UK friends, please help me!

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

My daughter is going to Cambridge to study for 8 weeks this summer.
So much we don't know, so I am turning to you all for help.
To begin with, I have read it is better to use a debit card at an ATM and draw out a week or two worth of needed funds, rather than using credit cards for each purchase. Credit cards could carry an exchange fee and international transaction fee ( and/or cash advance fee) with each transaction. Do your ATMs accept American credit union cards? My credit union says yes, but I am worried if that is correct. (A credit union is like a bank)
What are your thoughts?
Also, should she buy some pounds here to start with? Buy them at Heathrow when she lands? How much should she start with?
We always hear expensive England is, and Brits always say how cheap the states are, so how much a week would she need? Her meal plan only covers 10 meals a week--basically breakfast and lunch on weekdays. So need to buy the other 11 meals a week, snacks, outings with friends, weekend travels, souvenirs, shopping, gifts to bring home, etc, etc.
She wants to take school supplies, backpack, etc, but with the cost of checking luggage ($50 USD, about 30GBP?) is it cheaper to take it, or buy them there?
Probably cheaper to take, I guess, but then she has to haul it to her destination.
She will take National Express from Heathrow to Cambridge, booking at the airport after she arrives. We picked that as we don't know how long it will take to get through customs, to find National Express loading area, etc.
Then she will stay night at Youth Hostel at Cambridge, hopefully be able to sleep & catch up from jet lag, then go to the college the next AM to checkin.
So she needs pounds for taxi, if she can get one from Youth Hostel to King's College, tips, meals, National Express bus, etc. Can she get a taxi from where the bus lets her off to the hostel, as she will have 2 big suitcase and a carry-on? (Too much to drag along and walk.) How would she get the taxi?

Please help with all thoughts, suggestions, and advice. Thank you.

 

[wickesy]

I'll try and help out if I can.

ATM - Does your daughter's debit card have a Visa or Mastercard logo on it - if it does then she is good to go, if not then I'm not sure if our ATMs would accept it.

Currency - I think she should get some Pounds before she arrives, the exchange rate at the airport is not going to be good. GBP200 would be plenty to get her started (bus fare, taxis etc).

Heathrow has 5 terminals, do you know which one your daughter is due to arrive at? If you do we can probably help with directions to the National Express terminal.

The bus station at Cambridge will probably have a taxi rank outside from where she can get a taxi to the hostel.

Hope that helps and that somebody else can help with the bits I've missed.

 

[Baloo1992]

I would also advise that you pick up your pounds in the US before she travels. I would suggest it would be very easy for her to buy her school supplies from one of the local big supermarkets (I'm not from Cambridge but there's bound to be a Tesco/Asda/Sainsburys nearby - they're everywhere!) rather than haul them over in her luggage.
Also, try not to worry too much. Cambridge is a University town and so very used to dealing with students from all over the world so if she has a problem I'm sure she'll be able to sort it out easily enough.
Good luck to her!

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Thank you for your replies.
David, I incorrectly thought all international flights would go into one terminal, as is customary in the states. Sounds naive of me, doesn't it?
I looked it up on the Heathrow website, and it says she will land at Terminal 4.
I believe the National Express drops her off at Parkside, Parker's Piece, Cambridge. I hope she will be able to get a taxi somehow from there to her Youth Hostel.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Thanks Baloo.
Not really worried about any part other than the logistics of the first 2 days travel, and getting there, etc.
Very excited about the wonderful opportunity summer she will have and the friends she will make.
But getting there alone, and first 2 days will overwhelm her.
It is alot to deal with.
I think (hope) getting back home should be easier and less scary.

 

[wickesy]

I looked it up on the Heathrow website, and it says she will land at Terminal 4.

If you take a look at this PDF there is a map on the last page that shows the National Express bus stops are right outside the Terminal 4 entrance (numbers 13 and 14).

I've also found this page on the Cambridge University website that confirms there are taxis available at Parkside.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Thanks again, David.
Is there a Traveler's Aid in Termianl 4? I didn't see it on the map?

Also, I couldn't find on National Express website if there is a desk in the airport to buy tickets. As I said, we don't know how long it will take to clear customs, collect her luggage, do whatever else all she needs to do before climbing onboard the bus, so don't want to book it now form here. But the National Express site says it is better to purchase ahead instead of on the bus. I had hoped she could buy the ticket at a desk there at the airport.
Any available info on that?

Should she go ahead and get a bite to eat at the airport before she heads out?

Is it cheaper to buy the converters for electrical appliances at airport or shop in Cambridge? The most important one is for her laptop, of course.

 

[paulh]

for the laptop a lead like http://www.play.com/Electronics/Ele...tml?_$ja=tsid:11518|cat:19516232|prd:19516232 should be okwe have ones to convert to usa so you should be able to pick up over in USA

As with most things if bought before there cheaper than on the day so for the bus per pay before she go`s

Paul

 

[wickesy]

I presume Traveller's Aid is what we would call Tourist Information? If so there is an information desk on the left hand side of the map - marked by the 'i' in a circle near bus stop number 3.

I can't find anything to suggest there is a ticket desk at Terminal 4 but there is one at the Central Bus Station. Your daughter can take a bus transfer from Terminal 4 to the Central Bus Station at no charge from bus stop 7.

If your daughter is anything like me she won't be able to face eating after the long flight but if she does want something then yes she should eat before boarding the bus as that will be a few hours journey by itself.

Electrical appliance convertors I would buy before leaving the US or in Cambridge, she is likely to be charged way too much if she buys at the airport.

If your daughter has a known date that she will be leaving the UK you might want to consider purchasing one of these pre-paid return National Express vouchers. I haven't looked at it in detail so I don't know how it compares to buying a ticket direct from National Express in advance or on the day.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Thanks again everyone.
David you are great.

 

[wickesy]

Happy to help.

 

[MinnieMouse73]

Sorry I've only just seen this, hope it's not too late to chime in!

I live very close to Cambridge - yes she will be able to get a taxi from there, it's right in the middle of the city. There is definitely no shortage of shops to buy school supplies from, I wouldn't bother bringing that stuff.

Any other questions about the city, fire away!

When is she arriving?