The Ctrip/Trip.com GBU thread
Yesterday | 6:05 pm
#196
Original Poster
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,409
If you do drop Y1000 on a dinner at Dadong, you can either use Wx/Ap and pay a small conversion fee on the difference between 200 and 1000 or pay directly with your credit card (minor risk of DCC). I suppose you could also break the 1000 into 5 separate payments; that's common with group dinners, but a little tacky if it's just you and your family members.
Yesterday | 6:34 pm
#197
Join Date: Dec 2023
Location: NZ
Programs: NZ Koru Black
Posts: 827
It's not a worry at all in China for purchases <200 if you use WeChat or Alipay. For larger amounts, it can come into play, but isn't an issue for most web based transactions, including ctrip and major hotel chain websites.
If you do drop Y1000 on a dinner at Dadong, you can either use Wx/Ap and pay a small conversion fee on the difference between 200 and 1000 or pay directly with your credit card (minor risk of DCC). I suppose you could also break the 1000 into 5 separate payments; that's common with group dinners, but a little tacky if it's just you and your family members.
If you do drop Y1000 on a dinner at Dadong, you can either use Wx/Ap and pay a small conversion fee on the difference between 200 and 1000 or pay directly with your credit card (minor risk of DCC). I suppose you could also break the 1000 into 5 separate payments; that's common with group dinners, but a little tacky if it's just you and your family members.
And can I assume significant hotels will give an option to directly charge my foreign CC without using QR pay?
Yesterday | 8:37 pm
#198
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
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And can I assume significant hotels will give an option to directly charge my foreign CC without using QR pay?
Today | 12:40 am
#199
Join Date: Dec 2023
Location: NZ
Programs: NZ Koru Black
Posts: 827
I have a pay at hotel booking. It is an IHG hotel. Can I assume I can use a foreign credit card at check in to pay and avoid Alipay/WeChat pay?
Today | 12:55 am
#200
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Join Date: Dec 2000
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Don't they give you a quote in your preferred currency? WeChat/Alipay isn't great for large purchases in foreign currencies because they only absorb fx fees for amounts 200 or less.
Last edited by moondog; Today at 1:01 am
Today | 1:01 am
#201
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Silver; Accor Silver
Posts: 4,282
That said, in smaller towns and cities, they might have to dust off the card machine
. I had one case where they tried but after 3 attempts I just said screw it and paid by Weixin and swallowed the processing fee. But maybe because I am used to FX related fees anyway since in Europe, our bank cards are less generous with perks and charge more fees in general.
Today | 1:14 am
#202
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,409
Most major chain hotels, even the chinese ones like Atour, accept foreign bank cards (MC/Visa are processed through Unionpay networks).
That said, in smaller towns and cities, they might have to dust off the card machine. I had one case where they tried but after 3 attempts I just said screw it and paid by Weixin and swallowed the processing fee. But maybe because I am used to FX related fees anyway since in Europe, our bank cards are less generous with perks and charge more fees in general.
That said, in smaller towns and cities, they might have to dust off the card machine
. I had one case where they tried but after 3 attempts I just said screw it and paid by Weixin and swallowed the processing fee. But maybe because I am used to FX related fees anyway since in Europe, our bank cards are less generous with perks and charge more fees in general.ETA: I object to DCC out or principle, but Alipay only eating fx conversion costs up to 200 doesn't fall into the same "outright stealing" category.
Last edited by moondog; Today at 1:26 am
Today | 2:35 am
#203
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: LCA/SZX/RGN/TFU
Programs: RJ Plat/MU Gold/ 3U Plat/HU Plat/Melia Plat
Posts: 2,477
Trip.com lets you choose the currency (including CNY) which you pay in (for cards). From what I saw, there is no real markup compared to xe.com rates. Ctrip can only charge in CNY.
By the way - recently discovered that foreign issued Unionpay does not get charged the wx/Alipay fee above 200RMB.
By the way - recently discovered that foreign issued Unionpay does not get charged the wx/Alipay fee above 200RMB.
Today | 5:11 am
#204
Join Date: Dec 2023
Location: NZ
Programs: NZ Koru Black
Posts: 827
Still waiting on a Trip.com refund for a booking charged in NZD to work out whether it hit my card as an NZD or CNY charge. Will report back.
In the mean time, why does it quite often cost more for a double bed hotel room than a twin hotel room with 2 single beds in China/Hong Kong?!
In the mean time, why does it quite often cost more for a double bed hotel room than a twin hotel room with 2 single beds in China/Hong Kong?!