Visitor Oyster Card

I do not think, other than marketing, there is a difference between the "Visitor" Oyster Card and a regular Oyster card. Both can be checked at a station, either in a ticket machine or at a counter, there are even machines just for checking and topping off. As for online...go to www.tfl.gov.uk, I know you can set up an account for an existing Oyster, it may then give you a balance.

Well I've never checked the balance online but it's certainly easy to do at the station. Hold card up to reader and it'll tell you how much you have left. Easy to top up with cash or credit card. Oyster cards...very handy those.

Visitor Oyster Cards are different in that there is a nonrefundable fee to buy them, they can not be registered, and they can not be loaded with a travelcard. If the cards have not been used for a while (2 years?) they will have to be reactivated at a booking office. I think you will have to wait until you arrive in London to check the balance. With the above restrictions and the extra cost involved there is no reason to buy a Visitor Oyster Card.

That is some really good info. Did not know that you couldnt load a travelcard on them. Will have to do a bit of research. It may be easier just to buy a new cards when we get into town cause I was planning on loading a 7 day travel card onto it. Thanks again for the help, really appreciate the insight.

Yip, just buy a regular Oyster card with cash. If you've been given an oyster card, you can take it to any ticket machine with an Oyster reader and it will tell you what's left (or just go to a ticket window and ask).