OT - U.K. tourist info

[Gregg]

My son will be in London for a week at the end of the month with his high school choir. We're trying to decide how much cash in pounds he will need. He'll have a credit card to buy souvenirs, so it's just food and transportation he needs cash for. Breakfast will be at the hotel, and most outings will be by tour bus. Lunches and the evening meals will be out of pocket, and a few trips on the transit system are anticipated.

So, what's it gonna cost? If you've been to London recently, or live in the U.K., your first hand knowledge will be appreciated. I won't try to list all of our British TS members, because I'll miss someone. I think the pound is worth about 1.50 U.S. right now.  I wonder what will happen to the exchange rate if war is underway in Iraq.

I'm assuming he can easily get a cash advance on his MasterCard at a bank if he runs out. In fact, we're thinking of making that the plan. Maybe he'll just take enough cash for a couple of days, then get more at a bank. Where's the bank in the Mary Poppins movie?
 
 [ 03-08-2003, 01:06 PM: Message edited by: Gregg ]

[jwboyd]

It's been a few years since I was in the UK, but from my experiences there and on the Continent  I suggest going only to banks to draw cash on your MasterCard.

No money changers in public places, and no ATMs. The fees in both cases are usurious. The bank-to-bank rates are the most favorable.

When I travel, I usually take cash and travelers checks in the amount of $50 US for each day of my anticipated stay in a country. Of course that does not include hotels, which in your son's case are no doubt already paid in advance.

P.S. One of my fondest memories is of the time my son and I got locked into a bank in Munich. Details on request.
 
 [ 03-08-2003, 02:05 PM: Message edited by: jwboyd ]

[Epaminondas]

Details requested . . .
____________________________________________

My experience in regard to European travel is in contrast to jwboyd's.

Most recently - Paris.

Why would a man take a girl to Paris, you ask?

Best exchange rate available was via ATMs, which were everywhere - this was also the quickest and most convenient mode of exchange.  Win, win, win. Just put in your US ATM card, punch in your PIN number, and out the local currency flows.  After a while all the money is gone - and you do it all again.

Traveller's checks were second best as far as exchange rate was concerned, and a bit of a pain to cash.  Private exchange offices came in third - they were not common, but could be found by first checking out their location in any guide book. Banks fourth - and you get to be metal detected and face possible search and such - arousing mildly paranoid feelings when you find yourself a stranger in a strange land.

These experiences likely vary with country, individual, and era.  I have no recent experience in London.

Bon Voyage,

Epaminondas

P.S.: First-time would-be world travellers tend to feel a bit overwhelmed, lost, and dependent on their guides.  A good guidebook can really open one's eyes, build confidence, etc.  You might consider buying the young gentleman a "Let's Go" guide to London, if available - they are a pretty good resource for someone travelling at the student level. For lighter fare, you might try looking into the "Lonely Planet" guides.
 
 [ 03-08-2003, 02:46 PM: Message edited by: Epaminondas ]

[Highmac]

Hi Gregg - I'm sure your son will enjoy his trip. Exchange rate is indeed about $1.50 to the GBP; Visa is probably more common here than MasterCard, but there are ATMs galore. However, some in supermarkets and filling stations add a fee. Ideally, stick with banks or building society machines, where at least charges should be reasonable if there are any. Bear in mind they treat it as a cash advance so your credit card company will add a fee. AmEx has offices over here, so if you want to use Travellers Cheques, they are widely accepted. Again watch where you change them.
Can't stop now, but will get back on tomorrow when no doubt you will have more advice than you can shake a stick at!

[jwboyd]

Re: the Munich bank

There really isn't much to the story. First trip to Europe. Our group took a bus from the airport to the Marienplatz, arriving there just before noon. There were two banks on the platz. Half of our group went to one, the rest to another. We went to the exchange window on the lower level to buy local currency.

Dave and I were last in line. When we tried to leave, the door was locked. Went upstairs to the main front door, and it was also locked. A sign on that door indicated that an automatic timer locked the door from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.

Fortunately, bank staff led us to a back door that opened onto an alley, so we were able to get out. But we were a little surprised to see a police car parked in the alley with lights flashing! Apparently they were not waiting for us.

Went across the street to have lunch at a sidewalk beer garden, where we had a delicious meal served by a surly waitress. She gave us a lot of trouble (part of an act, perhaps?) but a German native at the next table, who has lived in Connecticut for many years, helped us through it.

All in all, travels in Europe (ncluding UK) have been most enjoyable!
 
 [ 03-08-2003, 06:24 PM: Message edited by: jwboyd ]

[Paddy]

I agree with Epaminondas re: using ATM's for cash - every time you take a cash advance on your credit card they start charging you interest from the moment you take it out of the machine. No grace period as there is with credit card purchases. Given that credit cards tend to charge exhorbitant interest, this could start to add up. As for the ATM's - they DO tend to give the best exchange rate, as you get the bank-to-bank rate rather than the inflated bank-to-consumer rate. They will tack on a fee for using another bank's ATM, but find out what this is in advance, and behave accordingly. When in Canada each summer visiting the folks, I usually take out the maximum, since the fee is not dependent on the amount. No point in paying the fee over and over again to take out small amounts!

Travellers checks can be obtained from AAA for for no fee if you're a member, and you should also check with your bank - some accounts of the high-balance sort have free travellers checks included.

One caveat - DO NOT travel with large amounts of cash stashed in one spot. I had my wallet stolen at Logan airport (just prior to taking off for 10 days in St. John's, US Virgin Islands, 3 years ago) with $500 cash in it. It was stolen out of my purse going through the X-ray machine - it took forever to come through, my children had both gone through the checkpoint together which set off the alarm...general distraction galore and poof...no wallet when I got to the check-in counter a few minutes later. Major panic - all my ID, my green card, my credit cards, ATM cards, driver's license - you name it. We took out as much as allowed on my husband's ATM card and then cancelled everything from a phone in the San Juan airport. Citibank were wonderful - they couriered new credit cards to us in St. Johns. Getting another green card set me back $135... so it was a rather expensive lesson. I now travel with a fanny pack (on my front!!) and don't keep everything together. Also, hubby takes one credit card, I take another.

[Highmac]

Back again... this thread over Christmas gave loads of links you may find useful. Haven't time to check they all still work, but most should. Re money - check with your own bank if they have an associate in the UK. Our 'big four' banks are NatWest, LloydsTSB, HSBC and Barclays. You just MIGHT find you can use your own ATM card (rather than credit card) here and just have to pay exchange rate drawing on your own account.

On weather, end of April can still be quite chilly, but just as likely to be warm

[Highmac]

Another caveat on transatlantic differences in language.... Paddy refers to a fanny pack - in the UK they are known as bum-bags. Over here fanny means (how can I put this on a family forum...?) ... let's just say only a woman has one...

[jepinto]

And one more reason I've decided to call those indispensable bags "belly bags".  Who wears them in the back anymore, anyhay?

Going to Reno?  The BJ dealers have horror stories about purses and how easily "nicked" they are.  With a belly bag, not a problem.

Linquists, take note! Belly bags!

[Gregg]

Hey! Thanks to all. But one thing, the original question... How much is lunch and dinner (an average) and a trip on mass transit?

[Highmac]

Lots of info on the London Tube site including group tickets and fares. As you can see day tickets are good value for hopping on and off during a day. See also  tube etiquette. Haven't been in London in years, so have no idea whether the 'natives' take a lot of notice of it     .

As for food - well, you can start at about 2GBP ($3) for a sandwich from a shop, or something from McDonald's or Burger King, to... well, the sky's the limit in London!

[Gregg]

Thanks Highmac. So, 2 pounds will get you a Quarter Pounder "freedom" fries*, and a coke, eh?    
I don't imagine they will be dining at London's finest establishments. Just wondering what an average meal would cost at a "sit down" type of restaurant.

*We aren't calling them F***** fries over here just now.

[Highmac]

Never actually asked what area of London your son will be in... Greater London is about 35 miles across, but I've been assuming they will be in the tourist areas in the centre. This site gives a lot of info, but actual cash figures are thin on the ground! Like I said, I haven't been in the capital in many years, so I can't really say. Probably some of your countryfolk have been there since I have and can tell us better. Failing that this London site might have links to more detail. Could try Google...

Without wishing to start a political debate, a joke going the rounds here is "Why don't the French want to bomb Saddam? Because he hates Americans, has a silly moustache, wears a beret and has a string of mistresses..."

[Gregg]

Higmac, the trip is over now. My son is back home. Had a great time over there. He stayed at the Paragon Hotel, and they made trips to Canterbury and Oxford. Of course they toured lots of churches, palaces, etc. and shopped at Harrod's. We slightly underestimated the amount of cash to send with him, but we were pretty close. It was an experience he will never forget.

[Highmac]

Glad your son had a good time - but don't we always underestimate the amount of cash we need for a holiday - because you spend on things you would never buy at home    .

Obviously he also did not get caught up in the various protests that have been taking place over the last few weeks - and the weather has been particularly good for March! (Mind you, April 1, we had strong winds and rain.... the weather god's little April Fool joke, I guess