Anyone here know London or Berlin?

[shadow]

Last time I was there, for some work reason I literally just remembered, I was told that you can use a credit card on (I think) all bus and tube journeys as if it's a travel pass, up to a certain maximum fare after which you're no longer charged. Something like that, though you'd best check for details.

It's not exactly like that. There are certain bank cards, that work as travel-cards, but I doubt anyone coming from abroad would have one of those. However, anyone can buy an Oyster card from a ticket vending machine at most train and tube station, then top it up (at the same machine, or online) and use that credit to pay for almost all public transport in London. Once the cost of your journeys in a day reaches the cost of a daily travel-card for the zones you've been traveling within - the rest of your travel that day - within those is free. 

You can also use the Oyster card as a weekly travel-card.

Sweet, thanks - so it does the math for you to get you the best deal. Nothing is worse than accidentally wasting money on an inefficient ticket - the other day I accidentally payed $2.20 at an automated machine to travel zero stops at a train station. I felt like a complete idiot

[Tiberius]

It's not exactly like that. There are certain bank cards, that work as travel-cards, but I doubt anyone coming from abroad would have one of those. However, anyone can buy an Oyster card from a ticket vending machine at most train and tube station, then top it up (at the same machine, or online) and use that credit to pay for almost all public transport in London. Once the cost of your journeys in a day reaches the cost of a daily travel-card for the zones you've been traveling within - the rest of your travel that day - within those is free. 

You can also use the Oyster card as a weekly travel-card.

Sweet, thanks - so it does the math for you to get you the best deal. Nothing is worse than accidentally wasting money on an inefficient ticket - the other day I accidentally payed $2.20 at an automated machine to travel zero stops at a train station. I felt like a complete idiot

It only does this on a daily basis though. If you are going to be there multiple days you need to figure out which is more cost effective. http://www.londontravelpass.com/prices.html

If you use an Oyster card, you won't be charged more than £6.40 a day (for zones 1-2). A weekly travelcard for zones 1-2 is £32.10.

32.10 / 6.40 = 5.01

So if you are only going to be there for 5 days, you don't need a weekly travelcard. If you will be there for 6+ days, a weekly travelcard is more cost effective.

Also take into consideration that you have to add money to your Oyster card if you don't have a travelcard loaded on it, so it might be worth the hassle to buy one anyway.

[GUBU]

I'm studying abroad in Europe right now, and I have a couple of long weekends coming up, so I booked cheap flights to Berlin and London. Never been to either city before

Has anyone here been to either of these cities and want to share any suggestions of cool places to go or things to see and eat? I have about 5-6 days in each city. I'm going to Berlin because I'm very interested in its history, and London because it's so famous, because I've never been to the UK before, and because my flight was only $50

If you're going to Berlin for a weekend, pick a one where Union Berlin are playing at home (guaranteed packed stadium and plenty of noise. Keep chanting "Eisern Union (pronounced Onyoon) and you'll be sorted). Was there last September and it is a massive experience. The Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp at Oranienburg is a sobering experience, well worth going to. And there are more museums than you could shake a stick at, a day or two at the Museum Isel is an idea.

Anywhere in the city centre is good for meals, I was paying €30-€35 for three course meals and two pints every day, very good food almost universally.

As regards London, like the rest of England it's a shithole, so best of luck there.

PS I'll be in Bristol the least shitholey part of England (mainly because historically it was Wales) for their CAMRA beer festival if anybody is around there the same time.

[shadow]

London is a good choice, I have been there many times and there is a lot to see, and many museums are for free .... it's really cool! I like London 😉
I was in Berlin once and it was ... hmmm how was it? it was worse than in London hehe   
and when are you going to London? I also go there   
Btw, what are you studying and where, if I can ask, of course?

I'm visiting London from the 14th to 19th. Right now I'm in Copenhagen, studying Business for my undergrad while seeing Europe. It's been pretty fun so far - my first time living away from home so I'm learning a lot

[Tiberius]

London is a good choice, I have been there many times and there is a lot to see, and many museums are for free .... it's really cool! I like London 😉
I was in Berlin once and it was ... hmmm how was it? it was worse than in London hehe   
and when are you going to London? I also go there   
Btw, what are you studying and where, if I can ask, of course?

I'm visiting London from the 14th to 19th. Right now I'm in Copenhagen, studying Business for my undergrad while seeing Europe. It's been pretty fun so far - my first time living away from home so I'm learning a lot

Find out the nearest underground station to where you'll be staying and I can tell you which zones you'll need to buy a travelcard for.

[shadow]

I'm visiting London from the 14th to 19th. Right now I'm in Copenhagen, studying Business for my undergrad while seeing Europe. It's been pretty fun so far - my first time living away from home so I'm learning a lot

Find out the nearest underground station to where you'll be staying and I can tell you which zones you'll need to buy a travelcard for.

St.Paul's. I don't know anything about London but that sounded central - probably Zone 1?

[Tiberius]

Yup, that's in Zone 1. If you're there for 6 days, just buy an oyster card and load it with a week travelcard for zones 1-2 and you should be fine.

[shadow]

Yup, that's in Zone 1. If you're there for 6 days, just buy an oyster card and load it with a week travelcard for zones 1-2 and you should be fine.

Thanks.

---

I'm studying abroad in Europe right now, and I have a couple of long weekends coming up, so I booked cheap flights to Berlin and London. Never been to either city before

Has anyone here been to either of these cities and want to share any suggestions of cool places to go or things to see and eat? I have about 5-6 days in each city. I'm going to Berlin because I'm very interested in its history, and London because it's so famous, because I've never been to the UK before, and because my flight was only $50

If you're going to Berlin for a weekend, pick a one where Union Berlin are playing at home (guaranteed packed stadium and plenty of noise. Keep chanting "Eisern Union (pronounced Onyoon) and you'll be sorted).

Haha, I'm going to have to double check that chanting that is a good idea... because I mentioned I was going to Europe on another forum where I play mafia, and someone gave me this advice: http://www.playdiplomacy.com/forum/viewt...70#p930320
As a Canadian not remotely into football, I had to do a significant amount of research to realize that that was a very bad idea. Can't trust anyone these days.

Was there last September and it is a massive experience.  The Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp at Oranienburg is a sobering experience, well worth going to.  And there are more museums than you could shake a stick at, a day or two at the Museum Isel is an idea.

Anywhere in the city centre is good for meals, I was paying €30-€35 for three course meals and two pints every day, very good food almost universally.

Cool, thanks for the tips! My family is German, so I grew up with lots of German food and love it. It's one of the things I'm looking forward to most - I've been to the black forest area in Germany, and had great food there. Also on a historical level, so much has happened in Berlin, it's a city I really want to see.

As regards London, like the rest of England it's a shithole, so best of luck there.

I guess I'll find out.