How to pay on buses?
 

Will be doing a super cheap MR staying at HIX Kowloon East 20k points (no other similiar hotels available)

I plan on taking bus there E22A from airport. Not sure if Octopus card is worth it, since I will buy dinner on credit card and don't really see much to spend on.

So, how do you pay on a bus? is exact fare required or is there a fare card?

I have been to HK once before, so no need to sightsee.

THANKS

Exact fare in HK$ or Octopus card.

can you use US Debit card to buy octopus or HK$ only?

Cash only, last time I was there. Usually what I do is convert USD to HKG when I get off the plane, then go to the Octopus Card information desk (not the automated kiosk) and get a card from them. They usually speak good English. Then on the way out you can go to the same desk and they will refund the remaining balance on the card.

The card will also come in handy if you want to buy a Coke or some McDonald's. But you said you're not sightseeing so if you're just going from the airport to the hotel you might could just get some cash.

Probably worth having for things like cokes etc

Thanks for the info

Yeah, you definitely want one. There are ATMs within spitting distances of the counters at the airport that sell them.

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (BB10; Touch) AppleWebKit/537.35+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/10.2.1.3247 Mobile Safari/537.35+)

At the airport express station in HKG, I was able to buy a two day pass on credit. (in August)

Airport Express tickets and Octopus cards are different things. Octopus cards are cash in HKD only.

Minimum HK$150 to start a card, with $100 spendable dollars and $41 of deposit that will be refunded (along with unspent credit) to the OP. [$50 if over 3 months after initial purchase.]

So, the OP needs to get minimum of HK$150 in cash to get the Octopus. If he only uses it for the two $24 bus rides, he'll get $52 + $41 = $93 to spend at the airport.

One other thing, the bus fare going back to the airport on E22A is $24. He can actually spend the Octopus card down to as little as $0.1 left before his bus ride, and can still get on. He'll then have a -$23.9 remaining value. Not good for any further purchase, but this way, he'll get $41 - $23.9 = $17.1 back when he returns his Octopus at airport.

...or he can just keep it for future trips.

I'm actually in a very similar circumstance, only I love Hong Kong and do want to sightsee :)

Flying into HKG as an Asian gateway after UA saw fit to discontinue serving BKK, as that's where I was able to use my GPUs, but will only spend one full day in town, using same 20K points pre night, but next door at another IHG property (Crowne Plaza IIRC).

OK, on Wikipedia I also see tourist Octopus:

Only skimmed the actual Octopus web site as it looks rather confusing at first glance :(

For some of us it could be a long time. My one and only other visit was almost ten years ago :eek:

Oh, and is the Airport Express better to get to East Kowloon that rail?

The OP was asking about regular Octopus to ride the E22A, so I decide not to confuse him with the other Octopus products like the tourist Octopus that combines Airport Express tickets with Octopus features.

To get to the two IHG properties in Tseung Kwan O, best way is simply take a taxi. The E22A bus is direct, but only runs every 30 minutes (sometimes 25), and will take about 90 minutes (including over 15 minutes just around the backside of airport and Tung Chung).

To go by rail the whole way, I'd take the Airport Express all the way to Hong Kong, do the long 5+ minute transfer to the Island line, and then same-level cross platform transfer at North Point to the Tseung Kwan O line. It will cost more than the "official" way of switching at Tsing Yi, because you're paying the AE fare to Hong Kong and not Tsing Yi. But this means 24 minutes to HK, then 26 minutes from Central to TKO, plus about 7-8 minute of transfer. 3 train rides and under an hour, and sitting for the most part.

Official site takes 67 minutes and 5 train rides (switching at Tsing Yi, Lai King, Prince Edward and Tiu Keng Ling), standing for the most part.

There are other ways that can be cheaper than AE or taxi, but probably faster than E22A. Like A12 (currently via Cross Harbour Tunnel) to North Point then MTR (one bus and one train), or A29 direct to Po Lam or Hang Hau, then switch back to very very short taxi or MTR ride to Tseung Kwan O Centre. Best way may depend on time of day and how soon will the next E22A/A12/A29 depart.

Thanks for the quick reply, appreciate the detail ^

Well, I am Budget Travel mod, so unless absolutely necessary, don't do taxis ;)

And yes, I've been known to take public bus (now light rail) to get to DFW for a flight in Biz.

Google transit says two transfers by rail, about 90 minutes. They were dead on for DUB to town. About 10 minutes longer than bus 747, but almost $10 cheaper :) ^

And I think you are familiar with sCO EWR-HKG ;) 8:45 p.m. scheduled arrival.

Now UA 117, today's UA flight status shows it flying over Greenland, Iceland and Russia on the way to Hong Kong.

I don't do taxis either - anywhere in the US, Europe or Japan. Even for airports like LFA or LAS. But now I live in Kam Tin, it's nothing but taxi going to/from HKG. 30 min door to door, HK$250 is the best money I can spend.

Wirelessly posted (Xperia Z: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; Android 4.4.4; SGP521 Build/23.0.1.A.0.167) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/39.0.2171.59 Safari/537.36)

For TKO E22A is one of the easier yet cheaper option. I recommend against the idea of taking trains as there are significant more changes and walking.

Wouldn't the AE ride cost the same if one buys the Tourist Octopus? Even the MTR ride would cost the same (counted a day, not $), right?