Question about exchanging currencies/ATMs from an American

[sweet maxine]

Hello,

My daughter is leaving for a trip to the U.K. and Europe on Monday, and we have been told that for exchanges of currency an ATM machine is best. Is this true, and also which places will give a decent exchange or will cash traveler's checks? Also, what would be a neat souvenir to buy in London? What is the weather there like right now?

Sorry for so many questions, but no one in the family has traveled overseas before.

Thanks for your time with this post

 

[natalielongstaff]

SORRY i cant help you with the currency question but i can advise her to bring an umbrella !! we have had a lot of rain this week

hope she has a good trip

 

[snookhams]

Hi, I don't know that I can answer all your questions but I will try to help, ATM machines will obviously issue sterling notes so that should not be a problem, otherwise there are plenty of places that with 'bureau de changes', including some of our larger stores i.e. John Lewis, Marks & Spencer or failing that most post offices or banks will be able to help, although most don't open on a weekend! Travellers Cheques are not as widely accepted like in the US but again some of the larger stores will take them provided that they are in sterling and they may require to see ID - i.e. a passport. The weather here in London is OK at the moment not to hot but not to cold either, although things do change so would recomend that your daughter brings a couple of sweaters, we have woken up to rain this morning so would recommend a shower proof jacket or an umbrella. On the souvenir front, this is a difficult one, she will find things expensive compared to US prices (well I think she will because we always think that it is so cheap in the US - we buy most of our clothes etc and especially shoes and trainers during our holiday), I would recommend not to buy from carts in the street, particularly in London's Oxford Street, as they tend to be overpriced rubbish. I can't think of one thing that would scream 'I came from the UK' but there are often many themed items on sale, especially with the Union Jack on them, and some nice souvenirs can be bought at official shops at places like the Tower of London etc. Hope that I have helped in some way to answer your questions and that your daughter enjoys her trip to the UK

 

[KayleeUK]

How about a cute cuddly bear dressed as a beefeater

 

[Mpet]

Hi

If your daughter gets a chance to visit Harrods, there is a wider selection of 'less tacky' souveniers.

Maxine

 

[sweet maxine]

Good morning!

Thanks so much for your responses. It is really helping me to plan for her. We will make sure to pack a waterproof jacket of some sort. Also thanks for the information about the carts with souvenirs. My daughter would probably have gone straight to the carts you talked about without a second thought. It helps so much to have a perspective from someone who lives where you are traveling. Thank you so much for all of your ideas.

 

[Dimplenose]

Another place to go shopping is Fortnum and Masons a posh department store. Or Covent Garden has lots of little shops and craft stalls that have different products - they also have a Disney Store that carries a few London Disney Souvenirs (last time I visited they had Pooh bear toys dressed as Beefeaters or London Mickey T-shirts.) There's a bigger Disney Store on Oxford Street near Bond St. tube station.

The Museums and Art Galleries also have some nice souvenirs.

Libby

 

[sweet maxine]

I just checked the boards this morning, and saw your post about the Disney Pooh and Mickey t-shirts. What fun!!

Thanks so much for all of your ideas. I just hope she has lots of fun and manages the languages when she leaves the UK. I told her that there are certain phrases she really needs to know.

 

[snookhams]

She shouldn't have to much trouble with the language, although some areas of the UK have strong accents that might prove difficult, I have been trying to think of things that are called different names in the US and have only come up with a few....

we call an elevator a lift
restrooms are toilets
french fries are chips
chips are crisps
biscuits are scones
cookies are biscuits
cabs are taxis
candy is sweets

hope these help

 

[sweet maxine]

Sorry, but I should have been more clear about my post. I meant when she goes on over to France, and other places. She is trying to make sure she has at least a small grasp of French, but I'm not sure about much else.

Thanks for the help with the words she might not know. I guess she really needs to keep on her toes, so that she doesn't slip up and ask for something she doesn't really want.

I guess if someone were coming to visit here, it would be so easy to tell them about things, but it's so hard when it's somewhere different that you've never been to. That's why I decided to post on this board so that all of you that have helped me would know. The DIS boards are so great for everything. My daughter keeps saying, "Mom, let me see what everyone is saying on the boards from the UK so I won't be so lost when I get there!" She is really excited. I just hope she doesn't pack too much and not leave room for souvenirs. I also gave her some mosquito repellant to pack, though she might not really need any. In Mississippi the mosquitos are horrible, but we never felt the first one while we were at Disney a couple of weeks ago.

 

[sweet maxine]

I just wanted to report back that my daughter has used her ATM card in London with no problem,(I guess teenagers just naturally gravitate to a money source ). She did some shopping I think at the Covent Garden area, and loved the food in Chinatown.

She's ready to move to London, but says she probably would never get to. I told her she can always have that dream. She saw Phantom of the Opera the other night and loved it! I wish I was there, too. She took a picture in the red phone booth at Epcot, and will take another like it in London so that she can compare the two. I think she's having a bit of jet lag still, but I hope she gets over it soon. How long does it take to become acclimated to the time difference?

 

[Penny12]

It always takes me a good couple of days to get back in to the swing of things because of the time difference - it's harder flying West to East due to 'losing' 5 hours of night time (and therefore your sleep is totally disrupted). East to West is a lot easier!

 

[sweet maxine]

Good morning!

Thanks for your response. I did not realize that it would be more difficult to go in one direction with time change than the other. I guess it easier to find yourself with "more" hours instead of "less". Thanks for your help and your patience with me on the UK boards.