Overseas Public Transport Smart Cards - Do You Buy Them and What Do You Do with Them Afterwards?

LTurnipHead on 28/01/2023 - 18:35

When travelling, I often use public transport and most reasonable size cities have smart cards which make tickets cheaper and more convenient. However, once you've left the city, you're left with yet another smart card that you will have no use for anymore (generally with some credit left).

So for those that use public transport when overseas:

  • Do you purchase public transport smart cards when travelling?
  • What do you do with them afterwards?
  • Is there somewhere where one can buy smart cards that their owners no longer have a need for?
Travel

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 28/01/2023 - 18:37
    +2

    overseas

    Me: thinking about all my random myki/opal cards I’ve collected over the years from work and holiday trips to nsw/vic with random dollar amounts left on them :’(

    • kerfuffle on 28/01/2023 - 19:01
      +3

      You don't have to buy Opal cards any more next time you visit NSW. Mobile myki is available for Android phones.

      At least Opal cards are free, unlike other states (SA, WA, VIC, QLD) who all charge a fee

    • TurnipHead on 28/01/2023 - 20:44
      +1

      True, Melbourne was particularly bad as the cards also expire so if you decide to register them you ended up with a series of low value cards (most of which are expired). Thankfully they implemented electronic mykis!

    • johninmelb on 29/01/2023 - 14:15
      +2

      When next in Melbourne take your Myki card that is coming up to its expiration date, to a manned ticket office and exchange it for a new one. The balance is transferred over to the new card. No excuse to have left over cards with random amounts. They may also be able to move the balance on any other old cards over as well.

      As far as I am aware, Opal cards have a 9 year life. I've had my Opal card for yonks, and I just top it up everytime I go to Sydney. No need to keep getting new ones every time you go there.

      Same with Singapore MRT cards, they also last for ages. I have only renewed mine once in the last umpteen years. Current one expires about 2027 I think.

  • Hybroid on 28/01/2023 - 18:39

    Many places now let you tap on and off with Apple Pay directly:-

    https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT207958

  • bobbified on 28/01/2023 - 18:40

    What do you do with them afterwards?

    It's perfect for chopping and 'grinding' up stuff…
    (I'm going to be needing a new one soon!)

  • scotty on 28/01/2023 - 19:14
    +8

    Aren't they great souvenirs that remind you the trip? Many have cute designs of local culture or scenery (at least the ones got from HK, Taiwan & Japan).

  • jjjaar on 28/01/2023 - 19:41

    Souvenirs or keep them to use next time I go back.

  • AustriaBargain on 28/01/2023 - 20:08
    +4

    When I was in London arriving with someone at one of the big train stations this old couple came up to us with their day passes. I thought they were trying to sell them so I said no, but they said they are free, take them because they were done with them. So you could do the same and give them away to someone who looks new. And then 20 years later someone will remember it and mention it on a future bargain forum, VR Bargain or something.

  • Transient on 28/01/2023 - 20:17

    I travel to several Asian countries each year. The travel cards I use don't expire for a number of years so I reuse them and top up whenever I go back. Otherwise you can try selling on Ebay, etc to someone going there. The same problem arises if you churn credit cards.

  • Quantumcat on 28/01/2023 - 20:20
    +4

    I love to give them to people waiting at a station or stop when I've taken the last trip I plan to take in that place. You can make someone's day

    • TurnipHead on 28/01/2023 - 20:49
      +2

      How nice of you! Maybe I'll meet someone like you next time when I'm in NZ!

  • kawinuyo on 28/01/2023 - 23:50

    I keep them! Sometimes I get special ones (like during certain festivals or celebrations but never had to pay extra). Both the hk and the Taiwan ones worked again once we returned a few years later although we did have to reactivate.

  • miwahni on 29/01/2023 - 00:37

    Always get an Oyster card in London - it has a daily cap on travel charges so after a certain point each day your travel is free. When you leave you can cash in the remaining credit so you're not wasting anything. Then either trash the card, or keep as souvenir.

    • Howdydoo on 29/01/2023 - 01:08
      +1

      You no longer need an oyster card in london. You can just use your credit card on the london underground (obviously one with no foreign transaction fees is best) it works exactly the same way as an oyster card with the daily cap. Only trick is you need one credit card per person.

  • flagger on 29/01/2023 - 12:30

    Some cities will allow you to give them back and you will get a refund minus a processing fee. I did this in Beijing and HK no problems.

  • ryefig on 30/01/2023 - 10:12

    If you have an iPhone, go to Wallet > "+" , Travel Pass and see if the city that you are traveling to is listed.
    You will have the digital version of the smart card in your apple wallet and can top it up using apple pay.

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