Going to London

[ruffilb]

I'm going to London in a few weeks, and I'm wondering what the easiest way to pay over there is. I don't have a credit or a debit card, otherwise this would be really easy. I was looking at a prepaid MasterCard gift-card type of thing, which would allow me to just take cash out of ATMs, but I just wondered how ubiquitous MasterCard is over there.

Thanks

 

[Estrella]

pounds

 

[simms]

MC is fine over there, they use Cirrus.

 

[K1052]

er...get a debit or credit card?

failing that travelers checks or good old fashion British £

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Travelling without a credit card? Am I the only one that feels that's a bit odd?

 

[davestar]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Living without a credit/debit card? Am I the only one that feels that's a bit odd?

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: davestar

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Living without a credit/debit card? Am I the only one that feels that's a bit odd?

my thoughts too.

 

[dandruff]

london is expensive ... get a bank debit card ... bank of america cards work on barclays with no charges and barclays is everywhere ... or any bank with cirrus (maybe plus) but that will charge you per transaction ... or take suitcases full of money / tc .. hth!

 

[krotchy]

......

 

[Zolty]

Get a debit card with that doubles as a visa/mc. Get this from your bank generally for free, there is no reason not to have this capability in todays age unless you are my parents (they are crazy and just got a computer for xmas, from me.).

Use this card for all of your spending, as it is insured for fraudulent purchases.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Why would you not have a debit card?

 

[SSSnail]

Just remember, whatever monies you bring there, the value is half as soon as you exchange.

 

[royaldank]

Get a debit card and withdraw money. CC started adding additional charges per transactions a year or two ago. Most banks there don't charge a transaction fee at their ATMs. So, if you get one here that doesn't charge you to use other banks ATMs, you're golden.

Taking US Dollars and exchanging them for pounds is pretty much the worst way to go about it and will cost you the most.

 

[Kelemvor]

If you have a debit card you don't have to withdraw money, you use it to pay for things directly. Unless somewhere only takes cash, then do it that way.

But seriously, do you not have a bank account at all? if you do you should get a debit card with it... At least every bank I know of does this.

 

[Atheus]

Travelers cheques I suppose? But seriously, just bring a debit card. I can't imagine any reason you wouldn't be able to get one.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: SSSnail
Just remember, whatever monies you bring there, the value is half as soon as you exchange.

Uhh, you are a moron. The value of the money doesn't change one bit. There's simply a change in prices due to them using the Pound instead of the Dollar. One dollar still equals one dollar in England, and one dollar still gets you a around .50 pounds. There's no "loss" of value, there's simply the fact that you are converting into a currency that its worth calculated in a different manner.

What you are basically say is that you lose half of the worth of the dollar, and that's not true.