I just booked a hotel for an upcoming trip to Macau online. The price quoted is in denominated in HKD. Was
wondering whether i can pay the bill in MOP at the same value (e.g. 500 HKD bill and i just pay 500 MOP in cash instead)
or am i subjected to an HKD-MOP exchange rate if i pay in Patacas?

Following on that, if instead of cash, i pay by credit card, will i be charged in HKD or MOP or do i have a choice?

On another matter, it find it a big pain to have to always put a rather large deposit at the China hotels before i check-in.
I don't generally use credit cards in China and therefore, i always pay the deposit in cash. Usually, they always ask for
1,000-1,200 RMB for deposit purposes. Is this deposit amount negotiable? Would it be possible to put about 500 RMB
as deposit instead?

Hey DD,

To answer your questions:

1) Most hotels (unless you go to bigger ones like Venetian or MGM) will subject you to the HKD-MOP exchange rate.

2) My credit cards are issued in HK so they charge it in MOP then convert it to HKD when I pay my monthly statements, etc... I doubt you get to choose unless you're buying electronics and they ask whether or not you want to pay HKD or MOP.

3) Not negotiable in most places. However I do bitch about it a lot if I go to a 3 star or less hotel and don't want to use my CC to put down a deposit. Usually if you bitch enough, they lower the price. If it's a 5 star hotel, I don't mind giving them my credit card to put down a deposit though.... You get it back when you check out.

I stayed at the Miraton Hotel in DG on a few occasions and its a 4star hotel...even then i have been hesistant to use my credit card
to put down the deposit because from what i understand, the deposit is actually processed as a purchase and you have to sign the
slip. Upon check-out, they do an electronic refund and issue you with a receipt of some sort to prove that the merchant (i.e. the hotel)
has authorised this refund without dispute. But, the refund process takes a bloody long time and its not always a smooth process...

I learnt this by talking to the counter staff when i was checking-out one time and was getting my cash deposit (less the room price
for my stay) back. Asked her about the credit card thing and thats how it was explained to me (kudos to her for being honest
about the potential problems though).

I learnt my lesson the hard way. Had to go to China for work 6 years or so ago. Was still "green" when it came to traveling in China so we went to some faraway place with no decent hotels so we stayed at a 3 star hotel. They asked for a deposit and I gave them my CC. All was fine and dandy until two weeks later, I got my statement and was charged 1,500 RMB + the rooms that we stayed in for the three nights. I was furious and had to go through hell to get that money back. Luckily the CC company I had my card with was very customer oriented and helped me out best they can.

Just ask the reception when u reach the hotel in Macau. You seems to be a nitpicker and overly concerned with insignificant details and matters, i.e. MOP vs HKD forex diff is only minor.

However, i would agree with you bout the large amount of deposits required by hotels in china. Usually equivalent to the number of nites you are staying.
All you can do is raise your voice and refuse to pay the deposit or shit them with not enough cash in hand. You can opt for daily settlement to avoid high deposit held by the hotel.
You should start swiping ur Visa to avoid carrying too much cash,

Hi Bro Hunter,

I was just curious as to this minor detail. Of course, whether its payable in HKD or MOP is no problem with me. Yes, at times i do admit
that i tend to look at the smallest of details but i do this with no intention of being a nitpick (just pure curiousity - call it a bad habit
).

While we are at hotel issues, are there any hotels in Macau/China/HK that allow you to occupy the room for half day or hourly basis if you do not intend to stay the night?

Macau - some hotels have half day rates but they are close enough to full day rates. I know Rio and Golden Dragon allows this.

HK - There are hourly hotels, just do a google search but don't expect Four Seasons.

China - Unsure about hourly rate or half day hotel rates but the cost of hotel stays is so cheap why bother?

I never pay for hotels when i go mongering.. It leaves a paper trail for my wife to find. Also i remember once booking a hotel for 2 weeks and they required a security deposit for the contents of the room. They refunded my security deposit back onto my card when i checked out of the hotel, only to realise a month later when my statement came that the exchange rate was diferent to the time i paid the security deposit.

As a general rule of thumb, you don't want to be using a credit card anywhere unless it's a trusted (perhaps even foreign) establishment.  5 Stars are a given, but I would still feel weary of the 3 Star Holiday Inns for example.

Stick with cash if you can.  But I understand it's more fun to save your cash for the mongering.

Learn something new everyday - never would have known about the issues above, so thanks guys - will think long and hard about giving up credit card details next time! (although been with my bank for years, so I think they'd help me out pretty well - i hope :S )

Nowaday we have electronic statement, password protected or send the hardcopy statement to Office.

China is not as bad as it seen, credit card fraud in china is not as common as in Asean Countries. Chinese still prefer the old school, they mug you at the back alley.
Another reason is because China credit card needs Pin number/password to activate each transaction. Even if it is stolen, it is no use.

However, HK/UK/Asean credit cards might run at higher risk because password is not required. Just swipe and sign. How bout cards in other countries?

Not too sure about the security that you mentioned there Bro Hunter.

Just a couple of days ago I read in the papers about this businessman got millions transacted from his bank account. Apparently the trickster used a forged bank card and used it purchasing jewelery in Macau via UnionPay. So much for PIN etc. Poor guy can't even stop the transaction even though he applied for notification service (where the bank will notify him on large transactions immediately).

Anyone has similar problems with banks/electronic transactions while at the huntng grounds? I always have this idea that it is better to bring cash for the hunt.

Insured your cards. Dont set too high credit limit. Millions of $$ ?? unless he hold AMEX black or premier card.

Everythign is bout common sense, not only in mongering in other countries but also going for holiday/biz trip.

If i book a hotel in Macau at shun tak travel at the airport and pay cash. Will i still be required to pay a security deposit on arrival at the hotel...

Yes, standard requirement for hotels.

If I recall, the standard deposit is HK$500 or HK$600. You can swipe your credit card but its not recorded on your credit card statement if you have that concern.

[ Last edited by  asia-play at 30-10-2009 20:11 ]

Yup. That was what i did one time. I booked a hotel room (1 night stay) at the Rio from
an agent at Shun Tak. Paid in cash (the rate was about 600 HKD). This was not a package
so no ferry tix included.

When checking-in at the Rio, i was still asked for a deposit which i paid in cash (forgot the
amount though). But as i already paid the agent at Shun Tak, i got back my deposit the
next day when i checked out.

Thanks for the info bro..  How much was the security deposit..?? And by the way Congrads on Lord bro..

[ Last edited by  Rico at 30-10-2009 20:27 ]

Thanks bro!

I can't remember how much i paid for the deposit but as Bro Asia-Play has mentioned in post
#16, it should be around 500 - 600 HKD.

And yeah, i feel much safer using my credit card for deposit purposes in Macau/HK because
while they process your card and generate the receipt, you don't have to sign it (thereby
it is not a purchase). What actually happens is that the amount (say 500 HKD) is 'blocked'
on your credit card.

So they just keep that generated receipt until you check out. You can then pay by cash or
credit card. In any event, they will destroy the generated receipt and will notify the credit
card company that the deposit amount will now be 'unblocked'.

Good system because this 'blocking/unblocking' is not reflected on your credit card statement
hence, no paper trail. Also, you don't need to carry too much cash around.

China is different. If you use your CC for deposit, they make you sign the slip and hence, it
is effectively a purchase. Only when you check out, will they initiate the 'refund' process back
to you (can take a very long time). As it is a purchase, it will be reflected on your CC
statement. Also there is a risk of getting charged twice (read Bro Ruggers15 post #4).

Remember that this process can take upwards to a week or two...usually a few days.  I presume most people have lots of credit available so this is not an issue.