3 Tips when Visiting the UK

Taking a family trip to the United Kingdom can make some brilliant memories. While you may be excited about the change of scenery, and the excursions that you might have planned, there is more that may need to be considered than simply the change in weather. By properly planning each part of your journey, you may be able to help keep your family safer and spend more time enjoying your vacation.

Using your mobile phone abroad can be quite expensive, however, you may want to have access to the internet to help you get from place to place. Due to this, you might want to consider obtaining a UK SIM card for the duration of your visit. This means that you could end up paying less for your browsing, especially if you use a pay as you go format. 

However, even with a new UK mobile number, you could potentially be called by scammers. If you notice the 0191 area code pop up on your phone, as an example, you may want to consider if you know anyone in that area. If not, it can be a good idea to simply ignore the call, otherwise, you may find yourself speaking to someone who could try and gain access to your finances. Remember that, on a UK phone, anyone calling from back home would likely have +1 before their number.

You may also want to think about the way you will access and use your money during your vacation. It can be helpful to have some cash exchanged for pounds sterling, the UK currency, prior to your visit. However, you may not want to carry large quantities of notes and coins around with you, or even leave them unattended in your accommodation. Therefore, you might want to think about the ways that you can access your bank account while overseas. Although the UK has plenty of ATMs, some may charge you to withdraw money. Likewise, you may also be charged by your bank for this luxury. To overcome this, some banks offer incentives for travelling abroad, such as no fees for overseas withdrawals, which you may want to look into.

Travelling around the UK, when you get there, may also need to be reviewed. You could opt to hire a car, but may need to be mindful of the differences, such as that, in the UK, people drive on the left-hand side of the road. There are also a number of public transport services that you might want to consider, such as bus, train, taxi, and the London Underground if you’re in the capital. The means of transport you choose could depend on whether you will be staying somewhere rural or urban, as well as the experiences you hope to gain from your trip.

Considering the different aspects of traveling to the UK long before you go can help you to look at both the pros and cons for each plan you come up with. This can allow you to remain safe, look after your money, and make the most out of your vacation.