• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Taking laptop to UK?

Joined
Jul 15, 2006
Messages
713
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Location
North of Boston
Okay I got some nice dining tips from you guys, now for a more practical question. One of the travel books we bought, I think it was London for Dummies, mentions that if you are bringing your laptop into the UK from the US, you should get it registered first so you can prove you didn't buy it over there. They then go on to say that occasionally, even if you do this, they'll confiscate it. :(

My husband is at the point where he is really hesitant to bring ours with us to London - yet, he is taking classes and would probably fall behind during our trip if he doesn't, plus, it's the only way we'll have to keep in touch with family back home.

Anyone have any comments or experiences? Thanks!
 

Carolinian

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
10,644
Reaction score
936
Points
598
Location
eastern Europe
I don't like being encumbered with a laptop. There are plenty of internet cafes in London, as well as free internet at public libraries in the UK.
 

x3 skier

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2006
Messages
5,266
Reaction score
2,295
Points
649
Location
Ohio and Colorado
Resorts Owned
Steamboat Grand, The West,
Raintree and, formerly, The Allen House
I don't like being encumbered with a laptop. There are plenty of internet cafes in London, as well as free internet at public libraries in the UK.

I agree. Unless you really need it, I would use the internet cafes. I also have found that most major hotels have a business center or other access to the Internet although it can be pricey unless you have status with their frequent stay programs like Hilton HHonors.

If you really need to take your own and you want to register it, the customs people at the airport can do that. Many years ago, I carried a piece of paper that showed I had bought my watch in the USA. You might check the State Department Web site or Customs and Immigration web site to see if you really do need to register a laptop or anything else that originated outside the USA which includes probably 100% of your clothing :D .

Cheers
 

MaryH

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2005
Messages
1,485
Reaction score
1
Points
398
Location
Ottawa, Canada
When I first lived in Europe, I registered the laptop I purchased with customs in Canada where I purchased it so I would not have any trouble taking it back into Canada.

I am now living in Canada and travel frequently to the US and occassionally to Europe and have taken my laptop on most of my trips without any issues and I have not registered a computer in ages. YMMV.
 

nonutrix

TUG Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2006
Messages
612
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Location
Austin, Texas
Last summer we took two laptops into the UK through the Manchester airport and had no trouble getting them back to the US. No one questioned anything. In July of this year, we took one laptop in and out of Heathrow, again no trouble. I think if you look at the prices for comparable computers in the UK and the US, then consider the exchange rate, very few US citizens, if any, would want to buy a computer in the UK to bring back to the US.

We will be traveling to London again in November, probably with two laptops.

nonutrix
 
Last edited:

falmouth3

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
3,417
Reaction score
22
Points
38
Location
Burlington, MA
Make sure you have a converter and an adapter. You may not need the converter if your computer automatically switches to the different frequency that is used in Europe. If you don't have an adapter, you will not be able to plug the computer power cord into an outlet.

Sue
 

x3 skier

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2006
Messages
5,266
Reaction score
2,295
Points
649
Location
Ohio and Colorado
Resorts Owned
Steamboat Grand, The West,
Raintree and, formerly, The Allen House
Make sure you have a converter and an adapter. You may not need the converter if your computer automatically switches to the different frequency that is used in Europe. If you don't have an adapter, you will not be able to plug the computer power cord into an outlet.

Sue

Just check the "brick" to make sure it is dual voltage 110-120 and 220-240. Unless it was produced 30 years ago, it will work in Europe or anywhere there is electricity coming out of a plug in the wall. :)

All of our gadgets, phone, laptop, razor, camera, etc. have worked fine with no converter. About the only thing that does not these days is a hair dryer because it draws so much current.

You will definitely need a plug adapter.

Cheers
 

3kids4me

TUG Lifetime Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2004
Messages
1,876
Reaction score
12
Points
498
Location
Connecticut
I brought my laptop with me in June with no problems. I was very glad I did, because the nearest internet cafe was not that close, and we had security problems the last time I used an internet cafe while in London. However, I was also traveling with a teenager who had stamina issues, and I didn't want to waste any time in an internet cafe. (It was much, much easier just to access whatever info I needed in the morning from the flat, while she was still asleep.)

You will need a plug adapter as everyone says but not voltage converter as everyone also says!
 
Last edited:
Top