Hong Kong was our family’s first overseas vacation.  We enjoyed it so much we went again a second and a third time.  But there is so much more of the world to explore that we have not been back in nearly 12 years, that is until last week.  

Over four days of dining, shopping and sightseeing, we were reminded why Hong Kong continues to draw tourists both near and far.  It’s one of the most visitor-friendly places in Asia, plus one of the most affordable too.

If you’re still looking where to take off this summer, or have already planned to visit Hong Kong, here are some money-saving tips that can help your wallet.  One quick disclaimer: I did not receive any compensation for the offers I am highlighting here.  Just paying forward all the good deals we enjoyed during our trip.

#1 Choose money changers wisely

As a rule, airport money changers sell high and buy low.  Avoiding them, I was all set to exchange my pesos when we reached Kowloon, but was surprised at the rate quoted in the first store.  Walking around, the rates were pretty much the same which would mean P8.9 for every Hong Kong dollar.   That’s too steep when you compare online using XE Currency Converter.  Thankfully, we stumbled upon Chungking Mansions along Nathan Road.  The ground floor has several money changers side by side so you can easily check for the best rates.  Here, we got a much better rate with P7.30 = 1 Hong Kong dollar.  

#2 No need to carry US dollars

In our previous trips, we would exchange our pesos to US dollars while in Manila, and use the US dollars to get Hong Kong dollars when we arrive.  We later realized this actually cost us more.  Remember that every time you exchange currency, you suffer loss so better to just exchange your pesos to the currency you need.   In Hong Kong where there are many Filipinos, there is demand for our currency so money changers are willing to buy them, and offer a decent rate.

#3 Get a better rate with polymer banknotes

It was surprising to see two different exchange rates for our peso.  Turns out the money changers will pay more if you have the new currency banknotes made with Polymer.  The rates change daily but on April 17, the old P1,000 bill will get you HKD126 while the new bill will be worth HKD137.  That’s an extra HKD11 that you can spend on snacks or souvenirs.

#4 Tapping away with GCash or Octopus card

We had on hand our GCash cards and the exchange rate was not bad.  From April 16 to 20, it was P7.4 for every HKD.  While it worked most of the time, we did encounter some problems with some stores that led to declined transactions.  That’s when credit cards came in handy, or cash, or the Octopus card.  More than just a train card, the Octopus card can be used for nearly all stores in Hong Kong.  The card itself will cost around P300, and then you can reload it all you want.  If you tap it for train rides, you’ll note that the fare is lower so that’s more savings versus buying single use tickets.

#5 Airport Express or Limousine Pick-up: Do the Math

If you’re a group of 4 or more, consider getting a car or van to pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel.  While the Airport Express is convenient, most still need to switch trains and maybe take a cab to the hotel or walk the last leg.  We were 6 and after doing the math, booking a van actually came out cheaper.  There is one downside though: with 6 passengers, luggage space will be limited.  We booked via Klook and only paid P3,000 for a ride from the airport to our hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui.  It was a comfortable ride for the 6 of us, along with our 1 large luggage and 4 standard size luggage.

#6 Try eSIM for cheaper roaming rates

While booking our airport ride in Klook, I was offered data using eSIM for less than P300!  At this super low rate, I would have 5GB over 7 days.  That’s an easy yes for me.  For our 5-day trip, it would have cost me P2,495 to activate the roaming of my local SIM at P499 per day.  With Klook’s eSIM, I only paid P286.10.  Of course, before you sign up, check that your phone is compatible with eSIM.  If yes, grab this deal right away.  Over 5 days, I had enough data for Viber, WhatsApp, Messenger, Safari, Chrome, Google Translate plus Google Maps.

#7 Hit the tourist desk at every mall

Nearly every mall in Hong Kong had special offers for tourists.  Visit the information counter before you start shopping or dining to discover their latest promotions.  By making this quick stop, we got a free umbrella, free tote bag, free luggage belt bag, free skin care products, and vouchers for shopping and dining worth HKD50 each.  You’ll need to register by scanning their QR codes, and it will usually take about 2 minutes.  Make sure you have your passport with you, plus the small square piece of paper from Immigration on your arrival.

#8 Don’t buy at first ask

It never hurts to compare prices, so try not to buy something at first sight.  Walk around the block, or visit a few stores before handing over your cash or credit card or debit card.  Even with something as small as souvenirs.  In our first stop, it was HKD29 each, or get 4 for HKD100.  When we saw another store a block away, it was HKD25 each, or get 7 for HKD100!  Unless you’ve done your research and know exactly the best price, no harm in showing some restraint for your wallet’s sake.

#9 Visit the HK Tourism Board website for offers

You can do this on arrival to Hong Kong or as early as when planning your trip.  Click the Deals page within the website then register, choose the offers you want and redeem them.  The offers range from discounts to free gifts to buy one get one promotions.  Some of the offers were tempting, like HKD298 all you can eat dim sum buffet.  It was buy one and the second one free, so with the 6 of us, we would only pay HKD894, or around P6,700.  

#10 MTR, taxi or Uber?

With two elderly persons in our group, we decided to take a taxi from Kowloon to Causeway Bay and was shocked to learn that we have to pay HKD50 on top of the cab fare.  This includes the one way HKD25 tunnel fee plus the return trip which is why its HKD50.  If you book with Uber, this is already included in the booking fee which made it the cheaper choice.  Of course the cheapest is to take the MTR.  But again if you are traveling as a group, taking the MTR may cost the same or even more expensive than a cab if you are just going around Kowloon.  In all spending, from shopping to dining to rides, always do the quick math in your head before making the choice.

A final word about transport choices.  We arrived in Manila to airport chaos, late Easter Sunday when everyone seemed to be flying back from their vacations too.  We learned you can no longer book Grab at Departure Gates because there are newly designated pick up points.  We went to the Grab booth for help and tried several times to get a booking but no luck.  Right next to them was JoyRide Super Taxi and what a relief that they can book for you, and the driver will come pick you up and take you to where he is parked (a short walk about a minute away).  Grab was going to cost us about P600 and JoyRide was P750.  That P150 extra is worth it with how fast we were ushered out of the airport and driven to our home.  Competition that’s good for the consumer is always welcome!