Resor råd och varningar Förenade kungariket Storbritannien
UK Travellers' checks
Traveler’s checks are the safest way to bring money to anywhere. You can purchase traveler's checks in British pounds through the international division of any large bank, but is highly recommended to get checks issued in dollars in case you are planning to go to another country. Most stores and restaurants, theaters or travel agencies readily accept MasterCard, Visa and to some extent, American Express charge cards.
You can change cash and traveller's cheques at British Banks, Building Societies, larger Post Offices, Travel Agents, some Tourist Information Centres, American Express, and Bureaux de Change. ATMs are the bets way to change money, they have very little fees rather than travellers checks. ATMs are also connected to the major networks at airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick. You'll usually get a better exchange rate by withdrawing money at an ATM, but take care because your bank may charge a fee for using a foreign ATM. You may also need a different PIN to use overseas ATMs. You will need to call your bank to check and get a new PIN if needed before you go.
The high cost of travelling basics such as transport, accommodation and food means that you will spend at least £50 per day as a budget traveller. This figure climbs higher if you want to use taxis, 3 star hotels, and eat in restaurants.
London and the South East can be up to three times as expensive as other parts of the country.
Although shopping in the UK can be expensive, it is generally regarded as a world-class destination for shoppers both in terms of variety and quality of products, depending on where and what you buy. Fierce competition has brought prices down considerably in the food, clothing and electronic sectors. Prices do vary and it is always worth visiting the various retail stores as bargains can often be found. Avoid buying from the tourist areas and stick to the High Street shops or the many 'out-of-town' retail parks where prices will be considerably cheaper. The retail market in the UK is a very competitive one and many bargains are to be had all year round. In the electronics sector, for example, it is becoming more and more common to ask for a price reduction at time of purchase.
Many restaurants in city centres tend to be a little more expensive than ones in the suburbs, and pubs do tend to be slightly more expensive in the countryside, but generally, a three-course meal without drinks will cost the traveller anywhere between £10 and £15. Chicken tikka masala with rice is sometimes claimed as the UK's most popular dish, though roast beef is a more traditional national dish.
Larger towns have a range of restaurants to suit most tastes and you will find a very broad range of different cuisines, including Indian, Chinese, Thai, French and Italian. Waiters generally expect a 10% tip (but all too often do not get it from the native population) and in some places this is automatically listed on your bill. However, if you are dissatisfied with the service in any way, you are under no obligation to pay the service charge. Generally British people are not great tippers. As a visitor the 10% rule is more than generous and worth sticking to. Visitors from The US and Canada are seen as very generous tippers and even a bit of a soft touch by some.
Från Wikipedia om Förenade kungariket Storbritannien
Storbritannien, formellt Förenade konungariket Storbritannien och Nordirland,
Storbritannien är en enhetsstat som styrs under en konstitutionell monarki och ett parlamentariskt system med dess regeringssäte i huvudstaden London. Det är ett land i sin egen rätt, och består av fyra riksdelar (constituent countries): England, Nordirland, Skottland och Wales. Det finns tre decentraliserade nationella förvaltningar som har olika befogenheter, och ligger i Belfast, Cardiff och Edinburgh (Nordirlands, Wales och Skottlands respektive huvudstäder). Det finns tre kronbesittningar (Crown Dependencies) och fjorton utomeuropeiska territorier i anslutning till Förenade konungariket Storbritannien och Nordirland utan att utgöra konstitutionella delar av det. Dessa är rester av det brittiska imperiet som på sin höjd 1922 omfattade nästan en fjärdedel av jordens landyta och var det största imperiet i historien. Brittiskt inflytande kan fortfarande observeras i språk, kultur och rättssystem i många av dess forna territorier.
Storbritannien är ett industriland och har världens sjunde största ekonomi efter nominell bruttonationalprodukt och har den sjunde största ekonomin efter köpkraftsparitet. Det var världens första industrialiserade land och världens främsta stormakt under 1800-talet och tidigt 1900-tal. Storbritannien är fortfarande en stormakt med ledande ekonomiskt, kulturellt, militärt, vetenskapligt och politiskt inflytande. Det är en erkänd kärnvapenmakt och dess militära utgifter är de tredje eller fjärde största bland världens länder. Storbritannien är medlem i Europeiska unionen, Samväldet, G8, G20, OECD, Europarådet, Världshandelsorganisationen, Nato och Förenta Nationerna (och permanent medlem av dess).
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