London - Using credit cards/oyster cards

What a great question. I think it comes down to will the usage cause credit card foreign transaction fees to exceed the cost for purchasing the Oyster Card? I think the current card cost is 7 pounds per person. (approx 8.82 US) The typical foreign transaction fee is 3% for each transaction. For example, you would need to spend about 230 pounds before your foreign transaction fees would equal the cost of the Oyster Card. On the other hand, your Oyster card is good for multiple trips/years. How much do you plan to use the tube/buses? Do you plan to return to London?

On a personal note, I still prefer an Oyster Card. If I somehow lose it, it won't be as traumatic as losing my credit card. Others really prefer, "tap and go."

How would you pay for the oyster cards? Cash in £? Exchange and or ATM fees maybe be higher than the credit card foreign transaction fees. You have to look into the details of your particular accounts to see what’s cheapest. If you have enough lead time you could look into getting CC with no FTF.

Consider different cards, it need not be a "travel" card, lots have no FTF, the ones that do tend to be issued by big banks. Even for yourself, you should be able to call up your card company and have a second card issued to you on the same account, multiple cards from the same account can be used for transport.

Aside from that, your kids could also load your credit card into their phones (if contactless capable) and use their phones or watches for transport (and at the pub if you don't notice). Contactless tags each device or card as a unique ID.

Edit to add: For contactless use, tap ins and tap outs are registered throughout the day, and there is only one transaction done daily, so if the FTF fee is set up on a use, then a percentage, it is only one transaction.

The other advantage of contactless over an Oyster card is you do not need to "load" the card with funds, add additional, and then go through the hassle to get any excess funds back. Oyster cards are great if your in London over and over and do not mind any small or even larger balance left, but for a one time trip, the benefit begins to decline.

I’d opt for Oyster Cards.

My rationale is like Carol’s….wouldn’t bother me if I lost an Oyster Card but I’d be very upset if I lost a credit or debit card.

Not to mention each or all of the family might like to buy an Oyster Card holder as a memento. I got mine at the British Museum gift shop. You can find holders in most museum gift shops. Some with the TFL Logo. Others with artful designs. My card holder is the Alice and Wonderland tea party. Also have a Banksy one.

EDIT: Back at home I’ll use a holder for my license to show at airports. Fits perfectly into my puffer vest interior pocket. In fact using it this Friday. Off to the San Francisco Bay Area for a SuperBowl watch party. GO NINERS!!!!

If they’re going to be going out separately to you then they might as well all apply for a travel card otherwise they’re going to rack up fees. I doubt they’ll want to use cash. It’ll be a useful thing for them to have anyway.

3 in their early 20s and they don’t already have phone pay set up?

I agree with everything that Paul wrote. Tap and Pay all the way. Hopefully your kids can get a CC w/o international fees ahead of your trip. I hardly use cash in London. More and more pubs are going cashless.

My choice is the Oyster Card, which I use where ever it is accepted. This is my very first Oyster Card going back to 2009. I use the credit card or cash to reload it.

Do they have Apple Pay or Google Pay on their phones? If yes, they can use that.

They have credit cards but not travel cards that don't charge an international fee.

Have "the young ones" get a no annual fee / no foreign transaction fee credit card. We have one in our arsenal of credit cards.

Then have them it up in Apple or Google Pay and go about your business.

Use the phone set up already with credit card, and tap everywhere. You can put your password/fingerprint on it for when not tapping. WAY easier than any Oyster. I would however, go to your bank and have them clarify their fees for international travel. It often won't matter how often you use it, if it is calculated as a percentage of the total amount.

If nothing else, with paying fees (usually 3%), using contactless is still way cheaper than paying for an Oyster card. Fees would amount to only about 0.25 GBP per day if you cap out, less for only one or two trips.

Why is it that for so many people paying for an Oyster card breaks the bank?
In the overall cost of the vacation the cost has no significance. Not even the price of two coffees.
No one is on that tight a budget.

it may be small Stuart but it is the principle of having yet another card to keep track of (says he with 3 in the desk), paying 7 quid per person where (for those of use who have moved to smartphones and apps - yes, I know you haven't) Apple Pay or Google Pay or a dedicated credit card already in the wallet have no such £7 fee.

Why is it that for so many people paying for an Oyster card breaks the bank?

It doesn't, but my point was, if you are concerned about fees on your credit card, paying the fees is cheaper than buying an Oyster, unless you will be in London for over a month.

But beyond that, your choice is land, pull out your card or phone, hop on the tube and get to your destination, or... Land, search out a ticket machine, go through the transaction to get the card, load it with some amount, then tap and go. Then of course, keep track of what your balance is on the card, maybe take the time to add on more, then once leaving, go through the process to get your balance back. An Oyster is fine if you visit London often (I did at one time and used it, keeping a balance on it), but like Nigel pointed out, just one more thing to carry and manage. I'll be in London in May, the Oyster is staying at home.

I agree with Paul. I bought my Oyster Card eons ago. It still works. I have about 5 GBP on it. But lately, I've been using contactless on my phone and its very easy.

I'll keep the Oyster card in my wallet in case the phone doesn't work. But that would mean cell service in London would be out.

I’m with Frank, Paul and Nigel, even though I still use an Oyster. I have a Senior Railcard and can therefore link the Oyster to get the discount, which I can’t with contactless. As and when I can, or the discount is dropped I will probably just use my phone.

I'll keep the Oyster card in my wallet in case the phone doesn't work. But that would mean cell service in London would be out.

I can't recall all of the specifics, but you do not need cell phone service for contactless to work at the time of use. The transaction is really between the data in your phone and the reader, the reader verifies or communicates the charge. You do need cell service or WiFi to view the charges, and see details in your account.