Bring cash!!!

While Hong Kong frequently appears to be a futuristic wonderland of efficient trains and soaring skyscrapers, not everything about it is. Credit and debit cards are accepted by the majority of large retailers, mall stores, luxury restaurants, and hotels. In many parts of the city, though, cash is still king.

As of 2018, cash payments on an Octopus Card (a pre-paid fare card that you touch to enter the city's subway system) are the sole option to get on the MTR. Furthermore, Uber is not widely used in this area, and the city's street-hailed cab network does not accept credit cards. You won't be able to use your credit card at any of the typical mom-and-pop restaurants. Fortunately, there are numerous foreign banks with ATMs located around the city.