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London Oyster Card

The Oyster card is a reusable electronic card which is used to pay for travel on all types of public transport in London: buses, underground, DLR (Docklands Light Railway), trams and local trains.

There are two main ways to use the Oyster card:

As a Pay as you go (PAYG) Oyster card You add money to the Oyster card and use it to pay for single journeys or for travel for the whole day (the ‘daily cap’). It’s a bit like a Pay as you go SIM card for mobile phones. When you use your card (by tapping in and out at the ticket barriers), the cost of travel is deducted from your Oyster card balance. To store season tickets Weekly or monthly Travelcards or Bus Passes are ‘loaded’ onto an Oyster card.

See Travelcards or Bus tickets & passes

You can also add some extra money to your Oyster card if you have a Weekly or Monthly Travelcard. This is useful if you need to travel outside your weekly Travelcard zone.

Are you visiting London for the first time? Read our guide to London’s transport tickets and passes .

Pay as you go (PAYG) Oyster card: an overview

The PAYG Oyster card is the cheapest and most flexible way to pay for travel, especially if your visit to London is between 1–5 days. Even if it’s only for a few journeys, it’s much cheaper than paying the full cash fare.

How much does an Oyster card cost?

The Oyster card costs £7 . You then add money to the card to pay for your travel. The £7 fee is not a deposit. You do not get this money back.

How does it work?

Once you have an Oyster, you add money to it (‘ top up ‘) and the fare for your journey is taken from your Oyster card balance when you use it.

It works out the cost of the journey and how many journeys you take when you tap your card on the Oyster card reader (‘ tap in and out’ ) at a tube or train station ticket barrier, or by tapping the reader when you get on a bus.

Oyster single fares: 2024 prices

The Pay as you go Oyster card is the cheapest way to pay for single tickets on the underground. For journeys in central London (zone 1), ticket prices are more than 50% cheaper with an Oyster card.

Here’s a comparison between Pay as you go Oyster card single fares and the standard tube ticket fare from a ticket machine (‘Cash single’).

Oyster single fares 2024

See single ticket prices for travel in zones 2,3,4,5 & 6

Oyster single fares: peak and off-peak times

If you use your Pay as you go Oyster card only few times a day, the price you pay for each single journey depends on the time of day you travel.

Peak Monday–Friday 6.30am–9.30am and from 4pm–7pm. If you travel into central London (zone 1) from an outer zone, there is no afternoon peak fare . The off-peak fare is charged. Off-Peak Off-peak fares are charged at all other times, including Public Holidays.

Oyster one-day fares: 2024 ‘daily cap’ prices

If you plan to travel by tube at least 3 times in one day, you benefit from the Oyster card ‘daily cap’. This is the maximum amount deducted from your card for travel in one day.

Oyster Daily Cap 2024

There’s a cheaper ‘daily cap’ if you only use the buses

How does the Oyster daily cap work?

For example, if you load £10 onto your Oyster card and travel by underground in central London (zone 1- off peak):

• If you make 1 journey £2.70 is deducted from your card
• If you make 2 journeys, £5.40 is deducted
• If you make 3 journeys, £8.50 is deducted. You have now reached the ‘daily cap’ and all other journeys until 4.30am the following morning are free. £1.50 of Pay as you go credit will remain on your Oyster card

Oyster Weekly Travelcard Cap

Your Oyster card will automatically cap at the weekly Travelcard fare (this is also available on a contactless card ). The cap starts on Monday and ends Sunday, so it mainly benefits Londoners or those working in London.

How much money do I need to add to an Oyster card?

It’s up to you how much money you add to the card. The beauty of the Oyster card is that it’s flexible.

Some people add enough for a single journey, especially if they’re not a frequent traveller. Some add the price of the daily ‘cap’ for the zones they’re visiting for that day. Others just add £15 or £25 and keep an eye on the balance.

Best option for visitors

For visitors, the best option is to add the cost of the daily cap to your card x the number of full days in London. Add a little extra to cover any single journeys at the start or end of your trip if necessary. For example, to and from Heathrow airport.

If you do this then you won’t need to worry about topping up your card again. If there is money on your Oyster card at the end of your trip, you can get it back or keep it on your card for your next visit (it never expires).

Aim to have £10 or less of Pay as you go money on your card at the end of your trip and you can easily get a refund at an underground station ticket machine . Refunds are more complicated if you have more than £10 left on your card.

Where to buy an Oyster card

Oyster cards are available from the following outlets. You can usually top up your card as well.

Underground ticket machines

There are no longer any underground ticket offices. Oyster cards are available from ticket machines. The machines take notes (not £50 notes), coins and credit/debit cards.

Local shops and newsagents

Many newsagents and corner shops are licensed to sell London Transport tickets including Oyster cards. They normally have signs in the window saying ‘Oyster Ticket Stop’.

Find an Oyster Ticket Stop .

London train stations ticket machines

Oyster cards and oyster top-ups are available from ticket machines in London train stations

TfL Visitor Centres

Transport for London has several Visitor Centres at Heathrow, Victoria, Kings Cross/St Pancras International, Liverpool St & Piccadilly Circus.

How to use an Oyster card

Underground.

It’s important to touch in and out when using a PAYG Oyster card. Even if there’s no physical barrier or if the barriers are open, you still need to touch the yellow card reader when you enter and exit the station. If you don’t, the full cash fare (£4–£7) is deducted for your journey.

If you have a lot of luggage or are pushing a pushchair, station attendants will quite often push open the barrier for you. Do make sure you touch the yellow reader for the reason mentioned above. The attendants don’t always remind you to do it.

Place your card flat on the yellow card reader near the driver when you get on the bus. You do not need to touch out when you get off the bus.

How to check your Oyster card balance

If you want to check how much money you have on your Oyster card, there are several ways to find out:

From an underground station ticket machine

Place your card on the yellow card reader on a ticket machine and your remaining balance will flash up on the screen. This is the easiest way to check your balance.

Via an Oyster account online

If you register your card online with TfL , you can check how much money you have on your card.

Via the Oyster app

Check your balance on the official Oyster app. You will need to register your Oyster card. ( ios or android ).

On an underground station ticket barrier

When you place your card on the yellow card reader on a ticket barrier, the balance on your card flashes on the screen. When you arrive at your destination and touch out at a barrier, your remaining balance flashes on the screen along with the fare charged for that particular journey. This doesn’t work on all barriers.

How to get back unused money on your Oyster card

Anyone can get any unused money on your Pay as you go balance. See how to claim back unused money on a PAYG Oyster card .

The Visitor Oyster card

The Visitor Oyster Card is aimed at tourists — you might be offered one by a tour company or airline before you arrive.

The card comes pre-loaded with money and there’s a £5 fee (plus postage).

You can’t load a weekly Travelcard or Bus Pass to a Visitor Oyster, which makes it less flexible than the ‘ordinary’ Oyster. It can only be used as a Pay as you go card, and the ‘daily cap’ is still applied.

The Visitor Oyster Card is only worth buying if:

• You’re happy to pay for postage to your country and you can order it in advance
• You want to pay for your travel before you arrive
• You’re arriving after the tube stations have closed and can’t use a contactless card payment and want to use the night buses

Otherwise, just wait until you arrive in London and get an ordinary Oyster card from one of the places listed above.

Related pages

• Guide to London’s transport tickets & passes
• Oyster single tickets
• Oyster refunds
• Contactless cards
• London Transport zones

Last checked: 22 June 2024

Transport tickets & passes

• Guide to London's transport tickets
• One day & weekly Travelcards
• Zone 2–6 weekly Travelcards
• Bus tickets & passes
• Oyster card
• Oyster card refunds
• Child tickets & passes
• Local train tickets

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London Travelcard v Oyster Card v Contactless card in 2024

Make an informed choice on the right london travel pass for you.

For the visitor to London, the question of which travel pass to purchase can be confusing. Those living and working in London will almost always have an Oyster Card in their wallet and, as a general rule of thumb, the Oyster Card is the benchmark to be beaten, although people are fast migrating to contactless payment cards.

Many will have a long-term travel pass attached to the Oyster, and these can be valid for as short as a week or as long as a year.

Buying a single ticket for one journey is rare, you are penalised very heavily financially. A one-way single ticket on the Underground in Central London is double that of an Oyster fare and not far off the maximum you can pay in a day of unlimited rides using Oyster.

Where to use   Where to buy   Visitor Oyster   Returning the card   Cheapest option   Price caps   Fares   Concessions   Group tickets   Child fares

On the buses buying a one-way ticket is just not an option offered.

The Contactless payment card is the newest option available along with mobile payments and the authorities hope this will become the dominant channel in the longer term. However for short-term visitors the adoption rate is far less and for good reason, especially if you are from overseas and do not have a British sterling or pound currency credit/debit card.

For the tourist or those making short visits to London there are aspects of the Travelcard that make them appealing and if understood can make Travelcards cheaper than Oyster cards or Contactless payment cards, especially if you are visiting the major sights on a first time visit.

So all in all it can be quite confusing for the visitor planning their visit to London to make an informed choice.

This page discusses the differences between Oyster, Contactless Payment Cards and Travelcards so you can identify the right product for you. Our detailed Travelcard , Contactless payment cards and Oyster card pages give a full explanation of each.

Where you can use London travel options

All three options, Oyster card, Contactless payment card and Travelcards cover the same London public transport, with the exception of Gatwick Airport (see below):

- The London Underground network.

- The London red local bus network.

- The railway network in Greater London.

- Docklands Light Railway, TfL Rail and Overground Railway.

- Heathrow Express

- Discount on many scheduled river services (though not Contactless payment card and fragmented implementation on Oyster/Travelcard).

Using Oyster and Travelcards on the Heathrow Express and other Heathrow services

From 19 February 2019, Oyster cards, contactless bank cards and mobile devices are accepted on the Heathrow Express. This will speed up the process of ticketing for this train for customers who can now enter with just a tap of your card on the ticket barrier. Prices are the same as buying your ticket at the station, with a single peak charged at £25 and off peak £22. You can save money by booking your tickets online in advance or in advance using the Heathrow Express app. Children aged 15 and under can use a Zip Oyster card to travel free on the service.

You can also use Travelcards on the London Underground and TFL Rail train services to Heathrow.

Using Oyster and Travelcards to and from Gatwick Airport

You can use Oyster or Contactless payment cards on the trains to/from Gatwick Airport but it may well be cheaper to buy tickets from the railways instead. You cannot use Travelcards to/from Gatwick Airport and it may be cheaper to travel using rail tickets between Gatwick and London than using Oyster.

Stansted, Southend, Luton airports and City Airport and London's public transport system

Stansted , Southend and Luton airports are outside London and beyond the scope of London public transport or TfL, so the airport buses and trains from these airports are not covered.

City Airport is serviced by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and is covered.

Differences in ease of purchase/charges

Both Oyster and Travelcard can be purchased on demand from Underground stations, Visitor Centres and literally hundreds of retail outlets, such as newsagents and convenience stores inside London.

There are few places outside London you can purchase them. Note at Underground and DLR stations there are no manned ticket desks, just ticket machines.

You can purchase Oyster cards and Travelcards online from the TfL online shop (banner link below) and have them delivered to your home address wherever in the world.

Oyster cards you purchase in this way are Visitor Oyster cards, the differences are explained further down the page.

Please note: Contactless payment cards are your normal personal credit/debit cards, so as long as your cards support the Contactless payment technology then you don't have to do anything. You just use your credit/debit card as an Oyster card.

Deposits & admin charges

When you buy a Visitor Oyster card you pay an activation fee (currently £5) which is not refundable. For standard Oyster cards purchased in London you pay a £7 deposit which is refundable (see Oyster v Visitor Oyster section below).

For short-term visitors, contactless payment cards and Travelcards are the only travel passes where you do not incur the deposit/admin charges of Oyster purchase.

Oyster Card v Visitor Oyster Card

There are two types of Oyster card. If you buy in London you get the standard Oyster card. If you buy outside London, including airport trains and National Express coaches, overseas agents and online you will get a Visitor Oyster card.

Oyster & Visitor Oyster card differences - key facts

Oyster fares and caps are the same whether you use a standard Oyster or a Visitor Oyster, a common misconception.

For Visitor Oyster cards you pay an activation fee (£5 in 2024) which is non refundable. If you buy an Oyster card in London you pay £7 in 2024.

You cannot load 7 day Travelcards on Visitor Oyster cards only standard Oyster cards. If you are in London for 5 plus days having a 7 day Travelcard loaded on your Oyster can save you significant cash. For 5 days daily travel in London, Oysters and 7 day Travelcards for most visitors will be almost identical in price. For 6 or 7 days the sixth and seventh days are effectively free for a 7 day Travelcard compared to the Oyster total price.

At the end of your trip both Visitor Oyster cards and standard Oyster cards you can cancel at ticket machines and get any cash left on the Oyster refunded (in cash/coins).

For a standard Oyster card you can, if you wish, register online. With Visitor Oyster cards you cannot. The main advantages of being registered online is that if you lose your Oyster you can stop its use, you can get a good audit trail of your journeys and you can request a refund of cash left on your Oyster online direct into your bank account.

Visitor Oyster cards have “special offers” made available to purchasers, normally discounts on anything from food to theatre tickets relevant to visitors. Whether you would make use of any of these offers is another thing and the specifics of offers are often not clear.

BUY VISITOR OYSTER CARD & TRAVELCARD FOR LONDON

Visiting London? Save time and money on London public transport

• Visitor Oyster Card • Travelcard for 1 day anytime / off-peak or 7 days anytime • Group day travelcards available

Returning your Oyster card at end of trip

If you plan on returning to London at some time in the future then you can retain your Oyster and use it again on your return, however far in the future.

If you do not intend to return for some time or at all, you can claim back any unspent amounts on the Oyster. You can no longer claim back the deposit paid when you purchased the Oyster in the first place. You can claim back unspent funds using any ticket machine. The machine will return any unspent money on your Oyster.

If you forget to get the refund while in London you can post the Oyster card back to TFL customer services requesting the refund. For overseas visitors the big disadvantage is that the refund will be in the form of a cheque in British pounds.

This procedure is the same for both Oyster cards and Visitor Oyster cards.

Can I share Oyster cards? Do I need photo ID?

Only one person can travel with an Oyster card at any time. If 2 people are travelling together they need 2 Oyster cards. However, if you only have pay as you go credit on your card, another person can use your Oyster card when you are not travelling. If you have a Travelcard, Bus & Tram Pass or discount added to your Oyster card, you can't lend it to someone else.

No photo is required for an Oyster and your name is not stamped on the card.

You can register the Oyster card if you want but that is entirely voluntary. For concessions, principally child fares, a separate Oyster Photo ID card is often required if your child is 11 years or older and wants child fares (see bottom of the page).

No photo ID is required when you buy an Oyster card, except where children are concerned. You may well need an Oyster Photo ID card of one kind or another to access child rates. See the child concession table at the foot of this page for which one (if any) and fees.

No photo ID is required when you buy adult Travelcards from anywhere but railway stations.

For a 7 Day Travelcard or longer (adult or child) bought from a railway station ticket office (not Underground) you need to bring along a passport size photo for a rail photocard to be made up on the spot and free of charge.

7 Day Child Travelcard or longer bought from anywhere but a railway station or with TfL online shop requires an Oyster ID Card. Adults do not. See the child concession table at the foot of this page for which Oyster ID Card (if any) and fees.

Contactless payment cards - are your cards compatible?

Like all new technologies, compatibility and speed of introduction varies across the world. To make sure Contactless payment cards are even going to be an option for your credit/debit cards take a look at our Contactless payment card dedicated page linked below.

Also do remember if you are a visitor with a non-UK issued credit/debit card you'll probably be hit for foreign exchange charges by your card issuer like all other foreign purchases.

Contactless payment cards - more details

Oyster card compared with Contactless payment cards + Travelcard - which is cheapest?

As a general rule a Travelcard is more expensive than an Oyster card or Contactless payment card. The exception is if you make 3 or more journeys for 6 days or more within a 7 day period. In this case a 7 day Travelcard works out cheaper than an Oyster or Contactless payment card. Otherwise an Oyster on a Pay As You Go basis or a Contactless payment card is cheaper. If you are a resident or long-term visitor there are monthly and annual Travelcards.

You can load 7 day Travelcards onto an Oyster card and switch between Oyster Pay As You Go and Travelcard as your travel patterns change. You cannot do this on a Contactless payment card.

If you use a credit/debit card using Contactless payments whose home currency is not British pounds your card will be charged like any other overseas purchase so you should check whether you will be hit for punitive foreign exchange charges by your card issuer - there is a wide variance between different cards. The best cards have no fees.

If you have children under 16 year of age then your decision will probably be driven by access to child fares. Travelcards often give you access to child rates much easier than Oyster for short duration visits - see the getting child rates section further down this page.

Discount entitlements can't be added to a Contactless payment card. So if you are eligible for free or discounted travel, you should continue using your existing Oyster card. This in effect rules out children using Contactless payment methods.

If you are doing the sights in London like the Tower of London. London Eye, Madame Tussauds etc. then you really should read about the 2 for 1 admission promotion which Travelcards can qualify you for, but Oyster cards do not.

Oyster v Contactless payment cards v Travelcard peak & off peak travel - the differences

Price caps apply to Oyster cards and Contactless payment cards. A price cap is the maximum you can pay in any one calendar day (see next section down).

The 1 day Travelcard peak travel period is Monday to Friday before 9.30am, there is no afternoon peak period. If you travel in the peak period you need a peak 1 day Travelcard. The substantial variance in fares is detailed on the price table below. All Travelcards with a duration 7 days or longer cover both peak and off-peak times.

Oyster / Contactless payment cards price caps v Travelcard prices

Travelcards are a flat rate pass where you have unlimited rides for the time period purchased.

Oyster / Contactless payment cards are charged on a per journey basis but has a daily maximum you can be charged. Once you hit this 'price cap' through individual fares aggregating, you are charged no more for subsequent journeys made that day.

The daily Oyster/Contactless payment cards price cap is less than the cost of a 1 day Travelcard so over one day is cheaper. Over longer periods Travelcards can work out cheaper depending on your travel. For instance a 7 Day Travelcard is less expensive than an Oyster or Contactless payment cards if you travel 3 or more times each day for 6 days or more in a 7 day calendar period.

Travel zones

All travel (except the buses) is charged by the number of zones you travel through. Most tourists never get out of zones 1 and 2 where all the main sights and hotels are, but there are exceptions like Heathrow Airport in Zone 6. Look at the London Underground page for a full explanation and zone maps.

Using an Oyster card with a 7 day Travelcard loaded onto the Oyster card

Most visitors will just travel in the central zones, 1 and 2. If you are staying more than 5 days in Central London then a 7 day Travelcard zone 1-2 is probably going to be cheaper than just an Oyster card.

7 day Travelcards can be loaded onto your Oyster card and be used in combination with Oyster on a Pay As You Go basis for a single journey.

Note this flexibility is not available on Visitor Oyster cards or Contactless payment cards.

This is useful if you want to take the occasional trips outside the central area (zones 1 & 2), perhaps to Heathrow Airport in zone 6 from Central London in Zone 1. By loading some PAYG money onto your Oyster as well as the Travelcard zone 1-2 the ticketing system will recognise the zone 1 and 2 Travelcard for the zone 1 and 2 segment of the journey and take the fare for zones 3 to 6 from the Oyster PAYG amount on your card.

Similarly if you are staying in London for 9 days you might buy an Oyster Card and use it on a PAYG basis for 2 days and have a 7 day Travelcard loaded and use that for the remaining 7 days.

Price caps for Oyster & contactless card payments, compared to Travelcard prices

From 3 march 2024 - march 2025.

* Travelcard peak fares apply for any travel made Monday to Friday before 9.30am. All other travel is off-peak.

** Prices for a 7 day Travelcard. Also the 7 day cap for contactless payment cards between Monday to Sunday - not available on Oyster.

SPECIAL CAP FOR BUS TRAVEL ONLY: £5.25 (When you only travel on London's buses on 1 day).

CHILDREN'S OYSTER CAPS: Off-peak: £1.80 (zones 1-9). Peak: approx half of adult cap.

Oyster Card & Contactless Payment Card Fares - Compared to Single Cash Fares from 3 March 2024 - March 2025

No return fares.

ANY BUS JOURNEY: £1.75 (no fare zones)

* Peak fares apply Monday to Friday between 6.30am and 9.30am and 4pm to 7pm except public holidays

Should your journey not use TFL services (London buses/trams, Underground, Overground, DLR and TFL Rail), completely, for example part of your journey is via a different operator, most likely a railway company, then the standard Oyster/Contactless single fare based on zones may not be followed.

Children travel free if under 11 year old or are between 11 and 15 years with an Oyster 11-15 Photocard. On services operated by the railways such as Gatwick trains for example, only children under 5 travel free, child rate fares are available with the appropriate age Oyster Zip card.

Children's fares (11-15 yrs old) with an Oyster 11-15 Photocard on Oyster for any trip within zones 1 to 6 is £0.85 off peak, £0.90 peak

Seniors concessions

There are no seniors fares for visitors. If you reside in London and are of pensionable age you can get a Freedom pass giving free travel. If you are 60+ and live in London the Seniors Oyster ID Card that makes free bus travel available. You can apply online or get a form from your local Post Office.

Anybody with an English National Concessionary bus pass can use that on London's red buses too and travel free of charge.

If you have a railways Seniors Railcard you can get your 1/3 discount on off-peak Oyster fares. You have to ask a member of staff to load the concession onto a standard Oyster card (note, not a Visitors Oysters card) at an Underground station after showing your Seniors Card.

If you have a railways Seniors Railcard you can also buy 1 day off-peak zone 1-6 Travelcards at with the discount applied.

Child concessions

This is a complex subject and is covered in detail at the foot of the page. A child is defined as under 16 years old, but in the last couple of years it has been possible to get child fares after jumping through a few hoops up to the age of 17.

Children under 11 can travel free on the London Underground, DLR and buses without a ticket. If a child is between 11 and 15 years old you require an Oyster 11-15 Photocard (which has a fee see below). This allows 11 to 15 year olds to travel at child fares on the Underground, DLR, Overground and some trains, free on the buses.

If you are a short-term visitor (in London for up to 14 days) with kids between 11-15 you can take advantage of the Young Visitor Discount. This means you can get half price fares on an Oyster Card on a temporary basis for your child without going through the hoops and expense of getting an Oyster ID card. You do need to read carefully the rules of this scheme though.

Child Fares - more details

Group tickets - 1-day Group Travelcard for groups of 10 or more

This in scope is the same as a 1 day off-peak Travelcard for zones 1-6 and 1-9 providing unlimited travel on all services after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.

The pricing is particularly attractive if you have kids in the group and those staying in one of the outer zones, however if you are staying in the centre of London zones 1 to 3 it will be cheaper to purchase individual Oyster cards.

If you are a group of 10 or more then do check out this product and read more on our page below.

Group Travelcards - more info

Oyster versus Travelcard - getting child rate travel

One of the biggest nightmares for those on short visits to London with children is accessing child rate fares if they do not qualify for free travel.

Note child fares are not supported by Contactless payment cards.

If after reading the table below you find that you require an Oyster ID Card, then are taken aback by the cost and time required to obtain one for your child read on. These are your options for travelling without the Child Oyster ID Card (if your child is under 16) at child rate:

Pay for individual journeys at child rate

Buy an adult Oyster Card and load a Young Persons Discount onto it. For short-term visitors staying less than 14 days this is probably the best choice.

Purchase a 1 day Child Travelcard each day

Purchase your Travelcards or Oyster Cards online from the TfL online shop (banner below)

Purchase 7 Day Travelcards or longer from railway stations (you will need to bring a passport size photo with you for a railways photo card which is made up on the spot free of charge).

Children's Fare Concessions

London Travel: Which Oyster Card is Best for Visitors?

With so much to see and do in every corner of the city, transportation is an essential part of your London adventure. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to travel is with an Oyster card, which can be used on the capital's buses, trams, and metro. Oyster cards can also be used to pay for journeys on the DLR, London Overground, Transport for London (TfL) Rail, Emirates Air Line, the River Bus and most National Rail services within the city. In short, an Oyster card gives you full access to all of London's diverse public transport options .

What is an Oyster Card?

An Oyster card is an electronic plastic smartcard that can be loaded with pay-as-you-go transport credit. There are two options available to tourists: the regular Oyster card used by London natives, and the Visitor Oyster card, which is specially designed for use on one-off trips. Both cards work in conjunction with the yellow card readers installed at all transport stations, calculate the cheapest possible fare for each journey, and offer a daily capped rate that makes unlimited travel affordable. 

Both versions of the Oyster card are significantly cheaper than traditional paper Travelcards. For example, travel within transport Zones 1 and 2 is capped at a daily maximum of £6.60 with an Oyster card, while a Day Travelcard for the same zones costs £12.30. At the end of your trip, you can request a refund of any unused credit, or give your Oyster card to a friend or family member. Pay-as-you-go credit on both cards is fully transferable and never expires. 

Visitor Oyster Cards

If you're traveling to London for a short visit, a Visitor Oyster card is probably the most convenient choice. You can order one online ahead of your trip, and have it delivered to your home so that when you arrive in London, you don't have to waste time queuing to purchase a regular Oyster card. This is especially helpful if your flight arrives at Gatwick Airport, as all Oyster cards can be used on the trains from the airport to central London. Visitor Oyster cards cost £5 (plus postage), and can be pre-loaded with credit options ranging from £10-50. 

If you run out of credit during your visit, you can load more money onto your Oyster at any Oyster Ticket Shop (of which there are more than 4,000 across London) or TfL Visitor Centre. It's also possible to load credit at any Tube, London Overground or TfL Rail station, and at several National Rail  stations. Visitor Oyster cards are only compatible with pay-as-you-go credit and cannot be loaded with multi-day travelcards or passes in the way that regular Oyster cards can. However, a major advantage of this card is the special offers and discounts it offers at selected restaurants, shops, galleries, and entertainment venues.

Regular Oyster Cards

For long-term visitors, a regular Oyster card could be the more cost-effective option. These cards can only be purchased upon arrival, from Oyster Ticket Shops, Visitor Centers and most London Tube and rail stations. They cost £5 ( refundable at the end of your trip ) and can be loaded with any amount of pay-as-you-go credit. Unlike Visitor Oyster cards, this option can also be loaded with multi-day travel cards that give even cheaper fares for longer stays; or with discount cards including Bus & Tram Passes and National Railcards. Remember that only pay-as-you-go credit can be used by someone else after you leave. 

Regular Oyster cards are compatible with the TFL Oyster App, and can be registered with a contactless and Oyster account . The latter allows you to easily see how much credit you have left, to view your journey history and to apply for refunds online. 

Alternative Options

If neither Oyster card option sounds like a good fit for you, there are alternative ways to pay for transport in London. Although they don't offer the same discounts, paper Day Travelcards may appeal to those that prefer to keep things traditional. This ticket allows for unlimited travel within a 24-hour period on the bus, Tube, DLR, tram, London Overground, and most National Rail services within London. Discounts are also available to Day Travelcard holders wishing to make use of the Thames Clippers River Bus and the Emirates Air Line cable car. 

For the more tech-savvy, contactless cards allow you to pay for journeys of £30 or less by touching the card to the same yellow card readers used for Oyster payments. The benefits of contactless payments over Oyster cards include not having to worry about running out of credit or queuing to top up your Oyster when your credit is running low. Contactless payments on the same card are automatically capped on a daily and weekly basis, so you'll still benefit from reduced fares.

However, if your card is issued outside the UK, you may have to pay overseas bank charges . Similarly, while American Express contactless cards and nearly all Mastercard or Maestro cards are accepted, some other foreign cards may not work on the London transit system. The same issues apply to those intending on using Apple Pay . Check with your card issuer in advance to find out whether your card is compatible, and what charges you may incur by using your card overseas. 

London's Best Bus Routes for Sightseeing

Avoiding Peak Times on the Tube in London

Heathrow Airport Guide

A Guide to Free Transport in London for Children

Getting Around London: Guide to Public Transportation

How Do I Get From Gatwick Airport to London?

Stay Cheaper By Staying Close to - Not in - London

What's the Best Way to Bring Spending Money to the UK?

How to Travel from London to London City Airport by Underground and Taxi

Getting Around Bangkok: Guide to Public Transportation

Monopoly Board Locations by London Bus

How to Get From Heathrow to Gatwick: The Complete Guide

Getting Around Amsterdam: Guide to Public Transportation

Getting Around Sydney: Guide to Public Transportation

Getting Around Britain - A Guide to Transportation Options

Getting Around Manchester: Guide To Public Transportation

Oyster card or Travelcard in London: How to choose

When planning a trip to London, you need to think houw you’re going to get around and what tickets you’ll need to pay for public transport.

Buying single tickets is simply not recommended, as it works much cheaper to use a transport card or contactless payment. The transport cards that you will need to look into are basically the oyster card and the travelcard. Using contactless payment works out exactly the same as using an oyster card.

However, deciding what works best for you can be a little daunting, so we will explain the main differences and hopefully help you make that decision.

London Oyster card, Travelcard or Contactless payment

One important thing to remember is that every person needs their own card. Unless you are just using buses, in which case, more than one person can use the same card. But for trains, underground, overground, trams, riverboat services or anything else you need one card per person.

London Oyster Card: What is it

The London Oyster Card is a pay-as-you-go plastic card, the size of a credit card. In order to get one you need to pay £7, and you can top it up as many times as you need and use it again and again. It’s valid for travel on the Underground, overground, DLR (docklands light rail), TFL rail, Emirates airline, and some trains. It’s also valid for travel within any of London’s Travel Zones , so you don’t need to choose what zones you will need it for when buying one. Every time you use it, the fare will be calculated depending on the travel zones that you have travelled to and from, and the time of the day you have made the journey (peak / off-peak).

It is the best option if you are visiting London and going to use London’s public transport a few times a day, for example, if you need to travel to get to central London from your hotel, then to get to a different place in London and then back to the hotel.

With an oyster card, you will pay for each journey you make, and there is a maximum daily cap. Once you have reached this daily cap, you will not get charged any more for extra journeys.

⇒ Read More about London Oyster Card

Contactless Payment on London Transport

This is slowly becoming the most popular option for paying for London’s public transport. Contactless payments work exactly the same as the oyster card, with exactly the same fares, and it saves you having to spend £7 on an Oyster Card.

A few things to have in mind if you are travelling to London from abroad are transaction fees and exchange rates. But in this case, you’ll find that nowadays, cards such as Revolut have made travelling much easier.

⇒ Read more about contactless payments on London Transport

London Travelcard

The London travelcard entitles you to unlimited travel for a set number of days within the London Travel Zones chosen.

This card that can be purchased for 1 day, 1 week, 1 month or 1 year, and with it, you have unlimited travel for the London transport zones you have chosen.

Generally speaking, a one-day London travelcard is something I don’t usually recommend as the oyster card’s daily cap is cheaper than the one day travelcard. A 7-day travelcard is helpful if you are going to use London’s public transport a lot (which doesn’t need to be the case if you plan your trip well), if you are going to be travelling outside of zones 1 – 4 every day or if you go are going to spend more than five days in London.

⇒ Read more about the London Travelcard

How to choose between Oyster Card, Contactless or Travelcard

To choose between an oyster card or travelcard to save as much money as possible when planning a trip to London, there are two things that we must take into account: The number of days that you are going to be in London and the travel zones that you are going to travel to and from:

Number of days

As a general rule, after comparing prices, I usually recommend a London Oyster Card or Contactless payment method if you are going to be in London for less than five days. If you are staying in London for more than 5 days, it’s probably worth getting a 7-day travelcard.

Travel zones

If you are buying a travelcard, you need to know what zones you’ll be using. London’s most popular attractions are mostly in zone 1. Some tourist attractions can be found in zone 2, such as Camden Town Market. But you also need to have in mind where your hotel is.

⇒ Read more about London Travel Zones

Oyster Card Daily Capping: Something to keep in mind when choosing between Oyster Card, Contactless or Travelcard

I must mention that the oyster card has a daily cap, and once this daily cap has been reached for certain travel zones, you can travel for free within the same travel zones. You still need to use your oyster card as you normally would, but you won’t be charged.

The cheapest one-day travelcard for costs £15.20. This is the price of the 1-day travel card for zone 1, zones 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4. The maximum daily cap when using an oyster in zones 1 and 2 of London is £8.10, £9.60 for zones 1-3 and £11.70 for zones 1-4. So, if you use an oyster card and travel in zones 1 and 2, once you have reached £8.10 you can travel free within zones 1 and 2.

2023 Fares Comparison: Daily Oyster Card Cap – 1 Day Travelcard – 7 Day Travelcard.

What’s cheaper according to number of days and travel zones, taking into account 2023 fares, what you should never do if you land at heathrow airport.

If you are thinking about buying a London travelcard for your stay in London if you are going to be in London for more than 5 days, and you arrive at Heathrow airport, we wouldn’t recommend that you buy a 7-day travelcard for zones 1 – 6 at Heathrow underground station to use during your whole stay as you will be paying too much.

I would recommend that you buy an oyster card at Heathrow underground station, and add a zone 1-4 travelcard onto it (if you are going to be in London more than 5 days), but use it with pay-as-you-go credit to get to central London on the first day and then again when you return to Heathrow airport.

Transport passes for children in London

Children under the age of 11 travel free within London travel zones. Children over 11 can also benefit from reduced fares; you can find out more about this in our article: Travelling in London with kids .

Find out more

For more information, visit London’s official transport website: Transport For London

Related Posts

London underground, london travel zones, travelling in london with kids, contactless payment on london transport.

What is your recommendation for buying a ticket for an 11 day stay in London (2 adults and children 16 and 13 years old). Hotel accommodation in Sutton with daily travel to and from the city centre, travel within zone 1-2 during the day + a day visit to the Harry Potter Studio. Thank you very much.

Hi Jan, Personally I wouldn’t recommend Sutton if you are going to travel to Central London every day as you would need to combine Underground with trains. We know some people that live near Sutton and most of the times the trains have delays or cancellations. The Harry Potter Studios are located in North London, while Sutton is in the South, so that day you would need around 2 hours to go there and another 2 hours to come back…

Also, depending on the airport that you would be arriving to, I would recommend a different area to find accommodation.

Hope it helps. If you have any questions about any other areas let us know.

Have a nice day!

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Celebrate Juneteenth at these Maine events

The holiday is Wednesday, but events start this weekend and run through the end of the month.

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Westbrook Middle School students Bella Zollarcoffer, Priscila Nzolameso and Sarikong Oak held tables educating and informing the community on Black hair history at Westbrook’s Juneteenth celebration last year. Cullen McIntyre/Staff Photographer

Juneteenth, which became both a federal and state holiday in 2021 , celebrates the anniversary of federal troops’ arrival in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, to ensure all enslaved people had been freed. This year, the holiday falls on Wednesday, but celebrations are happening over the next two weeks.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. –  Indigo Arts Alliance presents The Welcome Table, an intergenerational symposium celebrating global cultural and culinary histories. Activities include art, movement and meditation workshops led by activists and cultural workers. 60 Cove St., Portland.  indigoartsalliance.me

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. –  Victoria Mansion is hosting a community day with free admission and a recitation of the Emancipation Proclamation by local actors. 109 Danforth St. Portland.  victoriamansion.org

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. –  Space and the Tate House Museum are putting on a Juneteenth community day with free admission and tours of Ashley Page’s “Imagining Freedom” exhibit at the museum. The historical art piece puts viewers into the shoes of an enslaved woman named Bet. 1267 Westbrook St., Portland.  space538.org Advertisement

1-6:30 p.m. –  The first event of “The City that Carries Us: Pain, Streets, and Heartbeats” will take place at the Public Theatre in Lewiston. The celebration will have a parade and a block party with performances, as well as scheduled activities and rituals throughout the day. It is hosted by the organization Maine Inside Out. 31 Maple St., Lewiston, maineinsideout.org

2-3 p.m. –  Through “Poems of Reckoning and Resilience,” the Portland Museum of Art and Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance seek to honor the legacy of Black Americans. Featured poet Nathan McClain will join local poets in the Great Hall at the museum to celebrate Black liberation and creativity. The museum is also offering free admission Saturday through Monday, in celebration of both Juneteenth and Pride Month. 7 Congress Square, Portland.  mainewriters.org

11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. –  The fifth annual Juneteenth Celebration on House Island in Casco Bay will focus on Black joy, as well as nature, health and economic opportunity. Guests can stay for one or two days, and partake in activities like camping, hiking, yoga and games, all led by BIPOC leaders. Fortland, House Island, Portland.  eventbrite.com

4:30-7 p.m. –  The Community Organizing Alliance is putting on an event with speakers, live performances, poetry readings, a voter registration drive and catering by Bab’s Table. There will also be opportunities to get involved in the racial justice movement. The Atrium at Bates Mill, 36 Chestnut St., Lewiston.  eventbrite.com

1-3 p.m. –  Riverbank Park in Westbrook will host a community event with art, poetry, music and guest speakers. There will also be a barbecue picnic, a student fashion show, hair braiding, pick-up soccer and more activities sponsored by the city. 667 Main St., Westbrook.  On Facebook.

7-8 p.m. –  The Portland Yoga Project is putting on a class called “Liberated Breath: A Juneteenth Yoga Experience” that seeks to reflect on the holiday through yoga. The class is free for BIPOC community members and is sponsored by the Portland Public Library. 7 Bedford St., Portland, allevents.in

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Deal alert: Points and miles travel deals for July 2024

Editor's Note

From lucrative deals for bonus points on hotel stays to generous sales of airline miles , we're finding plenty of travel deals to help you earn and redeem your points and miles so you can book the vacation of your dreams.

For July, we found deals to book American Airlines round-trip flights for just 10,000 miles, earn up to 75,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points by donating to Miles4Migrants and fly nonstop to Mexico from multiple U.S. cities from $222. But that's not all.

We help our readers each week by rounding up ongoing monthly promotions so you don't have to scour the internet for the best reward redemptions and offers. From frequent flyer programs and hotel rewards programs to credit card offers that help maximize your spending , you can make the most of your points and miles redemptions with these lucrative offers.

Here's our list of some noteworthy new points and miles promotions for July.

Airline loyalty program promotions (July 2024)

Airline loyalty programs can offer trip discounts on certain dates, the chance to earn more miles for future travel and deals to rack up points toward elite status. Below are some of the offers we found for July.

Discounted Avianca LifeMiles redemptions on select routes

If you're ready to book a flight by July 4 and have some Avianca LifeMiles in your account, you could find value in the loyalty program's latest promo .

• Buy two tickets and get the miles back for one ticket on select routes . (This effectively gets you two tickets for the redemption rate of one.) You can get a second ticket refunded if you redeem miles for two or more tickets (in multiples of two), per the offer's landing page.
• Get 20% of your redeemed miles back when you book select routes to Europe with LifeMiles.
• You must redeem by July 4 to receive this offer.

Triple ANA miles for IHG stays

You could already earn 3 ANA miles per dollar spent on IHG stays, but once you register for the promotion, that rate will triple through August.

• Earn 9 miles per dollar spent on IHG stays (normally 3 miles per dollar). Earn 3 miles on Candlewood Suites, Staybridge Suites and the Venetian Resort Las Vegas (normally 1 mile per dollar).
• You have to register for the promotion and set ANA miles as your point-earning preference to redeem this offer.
• Register now for stays between July 1 and Aug. 31.

Flying Blue paid status match opportunity for US residents

We've included Air France-KLM Flying Blue's status match deal for residents of the U.K., Germany, Spain and various other countries for months. However, the airline loyalty program recently rolled out the ability for U.S. residents to apply for a Flying Blue status match as well.

• You can match your status across 18 loyalty programs to the corresponding Flying Blue tier. Find the full list here .
• This is a paid status match opportunity. Flying Blue members based in the U.S. can pay $99 or $299 to match to Silver or Gold status, respectively. U.S. residents cannot use this promo to match to Platinum status.
• Your status is valid for 12 months after you're matched. You have to requalify based on status requirements if you wish to extend your matched status after these 12 months are up.
• There is no publicly available end date for this promotion.

Related: Best airline credit cards

Hotel loyalty program promotions (July 2024)

Hotel loyalty programs occasionally offer discounted stays, ways to earn extra points and deals at various properties. We collected some of this month's active deals below.

Bonus Marriott Bonvoy points on select stays in the Middle East, Africa and participating European cities

If you register for this deal before your next Marriott Bonvoy stay in multiple worldwide properties, you could earn up to 10,000 bonus points.

• Stay at least two nights in a premium room at a participating hotel in London, Paris, Rome, Ireland, the Middle East or Africa to earn bonus points, up to 10,000. The bonus you earn is determined by the brand you select.
• Earn 1,000 bonus points per stay at Element, Residence Inn, Marriott Executive Apartments and Protea Hotels. This deal is valid for standard rooms.
• Earn 2,000 bonus points per stay at AC Hotels, Aloft Hotels, Courtyard Hotels, Four Points and Moxy Hotels. This deal is valid for standard rooms.
• Earn 5,000 bonus points per stay at Autograph Collection Hotels, Delta Hotels, Le Meridien, Marriott Hotels, Renaissance Hotels, Sheraton, Tribute Portfolio and Westin.
• Earn 10,000 bonus points per stay at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, The Luxury Collection, Edition, W Hotels and JW Marriott.
• Register using the deal's promotional code, MR5.
• Book by Aug. 22 for stays through Sept. 1.

Related: Best hotel credit cards

Credit card promotions (July 2024)

Credit card issuers sometimes offer deals and discounts for certain cardholders on everything from airfare to restaurant dining. We haven't found any new credit card offers for this week.

Ongoing travel deals

In addition to these new offers, there are many others from previous weeks that are still available:

• Enroll in a Sixt rental car status match with multiple airline and hotel program partners .
• Enroll in an Air France-KLM Flying Blue status match opportunity if you're a resident of an eligible country (including the U.K., Canada, Germany and Spain; others can be found here ). Successful enrollment in the status match is contingent upon submitting an application , proving equivalent elite status in one of 18 eligible airline loyalty programs and paying a fee determined by your status match level. There is no publicly available end date for this promotion.
• Earn bonus World of Hyatt points for attending a virtual timeshare presentation. You must reside in an eligible U.S. state and meet an annual income requirement, among other requirements . You must request information to learn more about this promotion. There is no publicly available end date for this offer.
• Earn triple United MileagePlus miles for stays at qualifying IHG Hotels & Resorts. Book by June 30 for stays completed by Aug. 31.
• Get a 20% bonus when you purchase World of Hyatt points through July 1.
• Buy Air India Flying Returns points with a 30% bonus through July 5.
• Earn bonus points for signing up for Air India Flying Returns by July 5 and completing your first Air India flight by Sept. 30.
• Buy Avianca LifeMiles with up to a 155% bonus through July 11.
• Buy Southwest Rapid Rewards points with up to a 50% discount through July 21.
• Buy Hilton Honors points with a 100% bonus through July 23.
• Earn bonus miles in the Lufthansa Miles & More program by registering for a Best Western deal and staying at participating properties in Europe. The deal expires July 31.
• Those who have a Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees ) can get 10% off a single hotel stay booked through the Citi travel portal . You must book your stay by July 31.
• Earn four times the reward points on your next Accor Live Limitless stay using this registration link . Book by Aug. 4 for a stay by Sept. 22.
• Earn bonus Hilton Honors points for each AutoCamp stay completed by Aug. 12.
• Earn bonus Marriott Bonvoy points when you stay at The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, a Luxury Collection Hotel. Use "M11," the deal's promotional code , at checkout. Book and stay by Aug. 31.
• Receive a discount on an IHG One Rewards redemption when booking at a select new or renovated property this summer. Book and stay by Aug. 31.
• Earn bonus Wyndham Rewards points for staying with the brand. Your bonus is determined by how many consecutive nights you stay. Register for the deal by Aug. 31 for stays completed by Sept. 3.
• Earn bonus Best Western Rewards points when you register before your stay and book at least three nights (separate or consecutive). Complete your eligible nights by Sept. 2.
• Earn bonus Marriott Bonvoy points for stays in the Caribbean and Latin America. Register with "MRP," the deal's promotional code , and book by Sept. 3. Stay by Sept. 9.
• Earn bonus points for joining IHG One Rewards and staying at an IHG property within 21 days of joining. The promotion ends Sept. 13.
• Get a discount at participating Fairmont properties when you book directly with the brand . Book by Sept. 15. Stay by Dec. 30.
• Earn 250 miles in the Lufthansa Miles & More program by registering for the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program using this link . The offer expires Nov. 30.
• If you book hotels, car rentals and attractions through the Citi travel portal, as a Citi Double Cash cardmember, you will also earn an additional 3 bonus Citi ThankYou Rewards points per dollar spent. This gets you a total of 5 ThankYou Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible bookings through the Citi travel portal. The offer expires Dec. 31.
• If you aren't a member of Qatar Airways Privilege Club , you can earn bonus Avios if you join by Dec. 31. Register with "PCAMER24," the deal's promo code , and book a flight by June 30, 2025, to earn bonus Avios.
• Earn bonus Spirit Airlines Free Spirit points for completing an eligible round-trip flight at any time in 2024. Register with your Free Spirit number to redeem this offer. Travel must be completed by Dec. 31.
• If you haven't set up a Free Spirit account yet, you can get bonus points by registering as a new member through this promotional link . You must register by Dec. 31.
• Those who hold Citi rewards credit cards , including the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees ), the Citi Rewards+® Card (see rates and fees ) and the Citi Double Cash, can earn both Citi ThankYou Rewards points and Select Guest points through Omni's loyalty program if you book a stay at one of 50 Omni Hotels & Resorts through the Citi travel portal. This offer is also available to those with the Citi Simplicity® Card and the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card (see rates and fees ).

The information for the Citi Simplicity has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Additionally, there are many stand-alone Amex Offers and Chase Offers still available across a variety of credit cards.

Targeted Amex Offers

• Earn cash back as a one-time statement credit on purchases at Preferred Hotels & Resorts properties across Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, the Caribbean, Europe and North America. The offer expires June 30.
• Earn cash back as a one-time statement credit on purchases at Grand Hyatt properties in the U.S. and internationally. The offer expires June 30.
• Earn a one-time statement credit on charges at participating Secrets Resorts & Spas and Impression by Secrets resorts. Book at the Hyatt Inclusive Collection website by July 14.
• Earn cash back when you spend with Frontier Airlines. The offer expires July 15.
• Earn cash back as a one-time statement credit on purchases with select WorldHotels properties in the U.S. and internationally. The offer expires July 19.
• Earn cash back as a one-time statement credit on purchases at The Global Ambassador hotel in Phoenix. The offer expires July 29.
• Earn cash back on a stay at a participating Hilton hotel in Nevada. The offer expires July 31.
• Earn cash back on stays with Minor Hotels Group. The offer expires July 31.
• Earn bonus Membership Rewards points for opening a business checking account. If you're targeted, you must apply by July 31 to receive the offer.
• Earn cash back in the form of a statement credit on transactions with Carnival Cruise Line . The offer expires Aug. 1.
• Earn bonus Membership Rewards points on a stay at a Canyon Ranch resort. The offer expires Aug. 12.
• Earn a one-time statement credit when you spend at Equinox Hotel at Hudson Yards. The offer expires Aug. 16.
• Earn bonus Membership Rewards points after purchasing Delta Air Lines gift cards. The offer expires Aug. 25.
• Get a one-time statement credit on purchases across multiple Boyne Golf resorts in Michigan. The offer expires Sept. 1.
• Earn 5 Membership Rewards points (up to 50,000) for each dollar spent on purchases made directly with AmaWaterways. The deal expires Sept. 1.
• Get a one-time statement credit when you use your enrolled eligible card on purchases with Avis Car Rental. The offer expires Sept. 9.
• Earn cash back or extra Membership Rewards points on purchases at U.S. supermarkets, gas stations and spa and personal care centers. These deals expire Sept. 13.
• Earn a one-time statement credit when you spend at The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. The offer expires Sept. 15.
• Earn a one-time statement credit on Hilton all-inclusive resorts and vacation hotels in the Caribbean and Latin America. The offer expires Sept. 30.
• Earn a one-time statement credit on stays with Omni Hotels & Resorts in the U.S. and Canada. The offer expires Sept. 30.
• Earn cash back as a one-time statement credit on a stay at select Opal Collection properties, PGA National Resort or Margaritaville Beach House Key West. These offers expire Sept. 30.
• Earn cash back on online purchases with ResortPass. The offer expires Sept. 30.
• Earn cash back as a one-time statement credit on stays at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The offer expires Oct. 4.
• Earn cash back as a one-time statement credit on a stay at Lotte Hotel Seattle. The offer expires Oct. 29.
• Earn a one-time statement credit when you use your card to spend with Micato Safaris. The offer expires Nov. 15.
• Earn a one-time statement credit when you use your card to pay for a stay at Lotte New York Palace. The offer expires Nov. 22.

Targeted Chase Offers

• Earn cash back for purchases made with Alaska Airlines. The offer expires June 30.
• Earn cash back when you stay at select brands in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio (Element Hotels, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Renaissance Hotels, SpringHill Suites by Marriott and Four Points by Sheraton). The offer expires June 30.
• Earn bonus IHG One Rewards points after activating the offer and meeting a spending threshold. You qualify for this offer if you hold an eligible IHG One Rewards cobranded card and are targeted for the offer. You must activate the offer by June 30.
• Earn cash back on your first payment of a new Zipcar membership. The offer expires July 1.
• Earn cash back when you spend with Turo, a car-sharing marketplace. The offer expires July 30.
• Earn cash back on purchases at Great Wolf Lodge. The offer expires July 31.
• Earn cash back when you stay at Hyatt House or Hyatt Place properties. Both offers expire July 31.

Remember that these are targeted, and you must activate the offers before making eligible purchases to enjoy the cash back or bonus points.

Related reading:

• Best travel credit cards
• The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What are points and miles worth? TPG's current monthly valuations

What is annual travel insurance?

Coverage options in annual travel insurance plans, how much does annual travel insurance cost, purchasing annual travel insurance, annual travel insurance frequently asked questions, how annual travel insurance works.

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• Annual travel insurance offers multi-trip coverage for travelers taking several trips over a year.
• Annual travel insurance can be cheaper and more convenient but is less flexible than single trip insurance.
• A 30-year-old US resident can expect to pay between $125 to $700 for annual travel insurance.

The more you travel, the higher your chances are that something goes wrong. Fortunately, coverage is available that can soften the financial blow if you get sick, lose your luggage, or experience some other hiccup while abroad.

While single trip travel insurance can cover one-off trips, frequently travelers may want annual travel insurance, which covers all your trips throughout a year. Read on to learn what annual travel insurance covers, how much you can expect to pay, and when you should buy.

Annual travel insurance, also called multi-trip insurance, is a type of insurance policy that protects you from potential losses on all trips in a 12-month period.

An annual travel insurance plans is more expensive than one single trip policy, but annual travel insurance becomes increasingly cost-effective as you take more trips. Buying annual travel insurance is also more convenient than shopping for travel insurance every time you take a trip. As such, these policies are particularly good for people who travel for work.

While annual travel insurance offers more convenience over single trip policies, you forfeit some flexibility offered in single trip travel insurance. For one, annual travel insurance limits the maximum number of days it will cover in one trip . This threshold varies from provider to provider, but generally it's up to a maximum of 90 days.

"During the coverage period, a traveler can move between countries and remain covered on the same insurance policy," says Rajeev Shrivastava , chief executive officer at VisitorsCoverage , a travel insurance marketplace. "With 30-day coverage, the plan is no longer valid on day 31. The traveler needs to return to their home country, resetting the 30 days and allowing them to resume travel."

Additionally, some annual travel insurance policies only cover trips a certain distance (say, 100 miles) from your residence or farther. Make sure to note these limitations before purchasing your policy — particularly if most of your travel is domestic. 

Annual travel insurance coverage varies by plan and provider, but it is generally less comprehensive than a single trip policy.

Annual policies typically include coverage for emergency medical care, medical evacuations, trip delays, and lost or stolen baggage. Most basic plans do not cover trip cancellations (though a few more comprehensive ones do). If you're looking for cancellation reimbursement, you may want to purchase a single-trip plan with cancel for any reason coverage.

Here are just a few things a basic annual travel insurance plan might include:

• Trip cancellation for covered reasons
• Trip interruption
• Trip delays
• Missed connections
• Lost or stolen baggage
• Baggage delay
• Rental car damage or theft
• Emergency medical treatment
• Emergency medical evacuation
• Accidental death and dismemberment
• Repatriation of mortal remains

Limitations and exclusions to annual travel insurance

As we mentioned earlier, annual travel insurance plans are less flexible compared to single trip plans. While this affects how many days are covered in one trip, it'll also limit what you can cover. For one, coverage limits are usually lower throughout the policy.

Most notably, annual travel insurance plans do not offer cancel for any reason coverage . To receive reimbursement for a canceled trip, you must have canceled for a covered reason, such as illness or a disaster at your travel destination. 

Depending on your provider, you may be able to add coverage for adventure sports injuries or purchase an adventure sports-specific policy, as these are not covered by standard travel insurance. 

"Annual travel insurance doesn't cover losses that arise from expected or reasonably foreseeable events," says Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Travel Insurance . "If your trips involve high-risk adventure — like skydiving, caving, mountain climbing, or participating in any athletic competition — your annual policy may not cover medical care if you sustain injuries."

Your age, the number of trips you plan to take, where you live, and other factors will figure into the cost of your coverage. For a 30-year-old US resident taking an estimated eight trips per year, all for fewer than 30 days each, annual travel insurance plans cost roughly between $125 and $700 , according to an analysis of plans on travel insurance comparison platform SquareMouth. 

For example, under Seven Corner's travel insurance , one of the companies listed in our guide on the best international travel insurance companies for its long-term coverage, a 30-year-old US resident taking trips to eight destinations (including the US) would pay $375.50 for the annual plan with the lowest annual cancellation limit ($2,500) and $648 for the highest ($10,000). 

"The per-trip length of coverage is usually a determining factor of the cost," Shrivastava says. "The longer the trip duration, the more expensive the policy can be."

Since annual travel insurance plans cover you for a full year, consider purchasing your policy right before your first trip. Strategic purchase dates could help you stretch your coverage period to cover more travels, but don't ignore the drawbacks of this approach.

First, you could forget. A lot goes into preparing for a trip, so leaving your travel insurance until the last minute could cause it to fall through the cracks. If you do opt to wait, make sure you set an alarm or calendar reminder.

Additionally, if you wait too long, your policy may not cover any pre-existing medical conditions. Some travel insurance companies will only cover pre-existing conditions if you buy your policy within 14 days of making your first trip payment.

As Durazo puts it, "Whether you're choosing an individual or annual policy, the best time to purchase insurance is always at the same time as you book your travel."

Assess your travel needs

Annual travel insurance isn't right for everyone, but if you travel often, it might be a good fit. Before you take out your policy, have an idea of what travels you'll take in the next year, and use the following chart to help guide your decision.

"These plans are ideal for frequent travelers such as business travelers, digital nomads, or other avid travelers," Shrivastava says. "They aren't a fit for travelers who are only taking one or two trips per year or someone looking for a more comprehensive range of benefits."

Yes, many policies include an option to add family members when you buy your policy, though. However, terms will vary depending on the insurance provider.

Some insurers allow you to automatically renew your annual travel insurance when it expires, though you can also wait until you're going on another trip to re-purchase. You can cancel annual travel insurance at any time, but you will only receive a refund if you cancel within your policy's money-back guarantee period and your trip hasn't started yet.

Pre-existing conditions can be covered under an annual travel insurance plan as long as you meet certain requirements. Policies often require that you buy travel insurance within a certain number of days from when you placed a deposit on your trip, usually two to three weeks. Additionally, many travel insurance providers require that your condition is stable. 

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