genie29

Hi,

I would be in Hong Kong for 10 days and plan to do a lot of walking. Will it be worth its while to get an octopus card...I am alos not sure abt the denominations in which one could get these.

Thanks

KMLoke

The Octopus card can be used on buses, MTR, convenience stalls and other places. There is a small charge if it is returned within 3 months. IMHO it would be worthwhile for the convenience it offers.

rkkwan

With 10 dasy in HK, it's an absolute must.

It's just a stored value card. Minimum to start is HK$150 ($100 usable, plus $50 deposit). You get whatever usable you've left + $43 back when you turn it in. Recharge at all train station or any convenient store.

lcuy

The octopus card is the best invention ever! Thank you so much rkkwan for telling us about it!

We were there only two and a half days, but used it constantly- on the subway, the street cars, the Star Ferry, the peak tram, at Mcdonalds (I broke down and had to get a diet coke one night!) and at many of the convenience stores.

I can't imagine trying to figure out the bus and subway fares otherwise, much less have the proper coins to pay. I'd just thump my purse on teh touch pad and walk through the turnstiles.

Whatever you don't use is refunded less HK$7 ($1 US)at the end. Just allow a few extra minutes at the airport to get it.

Not only do you not have to figure out the amount of your tickets, you often get to go to the head of the line by having the cards.

We bought the HK$100 with HK$50 deposit version for all four of us!

hawaiiantraveler

lcuy,

Welcome home!! Soooooo how was it?

Aloha!

lcuy

The trip was great! I picked up a nasty cold in Hong Kong though. Once my brain is unfogged from cold meds, I'll do a report.

chrisMLU

I wanted to make sure the following info about the Octopus card is documented on the forum. We were in HK two wks ago. We loved using the Octopus card & recommend it to anyone travelling to HK, even for just one day.

In regards to the HK$50 deposit & attemping to get the refund at the airport. You are allowed to go "negative" on the card once. Example: If you have a $3 balance & wish to purchase a $4 item, you may do so (remember, you have a $50 deposit to back you up). So you make the $4 purchase, now the card is "frozen" until you reload it (at a 7-eleven, the minimum reload is $50).

So if you can plan your spending right, on the last day when it is time to board the $90 train for the airport... try to have only $41-42 left on the card. You will be able to get on the train by going negative on the card. Sure you lose HK$1-2 (25 cents US)... consider it a convience fee.

The card is really great. If you don't like playing the spending game, to get the card down to $41 on the last day... then get the refund. But I just wanted to make sure everyone knew about this option.

rkkwan

What chrisMLU says is not entirely correct. You cannot spend to less than "$ -35" on your card. So, get a HK$90 Airport Express ride, the card needs to have at least $55 credit on it.

And don't worry about what you leave on the card. You can get $43 of the $50 deposit back when you turn the card in, so the convenience fee is only $7. [If you turn in the card after 3 months, that $7 is waived and you get all $50 back.]

If you don't want to have that much cash left at the airport after turning in your card, turn it in a day early or just before you ride the Airport Express to the airport. Unlike the MTR, you do not get any discount by using the Octopus on the AE.

chrisMLU

Hmmm. Well I do not want to get into a debate with a well seasoned HK traveller like rkkwan. So I apologize if I am off on my math. I don't have a receipt to back me up, but I sure thought I remembered my balance being HK$46 prior to my AE ride... additionally none of the friendly HKers told me about a "minus 35" rule...instead it was always "one can only go negative once".

... so go with rkkwan on the "minus 35" rule unless proven otherwise

rkkwan

I have never traveled on the AE, and therefore cannot say for sure one can't use an Octopus with less than enough money. The "minus 35", however, is indeed the general rule.