Oyster Card vs. 7 day London Transport Zone 1/2 Card
Jan 7th, 2007, 12:37 PM
#41
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Not to hijack this thread, but I'm finding it ultra confusing for my situation. I hope the offer to help decide what to buy extends to me and saves me time at the ticket window.
What would be our best option?
One Adult
One 15 year old
One 13 year old
One 11 year old
Traveling Monday=Monday 8 days
Transfers to and from Heathrow
Staying in zones 1-2.
What would be our best option?
One Adult
One 15 year old
One 13 year old
One 11 year old
Traveling Monday=Monday 8 days
Transfers to and from Heathrow
Staying in zones 1-2.
Jan 7th, 2007, 01:54 PM
#42
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All of you get Zone 1-2 cards
Adult - 7 day Oystercard & add cash to it to cover Heathrow / London & Day 8
Children - read this - http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tick...child-under-16
Adult - 7 day Oystercard & add cash to it to cover Heathrow / London & Day 8
Children - read this - http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tick...child-under-16
Jan 7th, 2007, 03:30 PM
#43
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I am used to buying my 7 day zone 1/2 travel card through National Rail and having it mailed to my home address before I go to England. I guess this no longer an option. Do I now have to queue up at the dreaded Heathrow Tube station and figure out how to request an Oyster card at the ticket window. Is there any way to buy the card in advance to avoid those long lines at Heathrow?
Jan 7th, 2007, 04:04 PM
#44
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There indeed are provisions to get an oyster card with a 7 day travelcard loaded on but you'll have to check it out at the tfl web site....but you will also need an extension which is much much cheaper on oyster...
Look...I've come into Heathrow and have never found the queue to be that long...most I've ever waited is about 4 or 5 minutes....and there is nothing to figure out...you bravely march up to the window (do remember, most of the tube clerks understand American [I assume you're from North America]) and state I should like to purchase a 7 day travelcard with extensions....BTW the extension on the zone 1 & 2 is £1.80 between 0700 and 1930 weekdays and £1 at other times and it's done once and done....
I have this discussion (hope it's friendly all the time)...I just don't see the importance of getting things such as this in advance if it's not going to save you much money (and it won't)....a short queue is no big deal at Heathrow and again I've never found it all that long. (trust me on this).
Look...I've come into Heathrow and have never found the queue to be that long...most I've ever waited is about 4 or 5 minutes....and there is nothing to figure out...you bravely march up to the window (do remember, most of the tube clerks understand American [I assume you're from North America]) and state I should like to purchase a 7 day travelcard with extensions....BTW the extension on the zone 1 & 2 is £1.80 between 0700 and 1930 weekdays and £1 at other times and it's done once and done....
I have this discussion (hope it's friendly all the time)...I just don't see the importance of getting things such as this in advance if it's not going to save you much money (and it won't)....a short queue is no big deal at Heathrow and again I've never found it all that long. (trust me on this).
Jan 7th, 2007, 08:24 PM
#45
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Thanks, Robespierre, I think I've got it. Planning 6 nights in central London, excursion to Hampton Court Palace, 2 of us, no kids -> Oyster with 7-day travelcard + extra money. Right?
But it does seem awfully complicated.
But it does seem awfully complicated.
Jan 8th, 2007, 05:00 AM
#47
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Okay, one more contingency: If I arrive at Heathrow at night - about 2030 - and need to get into central London. Should I just purchase a one time ticket and wait until the next day to buy my travel card? If I get it that night, it will burn up one of my days, right?
Jan 8th, 2007, 05:06 AM
#48
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Well...it depends.....I mean if you're going to be in London for 6 days and this is the 7th day it doesn't really matter does it...
Also what are your plans anyway...will you be getting a 7 day travelcard and is the trip in from Heathrow the 8th day...BTW if that's the case what you would do is buy the 7 day travelcard on oyster to start the next day anyway (this is legit) and buy PAYG for the trip in from Heathrow (at that time the fare on oyster is only £2 as opposed to £4 for a cash fare...if you're going PAYG anyway you would certainly buy oyster and get the advantage of the lower fare from Heathrow on oyster...if you refresh me on all the details, perhaps I can give a more definitive answer but it almost always will pay to go with oyster.
Also what are your plans anyway...will you be getting a 7 day travelcard and is the trip in from Heathrow the 8th day...BTW if that's the case what you would do is buy the 7 day travelcard on oyster to start the next day anyway (this is legit) and buy PAYG for the trip in from Heathrow (at that time the fare on oyster is only £2 as opposed to £4 for a cash fare...if you're going PAYG anyway you would certainly buy oyster and get the advantage of the lower fare from Heathrow on oyster...if you refresh me on all the details, perhaps I can give a more definitive answer but it almost always will pay to go with oyster.
Jan 8th, 2007, 03:45 PM
#50
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xyz123 -
That's what I'm thinking. We'll arrive on a Friday night, have six full days in London, and then depart the night of the sixth day via Euston rail. A travel card loaded on Oyster would allow me to get the quid rate per day for our daughter. Or we could start with a three day and just SEE how much we'll use transport. We intend to walk quite a bit. I was just thinking we ought to pay outright for our trip from LHR into central London on arrival night?
That's what I'm thinking. We'll arrive on a Friday night, have six full days in London, and then depart the night of the sixth day via Euston rail. A travel card loaded on Oyster would allow me to get the quid rate per day for our daughter. Or we could start with a three day and just SEE how much we'll use transport. We intend to walk quite a bit. I was just thinking we ought to pay outright for our trip from LHR into central London on arrival night?
Jan 8th, 2007, 03:53 PM
#51
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With 6 full day sin London, you won't really go wrong with a 7 day travelcard on oyster...perhaps you could save a few quid by going PAYG but you don't get, apparently, the 1 quid rate for the kid and with a 7 day travelcard, they waive the £3 deposit for the oyster card...I just wouldn't continue worrying about saving a couple of quid, which is really all the difference could be...I would just buy the 7 day travelcard and be done with it...when all is said and done you just can't lose all that much vs. a three day travelcard and then day by day in terms onf convenience anyway.
Jan 8th, 2007, 04:29 PM
#52
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Can I please also ask for you suggestions?
Arrive Heathrow on a Saturday at 13.05 and need to travel to our base in Ealing which is in zone 3. We have 4 full days, incuding a visit to Windsor, then will be departing again from Heathrow. Two adults.
Thanks so much, I have read all of this but still a bit confused (which isn't hard these days!!).
Arrive Heathrow on a Saturday at 13.05 and need to travel to our base in Ealing which is in zone 3. We have 4 full days, incuding a visit to Windsor, then will be departing again from Heathrow. Two adults.
Thanks so much, I have read all of this but still a bit confused (which isn't hard these days!!).
Jan 9th, 2007, 05:35 AM
#53
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Buy an Oyster card and load £25 on it. This will provide Zone 4* Oyster caps of £5.20 for each day plus supplements of £2 for the transfers.
*There is no off-peak One-day Travelcard for Zone 3, so I have used the Zone 4 number.
*There is no off-peak One-day Travelcard for Zone 3, so I have used the Zone 4 number.
Jan 9th, 2007, 05:53 AM
#54
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anyone know why the ticket agent advised me NOT to buy an oyster card for my last two days in london before returning to gatwick, and i had told him i would be back the next month????
now i am really confused.
now i am really confused.
Jan 9th, 2007, 12:01 PM
#55
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How would anyone else know why a ticket agent told you something? The rule to remember is this:
<b>Acquire an Oyster Card at your first opportunity, and keep it for subsequent trips.</b> The best way to do this is to load a 7-day Travelcard on it, and the Oyster deposit will be waived.
xyz said "...when all is said and done you just can't lose all that much vs. a three day travelcard and then day by day in terms onf convenience anyway." Well, I disagree. Three-day Travelcards are only sold for Peak Period travel, and a 3-day (at this writing) is £16.40 - £3 more than enough for three days of PAYG travel, and with no Oyster benefits. The convenience factor is a wash, because once you're using an Oyster for PAYG, you don't have to return to a ticket window in any event.
<b>Acquire an Oyster Card at your first opportunity, and keep it for subsequent trips.</b> The best way to do this is to load a 7-day Travelcard on it, and the Oyster deposit will be waived.
xyz said "...when all is said and done you just can't lose all that much vs. a three day travelcard and then day by day in terms onf convenience anyway." Well, I disagree. Three-day Travelcards are only sold for Peak Period travel, and a 3-day (at this writing) is £16.40 - £3 more than enough for three days of PAYG travel, and with no Oyster benefits. The convenience factor is a wash, because once you're using an Oyster for PAYG, you don't have to return to a ticket window in any event.
Jan 9th, 2007, 01:32 PM
#56
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Robespierre..
If you read what I said, my recommendations was to buy a 7 day travelcard and not to go with the 3 day travelcard but when all is said and done, I don't think it's going to be all that different to make or break a holiday.
If you read what I said, my recommendations was to buy a 7 day travelcard and not to go with the 3 day travelcard but when all is said and done, I don't think it's going to be all that different to make or break a holiday.
Jan 21st, 2007, 10:47 AM
#58
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Here's my scenario:
We're arriving on a Saturday in February at Heathrow, will be in London for 5 days then going to Bath for 2 days and back to London for 2 days before we leave.
Does it make sense to wait and get the 3-day travelcard (= Oyster?) when we arrive, then top up the Oyster for the extra days (4 total) in London? Or not bother with the 3-day travelcard and just go for the Oyster card?
As far as I can tell from reading all these wonderful postings (thank you all for helping me understand this subject!), if I buy the 3-day travelpass it will become an Oyster card and can be used as an Oyster card after the 3 days. I save £3 for the Oyster card deposit, and the first 3 days we have unlimited (?) passage on tube & buses using our card, and thereafter it's the standard Oyster fares.
Is that correct, Robespierre? Or am I missing something? Your posts have been most enlightening
and I'd appreciate your input on this -- or anyone else's for that matter
We're arriving on a Saturday in February at Heathrow, will be in London for 5 days then going to Bath for 2 days and back to London for 2 days before we leave.
Does it make sense to wait and get the 3-day travelcard (= Oyster?) when we arrive, then top up the Oyster for the extra days (4 total) in London? Or not bother with the 3-day travelcard and just go for the Oyster card?
As far as I can tell from reading all these wonderful postings (thank you all for helping me understand this subject!), if I buy the 3-day travelpass it will become an Oyster card and can be used as an Oyster card after the 3 days. I save £3 for the Oyster card deposit, and the first 3 days we have unlimited (?) passage on tube & buses using our card, and thereafter it's the standard Oyster fares.
Is that correct, Robespierre? Or am I missing something? Your posts have been most enlightening
and I'd appreciate your input on this -- or anyone else's for that matter
Jan 21st, 2007, 10:51 AM
#59
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The Oyster card is just a way of carrying around your prepaid transit. For your situation, I'd recommend using Pay-As-You-Go fares exclusively by simply loading cash on the Oyster. When you pay for each ride, it's deducted from your Oyster until a cap is reached. For zones 1&2, Tube+bus caps at £4.60, and bus only at £3.
You don't need no steenking Travelcards.
You don't need no steenking Travelcards.
Jan 21st, 2007, 03:05 PM
#60
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Thanks, Robespierre, we'll just get the Oyster cards for PAYG at Heathrow (at least I assume I can get one there!).
Great start to our trip, having all this info ahead of time so I don't have to figure it out when I get there! Very much appreciate having this forum, and will recommend Fodor's to others
rats
Great start to our trip, having all this info ahead of time so I don't have to figure it out when I get there! Very much appreciate having this forum, and will recommend Fodor's to others
rats
