A L S O +T O D A Y Are you more tempted to have a romantic fling while traveling? Bare all in the Wanderlust area of Table Talk Road Warrior Frequent flyer guru Randy Peterson shares his secrets (01/12/98) Informed Sources Online ticketing vs. travel agents: Which is better? (01/12/98) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Browse the Tip of the week archives - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Your virtual travel agency - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -		T I P_O F_T H E_W E E K - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - _______Cash-free travel in Hong Kong Business travelers to Hong Kong need no longer search feverishly through their pockets for change before taking public transportation. The microchip-enhanced Octopus Card now allows visitors to travel cash-free throughout Hong Kong. Introduced last fall, the card recently expanded its affiliates, adding ferries to all the outlying islands to its already existing partners: the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), the Kowloon-Canton Railway (KCR) East Rail and Light Rail (including the Light Rail shuttle buses), the majority of Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) and Citybus cross-harbor routes and the Hong Kong & Yaumatei Ferry route to the island of Peng Chau. Octopus Cards can be purchased at all MTR and KCR East Rail and Light Rail ticket offices or customer service centers and at designated ferry piers, as well as at all Hong Kong Tourist Association information offices. The card initially costs HK$100 (about $12) for adults, HK$50 ($6) for students and HK$20 ($2.50) for children and senior citizens. In addition, each buyer must pay a HK$50 ($6) deposit. How do you use it? Simply touch the card to special processors located at transportation gates or platforms; at the end of your journey, the appropriate amount is automatically deducted. To see how much money you have left on your card, inquiry processors have also been installed at the same locations. When the initial amount is used, you can add new value to your card in amounts of HK$100, ranging anywhere from HK$100 to HK$1,000. You can reuse the card as often as you like, and when you turn the card in, your deposit will be refunded. SALON | Jan. 12, 1998 < - - - - Return to R O A D_W A R R I O R