welltraveledbrit

sdwilliams_54
Just get the money through your bank at home and don't worry about ATMs till the next day. Take the car from the airport and tip anyone you like. Like many posters here I do all the things mentioned above, arrive with no cash, use the airport atm, take the tube into town etc. but it's all about doing what will make you feel most secure and you are probably the best judge of that.

Hope you have a lovely visit to London, we're here for three months and having a great time. .

PalenQ

Take the car from the airport and tip anyone you like>

Yes tips are always welcome but as janis corrected me when in a recent thread I said I thought most folks would tip a tour guide or driver she, an expert in all things British, say that was not the case and there is no reason to tip. But yes like Americans have a reputation for - throw your money around - yes they do love tips but again locals say no need to.

sdwilliams_54

Thanks guys! Explanation about the driver, I booked it on Expedia-it was about the same price as the express train, and it got me right to the hotel. If I took the express, I still would have had to get a cab--this way, right to hotel, just a couple of dollars more.

I have always wondered about the tipping, don't want to offend anyone-but I have the American compulsion!

Thanks for the info, I have 2 bank cards-in the process of figuring out which one I will use.

Now a second question, do I get my Oyster card ahead of time? or wait until I get there......

northie

Get Oyster card when you arrive

sdwilliams_54

Thanks--I will!

Hooameye

"but I have the American compulsion!"

But you won't be in America, what's the saying "when in Rome (or the UK).

welltraveledbrit

I assure you no cabbie will be offended to take the tip, you'll find more offensive on the board than in the cab or restaurant!

PalenQ

Anybody who wants someone to give them money will not be offended at all but may even work folks for it I believe - something for nothing but like janisj admonished me in another thread about me thinking tipping tour guides was expected I thought - saying no they are well paid workers and no Brit ever tips. She has a lot more experience with guided tours and private drivers than I do so I put faith in what she says - no need to tip and few do.

bilboburgler

I just have an image of all those poor Europeans on beaches in the US walking around topless (and even bottomless) looking at the cops saying "but I have this European compulsion"

Get over it, treat the trip like a holiday and do things differently.

Mimar

Take both your credit cards, and ideally, 2 ATM/debit cards. Store them separately. Use the card that charges the best currency exchange rate. And the ATM card with the smallest transaction charge.

I use my credit union cards. No transaction charge, exchange rate only 1% over interbank rate.

sdwilliams_54

My ATM card did not work. Had to purchase money from other's in my group.

Michael

<i>My ATM card did not work</i>

Never throughout your trip, or only on one particular ATM? Did your bank lock you out? Did you warn your bank that you would be using your card in the U.K.? Particulars would be useful for others asking the same question.

MmePerdu

I had a look at this foreign currency website recently and thought for having money before arrival, all considered, not too bad:

http://foreignmoney.com

janisj

>>Never throughout your trip, or only on one particular ATM? Did your bank lock you out? Did you warn your bank that you would be using your card in the U.K.? << . . . or . . . Do you have a 4 digit PIN?

xyz123

I know some will disagree with me but that's too bad. I recently got back from my annual European trip which included parts of 8 days in London sandwiched around a Mediterranean cruise. In those 8 days, I used credit cards on 56 different occasions at all sorts of places (and believe me I rarely go to high end places) for everything. Not once did I use cash. The charges ranged fro 59p to around £50. My bank doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee and gives me 1% rebate on everything I charge. (For this trip, I prepaid the hotels).

Moral of the story...for London you hardly need any cash. It is a city much like NY where credit cards are taken everywhere by almost every merchant and at the chains, there are no minimums (Tesco, Boots, Sainsbury, Pret a Manger, Marks & Spencer, Tates). As far as I am concerned, the only way to travel in the 21st century.

Janeyre

Cash does come in handy if you are at an outdoor market or fair when you are negotiating a price. Also some small vendors only deal in cash;others will charge more when taking a credit card. Our itineraries often include market days, fairs, etc.

newtome

Did the card not work because you had t told your bank you were in England? Or did your pin not work? We had trouble our first trip to London, when we couldn't get any money from an ATM at Heathrow. It turned out being they thought we were trying to do a fraudulent transaction, and we actually had to call them collect to verify that it was us. Could that have been part of the problem?

xyz123

janyere...I'm sure you are correct. That is why I have two £10 bank notes neatly folded in my wallet just in case. However, more and more at home and I assume in a place like London, more and more merchants have those little readers you stick into the headphones port on your smart phone (I have one from square.com) and voila you can take credit cards. The day of the non cash society is getting closer.

But the point being made, for travel, using credit cards especially those without foreign transaction fees and no annual fees and even giving you cash back albeit a small amount is a much more hassle free way of travelling than ever. No worries about running out of the appropriate currency; no worries about where the next atm is; no worries about am I getting the best exchange rate. Insert it in the chip reader (no need even to hand it to the clerk and get a plea to pay cash; before they can say boo it's being processed

welltraveledbrit

Sorry to hear your ATM card did not work, did you have trouble with your credit cards too?

sdwilliams_54

I am not sure why my ATM card didn't work. I had told the bank that I was going, they were going to flag the dates. I tried several ATM's in London. As it turns out, the lady leading the group-had plenty of money on her, so I purchased it from her, at the going conversion rate-it didn't cost me anything more. I used my credit card for most other purchases, and it worked fine. I knew that my credit card would be okay, I had used it on my previous trips. I didn't need to use the ATM in Scotland, because I had plenty of currency.

It didn't ruin my trip, I had a great time. As it turns out, I didn't need as much money in Scotland-but I think I knew that going into it. London is quite expensive, but for most of it-credit card worked out fine.

PS I did tip my driver into London, with my 5 Euro note that I had squirrel'd away from my last trip. He was just fine with it. I tipped him, because he basically gave me a 1 hour tour, through the middle of London. He was quite delightful, and was Scottish to boot. Gave me some tips about my upcoming trip north.