Originally Posted by
jackmiles
Hi there
Just want to check if my understanding of this whole Octopus situation is more or less correct.
Octopus App versus Octopus for Tourists App: is the Tourist version just a sort of stripped-down, simplified version of the regular app, without features like Rewards and Subsidies that short term visitors won't benefit from? And is the reason to NOT install the regular app as a tourist that you'd need an HKID and a HK credit card to activate and use it?
Are fares cheaper when using the Octo-4-Tourists app? Or is the primary benefit convenience? Ie, not having to buy single fares each time you take transport. I'm only in HK for a few days and it looks like most of my intended destinations are within walking distance of my hotel, so I'm wondering if I should bother with Octopus at all, or just pay cash for the few ferry/
MTR trips I might take. Can you buy the single fare tickets with a credit card?
TIA for any info or opinions.
Places in Hong Kong are split into:
- Cash only
- Cash and Octopus
- Everything (Cash, Octopus, Alipay, Visa/Mastercard etc.)
You are somewhat correct with the Octopus for tourists version; another reason why you can't use the main app is that top-up is only using local banking methods (locally issued cards & bank account transfers).
Fares are not cheaper using an Octopus card vs (Visa) contactless, but they are cheaper than using cash. I would highly recommend getting a (digital) Octopus card as you'll be able to pay for things much quicker (including a lot of shops such as 7-11). As a tourist, most places that you will visit won't be cash only unless you go to those 'hidden food gems' down a backstreet-type places.
You can get a refund of your Octopus and balance on it when you leave Hong Kong. As a tourist, I'd say put about HKD 100 for every day you're there, plus another HKD 100 and it should cover you for the whole trip (MTR, ferry, 7-11, quick food breaks etc.).