Can anyone tell me what to expect weather-wise in Hong Kong the 1st week of May? And how casual/dressy do tourists generally go? Also, is anyone familiar with weather in Sydney at that time of year, as we will be headed there next. I'm afraid packing for 2 different climates might present a problem...or are they that different? Thanks for your help

Take a look at weatherbase.com and worldclimate.com. Hong Kong will be warm to hot, high 70s F to low 80s, and will be humid and you probably will get a good bit of rain. In Sydney, you will be starting into the fall and temperatures and will be cooler, probably in the 60s F to low 70s F. You probably don’t need two different wardrobes, but might want more layers for Sydney in the event you get a very cool day. You could wear shorts but you might feel a bit out of place as local people are preparing for “winter” - a relative term as their winters are mild.

Neither is a dressy city for tourists or really even locals for that matter other than in offices. You will probably appreciate shorts in Hong Kong. In both, most restaurants are not dressy other than the most expensive, but even then I don’t believe jackets are required on men. I always find the restaurants in Hong Kong to be cold as the air-con is turned up, you might want a light sweater or jacket for that.

Agree with Cicerone, except I don't really recommend shorts in Hong Kong, for men or women, anytime in the year. One, the A/C that Cicerone talks about. Second, few locals wear shorts, so you may find yourself out of place, especially in better restaurants - sometimes you don't have the time to go back to your hotel to change. Third, it's a crowded city, and sometimes you'll be extremely close to people, for example on MTR trains. Fourth, you may get your legs wet if it rains. Fifth, mosquitoes if you want to do some hiking...

Jeans or light pants are better than shorts.

While I rarely disagree with rhkwan, I will disagree with him on shorts in Hong Kong. First of all, if you any race but Chinese it is clearly obvious that you are not a local, and you will stand out anyway, so trying to blend in and “dress like a local” isn’t going to work. (You would also need to be a size 2 if you are a woman to blend in. . . ) Second, tourist do wear shorts for touring, and even expats where them when running around town on the hot days. Of course, you can tell the locals from the tourists in December when no one but tourists are wearing shorts (it is winter after all), but in May all bets are off, in my experience.

Also, no way you are going to hike in May in long pants, it is WAY too hot and humid. Put on some off if you are worried about mosqitos.

Third, there are no dress codes for temples in Hong Kong so you don’t have any issue there (except maybe the Sikh temple on Queens Road, but you aren’t allowed in most of it anyway).

I agree you might not want shorts in a good restaurant, I was assuming that most people would not try to wear shorts to other than a very casual restaurant. I have seen people in shorts at high tea at the Penn and the Mandarin, so I personally wouldn’t but you could wear shorts there.

Thanks for the help...maybe I can compromise with capris and skirts for me and let my husband wear shorts and mosquito spray!

Hahaha, that will work!

Anyways, I see Cicerone's points. I just disagree. Hehhe...

It ALL depends if you're a "hot" person or not, and how well you can take the hot weather. I say wear whatever you want! If it's going to be hot and humid and you're more comfortable in shorts, then wear shorts! I can't stand the hot weather, so I always wear shorts and t-shirts or tank tops, even at night and even if it rains. I LOVE the A/C in the restaurants! Mosquitos won't bother you - just put on some insect repellant.

I forgot to add....who cares if your legs get wet if it rains. In that kind of heat, I would welcome the rain!