Octopus Card - how much to add for 2 night, 3 day visit?
Dec 3rd, 2011, 11:29 PM
#1
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Octopus Card - how much to add for 2 night, 3 day visit?
Hi Fodorites
How much do you recommend that I put on my Octopus card for a 2 night, 3 day visit? I plan to take the Airport Express train from & to the Airport/Central plus make good use of it to undertake visiting activities.
I understand that any unused spend & the deposit will be refunded on return of the card at the Airport. Are there any tricks / special processes needed to do this?
Are the over 65s (non HK residents) still entitled to 50% discount on fares?
Many thanks for your help
Lovener1
How much do you recommend that I put on my Octopus card for a 2 night, 3 day visit? I plan to take the Airport Express train from & to the Airport/Central plus make good use of it to undertake visiting activities.
I understand that any unused spend & the deposit will be refunded on return of the card at the Airport. Are there any tricks / special processes needed to do this?
Are the over 65s (non HK residents) still entitled to 50% discount on fares?
Many thanks for your help
Lovener1
Dec 4th, 2011, 05:12 PM
#2
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Seniors over 65 can use the Elder Octopus, which gives you 50% off most fares on most transportation in Hong Kong. But NOT the Airport Express or Cityflyer airport buses. You don't need to be a HK resident to get or use one, as long as you have something to prove your age if you are asked when using it, for example, your passport.
For your trip on the Airport Express, just buy separate AE roundtrip tickets. Or if two persons or more together, buy the group tickets.
Then get a regular Elder Octopus for everything else. Just get the card with, say, HK$50 spending money on it ($100 total cost) to start, and just add more value at any convenient store (7-11, Circle K, etc) or train station.
There's no trick at getting your deposit on the Octopus. Just go to any customer service counter at any MTR/Airport Express station. You'll get whatever spendable value + $43 back.
For your trip on the Airport Express, just buy separate AE roundtrip tickets. Or if two persons or more together, buy the group tickets.
Then get a regular Elder Octopus for everything else. Just get the card with, say, HK$50 spending money on it ($100 total cost) to start, and just add more value at any convenient store (7-11, Circle K, etc) or train station.
There's no trick at getting your deposit on the Octopus. Just go to any customer service counter at any MTR/Airport Express station. You'll get whatever spendable value + $43 back.
Dec 4th, 2011, 07:51 PM
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As a rule of thumb, for the main tourist areas most subway rides cost HK$6-9 one way, unless you are going out to Lantau to see the Buddha, which is about HK$18 each way. Bus rides are cheaper, like HK$4-6, unless you are going to Stanley which is about HK$9 each way. The tram is HK$2.20 for a ride of any length, and the ferry to TST is HK$2.50 for first class ($3 on weekends and public holidays). The Peak Tram is HK$28 (HK$40 return) or HK$15 one way for the bus.
IMO if you got HK$100 in stored value, you would have more than enough for 3 days. You can add value at any 7-11 or Circle K convenience store by using cash, so it is very easy to top up the card if for some reason you use up the value. (You can also use the card to buy things like water, coffee, newspapers, groceries, etc at 7-11s, Starbucks, McDonalds, grocery stores, pharmacies and many other stores. They are very convenient.)
IMO if you got HK$100 in stored value, you would have more than enough for 3 days. You can add value at any 7-11 or Circle K convenience store by using cash, so it is very easy to top up the card if for some reason you use up the value. (You can also use the card to buy things like water, coffee, newspapers, groceries, etc at 7-11s, Starbucks, McDonalds, grocery stores, pharmacies and many other stores. They are very convenient.)
Dec 4th, 2011, 09:29 PM
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The fares in the above post is for adults. Most of those is half for seniors (whether you pay with cash or Elder Octopus).
Peak Tram is HK$18 roundtrip, $11 one-way.
HK residents over 65 can ride the lower deck of Star Ferry for free, but no concessions for visitors.
The NP360 Cable Car to see the Big Buddha has no concessions for visiting seniors. Only locals get a small discount.
Peak Tram is HK$18 roundtrip, $11 one-way.
HK residents over 65 can ride the lower deck of Star Ferry for free, but no concessions for visitors.
The NP360 Cable Car to see the Big Buddha has no concessions for visiting seniors. Only locals get a small discount.
Dec 4th, 2011, 10:26 PM
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Has anyone ever come across this one:
In addition, Octopus also provides Airport Express Tourist Octopus, the fare structure is as follows,
Airport Express One Free Single Journey + 3 days unlimited travel on MTR + $50 deposit + Stored value $20 = Price HK$220
Airport Express Two Free Single Journeys # + 3 days unlimited travel on MTR + $50 deposit + Stored value $20 = Price HK$300
# Valid for 180 days after purchase
In addition, Octopus also provides Airport Express Tourist Octopus, the fare structure is as follows,
Airport Express One Free Single Journey + 3 days unlimited travel on MTR + $50 deposit + Stored value $20 = Price HK$220
Airport Express Two Free Single Journeys # + 3 days unlimited travel on MTR + $50 deposit + Stored value $20 = Price HK$300
# Valid for 180 days after purchase
Dec 4th, 2011, 10:26 PM
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I found it on this website http://hong-kong-travel.org/Hong-Kon...Bus-Transport/
Dec 4th, 2011, 10:32 PM
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Also seen at the bottom of the table here: http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/fares_tickets/tf_index.html
How much do the AE group tickets cost and whereabouts are they bought? I couldn't see them on line?
Thanks for the help.
How much do the AE group tickets cost and whereabouts are they bought? I couldn't see them on line?
Thanks for the help.
Dec 4th, 2011, 10:36 PM
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Yes that is the "Tourist Octopus". The downside to that is that is only includes free travel on the MTR/subway. It does not include free travel on the buses, ferries or trams. IMO, you should not be taking HK$120 worth of MTR rides in 3 days. If you are, you are spending too much time underground and/or going to secondary sights. Bear in mind that the subway does NOT go to many of the best sights in Hong Kong: the Peak and Stanley just to name two. You also do not need to take the subway to get to many places on Hong Kong Island which are walkable from each other, nor do you really want to take it to get from Hong Kong Island to the tip of Kowloon, you want to take the Star Ferry as much as possible. The subway is good for longer distances or if you are in a real hurry. (And if you are in a hurry on vacation, maybe time to rethink that....) Otherwise, your feet, the ferry or the scenic street tram on Hong Kong Island are the way to go.
Buses are often as fast as the subway if you know the right routes, and in many cases will be faster than the subway.
Buses are often as fast as the subway if you know the right routes, and in many cases will be faster than the subway.
Dec 5th, 2011, 09:23 AM
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So do you think I would be better to:
a) Buy standard Octopus and Octopus Elders (make sure they have at least hk100 on them) plus separately buy Airport Express return group tickets or
b) someother combination?
How much do the AE group tickets cost and whereabouts are they bought? I couldn't see them on line?
Many thanks for helping to clarify
Lovener1
a) Buy standard Octopus and Octopus Elders (make sure they have at least hk100 on them) plus separately buy Airport Express return group tickets or
b) someother combination?
How much do the AE group tickets cost and whereabouts are they bought? I couldn't see them on line?
Many thanks for helping to clarify
Lovener1
Dec 5th, 2011, 09:32 AM
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In the terminal we arrived at (on Air Asia from Kuala Lumpur), there was an Airport Express booth right in the terminal. They were helpful in getting us the cheapest option, which as I recall was something like "One-way, group of 2" (which we then repeated on the return). We are not seniors (close, but not entitled to any discounts yet ), so I don't know if that makes a difference.
), so I don't know if that makes a difference.
Dec 5th, 2011, 04:27 PM
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Group ticket:
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/whatsnew/p..._4persons.html
Cheaper then regular (i.e. not same-day) return, even for just two persons.
I assume there are two (or more) of you, with one over 65 and one under. For the senior, get an Elder Octopus with total $100 ($50 deposit + $50 spending). For the adult, get a regular Octopus with the minimum amount to start a card, which is $150 ($50 deposit + $100 spending).
Top up your cards when needed and necessary. For some "big ticket" items like NP360 cable car or Peak Tram, while the ticket counter takes Octopus, you can simply use credit cards. There's no benefits or major convenience.
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/whatsnew/p..._4persons.html
Cheaper then regular (i.e. not same-day) return, even for just two persons.
I assume there are two (or more) of you, with one over 65 and one under. For the senior, get an Elder Octopus with total $100 ($50 deposit + $50 spending). For the adult, get a regular Octopus with the minimum amount to start a card, which is $150 ($50 deposit + $100 spending).
Top up your cards when needed and necessary. For some "big ticket" items like NP360 cable car or Peak Tram, while the ticket counter takes Octopus, you can simply use credit cards. There's no benefits or major convenience.
