Alternative Options for Tourists when Travelcards are Withdrawn

[Bletchleyite]

To be honest as a foreign visitor I would rather just pay a simple daily charge, that I understood. I am not going to want to navigate the complexities of the current contactless system in London particularly if English isnt my first language. No it wouldn't stop me visiting, but it is part of the overall 'impression' that you get of a tourist destination.

The Visitor Oyster card is designed for this purpose, though I do think it's odd that it comes with a "round" preloaded value on it and not multiples of £8.10 (Zone 1-2 cap which is applicable to most tourists - most don't head off to Croydon or something).

I think tourists are perfectly fine with stored-value cards, they're the only option in some places e.g. Istanbul.

 

[Hadders]

For Paris you can load the Navigo on to your phone with no separate card needed if it has the right hardware, most later models Samsungs are fine (other makes may work... no personal experience), last year you couldn't use an iPhone but this may have been sorted.

You can also top up a physical navigo pass using your phone if it can read and write to the card, again depends on phone hardware, most later model phones are OK.

Both solutions mean you arrive with your onward travel sorted, avoiding the queues and general mayhem at places like Gare du Nord.

Thinking about the London situation:

A lot of cards have a minimum fee which is applied to even the smallest transaction.

To be honest as a foreign visitor I would rather just pay a simple daily charge, that I understood. I am not going to want to navigate the complexities of the current contactless system in London particularly if English isnt my first language. No it wouldn't stop me visiting, but it is part of the overall 'impression' that you get of a tourist destination.

I really think you’re over thinking this.

In Paris you can purchase tickets on your phone - but not a single t+ ticket on an iPhone.

London is the most simple system of all with genuine contactless payment. As for transaction fees TfL aggregate the charges into one daily charge rather than several small transactions.

 

[Bletchleyite]

As for transaction fees TfL aggregate the charges into one daily charge rather than several small transactions.

These days, "as for transaction fees, get a better bank" is probably the answer - there are plenty now that only charge a percentage, not a fixed fee which causes this issue. But if for any reason you can't/won't, there's the option of Visitor Oyster, or indeed just a normal Oyster card.

 

[mike57]

These days, "as for transaction fees, get a better bank" is probably the answer - there are plenty now that only charge a percentage

I think if you travel abroad regularly then yes you will think about it, if on the other hand you maybe travel abroad once or twice a year then its going to be less of a concern, and probably not the main reason why you choose a particular card. The visitor oyster card probably covers those who for what ever reason cant or wont use their bank card for contactless. I assume that is not under threat.

Also you could buy a 1 day bus pass at Kings Cross and the other major stations, cost around £6 each I think, we used them on our last visit to London as SWMBO isnt vey keen on the tube (shes fine with sub surface lines), we were only visiting a small area in the centre. Will these still be available?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think if you travel abroad regularly then yes you will think about it, if on the other hand you maybe travel abroad once or twice a year then its going to be less of a concern, and probably not the main reason why you choose a particular card.

If you travel occasionally, a few extra quid won't matter when put up against the much larger costs of getting to London and two hundred quid a night for even a Travelodge.

 

[Deerfold]

If you travel occasionally, a few extra quid won't matter when put up against the much larger costs of getting to London and two hundred quid a night for even a Travelodge.

Not everyone fits in the same box. People booking in advance often pay under a hundred quid for a half decent hotel. Last time I spent a night in central London I paid under £20 for a bed for the night.

 

[MikeWh]

Also you could buy a 1 day bus pass at Kings Cross and the other major stations, cost around £6 each I think, we used them on our last visit to London as SWMBO isnt vey keen on the tube (shes fine with sub surface lines), we were only visiting a small area in the centre. Will these still be available?

Yes. They're not threatened because all the revenue goes to TfL.

 

[Cdd89]

The Visitor Oyster card is designed for this purpose, though I do think it's odd that it comes with a "round" preloaded value on it and not multiples of £8.10

Surely not all that odd. Breakage (revenue from services purchased but not used) is a thing!

 

[AY1975]

The Visitor Oyster card is designed for this purpose, though I do think it's odd that it comes with a "round" preloaded value on it and not multiples of £8.10 (Zone 1-2 cap which is applicable to most tourists - most don't head off to Croydon or something).

No, but there are other places in Zone 6 or other outer zones that are popular with tourists, e.g. Hampton Court.

Yes. They're not threatened because all the revenue goes to TfL.

AIUI these days it's known as the One Day Bus and Tram Pass because it's also valid on London Trams (formerly Croydon Tramlink).

Can the One Day Bus and Tram Pass still be bought everywhere in London? I thought it was only available from the ticket offices at staffed stations served by London Trams (Wimbledon, Mitcham Junction, West and East Croydon, Beckenham Junction and Elmers End) where it is still issued as a paper ticket, or from newsagents and convenience stores displaying the Oyster Stop logo where it is issued as a special single use Oyster card. Not sure whether you can get it from Oyster Stop shops all over London or only in the areas served by London Trams, though.

 

[MikeWh]

AIUI these days it's known as the One Day Bus and Tram Pass because it's also valid on London Trams (formerly Croydon Tramlink).

Yes, buses and trams use the same charging system and both are operated on behalf of TfL.

Can the One Day Bus and Tram Pass still be bought everywhere in London? I thought it was only available from the ticket offices at staffed stations served by London Trams (Wimbledon, Mitcham Junction, West and East Croydon, Beckenham Junction and Elmers End) where it is still issued as a paper ticket, or from newsagents and convenience stores displaying the Oyster Stop logo where it is issued as a special single use Oyster card. Not sure whether you can get it from Oyster Stop shops all over London or only in the areas served by London Trams, though.

As far as I know it is available from all Oyster ticket stops. I'd wager that the majority that are sold are used exclusively on buses.

 

[urpert]

Yes, buses and trams use the same charging system and both are operated on behalf of TfL.

As far as I know it is available from all Oyster ticket stops. I'd wager that the majority that are sold are used exclusively on buses.

In the days of the (terrible) Tramlink ticket machines you could get a paper version from those too. Long gone now, of course.