Expedia Top Tips and Tricks to Save Hong Kong Travellers Time and Money in 2022

After 18 months of holding back and compromising on nearly everything, Hong Kong travellers remain anxious to re-explore the world and enjoy the life-changing experiences travel can bring. With 1 in 4 leisure-seekers in Hong Kong looking for advice on savings tips and a further 35% willing to be flexible with their travel plans in order to save money on their next trip*, Expedia has partnered with the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) for the seventh year to share their ultimate travel hacks guide to help Hong Kong travellers navigate booking a vacation in 2022.

For the city’s staycation seekers now has never been a better time to indulge in a boutique hotel staycation, with luxe properties more affordable than ever with the average daily rate (ADR) for 4 Star and 4.5 Star accommodations over 20% less than in 2019.

Domestic accommodation savings tips for 2022

Overall, average Hong Kong lodging prices have gradually increased over the past year. While domestic accommodation rates dropped dramatically in 2020, prices have started to normalize to pre-pandemic levels, however, due to the high demand for domestic staycations, prices are still slightly higher compared to 2019⁷.

As Hong Kongers’ continue to anticipate continued border restrictions and plan their future staycation getaways, based on Expedia data, here are some simple tips to unlock savings on staycation accommodation:

Ideal day of the week to book⁸

• For staycation holidays, the lowest average daily rate (ADR) for booking accommodation tends to occur on a Saturday, where travellers could save 10% versus booking on the most expensive day, which is, surprisingly, a Monday.

Ideal day of the week to stay⁸

• The ideal day to begin a domestic stay is a Monday, where travellers can save up to 30% versus staying on a Saturday.

Down-star accommodation to save

Travellers can stretch their dollars further by choosing a lower star-rated hotel. Travellers can save almost 60%, on average, by simply opting for a 4-star property over a 5-star, while down-starring to a 3-star from a 4-star can save travellers around 20%⁷.

Airfare booking hacks for 2022

Based on data from ARC, average ticket prices (ATPs), airfares hit their lowest levels over December 2020 and January 2021, though as confidence in travel grew, and with a steady increase in demand, particularly over the summer, ticket prices have started to normalize to pre-pandemic levels.

Meanwhile, ATPs for international flights have steadily increased over the year, however prices are still on average 35% lower compared to 2019.¹

Knowing what day to book, how far in advance, and what day to travel is key to unlocking savings.

Ideal day of the week to book³

• The ideal day to book a flight from Hong Kong is Sunday, which, on average, is a whopping 35% cheaper than booking on the most expensive day, Friday.

Ideal day of the week to travel⁴

• The ideal day to start a trip is Thursday, when departing is on average some 25% less expensive than departing on a Monday.

Best month to travel⁵

Travellers planning their 2022 trips can also unlock huge savings by being flexible and choosing the right month to travel:

• For flights from Hong Kong, the ideal month to depart is August, where travellers can save up to 40% versus traveling in January.

Splurge and go premium⁶

Tickets in Premium economy have never been cheaper and have become more affordable over the last couple of years. In 2021, premium economy ATPs were only 290% more expensive than economy tickets, whereas in 2020 they were 365% more expensive. Pre-pandemic, in 2019 average prices for a premium economy ticket were a huge 430% more expensive than economy.  With over a third of Hong Kong flyers (35%) willing to upgrade their flight if they can afford it*, now would be a good time to splurge and consider upgrading.

Bundle and save¹⁰

On Expedia, travellers can unlock deeper discounts by simply booking their flight and hotel together, rather than booking separately. On average, Hong Kong travellers can save up to 5% by bundling their flight and hotel together in one transaction, that’s money that can go towards other experiences to make it the GOAT.

Loyalty pays off

When it comes to booking travel, it pays to be loyal. Travellers can reap the benefits of a loyalty program for future trips, as they book their current one. By signing up to Expedia, travellers will receive benefits as soon as they join, including access to member-only prices and earn Expedia points on every trip. Silver and Gold members who book Expedia VIP Access hotels can also score extra perks such as room upgrade or spa credits, where available.

Additionally, travellers who sign up to the Expedia App will not only have the ultimate travel companion at arm’s reach but can also unlock up to 10% savings with mobile-exclusive hotel deals, as well as earn double Expedia Rewards points on every App booking. Travellers will also benefit from helpful alerts on their travel itinerary.

It’s important to stay up to date with the latest government and travel advisories. For the latest information, Expedia’s new COVID-19 Travel Advisory tool helps travellers search for travel advisories around the world, including regulations for destinations, and safety and health guidelines, or visit Expedia’s COVID-19 Travel Guide.

​Data sources

*This study was conducted on behalf of Expedia by Northstar Research Partners, a global strategic research firm. The survey was conducted online from August 27th–September 6, 2021, across North and South America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific using an amalgamated group of best-in-class panels. The study was conducted among 12,000 respondents across 12 countries, amongst adults who are planning domestic or international travel in the next 18 months.

¹ Price development information is based is on average round-trip ticket prices for January through August for 2021 & average round-trip ticket prices for January through December for 2020 and 2019, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.

² Best time to book recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through August for 2021 & average round-trip ticket prices for January through December for 2020, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.
³ Best day of the week to book recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through August for 2021, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.
⁴ Best day of the week to depart recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through August for 2021, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.
⁵ Best month to depart recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through December for 2020, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.
⁶ Information is based on average premium and economy round-trip ticket prices for January through August for 2021 & for January through December 2020 and 2019, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database for 2021.
⁷ Based on lodging demand on Expedia.com.hk for travel between Jan, 1, 2021 – Dec. 31, 2021 and compared to the same timeframe in 2020 and 2019. 
⁸ Based on lodging demand on Expedia.com.hk for travel between Jan, 1, 2021 – Dec. 31, 2021
⁹ Based on demand on Expedia.com.hk for travel between Jan, 1, 2021 – Dec. 31, 2021

¹⁰ Based on the average savings for package bookings with Flight + Hotel on Expedia.com from 1 January – 31 June 2021. Savings will vary based on origin/destination, length of trip, stay dates and selected travel supplier(s). Savings not available on all packages