London tube travel

mackin01

Hi, was looking for advice, my teenage son is travelling to London early on Thursday and was going to use his contactless card for travelling on the tube, his card was swallowed by a hole in the wall last night (great timing I know) and on phoning today they have said it can take 3-5 days for new card to be delivered. So looked at an Oyster travelcard but first date for confirmed delivery is Thursday but there is no point ordering and paying money if it doesnt get here on time.
Can anyone help me with what his best options are?

lewishardwick

Take cash. You can either buy an oyster card at a ticket messiness with cash, or if it's a one off, just buy a paper one day travelcard.

silvercar

Buy a one day travel card if after 9.30. If earlier buy an oyster, load some cash on to it and travel.

Cash is far more expensive and more hassle.

mackin01

thanks for replies, he is going for four day and he will arrive after 9.30, so is it just these options will be dearer than contactless?

Hermia

mackin01 wrote: »

thanks for replies, he is going for four day and he will arrive after 9.30, so is it just these options will be dearer than contactless?

Is he likely to go to London again? If so, it is worth him getting an Oyster card for future travel. I go about once a year and it is very handy having an Oyster card all loaded up in readiness.

Kite2010

How often is he planning to use LU for those days?

Oyster will probably be the best assuming the new card doesn't arrive in time

mackin01

I dont think he will be going again anytime soon, so is the Oyster visitor card which said we need delivered to home completely different to an Oyster card? Sorry for all questions we have only been to London once before and using contactless was so easy

mackin01

He will just be using it a handful of times a day any staying within zones 1&2 which would havecost £6.60 with contactless

wealdroam

mackin01 wrote: »

I dont think he will be going again anytime soon, so is the Oyster visitor card which said we need delivered to home completely different to an Oyster card? Sorry for all questions we have only been to London once before and using contactless was so easy

An Visitor's Oyster card costs £3.00 and that £3 is not refundable.

A standard Oyster Card costs £5.00 and that £5 is refundable should you decide to return the card.

Without a contactless payment card I would be buying a standard Oyster card on arrival in London.

Fares using an Oyster card will cost the same as if using a contactless payment card.

mackin01

wealdroam wrote: »

An Visitor's Oyster card costs £3.00 and that £3 is not refundable.

A standard Oyster Card costs £5.00 and that £5 is refundable should you decide to return the card.

Without a contactless payment card I would be buying a standard Oyster card on arrival in London.

Fares using an Oyster card will cost the same as if using a contactless payment card.

that is very helpful, thankyou

dggar

does your son have any form of railcard? if so he can get that loaded on to an oyster card and get 1/3 off travel. (that option is not available for contactless debit cards.)