Oystercard/Travelcard planning
Apr 13th, 2013, 12:58 PM
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Oystercard/Travelcard planning
Please review what I have found about public transportation in London.
We need coverage for 9 days; almost all of our destinations will be in zones 1 and 2. We have a ride from the airport to our apartment. I don't want to buy online because they demand dates, and I don't trust the airline to get us there on time. I'm also not enthusiastic about putting a deposit on an oyster card, to have it returned in the form of a check in a currency that will be useless once we get it.
I looked at getting oyster cards, or visitor oyster cards, or travelcards. All options seem to cover the same types of transportation.
The oyster cards appear to give a 10% discount on some river cruises, and apparently caps your daily expense at the equivalent of a one-day travel card. And they apparently do or don't refund your deposit, but if so it is a check written in GBP, which would be difficult to negotiate in Ohio.
The travel card comes in a seven day variety, covering zones 1 to 6, and not restricted during rush hours, for 55.60 GBP. It also gives a 30% discount on some river cruises. And gives you access for the 2 for 1 coupons, some of which are for places we will actually want to see. There is also a one day travel card for zones 1 and 2, not valid during rush hours, for 7.30 GBP. Apparently you need to go to certain railroad stations to get this, and have passport photographs, which we do.
It seems to me that getting the seven day travel card, and two one day travel cards, is the better option. Did I miss something?
I
We need coverage for 9 days; almost all of our destinations will be in zones 1 and 2. We have a ride from the airport to our apartment. I don't want to buy online because they demand dates, and I don't trust the airline to get us there on time. I'm also not enthusiastic about putting a deposit on an oyster card, to have it returned in the form of a check in a currency that will be useless once we get it.
I looked at getting oyster cards, or visitor oyster cards, or travelcards. All options seem to cover the same types of transportation.
The oyster cards appear to give a 10% discount on some river cruises, and apparently caps your daily expense at the equivalent of a one-day travel card. And they apparently do or don't refund your deposit, but if so it is a check written in GBP, which would be difficult to negotiate in Ohio.
The travel card comes in a seven day variety, covering zones 1 to 6, and not restricted during rush hours, for 55.60 GBP. It also gives a 30% discount on some river cruises. And gives you access for the 2 for 1 coupons, some of which are for places we will actually want to see. There is also a one day travel card for zones 1 and 2, not valid during rush hours, for 7.30 GBP. Apparently you need to go to certain railroad stations to get this, and have passport photographs, which we do.
It seems to me that getting the seven day travel card, and two one day travel cards, is the better option. Did I miss something?
I
Apr 13th, 2013, 01:12 PM
#2
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We bought Travelcards for one of our days in London, and it was because we wanted to use them for one of the 2 for 1 deals. We didn't need passport photos. You can only buy the paper Travelcards at National Rail stations, which are different from Tube stations.
Apr 13th, 2013, 01:13 PM
#3
What you want is a seven day PAPER travel card for the middle week of your stay (buy in any train station and use it w/ the 2for1's) . . . plus an Oyster w/ some Pay-as-you-go ££ loaded on it. You will be covered for everything that way.
Either use the PAYG Oyster (bought at LHR) or a pre booked car service ( just airports.com ) to travel in from LHR on arrival.
Either use the PAYG Oyster (bought at LHR) or a pre booked car service ( just airports.com ) to travel in from LHR on arrival.
Apr 13th, 2013, 01:15 PM
#4
Meant to add -- if you don't plan on using the 2for1's then just get an Oyster w/ both a 7-day travelcard and some PAYG loaded on it.
in any case, just get the 7-day travelcard (oyster or paper) for zones 1-2 and teh PAYG will cover your trips farther out like Hampton Court.
in any case, just get the 7-day travelcard (oyster or paper) for zones 1-2 and teh PAYG will cover your trips farther out like Hampton Court.
Apr 13th, 2013, 04:06 PM
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If it were transport only, the answer would be much easier but abain those doggone 2 4 1's cause all sorts of complications. Alas alas and how to handle them has several solutions.
Do you want to do the 2 4 1's. They require ticket media issued by the national railroads at one of their ticket offices and there are a variety of answers.
For example you might wish to get the 2 4 1 attractions out of the way the first few days in which case you ight wish to buy one day travelcards at national railway offices and for the last six or seven days put a 7 day zone 1 & 2 job on an oyster card.....or you might wish maximum flexibility and buy a 7 day paper travelcard the second day you're in London and finish off with pay as you go oyster cards or....see the permutations. Some might say just buy a 7 day paper travelcard and then follow up with 1 day travelcards but again it means going off to national railay stations and using their media.
BTW the deposit and any remaining value on a pay as you go oyster card is indeed fully refundable and I believe if you buy it with a credit card they will put the credit on your card so the problem of getting a check in sterling for the refund might not be there but you have to check on that.
The easiest solution would be to come in and go out of Gatwick and buy return tickets for the Gatwick trains but that die is apparently not cast.
Why can't they all get their act together on these 2 4 1's (actually I know the reason the national railroads want to encourage people to use their services and the 2 4 1's are a way of accomplishing that!)
But do take a look at the 2 4 1's and try to have some idea of just which ones you want to use and when you want to use them and it might help to figure out the best way to go for your London transport.
Do you want to do the 2 4 1's. They require ticket media issued by the national railroads at one of their ticket offices and there are a variety of answers.
For example you might wish to get the 2 4 1 attractions out of the way the first few days in which case you ight wish to buy one day travelcards at national railway offices and for the last six or seven days put a 7 day zone 1 & 2 job on an oyster card.....or you might wish maximum flexibility and buy a 7 day paper travelcard the second day you're in London and finish off with pay as you go oyster cards or....see the permutations. Some might say just buy a 7 day paper travelcard and then follow up with 1 day travelcards but again it means going off to national railay stations and using their media.
BTW the deposit and any remaining value on a pay as you go oyster card is indeed fully refundable and I believe if you buy it with a credit card they will put the credit on your card so the problem of getting a check in sterling for the refund might not be there but you have to check on that.
The easiest solution would be to come in and go out of Gatwick and buy return tickets for the Gatwick trains but that die is apparently not cast.
Why can't they all get their act together on these 2 4 1's (actually I know the reason the national railroads want to encourage people to use their services and the 2 4 1's are a way of accomplishing that!)
But do take a look at the 2 4 1's and try to have some idea of just which ones you want to use and when you want to use them and it might help to figure out the best way to go for your London transport.
Apr 13th, 2013, 10:29 PM
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"Why can't they all get their act together on these 2 4 1's "?
Quite right. This non-problem is the result of our foolishly allowing foreign tourists to exploit a promotional device intended to encourage provincial Britons to travel more.
It's an absurd subsidy to people who don't need it. We should simply do what other nations do and deny ALL these subsidies (including free admission to museums) to ALL non-Europeans.
That would stop whingers like xyz123. They could then concentrate on whining pointlessly about the spectacular;y wonderful public transport their own country offers an an example to us all.
Quite right. This non-problem is the result of our foolishly allowing foreign tourists to exploit a promotional device intended to encourage provincial Britons to travel more.
It's an absurd subsidy to people who don't need it. We should simply do what other nations do and deny ALL these subsidies (including free admission to museums) to ALL non-Europeans.
That would stop whingers like xyz123. They could then concentrate on whining pointlessly about the spectacular;y wonderful public transport their own country offers an an example to us all.
Apr 13th, 2013, 11:55 PM
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"It's an absurd subsidy to people who don't need it. We should simply do what other nations do and deny ALL these subsidies (including free admission to museums) to ALL non-Europeans."
Well "call me Dave" is giving loads of our money to other countries anyway, why not give the tourists some as well (and negate a lot of the profit made by tourism), sounds like "government" sense to me.
Well "call me Dave" is giving loads of our money to other countries anyway, why not give the tourists some as well (and negate a lot of the profit made by tourism), sounds like "government" sense to me.
Apr 14th, 2013, 12:00 AM
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Flanner....all I said, and there was no need on your part to be your usual nasty self, is that the whole 2 4 1 set up complicates decisions as to just what is the best transport set up for everybody concerned. I didn't criticize it. I said I understand what's going on with it and the reason it exists the way it does.
You just don't have to let your anger, for whatever the reason, come spitting out on everything people say. I criticized nobody. Even you in your righteousness have to admit how complicated the whole thing can be.
Are the national railroads and tfl in competition? Obviously they are. To their credit, tfl has come up with a real neat system what with the oyster card and payg and price caps and 21st century technology for fare collection. I wish we had something like that in NYC but we don't and I admire tfl for that. Since I travel single, the 2 4 1's are a non issue with me.
But you see something wrong with giving advice to people to try to save a bit of money? You disagree, it's your right. But there comes a time when even you have to be civil about it.
You just don't have to let your anger, for whatever the reason, come spitting out on everything people say. I criticized nobody. Even you in your righteousness have to admit how complicated the whole thing can be.
Are the national railroads and tfl in competition? Obviously they are. To their credit, tfl has come up with a real neat system what with the oyster card and payg and price caps and 21st century technology for fare collection. I wish we had something like that in NYC but we don't and I admire tfl for that. Since I travel single, the 2 4 1's are a non issue with me.
But you see something wrong with giving advice to people to try to save a bit of money? You disagree, it's your right. But there comes a time when even you have to be civil about it.
Apr 14th, 2013, 04:38 AM
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...just to finish the last thought issued by the national railroads. The paper one everybody pushes for the 2 4 1's.
Putting a 7 day travelcard on an oyster card, doesn't require a photocard unless they have changed it the past couple of months since the last time I was there but no big deal.
Putting a 7 day travelcard on an oyster card, doesn't require a photocard unless they have changed it the past couple of months since the last time I was there but no big deal.
Apr 15th, 2013, 02:42 PM
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Is the oyster refund only on checks/cheques now? Or is this an online Oyster card issue?
When we purchased PAYG Oyster cards in London, we redeemed the deposits for cash at a Tube station ticket window.
<<The travel card comes in a seven day variety, covering zones 1 to 6, and not restricted during rush hours, for 55.60 GBP>>
Unless you're staying in the far suburbs, you only need a 7-day travelcard that covers Zones 1-2 and costs £30.40. (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14416.aspx) Therefore, your information is wrong.
Ultimately, you should get Travelcards for whoever needs them (assuming "we" means more than one traveller and is not just a literary affectation), print out all vouchers that seem interesting from www.daysoutguide.co.uk (Tower, War Rooms, Hampton Court Palace, St Paul's, etc) before you leave, purchase the Travelcards at the nearest NATIONAL RAIL station to your lodging (St. Pancras, Euston, etc.), at the manned ticket booth on the level where the newsstand, M&S Simply Food, and Boots Pharmacy are located. Save whatever money you can and don't worry about fussy Brits whinging about how non-EU foreigners should pay museum admission.
When we purchased PAYG Oyster cards in London, we redeemed the deposits for cash at a Tube station ticket window.
<<The travel card comes in a seven day variety, covering zones 1 to 6, and not restricted during rush hours, for 55.60 GBP>>
Unless you're staying in the far suburbs, you only need a 7-day travelcard that covers Zones 1-2 and costs £30.40. (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14416.aspx) Therefore, your information is wrong.
Ultimately, you should get Travelcards for whoever needs them (assuming "we" means more than one traveller and is not just a literary affectation), print out all vouchers that seem interesting from www.daysoutguide.co.uk (Tower, War Rooms, Hampton Court Palace, St Paul's, etc) before you leave, purchase the Travelcards at the nearest NATIONAL RAIL station to your lodging (St. Pancras, Euston, etc.), at the manned ticket booth on the level where the newsstand, M&S Simply Food, and Boots Pharmacy are located. Save whatever money you can and don't worry about fussy Brits whinging about how non-EU foreigners should pay museum admission.
Apr 16th, 2013, 04:21 PM
#13
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Thanks for the information. We will be staying in Chelsea and the only place we anticipate visiting that is out of zones 1 and 2 is Hampton Court, which I've read is reachable by train from Waterloo station. So I'll be able to get the less expensive seven day travel card that I hadn't found before.
I don't get excited about people who object to tourists getting a break on admissions. I think most European museums are subsidized by their governments, and we tourists don't, generally, pay the taxes that supply those subsidies. On the other hand. I think the museums make a lot because of the large number of tourists who visit and pay at least something.
Our museum in Cleveland is not subsidized, yet is free to all, and even the British are welcome.
I don't get excited about people who object to tourists getting a break on admissions. I think most European museums are subsidized by their governments, and we tourists don't, generally, pay the taxes that supply those subsidies. On the other hand. I think the museums make a lot because of the large number of tourists who visit and pay at least something.
Our museum in Cleveland is not subsidized, yet is free to all, and even the British are welcome.
May 22nd, 2013, 11:56 AM
#14
<i>^^^"And they apparently do or don't refund your deposit, but if so it is a check written in GBP, which would be difficult to negotiate in Ohio."<<<</i>
A regular Oyster will have a refundable deposit, the Oyster for Visitors does not.
I believe small refunds are given in cash but larger refunds (and funds added with credit cards?) are issued thru GBP cheques.
A regular Oyster will have a refundable deposit, the Oyster for Visitors does not.
I believe small refunds are given in cash but larger refunds (and funds added with credit cards?) are issued thru GBP cheques.
May 22nd, 2013, 01:44 PM
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Aren't they required to credit your credit card account for refund of things purchased with a credit card? It would seem logical that if you receive a refund for something such as an oyster card bought with a credit card, you receive a credit to your credit card account.
May 22nd, 2013, 05:43 PM
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We had an Oyster card for just three days. It was easy to use and was simple to return it at the tube station. The agent easily refunded the deposit and unspent money on our credit card. Nothing complicated at all.
