Visitor Oyster Card Vs Oyster Card

Chris123643

Hi,

Would someone be able to explain the benefit of a "Visitor" Oyster Card? I say I visited London about 6 or 7 times a year, so you would think a "visitor" oyster card is what i needed, but why would i choose that over just the standard oyster card? the standard oyster you can top up online while you can't with the "visitor" option.

I would have thought the way I travel a "visitor" oyster is designed for me, but I cant see the benefit over the standard oyster?

allybee101

I think a standard Oyster Card is used for weekly/monthly/long term travelcards so perhaps there's a monthly charge regardless of how much you use it.

I have a pay as you go Oyster Card, I can't top up online but as I travel into one of the big stations I can just go straight to the ticket machines. You could always make sure you pre-load before you leave London so it's ready for your next visit? It doesn't expire (even when it's not used for a year or longer).

HugsHeal

There's no benefit in getting a Visitor Oyster. Just get a regular Oyster card and keep it.

I visit London around 15-20 times a year and just re-use my regular oyster.

ehlo

I have a pay as you go Oyster Card, I can't top up online

This is not correct, or at least is not the case for current Oyster pay as you go cards

Stompa

If travelling to London by train, getting a travelcard added to your rail ticket may well be much cheaper than using Oyster.

zaax

ehlo wrote: »

This is not correct, or at least is not the case for current Oyster pay as you go cards

If I top up online I have to go though a nomintated underground station, which I don't do as I don't like using the tube.

allybee101

It's quite an old OC and I never used to be able to top up online, perhaps the rules have changed. I'll take a look

susancs

allybee101 wrote: »

It's quite an old OC and I never used to be able to top up online, perhaps the rules have changed. I'll take a look

You have to have your card registered online to top up that way. I know some people don't register the card, but it is useful to do so as you get all the credit back transferd if it is lost or stolen.

Bradfield

Chris123643 wrote: »

Hi,

Would someone be able to explain the benefit of a "Visitor" Oyster Card? I say I visited London about 6 or 7 times a year, so you would think a "visitor" oyster card is what i needed, but why would i choose that over just the standard oyster card? the standard oyster you can top up online while you can't with the "visitor" option.

I would have thought the way I travel a "visitor" oyster is designed for me, but I cant see the benefit over the standard oyster?

The purpose, according to the Oyster site, is to make it easier for travellers to take advantage of cheaper travel by being able to order the Visitor Oyster Card, in advance. From venues like Eurostar and National Express Travel.

There would be no advantage in getting a Visitor Card over the regular ones, as far as I can see.

I only visit London (for holidays) once or twice a year but find the regular Oyster card with automatic top-up a great help. It takes all the worry out of travelling around London.

I think I had to pay £5 deposit when I first got it. I have not been to London for over a year and there is still just over £16 in balance.

Presumably, the Visitor card, is for visitors who can just pre-load the cards with what they need for travel without having to worry about deposits or unused balances.

InsideInsurance

The Visitor Oyster Card operates no differently to a normal Oyster.

The difference is that a standard Oystercard has a refundable £5 deposit for it where as a Visitor Oystercard has a non-refundable £3 activation fee

To get it remotely, Oyster has free first class postage where as Visitor Oyster to the UK charges £2.75

All in all a standard oystercard is marginally better unless you think you're going to keep loosing them. Dont know if you can get a visitor card once in London