Travel Tips for England
Passports and Visas
Valid passports are now required for travel to any destination outside
the United States and its territories. Some countries also require
visas, depending upon your length of stay or your purpose. If you
already have a passport, it needs to be valid for at least six months
beyond your date of entry. Information about passports may be found at
the travel section of the US State Department website:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.
A visa is not required for a stay in England of less than six months
unless you are doing an internship or some paid work.
Money
Automated teller machines (sometimes called “cash points”) are
ubiquitous in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland and many indicate
that they do not charge for cash withdrawals. Most ATM cards issued
by U.S. banks will work in these machines, and this is probably the
easiest way to obtain money. Most U.S. banks will charge an ATM
withdrawal fee for these transactions. You will usually obtain a
better exchange rate with an ATM withdrawal than with a cash
transaction at a foreign currency exchange vendor in the airport or on
the street.
You can use a regular VISA, MasterCard, or American Express credit
card for almost all purchases in shops and restaurants. Many credit
card companies now charge a foreign currency transaction fee for each
use of the card, so check with your bank or company to see what, if
any, fees might apply.
You should also contact your credit card company or ATM-issuer (call
the customer service number on the back of your card) to have them
make a note on your account for when you will be out of the country.
Card issuers track purchases electronically and will sometimes cancel
an account if unexpected charges begin piling up.