I appreciate the advice below, but does it make sense for me to get an Octopus card for a 3-day visit when I can get an Adult Tourist (Transit) Day Pass for HK$55 = USD$7 ?
https://www.paydollar.com/b2c2/AELCo...ng&catid=20501
How many rides does it take for the pass to pay for itself? Does it include trams and buses referenced below?
I don't require airport transit and probably won't be using vending machines. The whole "refund" thing isn't another stop that I want.
Originally Posted by
Steve M
Life is much easier even as a tourist with an Octopus card. And it's not just for the MTR. For example, the tram (the rail-based double-decker trains, not the Peak Tram) cost $2.3 per ride - exact change required. Similar issue for buses and mini-buses. It's much simpler to be able to just tap the Octopus card than worry about change. Also, for the Peak Tram, if you have enough value on the card to pay for the fare, you can skip the inevitable line at the ticket window. For smaller purchases at 7-11 etc, you avoid getting a pocketful of change.
The Octopus card is similar to a personalized refillable gift card (or pre-paid credit card) with pay-wave function. It's main use is for speed and convenience for public transport, vending machines and certain shops where there is a large transaction volume and speeding up the line is greatly appreciated/a necessity. Examples are coffee shops, convenience stores and places where office workers buy lunch boxes during the lunch rush. Considering the majority of the HK population have one, not having one is considered rude as you will almost always hold up the line fiddling around with coins. Plus the HK$5 coin and HK$10 coin are quite heavy and generally a pain (literally) to carry.
However, if you will not be taking public transport, use vending machines nor eat outside of sit-down restaurants for the duration of your visit, there is no reason to get an Octopus card. If the only public transport you need is the Airport Express, then just get those tickets separately.
Originally Posted by
Santander
Octopus is not a debit card; it's a part of the HK way of life. Pretty much everyone from schoolchildren to bankers to tourists have one. It's like an Oyster card in London or a Suica card in Tokyo. If you won't be taking public transport at all during those 4 days (somewhat unlikely) you don't need Octopus, but if you do plan to use the MTR it'll save you valuable time because you won't have to buy single journey tickets all the time. The payment thing outside public transit is more of a side function; I rarely use it for that purpose other than buying the odd cup of coffee.