Odin

thursdaysd

What are they going to do about using their phones AS phones? I have a T-Mobile month-by-month plan which has coverage in over 100 countries, with free texts and data (although not free calls) so I can use my phone as soon as I get off the plane. If they are going to use local SIMs that could be the first stop.

historytraveler

walkinaround

It not a long trek at all and it's located to provide quick access from both T2 and T3 and one is coming from T2 and the other from T3. The walking route to the bus station though the pedestrian walkway is mostly moving walkway (people moving things). In fact this is the same walk to the Tube station that serves both T2 and T3. thousands do this every day including 80 year olds with luggage. It's 5-10 minutes and it's a primary way for people to get to T3 who take the Tube.

If you're looking at this from a footsteps perspective than suggesting that one walks to the other's terminal is further by foot. Makes no sense.
OP can see for themselves:

thursdaysd

bilboburgler

1) surely people as old as this will have a bank account.
2) if a single kid is going to use a taxi they will find that they take debit/credit cards (where do you think London is, the boondocks?)

no need to send them with Sterling cash then

jc_uk

Why?

I've been travelling for decades and never felt the need to wear a money belt. Flying in and out of the UK my passport is usually in my pocket or in my bag. What's going to happen to it that warrants being stashed away in a money belt? Are you worried that there are hordes of pick pocketers lurking around the concourse of Terminal 5?

jlub

Hey bilboburgler, just my teen doesn't have credit or debit cards. Of course her older sister does, but the "backup" plan if older sister's flight is massively delayed is probably for my teen to go to their VRBO. For that, either a taxi or as historytraveler says, probably a car service is better. But again, no ATM if (worst case) my teen is in LHR by herself. So she'd need some emergency cash, whether dollars or pounds.

Thanks Odin, LHR WiFi should be strictly for the 2 to WhatsApp in order to meet. Regarding using phones as phones, thursdaysd, not sure what we get with Verizon. But we really only want WhatsApp and WiFi, generally we don't care about talking on the phone while traveling.

janisj

>>For that, either a taxi or as historytraveler says, probably a car service is better<<.

Yes, a car service is better than a taxi, but that is only an option IF you book it before they leave home - not a spur of the moment decision because someone's flight was delayed.

The Central Bus Station is an easy walk - but it can also be a total zoo. There is one cafe -- probably a Cafe Nero but I'm not positive about that. The station is extremely busy though.

5alive

There's a feeling on this board that it's a sin to ever change money while still at home. My view is that we all have things we splurge on, and others where we try to hold the line.

Yes, I would exchange the money for her. Otherwise you are sending her penniless. If her sister isn't arriving, then she might be a little anxious.

Of course, you can minimize your costs by checking the current exchange rate online. Compare options in your city, starting with your own banks or credit unions. Some may have a fee but they waive it for members.

PalenQ

Yes, I would exchange the money for her. Otherwise you are sending her penniless. If her sister isn't arriving, then she might be a little anxious.>

Well just give her a few hundred U S dollars she can surely exchange at the bank in the arrivals terminals probably at a better rate and she may not have to exchange them at lousy rates - including Heathrow banks probably.

You can also pre-load a credit card with money - she could take you credit card too and surely use that at an ATM - no ID required to use ATMs. Notify your c c banks of countries you will be visiting so cards are not blocked as a security measure by your banks suspicious of foreign transaction.

historytraveler

janisj

Pal: >>she can surely exchange at the bank in the arrivals terminals . . . <<

And which bank might that be??? There is no bank in Arrivals -- there is a Travelex which charges exorbitant fees. Historytraveler is correct - If jlub wants to send £ currency with the daughter it would be better to take some from home.

bilboburgler

my choice would be
1) lend debit card to younger daughter
2) buy her cash at home (if nothing else than for peace of mind)

BTW Cafe Nero is a tax dodger, even Star$s pays more tax in the UK!

PalenQ

Jan- I mean by bank an exchange office - point is if both gals meet up as probably one would not need to cash anything at Travelex but they would use their c cards at ATMs to get best rate. And is Travelex rate worse than banks at home? But to put angst to rest yes get them a couple hundred quid just to be safe.

jlub

As bilboburgler points out, it's really for some "Peace of mind". The biggest concern is if older sister's flight has some major delay. Per 5alive, I just checked and my credit union will sell me pounds with no markup but a small fee for shipping. We can also get her an ATM card on her own account at the CU with access to a fixed amount of money. So, although like all teens, she does know everything, she doesn't have any experience either going to a bank to do a currency exchange or even to use an ATM. Not that she can't learn, but it seems better to have everything as simple and straight forward as possible for her in a foreign airport.

janisj

jlub: Yes, getting a few £ from your credit union is a good idea. Tell your daughter she really can't get lost, between all the people walking the same direction to go through Immigration and Customs, the signage, and lots of staff around she can ask if she gets confused. At Immigration she should expect long to very long lines, so if she needs to, she really should stop as soon as she sees a toilet because once she's in the queue she is stuck. After Passport Control, she will walk through luggage retrieval - even if she has - hopefully - just carry-on. There will be a screen that shows which carousel is for her flight. Then Customs - tell her that when she gets to customs it is just two doors - one has a red sign if there is something to declare, and a green sign for 'Nothing to Declare'. She should walk through the Nothing to Declare door. Once through the door she can look for the signs for Ground Transportation and the Bus station. She can ask anyone in almost any sort of uniform if she's not sure.



••• (>>Jan- I mean by bank an exchange office - point is if both gals meet up as probably one would not need to cash anything at Travelex but they would use their c cards at ATMs to get best rate. And is Travelex rate worse than banks at home?<<

Pal: It is not a bank, and yes the fees are higher. And using a credit card at an ATM is an awful idea.)•••

PalenQ

What about Britain's penchant at Immigration to ask how much money or funds to access you have - especially maybe for a young single traveler. Another reason to get her a credit or debit card to access? Otherwise no cards or enough funds could cause problems.

5alive

Sounds like a plan!

Pal makes a good point. She will potentially be asked questions showing that she has the funds to support her trip. So yes, both the cash and the ATM card would be wise for this reason too.

But more importantly, you might want to walk through a few questions she will be asked. In addition to concerns about terrorism, the authorities may want ascertain that your daughter is not a victim of sex trafficking.

What purpose you are here? Vacation. I'm meeting up with my older sister in 2 hours, etc, my parents in two days... Etc. Maybe a printed itinerary in case she gets nervous would be helpful?

jlub

Thanks for all the great tips, advice, etc!! We will be putting it to good use.