OK....thanks to all of the great advice on this board and site, we are ready to go in just 2 days!!! Yipppeee! We are getting all of the last minute details taken care of: cat, mail, packing, calling credit cards, etc.... Just a few more questions: first, do you suggest a money belt or one that hangs under your shirt for London or is that overkill? Also, we plan to only take a couple hundred in cash to the airport and then change that into pounds before arriving at Gatwick, this will cover the express and taxi to the hotel and lunch, etc....From there we plan to use our debit card at an atm (as few times as possible) to get additional spending cash and we will use our credit card to charge as many things as possible...Sound like a good plan?<BR><BR>I am still confused about a few things in London (such as we have a travel card good for all buses but how do we know what is a good bus to hop on for a good general narrated tour) but we have a great guidebook and the itinerary is very organized and we have good maps....I think we will be able to figure things out and have a great time!

If the travel card you are speaking of is for the tube and buses, it cannot be used on the hop on hop off buses with the narrators. They are a private business and you pay them .

That money belt question sends people into conniptions on this board. In London, my opinion is it's just not necessary. I've never carried one. <BR><BR>There will be ATM machines at Gatwick. Get your first infusion of cash there. I also take a couple hundred dollars with me tho I'm never sure why...it always ends up sitting in the hotel safe. <BR><BR>Have a fantastic trip.

IMHO, a money belt is, indeed, &quot;overkill.&quot; You can be sure that all those Londoners around you aren't wearing them.<BR><BR>You can pay for the Gatwick Express with a credit card, onboard.<BR><BR>As Jody siad, the narrated tours are a separate pivate businesses and not covered by your Visitors Travelcard, which is good for the tube (ie subway; metro) as well as the public transit buses.

Thanks, I had a feeling that was the deal on the buses....Yep a money belt just seems overkill for London..I mean my husband is in downtown Houston today and his wallet is probably at more risk there....so you would just suggest normal wallet and purse....what about our passport...just tuck away in the hotel room (we are staying at the County Hall Marriot) or keep on us at all times...it is still cold over there i assume so dh will be wearing his trench coat so he should have lots of pockets!

i don't know how the exchange rate compares at the cambio vs. atm machines, but there's a money machine just before you take an elevator to the express train to victoria at gatwick.<BR>as for narrated tour buses, they are a great way to get oriented to the city, especially after v little sleep on overnight flight - http://www.theoriginaltour.com/ and http://www.bigbus.co.uk;

hmathis, We will be in London during the same time as you. I've been a dozen times and never bring any money with me (other than the US cash I need for the taxi when I get home). I've never had a problem finding a working ATM at the airport. Also, I always carry a very small purse with my money, passport, and credit cards. I carry a camera in my hand. I don't think you will find any reason to act differently than you would at home.

Just another opinion on the money belt issue. I am frequently in Boston and NYC and I don't wear a money belt there and I think both those cities are at least as dangerous as London. BUT I do wear one when in London, Paris, etc. The reason: when in Boston or NYC I am a couple hours from home not a transatlantic flight away. There are branches of my bank in both cities so if I lost (or had stolen) my bag I could, without much difficulty, go to the bank and get some cash. I don't need a passport or airline ticket to get back home. All of that is different when you on another continent. Plus - I would not be wasting long awaited and saved for vaction time replacing the cash and documents necessary to continue my trip and get home. It's not so much the liklihood of theft as it is the hassel factor if the unlikely (but possible) were to happen. (And you are probably just as likely to loose your bag as to have it stolen, outcome is still the same.)

There's probably no reason to cart your passports all over town. I leave mine and my airline tickets in the hotel safe or room safe. I take my regular wallet but I do purge everything except for my drivers license, credit card, and medical insurance card.

Great points..thanks! I will check out the bus sites as well!

http://www.bigbus.co.uk/ourtours.htm<BR>This will give you some info about one of the hop on bus companies. <BR>Have a great time in London.

Having seen several TV shows showing pickpockets in action in London (they have cameras everywhere now), I would certainly carry my passport and extra cash and credit cards in a money belt of some type. When we were there last May, there were signs posted on Oxford and Regent Streets warning people of pickpockets. Why run the risk of ruining your vacation?

Some points to ponder: If you plan on claiming any VAT back, some shops will want to see your passport. Isabel has a very good perspective - I never use a money belt/pouch at home, but I can get in touch of any bank or credit card company in an instant. That is not possible in London (remember there is a 5 to 8 hour time difference). If you lose that credit card at noon it will be 4AM on the west coast. Just too complicated to deal w/ lost or stolen cards or passports from overseas. The little inconvenience of a money belt will save you TONS of anxiety.<BR>

We got back from London last week (sigh!) and felt very safe. However I agree with the posts about taking precautions since it is your vacation and you're far from home. We kept passports back at the b &amp; b, but I kept a photocopy with me. My husband wore one of those passport &quot;necklaces&quot; at the airport (I think it was more of a matter of convenience &amp; fortunately it was sweater weather!) We didn't carry a ton of cash around, but found we could charge everywhere (even the tube passes and the Big Bus Tour pass). I have a second credit card I rarely use for an emergency (carried separately from my husband's).<BR>Oh, I highly recommend the Big Bus tour. If you're lucky and get a good day, you can ride on an open top. The guides are hilarious. One thing, we only rode one of the routes for the full length (they offer 3 colored routes, 2 hours each). In reality, no one is really going to spend 6 hours just riding around. And the hop on/hop off is great in theory, but it can be up to 1/2 wait for a bus to come along.<BR>We just took a good part of the tour and then got out at the Tower of London for the rest of the day. We took the boat ride back to Westminster (included in the ticket price). The next morning our ticket was still valid for the last hour - so they let us get on to go to Buckingham Palace. If you're doing anything that might have a long line, ask if they will sell you a ticket. We purchased our Tower of London tickets from them and saved quite a wait (even in February.) Anyway, they are very nice!<BR>Have a great trip!

You should wear a money belt. The locals will know you are tourist and will target you for pickpocket.

I've worn a waist money pack for the last few years and feel so much better and safer. The only time I witnessed a pickpocket was in the Paris metro (someone trying to get into my sister's small backpack - never mind I told her not to put her important stuff in there!). But, why take the chance? You can put your daily money and one credit card in a purse with the strap across your chest. Besides, it's so much more comfortable than on your shoulder. I even do this at home when shopping. Take as little cash as you can; you will find ATMs in the airport and a much better exchange rate.<BR><BR>Do try the Big Bus - great commentary. Also, barring rain try to sit on top. Down below you will not see much.