A week in China - Where/What?

[Flashback]

I was thinking of just fronting up to the ticket window for tickets for Dad and I from Shenzhenbei to HK W Kowloon, but in the end I booked a specific train on Trip.com and copped the booking fee, which wasn't as stark a proportion as @Flashback 's ticket just upthread.

Especially when Dad opted for first class, despite it being approx double cost and for a 18 min ride.

The irony of this ride is that the border controls take far, far longer than the journey itself (which is pretty much one long tunnel ride).

Is that because the AUD booking version price is lower, for the fee? It seems to be £2-3 for the 4 fares I need to book.

 

[anat0l]

Is that because the AUD booking version price is lower, for the fee? It seems to be £2-3 for the 4 fares I need to book.

We paid in CNY. The fare is between Shenzhenbei and HK W Kowloon was about CNY 69 (CNY 120 for First Class) and the booking fee was CNY 20 per person. There was some sort of instant voucher available when I booked using the Trip.com app which gave a tiny discount.

CNY 20 is about GBP 2-3 as you state.

 

[Flashback]

We paid in CNY. The fare is between Shenzhenbei and HK W Kowloon was about CNY 69 (CNY 120 for First Class) and the booking fee was CNY 20 per person. There was some sort of instant voucher available when I booked using the Trip.com app which gave a tiny discount.

CNY 20 is about GBP 2-3 as you state.

£2, yep. In that case I shall get booking as I have specific times I want and I'm already seeing some cabins sold out.

 

[Flashback]

£2, yep. In that case I shall get booking as I have specific times I want and I'm already seeing some cabins sold out.

I was able to reduce the booking fee slightly by paying in CNY rather than GBP (base fare is still the same), so 20 became 12 CNY.

 

[Flashback]

Well, I'm at a complete loss as to how to pay for anything, other than getting out a load of cash (and then struggling with change etc.).

I've just been to Lawsons and Family Mart, neither payment worked using both a Mastercard and Visa. Each one my bank made me auth the tx via the app, which I did. Failed. I then also tried to use the physical cards, they also both failed.

Super frustrating...........

 

[moa999]

Have you downloaded Alipay and done the ID verification?

 

[Flashback]

Have you downloaded Alipay and done the ID verification?

Yes, did all that prior to arriving here.

The only successful payment I've had so far is:

1. Metro (it didn't ask me to auth that tx, it just worked)
2. Paying the personal QR code for the lady at the till

Off to ICBC now to go and get some cash out.........