European travel advice

[kiev4a]

We're making plans for a visit to the UK and continent in March--six people. One question is how much currency one should get in advance if the UK is the first stop (since they haven't converted to the Euro). It is my understanding that credit cards are the best way to transact business while traveling but there obviously are times when one needs cash. And suggestions from veteran travelers?

Also, I've been reading that while security equipment normally won't harm film under 800 ISO, there is a cumulative effect. So, every time you go through a screening amchine at an airport of a tourist attraction you get another dose. Also, fling back to the U.S. from the UK, will I be allowed to carry on a camera bag with camera(s) and several lenses? I've heard the rules have changed (and could change again) before our junket. I'm not about to check gear through in luggage.

Any tips would be appreciated.

[casualcollector]

I'm leaving with one roll of film in the camera and planning to buy film and have it processed while in the U.K. Last domestic flight I took, I was able to have one carry-on size piece of luggage and one personal (camera) bag. I think that also holds true for international.

[nikonbob]

You might find these two sites of interest regarding baggage and security measures www.tsa.gov/ and www.baa.co.uk/ . I have gone to Europe and have had no trouble in the past with film that has been x-rayed as carry un baggage. That includes iso 800 film. If you remove the film from the plastic cannisters and place the rolls in a clear ziplock bag you make hand inspection much easier where it can be had. That would cut down even further on the x-ray risk. I would think that cash and travellers cheques in USD would be easy to change into any needed currency at airports/train stations and any bank naturally. I have never had a problem doing so in Europe. Just remember that items are more expensive there than in NA. Never had a problem using a credit card there either. I hope you have an enjoyable trip.

Bob

[herron]

Wayne:
We were in Europe this summer, and I had no trouble getting folks to hand inspect my film. I just asked politely and they were very accommodating. Taking it out of the little plastic canisters and putting it all into a clear plastic bag beforehand is a good bit of advice.

I had no trouble with my camera bag (with three cameras, four lenses, digital cards and film) as a carry-on anywhere. I did not have to check it, and would recommend that you don't, either. I would not ever have had to open it, if it weren't to have the film hand inspected. We were not in England, but we did go through airport security in Italy, Amsterdam, Paris and Barcelona without a hitch.

BTW -- Kodak and Fuji film was available everywhere, so I really didn't need to carry as much as I did...although most of our stops were toruist attractions, and the film was priced accordingly.

One note about carry-ons...the European size standard for carry-on luggage is smaller than in the US. We were told we would be OK since we originated in the US, and didn't actually have any trouble with our carry-ons anywhere but Paris, where they made us check them.

However, my camera bag was OK to carry on, everywhere. You might want to invest in the smaller carry-on for personal items other than your camera, if there are other things you would rather not check.

As to pounds sterling, I'm afraid I didn't have to do that. We used Euros literally everywhere. I converted a good amount before we left (and since a lot of the trip was on board a cruise ship, I could exchange right on board, if I needed more cash). The ATM's also worked (at least in Italy, we didn't try them anywhere else)...and EVERY shop and restaurant we went to, in every country, was more than willing to accept our credit cards! All things considered, we didn't need a large amount of cash. It was convenient for small items, postcards, ice cream, tips and taxi's -- but everything else went on a card.

[kiev4a]

I've flown a dozen times around the U.S. since 911, often carrying camera bags with several bodies and lenses and usually get less attention from the inspectors than the folks with normal carryons. But I read that after the last plot was uncovered in the UK they weren't letting people carry on anything on U.S. bound flights. My concern was getting over there, then trying to come home and not being able to get my gear aboard.

BTW, I was recently checking the rules for what you can bring into the Glendale AZ stadium for the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1 (We thought about going). You can't bring video cameras in the stadium. You can bring a still camera but only those with "fixed lenses." Cameras with interchangable lenses aren't allowed.

[nikonbob]

Wayne

If you look up the second link it has info on the current UK security rules.

Bob

[herron]

kiev4a said:

BTW, I was recently checking the rules for what you can bring into the Glendale AZ stadium for the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1 (We thought about going). You can't bring video cameras in the stadium. You can bring a still camera but only those with "fixed lenses." Cameras with interchangable lenses aren't allowed.

Bizarre! The folks at the airport always ask if I have a video camera...when I answer "No, it's a still camera" they don't even bother to open the case.

The rationale doesn't seem to gel with me...I don't get it!

[aceroadholder]

Last week the airline my friend was leaving on gave me a pass to the passenger waiting area. The security folks very kindly hand inspected my Mamiya DTL and then I spent the next hour taking candid shots in the waiting area.
Everyone one was patient and polite... but it is so sad that our Brave New World has been reduced to this.
I'm so old I remember walking out to the Southern Airways DC-3 with it's starbord engine idling (none of this hanging around silliness!), being welcomed aboard by a very professional stewardess, taking a seat with about as much room as today's current first class, and once airborne paying for my ticket..... Thank God for progress... How did we manage to live back then.

Orlin in SC/USA

ps: Oh yes!.... parking lot to parking lot the trip was about 90 minutes faster than the current 737 is to Atlanta.

[Peter S.]

Dear Wayne,

the news rant about some really silly security requirements these days, e.g. banning shuch extraordinarily dangerous stuff as toothpaste from hand luggage. And even more ridiculous stuff to come for next year. I would advice anyone to show up early and read about the latest security requirements a few days before.

This kind of lunacy seems to have arrived with big George Walker's visit in Brussels and Mains sometimes last year. We will have to arrange with that.

Best regards
Peter

[SidW]

We visited London (from Sweden) in September in the middle of the scare about mixing fluid explosives. Flights out of London were cancelled, and at the end of the week ours was the last to be reinstated (phew). That link to British Airport Authority (BAA) is good and is kept up to date. Watching the web to see if our flight was going to be on also taught us that you can check in on the web from 24 hrs beforehand and save some of the queuing at the airport (depending on the company, we were with British Airways). We just queued for 15 mins to a quick baggage drop, everyone else was waiting two hours for the regular check-in desk. Cameras were banned then, but that has eased now. Don't go to the airport early, in London at least. No-one is admitted until a couple of hours or so before departure, and going early just means you queue to join the queue and block the entrance, and the people at the front of the queue for the queue are in less of a hurry than you, they're just four hours early. As someone pointed out, watch hand luggage size, it has to fit in the frame defining the size and at that point there's no return, you either send oversize stuff as checked luggage, however fragile, or throw it away, or walk back out of the airport.

But check that BAA site and do what they say. If you get it right before you leave home you'll be OK.