Hong Kong and Macau - Hong Kong Taxicabs

Do they take VISA or AMEX? Or do they take only cash? Where do I get Hong Kong dollars inititally, an ATM at the airport?

Just wondering, y'all. :D

Yes some take visa but so cheap just pay cash. Taxis are fantastic. ATMs are everywhere in hong kong, withdraw some money when you arrive or at an exchange counter at the airport.

Do they take VISA or AMEX? Or do they take only cash? Where do I get Hong Kong dollars inititally, an ATM at the airport?

Just wondering, y'all. :D
Most HK taxi's do NOT take credit cards, there are only a handful that do, as a trial.
You can get cash from ATM's at the airport.
Depending where you are staying, you may be able to take the airport express (train) + (free) shuttle bus to your hotel.

http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/getting_around/complom_free_bus.html

Only a very small number take credit cards. And a very small number also take Octopus. But generally you need cash. There are several ATMs at the airport. http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/shopping/insideshopping/all/money/list.html

Do not use the Travelex money exchange counters unless you want to be severely ripped off.

And most people take the train or buses from the airport, not taxis. But if you do take a taxi remember that you don't tip in Hong Kong! (the driver will often round up to the next HK dollar if the fare is not an exact dollar amount)

...and please be reminded that taxis in Hong Kong are colour "coded", so depending on where you are heading:

Red cabs: Urban areas (Kowloon/Hong Kong island)
Green: New Territories
Blue: Lantau

But if you do take a taxi remember that you don't tip in Hong Kong!

I do, actually...

I do, actually...Well please stop doing it! Those of us who live here and use taxis regularly don't want to be expected to pay more because of the ignorance of American tourists!

Well please stop doing it! Those of us who live here and use taxis regularly don't want to be expected to pay more because of the ignorance of American tourists!

Agreed. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

For visitors to HK, the local practice when paying taxi fare is to round up to the nearest dollar. If you pay the exact fare, it's fine too and you will not be offending anyone. If the fare = HK$27.80, pay HK$28 or HK$27.80 exactly is also fine too.

Well please stop doing it! Those of us who live here and use taxis regularly don't want to be expected to pay more because of the ignorance of American tourists!

I don't think you need to worry. American tourists are few and far between, whether they're ignorant or not. Mainland ones don't tip, so we are all safe.

Awesome! Thank you so much for the info, you guys! Much appreciated! :)

Well please stop doing it! Those of us who live here and use taxis regularly don't want to be expected to pay more because of the ignorance of American tourists!

:D

Thanks for a good laugh, mate. If you haven't noticed any difference in Hong Kong cab driver's behaviour in the last 20 years, you'll be fine for the next 20 years, no worries...

Well please stop doing it! Those of us who live here and use taxis regularly don't want to be expected to pay more because of the ignorance of American tourists!

Sorry, you can add us Brits to that as well ;). Old habits die hard I guess. I did find taxis very cheap compared to home and with a group of three or four there's no reason to use any type of transportation.

Well please stop doing it! Those of us who live here and use taxis regularly don't want to be expected to pay more because of the ignorance of American tourists!

Is it the same for restaurant food service? I.e., no additional tips as a 10% tips/service charge has been added already?

How about for small place that doesn't add the 10% service charge?

Yes - in general in restaurants if a service charge has been added then you don't add more unless the service has been exceptional. In small places without a service charge it is common to leave a few coins if the service has been OK, but it is not particularly expected.

The worst about HK service charge is when you go for the discounted dishes. For example, I went to Pizza Hut a couple of years ago for the $1 dollar pizza. The waiter told me that the final price will be $5 because they put the 10% on the FULL PRICE of the pizza. It's still cheap but it kind of ruin the principle of 10% rule.

Same apply to half price hotel buffet etc. - it's a normal pratice when is so horrible. My sis got complimentary buffet breakfast coupon at Regal Airport Hotel, and she got charged for $30 for service charge based on the full price.

The worst about HK service charge is when you go for the discounted dishes. For example, I went to Pizza Hut a couple of years ago for the $1 dollar pizza. The waiter told me that the final price will be $5 because they put the 10% on the FULL PRICE of the pizza. It's still cheap but it kind of ruin the principle of 10% rule.

Same apply to half price hotel buffet etc. - it's a normal pratice when is so horrible. My sis got complimentary buffet breakfast coupon at Regal Airport Hotel, and she got charged for $30 for service charge based on the full price.

i think that's pretty standard everywhere. just because you get a discount on the actual food doesn't mean it's a discount for service, etc.

The worst about HK service charge is when you go for the discounted dishes. For example, I went to Pizza Hut a couple of years ago for the $1 dollar pizza. The waiter told me that the final price will be $5 because they put the 10% on the FULL PRICE of the pizza. It's still cheap but it kind of ruin the principle of 10% rule.

Same apply to half price hotel buffet etc. - it's a normal pratice when is so horrible. My sis got complimentary buffet breakfast coupon at Regal Airport Hotel, and she got charged for $30 for service charge based on the full price.

The service charge is always based on the actual value of the meal. Since the waitresses and bus staff don't buy groceries or pay rent for 1/10th the actual price.

I bet you don't tip the bartender for "free" drinks at airport clubs and lounges.

I agree with nacho and disagree with most of you guys. In Hong Kong, the "10% service charge" is just part of the price of meal the restaurant charges. Servers are paid by the hours, and none of the "10% service charge" goes to them. It is not a tip, but more like the "fuel surcharge" levied by airlines - it's just part of the fare.

If the restaurants run a special, then the "10% service charge" should be based on that as well. The restaurants don't have to run that special if they don't want to. It is false advertising.

I agree with nacho and disagree with most of you guys. In Hong Kong, the "10% service charge" is just part of the price of meal the restaurant charges. Servers are paid by the hours, and none of the "10% service charge" goes to them. It is not a tip, but more like the "fuel surcharge" levied by airlines - it's just part of the fare.

If the restaurants run a special, then the "10% service charge" should be based on that as well. The restaurants don't have to run that special if they don't want to. It is false advertising.

Although there was a 10% service charge levied at some restaurants that I went to (Tin Long Heen, etc.) there was no automatic service charge levied at others, and it appears at least at one restaurant I went to (Ippudo Hong Kong in Silvercord in TST/Kowloon) where there was no automatic service charge, the tips would go to the staff. I asked in English and the staff said tips go to them. Not sure if giving "tips" is normal in HK.

Just got back from my second trip to HK, and although most taxis were OK, one tried to scam me by trying to give me a surcharge of an extra 50HKD. Note to the wise: be knowledgable about extra charges such as baggage, toll (toll fee + return), etc. Did cross-harbour tunnel and should have been extra 20 to and from (10 for toll and 10 for return) but he tried to charge me 70 extra in total (20 of that being correct). I had no luggage and that is even more than for taking Western (45 for toll + 15 return) so I yelled at him as I was pretty pissed to say the least and I got the cab driver number and his picture. Should I complain and to whom?

i think that's pretty standard everywhere. just because you get a discount on the actual food doesn't mean it's a discount for service, etc.

Everywhere in HK. Not anywhere else I have tried.

Should I complain and to whom?Yes. http://www.info.gov.hk/tcu/taxi/index.htm

Hong Kong government/tourism authorities treat these complaints very seriously especially when the victim is a foreign tourist.

I remember a driver formerly a local football star from the 60's who was charged successfully for ripping off a tourist based on a complaint.

The service charge is always based on the actual value of the meal. Since the waitresses and bus staff don't buy groceries or pay rent for 1/10th the actual price.

I bet you don't tip the bartender for "free" drinks at airport clubs and lounges.

And? What's the problem that I don't tip? The drinks are provided by the airlines and the waiter are paid the minimum wage here in Europe (here you get about USD 15 per hour and possibly more). Btw the lounges here at CPH are self-service.

I avoid places that I know I have tip. So I go to fast food shops instead of restaurants. If I take an airport shuttle I take my own bags - I don't want to pay for something that is 'complimentary'.

I do think people should accept other's peoples' opinion about tipping. Just because you think it's the absolute right thing to do doesn't mean that you should criticise everyone who don't.

Are there limits on number of passengers in each cab as in in the US? Or can we squeeze say a party of six into a sedan?

Wirelessly posted (iPhone 4: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A334 Safari/7534.48.3)

HK taxi has 2 version : 4 pax in a car or 5 pax

4 person layout

P - D
P P P

5 person layout

P P D
P P P