact that we even saw one when the boat ride wasn’t even part of the original plan is CRAZY. It is my firm belief that the best travel experiences are the ones you never planned for… and who doesn’t LOVE a fun fact and unplanned treasures.
And Then There Was the Taxi Situation
After the boat ride, we were supposed to return to the cable car for the trip back down the mountain. Instead, we had to wait for a taxi to pick our group from Tai O.
What should have taken about 10 minutes turned into a 45 minute wait. And I couldn’t help asking myself: why? We had a driver for the day, so if transportation to and from Tai O was part of the plan, why wasn’t that coordinated in advance? Because of the delay, we ran out of time to take the cable car back down and ended up taking a taxi to meet our driver instead.
This was another one of those moments when I wished I’d planned the trip myself. I don’t mind an itinerary, and I appreciate having someone knowledgeable show me around, but I also want the logistics to make sense. A little more coordination would have made a big difference. Even with the humidity and the transportation hiccups, day 3 was definitely my favorite day in Hong Kong. The incredible views were one thing, but unexpectedly seeing a pink dolphin? That’s a moment I will never forget. And that sunrise hike… its officially been added to the bucket list.
Day 4: Goodbye Hong Kong… Hello Taiwan
After saying goodbye to Hong Kong, we headed to Taiwan, hopeful that the rest of the trip would be better. Unfortunately, that optimism didn’t last very long.
Upon our arrival in Taipei, we were put into a van with a driver who did not speak English and taken to a museum that wasn’t on our itinerary. I enjoy a museum from time to time, but this was not how I wanted to spend our limited time.
What made it worse was that there was no tour guide with our visit to the museum to explain the history, point out important details, or give us any context for what we were seeing. Instead, we were essentially dropped off and told to meet back at 3 p.m. It honestly felt like they just needed somewhere to put us while our hotel was being prepared.
At this point, we were all extremely irritated. We ended up paying for a tour guide at the museum ourselves, hoping to salvage the situation but we only got to enjoy half of the tour with the guide because we had to return to the van.
And here’s the thing: we’d tried to contract our travel coordinator before the itinerary was finalized but she was M.I.A. Every time we reached out we got an out of office reply. With only two and a half days in Taiwan, losing valuable time at a museum none of us planned to visit was incredibly frustrating.
When we finally spoke with the person accompanying us for the rest of the trip, he made some helpful suggestion. But by then, we were already behind schedule, and there was only so much we could do to make up for lost time. I don’t like to have every minute of a trip planned. I prefer to have room to explore, but there’s a difference between leaving room for spontaneity and having an itinerary so poorly coordinated that you waste time figuring out what you’re supposed to be doing.
And because we’d lost so much time in Taipei, the next day was shaping up to be jam-packed. I was worried we’d end up rushing from one place to another, just like we had in Hong Kong.
So much for it being better in Taiwan….
Day 5: Yesterday’s mistake is today’s rush
After the chaos from the day before, I was hoping we’d finally get a chance to enjoy Taiwan without another itinerary mishap and hit everything on the itinerary.
Well… WE HIT EVERYTHING ON THE ITINERARY.
And somehow, we barely had enough time to take it in.
Our stops included the Golden Waterfall, Jinguashi 13 Ruins, Jiufen, Shifen Old Street and Sky Lantern Experience, and Yehliu Geopark. Sounds great right, but the destinations themselves weren’t the problem.
Golden Waterfall – Definitely a picture moment – but that’s all it is.
Jinguashi 13 Ruins – A beautiful view… but one of those I was here moments… BUT there is access to bathroom if you need one. Keep hand sanitizer and tissue with you just in case.
Jiufen – LOVED. I would have happily spent an entire day here. The views, the market, and the STREET FOOD YUM!
Shifen Old Street – Another place I would have loved more time. But I spent the entire time walking down the street going in and out of the shops so quickly that it felt pointless going into them. There is a beautiful bridge and view at the end of the street so I’m glad I didn’t miss that.
Shifen Sky Lantern Activity – A lot of fun, and definitely one for the books! The shop we visited was great about taking video and pictures for our group.
Yehliu Geopark – It was an ok experience, but it was so rushed that it took all the fun out of it because we got there so late in the day.
The problem was that we were moving from place to place without really getting to experience them. Even the stops that were mainly photo opportunities, felt rushed. I couldn’t take the time to find the right angle or make sure I liked the shot, but at least I loved my outfit. I love sharing my adventures with family, friends, and fellow wanderers and capturing those moments is part of how I enjoy traveling, and I want to have the time to do it well. That may not be something that’s important to everyone, but it’s important to me.
Taiwan had so many places I genuinely wanted to explore, but our schedule left little room for it. I would have loved to spend more time in Jiufen and Shifen Old Street, instead of rushing in and out of shops. BUT, not all was lost… I found the cutest handbag at one of the first shops I stopped at in Jiufen. I get compliments on it every time I wear it and finding unique stylish pieces I can add to my capsule collection is always a win for me. ESPECIALLY if its from an adventure.
We eventually ended the day at a night market in the Wanhua District near Ximending, and the Rainbow Walk. And, because I’m a lover of style, naturally, I found the coolest pants.
Don’t get me wrong, the entire day wasn’t bad. I enjoyed the places we visited, and fell in love with Taiwanese street food. The sausages and cuttlefish? Chef’s kiss. But after everything that had happened with the itinerary, I couldn’t help thinking about how much better the experience could have been with a little more thought put into logistics and the schedule.
This trip still holds some great memories, but when I look back at the photos, I think I’ve been there… but did I really experience it?
The answer… yes and no.
I wanted more than photo opportunities. I wanted time to wander, explore, shop, taste, and take in the places I’d traveled so far to see. I don’t just want to say I’ve been there. I want to feel like I’ve truly experienced it.
Day 6: One Last Wander… and a travel lesson.
On our final day we visited the Zoo. We had a night flight, so we needed to check out of the hotel and find something to do before heading to the airport.
I love the zoo, honestly, had they taken us there that first day instead of the museum, I probably wouldn’t have been as upset… maybe?? It was fun getting to see all the different animals, and I was especially excited to see the red pandas. Unfortunately they had other plans because they never came into view before it was time to leave. I’ll try to catch them next time.
Despite all the mishaps, I would go back to both Hong Kong and Taiwan. However, I’d definitely do it differently. I’d have more freedom to explore at my own pace, spend extra time in places I love, and leave room for those unexpected experiences that seem to always become the best memories.
And I’d probably travel solo.
It’s not that I dislike traveling with other people. This was a good travel group and even better we made it out of the group chat. But I’ve really come to appreciate solo travel and the freedom that comes with it. I get to choose where I go, for how long, and when I want to wander off and do something new.
Both Hong Kong and Taiwan are worth visiting, and I came away with treasures and memories. Visiting multiple countries in one trip is appealing, but there’s a trade off you may see more places without having time to enjoy them. An extra day in each country could’ve changed this entire experience… or a better travel coordinator.
But this trip reminded me that how you travel can shape your experience just as much as where you go.
Next time, I’ll be doing a little more wandering on my own terms.
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