Oyster cards vs. Visitor Oyster cards

[pne]

When I visited the UK in April 2014, I ordered a Visitor Oyster card before I travelled, and did my travel around London on that.

When I go again this April, I’m considering getting a “proper” Oyster card when I arrive at St Pancras (by Eurostar). (And getting the balance remaining on my Visitor Oyster card refunded.)

Advantages of a “proper” Oyster card seem to me to be: possibility of top-up online and ability to view one’s travels and balance online. And the remote possibility of putting a 7-day Travelcard on one (which I probably won’t need this visit).

The only disadvantage I can see is that I would not have access to exclusive offers for holders of a Visitor Oyster card. (Though a quick look didn’t seem to require that the card hold any balance, so I could carry my existing Visitor Oyster card around with me on the off-chance that I did want to take advantage of any of them.)

Other than that, the two seem to be pretty similar.

I’ve seen conflicting reports about the ability to ‘register’ or ‘protect’ an Oyster card as being restricted to UK residents; I admit I don’t quite understand the details here.

Thoughts on Oyster vs. Visitor Oyster?

 

[Deerfold]

When I visited the UK in April 2014, I ordered a Visitor Oyster card before I travelled, and did my travel around London on that.

When I go again this April, I’m considering getting a “proper” Oyster card when I arrive at St Pancras (by Eurostar). (And getting the balance remaining on my Visitor Oyster card refunded.)

Advantages of a “proper” Oyster card seem to me to be: possibility of top-up online and ability to view one’s travels and balance online. And the remote possibility of putting a 7-day Travelcard on one (which I probably won’t need this visit).

The only disadvantage I can see is that I would not have access to exclusive offers for holders of a Visitor Oyster card. (Though a quick look didn’t seem to require that the card hold any balance, so I could carry my existing Visitor Oyster card around with me on the off-chance that I did want to take advantage of any of them.)

Other than that, the two seem to be pretty similar.

I’ve seen conflicting reports about the ability to ‘register’ or ‘protect’ an Oyster card as being restricted to UK residents; I admit I don’t quite understand the details here.

Thoughts on Oyster vs. Visitor Oyster?

When you get a "proper" Oyster you pay a deposit which you get back when the card is refunded.

With a visitor Oyster you pay a non-refundable fee.

 

[Ze Random One]

Online (or auto) top-up isn't really worth having, IMHO, if you are a short-term visitor - almost every station, and many many convenience stores across the city offer the ability to top up an oyster card. London Underground ticket machines can also show you a brief card use history.

Another option is to use a contactless credit/debit card, if the fees aren't exorbitant; this works as a Pay as you go Oyster card, including daily capping, but there's an additional Monday-Sunday 7 day cap that is applied, which should be roughly equivalent to the Zone 1-n 7 day travelcard fare.

The 'protection' made available from registration means that if you lose a card (or it is stolen), you can use your online account (or telephone) to cancel the old card, and have any products (pay as you go credit, travelcards) transferred over to a new card. This is probably of little use to most visitors, as the bureaucracy involved is only worth it if a large monetary value product is on the card.

As to using a visitor card with no balance to receive discounts -- I doubt the retailers involved have the electronics to read the oyster card.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I agree with the above. I only pop to London once a month or so, but I have an Oyster which is so much easier. I sometimes only make single journeys, and it is cheaper as a result.

A normal Oyster should be more than fine.

 

[simple simon]

Since when do people with visitor cards receive special discounts?

I have one of these (I bought it on a Eurostar train) so maybe I could benefit from the special offers.

Simon

 

[pne]

the special offers

The special offers available to holders of a Visitor Oyster Card can be found here.

 

[Greenback]

Those special offers would have every little value for me, I'm afraid. I recommend a normal Oyster.

 

[simple simon]

The special offers available to holders of a Visitor Oyster Card can be found here.

Thanks, OK, these are discounts, but the list seems to be mostly second tier organisations which I've never heard of!

btw, I have both ordinary and visitor oystercards. I only use the personalised card when I need a season ticket. Its not linked to a bank account, I see no need to do this although I suppose that some people will like this feature.

Simon