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There are 100 pence to the pound sterling, and the different colored notes come in £50, £20, £10 and £5 values. All coins bear HM The Queen's head on one side, but the £1 coins have different flip-sides to reflect the different countries of Britain: lions for England, a thistle for Scotland and a leek for Wales .
Generally, bank opening hours are 09.30 - 15.30, but many now stay open for an extra hour. Many major banks are also open on Saturday mornings; all are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Overseas visitors can get cash from some automatic teller machines if their home bank and UK bank are linked to the same system. They should check with their home bank before leaving for the UK. If you need British currency when the banks are closed, you can obtain it at larger travel agents such as Thomas Cook or American Express (nearest TC office to Portmeirion is at Llandudno; AE offices are available at Shrewsbury, London Heathrow/Gatwick, Manchester, and Birmingham), in the exchange offices provided by many large department stores, at counter desks in larger hotels, or at one of the many independent Bureaux de Change.
Be sure to check in advance the rate of exchange and the commission charged. Regulations now require all Bureaux de Change and other money changing establishments to clearly display all exchange rates and full details of any fees and rates of commission with equal prominence. Rates must be displayed at or near the entrance to the premises.
Porthmadog, a town near Portmeirion, has branches of National Westminster Bank, Barclays Bank, and Midland Bank. You can check the Visa or the MasterCard web sites for locations of ATM machines in the United Kingdom. They list the Midland Bank in Porthmadog as having 24 hour Visa and MasterCard ATM access, and Porthmadog's Barclays Bank as having 24 hour Visa ATM access. All three of Porthmadog's banks are located on the High Street.
See Travel tips page for links to road maps
Road regulations are given in the Highway Code, obtainable from offices of the Automobile Association (AA) or Royal Automobile Club (RAC) at most ports of entry. The majority of traffic signs are to international standards. You must drive on the left and overtake on the right. The wearing of seat belts is compulsory for driver and front-seat passenger, and rear-seat passengers where belts are fitted. There are strong penalties for driving while under the influence of alcohol. You are strongly recommended not to drink and drive.
You can use your own driving license to drive for up to 12 months from the date of your last entry into the country. Or a current International Driving Permit can be used.
Speed limits are, unless signs indicate otherwise:
30 miles per hour (48 kph) in built-up areas, 60 miles per hour (97
kph) on single carriageways, and 70 miles per hour (113 kph) on
motorways and dual carriageways.
Other noteworthy points about driving in the UK include:
1. In Britain you must drive on the left.
2. Motorcyclists must wear helmets.
3. Insurance is compulsory. Visitors bringing their own car from
overseas require green-card insurance and should carry the car
registration documents with them.
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Holidays are obviously the busiest times of the year for booking accommodation as well as transportation, so you are advised to book well ahead for these dates.
| Bank Holidays |
2003 |
| New Year's Day |
Jan 1* |
| Good Friday |
Apr 18 |
| Easter Monday |
Apr 21 |
| May Day |
May 5 |
| Spring Holiday |
May 26 |
| Late Summer Holiday |
Aug 25 |
| Christmas Day |
Dec 25 |
| Boxing Day |
Dec 26 |
Holidaymakers who become ill while in Britain are only eligible for free emergency treatment in the Accident and Emergency Departments of National Health Service hospitals. If you are admitted to hospital as an in-patient, even from an Accident and Emergency Department, or referred to an outpatient clinic, you will be asked to pay unless you are a national of the European Economic Area. You are strongly advised to take out adequate insurance cover before traveling to Britain. Your travel agent will be able to suggest a suitable policy. If you are taking prescribed drugs, it is advisable to carry a copy of your prescription (described by the generic name) together with a cover letter from your doctor, just in case you need additional supplies.
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Most Welsh people speak English, so it is not required that you learn Welsh before visiting there. However, if you would like to learn a little bit about the language or even a few words like "thank you" and "Good Morning", the below links will guide you to web sites that have very useful pronunciation guides. Also listed below are a couple of links to sites that explain some of the differences in American English and British English.
BritSpeak
UK English for
the American Novice
Travelang
link for Welsh
Welsh
language overview
A
Welsh course for beginners
DO NOT BRING ANY PETS WITH YOU. Due to the possibility of animals importing disease into the UK, bringing them with you on holiday is not permitted. All pet animals entering the UK must have a current import license and undertake 6 months quarantine at approved quarantine premises. There are no exceptions and any illegally imported animal is liable to be destroyed and its owner jailed.
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Post offices are open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm and on Saturdays between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. Postcards back to the USA cost 37 pence, and an airmail letter weighing up to 10 grams costs 43 pence.
*****How to call the U.S. from Wales/U.K.:
To call direct, dial: 00 1 followed by the area code and number.
Or you can reach a USA operator through:
AT&T, USA Direct: 0800 89 0011
MCI, Call USA: 0800 89 0222
USA Sprint Global 1: 0800 89 0877
If you decide to call from your hotel room, always check the cost first, as an additional service charge will probably be applied. There are many public telephone boxes, some of which take coins and others which take phone cards which may be purchased in newsagents and various retail outlets.
******How to call Wales/UK from the U.S.:
Dial 011 44 followed by the area code minus the first zero (all
area codes should begin with 1).
For example, if you want to telephone the Wales Tourist Board
(Tel: 01766 512981) in Porthmadog from the U.S., call
+44 1766 512981. The + represents whatever your long distance carrier
advises you to add on. Check with them on how to make an
international phone call.
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American visitors to Britain can reclaim the 17.5% VAT, minus the administrative fee, on purchases over a minimum limit (check with the store for their limit--usually £50-£100). Look for the "Tax Free Shopping" sign in the windows of participating stores. All you have to do is fill out the form, which the sales assistant will give you, keep the goods in your hand luggage and show both goods and forms to the VAT desk at the airport on your departure. A customs officer will check the goods and validate the refund voucher. You can receive your refund on the spot at some airports, otherwise you should mail the validated form back to the store in the envelope provided, and a refund check will be sent to you by mail. You can also have the refund credited to your credit card account. Please be patient, refunds can take up to three months to be processed. Any queries should be taken up with the store where you purchased the goods. Don't forget that VAT refunds cannot be processed after you arrive back home in the USA.
VAT, just like American sales tax, is charged on almost everything, but please remember that refunds only apply to goods being taken out of the country, not services.
The electrical voltage in Britain is 230v, 50 cycles. A three square-pronged adapter plug and/or electric converter for appliances is required. If you decide to purchase a video tape, make sure you buy one clearly marked NTSC (and not PAL), as it is only NTSC that is designed for the American systems.
OnlineWeather's 4-day Porthmadog forecast
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Fahrenheit |
32 |
40 |
50 |
60 |
70 |
75 |
85 |
105 |
140 |
175 |
|
Centigrade |
0 |
5 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
25 |
30 |
40 |
60 |
80 |
The above chart is approximate; for more precise conversions, use the below link:
Centigrade to Fahrenheit convertor
The weather in Wales tends to be mild and variable. The coastal areas can be very warm in the summer . Walkers and climbers please note that the weather in the upland areas is changeable throughout the year.
Britain's weather is very unpredictable, and it is possible to experience all four seasons in one day! Winters are usually quite mild with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing; January and February are the coldest when snow is not unusual, particularly in Scotland and northern parts of England and Wales. In summer, temperatures have soared into the 80s and 90s in the last few years, particularly in the south, although it is still more often likely to be around 70-75Å. Therefore, we suggest you dress in layers and always bring some kind of rainwear. If you plan to do a lot of walking, be sure to wear very comfortable shoes.
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