US $ in Hong Kong & Singapore
 

Are US dollars accepted much in Hong Kong and Singapore?

Some stores will take them, and some stall holders in night markets. What you have to understand is that they will be "accepting" them at a very bad exchange rate, and the goods you are buying will cost you more. You will also get change back in Singapore Dollars or Hong Kong Dolalrs. With ATMs everywhere that will take your card, there really is no reason to hand over Dollars to a merchant and pay more for the product. Even using a money changer, which usually has the worst rates, would be better than paying in US Dollars for something.

It would be much like someone paying you in Singapore dollars or HK dollars or Euro at your business in the US. You might be willing to accept the currency, but you would figure in your costs for converting the money and the extra time and trouble it would take.

Cicerone is right. Get local currency from an ATM. It's quick and easy.

As mentioned above, you will suffer a very poor exchange rate at the places that do accept them.

In Singapore there's money changers almost everywhere. Suggest that you change your US$ at these places. There are NO fee/commissions/charges imposed.

On the other hand, many merchants in HK will accept the Chinese Yuan at good exchange rate, as they want those tourists' business.

[How things have changed since 1983, when the HK$ suffered a huge depreciation and local merchants demand payment in US$ and won't take HK$.]

steve, does the mcdonalds or walmart in your town take hong kong dollars or singapore money? then why would developed nations like these accept american dollars.....think about it...they are not cambodia or burma---countries whose money is not world class...

Generations of Americans have grown up with the idea that the US$ is the world currency, which is understandable enough, so I'm not surprised by Steve's enquiry. At the least the bills are readily recognisable, unlike mine. But I've read posters on the Europe forum asking seriously if they can use US$ in London - now, that's really weird.

One minor irritant is posts on the Australia forum quoting $x or $y, and we're left to wonder whether the poster is referring to AU$ or US$ - but of course it's nearly always US$. No doubt Canadians and New Zealanders have the same problem. What's so hard about using the currency of your host country? And why would you want to turn up in that country with a wallet stuffed with your own country's money anyway?

Steve,a disclaimer - this is not a get-the-Yanks rant, we have our own problem children, after all.

I certainly had planned to go to an ATM and get Hong Kong dollars and Singapore dollars just as I do in other countries. My main concern is how to pay for the cab from the Hong Kong airport to the hotel and from the pier in Singapore to the hotel.
Steve

As noted above, moneychangers are everywhere in SG. There will probably be one in the terminal at the dock where you debark.
Some taxis in SG will take credit cards. If you are in one that does not, just have him stop at a moneychanger on the way to the hotel or ask him to wait at the front door while you run in and change some money at the front desk of your hotel.

Lindsey has it right if you are arriving on a ship and just want to get straight to your hotel, you can just change at the hotel though just hope there's not a line.and many will take cc also.

steve1984 - Taxis in Hong Kong are cash only. You should get cash from an ATM, or exchange from US$ to HK$ at one of the many banks there. [There are both on the arrivals level, and some more in the departure level above.]