Travel tips: Should you buy an Oyster Card before you arrive in London?

MY WIFE AND I PLAN TO USE AN OYSTER CARD IN LONDON AND TAKE A TRAIN TO DUBLIN. IS IT CHEAPER TO BUY BOTH BEFORE WE LEAVE AND IF SO WHERE? BETTER TO BUY A SIM CARD IN LONDON AND DOWNLOAD MAPS OR TAKE A GPS? D. HEUSTON, MILPERRA

Buying an Oyster Card is so simple there's really no need to get one in advance. There might be a bit of a queue at the machine if you go during peak travel but it moves fast. Get the regular commuter card rather than the one designed for visitors, and don't forget you can cash your card in at the end of your stay for any funds you still have on the card, including the initial card fee which is £5.

I'd buy a SIM card in the UK. They're easily available, EE is great, gets good reviews and coverage is excellent. O2 is pretty lousy outside major metro areas, and the same for Lebara. EE has plenty of stores around Central London, shop.ee.co.uk.

Train tickets throughout Europe are cheaper if you buy in advance, and since it's a busy period you should. Virgin Super Voyager trains depart London's Euston Station at 09:10 and take you as far as Holyhead in Wales where you board a ferry to Dublin, docking at the convenient hour of 17:25. You can buy tickets in advance on the Virgin Trains website, virgintrains.co.uk.

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