Page 39 - South Korea & Japan: Temples, Shrines & Seaside Treasures

In China you usually pay with local currency at shops and restaurants and tip in local currency
too. But U.S. dollars may be accepted by some street vendors or the government’s Friendship
Stores. Each time you change money, you will receive a receipt. Keep these exchange slips.
You can exchange any leftover Chinese yuan bills at the airport before you depart from
mainland China.

Hong Kong & Macau SARs

Although Hong Kong and Macau are now part of China, the cities have their own currencies—
the Hong Kong dollar (HKD) and Macanese pataca (MOP)—as a holdover from when they
weren’t Chinese territories. In Hong Kong, U.S. dollars are usually not accepted for payment,
so you’ll need Hong Kong dollars. Some larger shops will accept Chinese yuan, but usually
at a poor exchange rate. Hong Kong dollars are also widely accepted in Macau, but Macanese
pataca aren’t accepted in Hong Kong.

How to Exchange Money

If you want to exchange money before your trip, you can usually do so through your bank or at
LY PcNSLYRP ZʯNP DZ`] OP[L]_`]P LT][Z]_ TY _SP @ > L _]LaPW LRPY_ Z] LY ,,, ZʯNP L]P LW^Z
possible outlets.

During the trip, the easiest way to get local currency is to use a local ATM (your bank at home
will convert and charge you in U.S. dollars). You can also exchange cash at some hotels and
XZYPd PcNSLYRP ZʯNP^ ?Z PcNSLYRP NL^S dZ`ɪWW `^`LWWd YPPO dZ`] [L^^[Z]_ LYO MTWW^ TY RZZO
condition (not worn, torn, or dirty). Never exchange money on the street.

All exchange methods involve fees, which may be built into the conversion rate; ask
beforehand.

ATMs
When using the ATM, keep in mind that it may only accept cards from local banks, and may
not allow cash advances on credit cards; you might need to try more than one ATM or more
than one card.

Many banks charge a fee of $1-$5 each time you use a foreign ATM. Others may charge you a
percentage of the amount you withdraw. We recommend that you check with your bank before
you depart.

Lastly, don’t forget to memorize the actual digits of your card’s PIN number (many keypads at
foreign ATMs do not include letters on their keys—they only display numbers.)

South Korea: ATMs are very common. Look for ATMs listed as a “Global ATM” as they accept
international cards.

39