London Visitor TravelCard - Problem with Dates?
 

On another thread (a trip report for London), a fodorite posted the following:

(Beginning of pasted message)
It appears that they are changing the terms of the Visitor Travelcard.This from the Transport for London website,

"PLEASE NOTE: Due to the imminent launch of exciting new Travelcard options for visitors to London, you can currently only purchase Visitor Travelcards with a start date on or before 10 April 2005. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."

http://tinyurl.com/6lgsg (End of pasted message)


I just received (two weeks ago) a package of various tickets and passes from BritRail, including my "London Visitor Travelcards" for 4 adults. They say: "Valid 31 mar 2005 - 30 sep 2005".

My visit to London is in mid-July.

Should I be worried about the posting above? Or will my vouchers be accepted?

Anybody have more info?

Thanks.

Gayle

To qualify - I personally don't undertstand why so many people think they have to buy Visitor Travel Cards - guess the marketing is just so good that it looks like a big money saver. There are just as good or better travel cards/passes available after you are in London

That being said - your travel cards start date is 31 March -- which IS before 10 April. There are so many thousands of VTCs already in the pipeline that it is pretty safe any issued before 10 April will be honored.

Yes their marketing is very good and there are many who believe that the more they can take care of before leaving, the less hassles they will have on arrival. You know I am exhausted after a 10 huor overseas flight and somewhat disoriented, who wants to start dealing with a foreign alien scene. Get me to my hotel, let me shower and nap and then I'll be ready to go.

Not making a perjorative judgment on this but rather simply stating the logic.

Thanks, janis and xyz123.

I didn't think about my "start date" being in March, since I won't be using it until July, but that does make sense.

And, why do I buy them ahead of time? Partly, as xyz123 stated, because it's one less hassle after arrival.

Also, partly, because I like to pay for as many things ahead of time as possible - it spreads out the cost for my trip over a longer period of time. I know the TravelCards are just a small expense, but when added with the other items I bought, it was several hundred dollars per person. (If I hadn't been buying the other items, I might not have ordered just the Travel Cards.)

Finally, the price I got for the TravelCards is actually slightly less than I have been able to find quoted anywhere else, including on the London Transport websites, so it seems like a reasonable decision.

I'm looking forward to the trip...

Gayle

Gayle,
Where did you purchase your travel cards?

I got the cards (and my train passes and my Great Britain Heritage Passes) from britrail.com.

Once you figure out what you want, you have to call and deal with a travel agency that isn't very good, but the passes and available tickets seem to be well priced.

Let me know if you need more info.

Gayle