WrexhamRedDragons.com
Travel Tips
First and foremost, the best tip I can give anyone for visiting Wrexham is to try and make friends with some of the amazing people there before going. The friends we went to see and the friendships we built there truly made our trip a once in a lifetime unforgettable experience.Need more help figuring out what to do while visiting Wrexham?
Suffering from information overload? Download our helpful Wrexham Checklist and take it with you!
Quick Tips
Getting around:
-
Don't rent a car. Use taxi's, buses and trains. Parking is very limited
-
If you need a taxi, just about any business will call one for you
-
Some taxi's are cash only, ask for one that takes card or tap
-
You can walk most places, if you take a taxi it will be about £4
-
Busses don't just stop at bus stops, you have to wave them down
Restaurants and Pubs
-
Make reservations for dinner, some charge £5 but it gets applied to your meal
-
They don't tip in the UK, tipping in an "American thing"
Travel
-
Layover flights in the UK will require you to take all liquids out of your carry on and you are limited on how many liquids. Strongly suggest having no liquids in our carry on.
-
Airports in the UK do not tell you your gate number until 30-45 minutes before your flight.
Other
-
Just about all businesses offer free wifi
-
If staying in a hotel, bring your own toilet paper. You can thank me later :)
-
The 1st floor is actually what Americans commonly refer to as the 2nd floor.
-
Be prepared to drink a lot. Seriously :)
Communication
WhatsApp is an app that you can download to your phone that will allow you to place calls, send messages and video chat with other WhatsApp users. It is free to download and free to use. This app will allow you to stay in contact with friends and family back home as well as contacting your friends in Wrexham.
​
Cell Phone Service
In addition to WhatsApp, there are 2 other recommended ways to use your phone internationally:
-
Contact your service provider and inform them that you will be traveling internationally, they will let you know what their international rate plan options are.
-
​You may walk into a service provider in Wrexham and see if they can activate their service temporarily on your phone while you are visiting. This is mostly available on phones with a physical sim card but e-sim options may be available.​
Transportation
Airport Shuttle
There are several companies that offer an Airport Shuttle but I strongly recommend going with one of the local companies in Wrexham like Brian with Welcome to Wrexham Tours or Gavin Davis Private Hire. The communication and service is outstanding with both of them and they can arrange a ride from any airport.
​
Taxi
It is roughly about a mile from 1 side of town to the other, so walking is usually the best option. However, if you need a little extra help getting around town then a taxi is the way to go. Any business would be happy to call a taxi for you and it costs roughly £6 to get anywhere in town. Make sure to ask the driver "how much" and "do you take tap" up front, just to make sure you are getting the best deal and you don't have to spend your cash.
​​
Bus
I strongly recommend seeing more of Wales and getting outside of Wrexham. The bus is a great option to explore areas outside of town and it is more affordable. Bus fare is about £4 and will get you anywhere within a 30 minute drive. The Bus Station is near the center of town. Bus tickets can be purchased on the bus itself, make sure to pay for a return ticket.
​
Train
Like the bus, the train is a great mode of transportation for going long distances and it is more comfortable than a bus. Some places you can visit are: Cardiff, Barmouth, Birmingham, Chester, Conwy, Llandudno, Liverpool and Manchester to name just a few.
​
Hiring a Car
If you are visiting and wish to hire a car, Enterprise is local in Wrexham and a good option. Hiring a car will allow you to visit places that you cant get to with a bus or train. Make sure to request an automatic, most cars are manual.
​
Powering Electronics
Power Adapter
Power Adapter - In Wales, the power plug sockets are "Type G", the standard voltage is 230v and the frequency is 50Hz. With most "electronics" such as cell phones & tablets, you do not need to worry about the voltage, you just need this socket/plug adapter. Also see Power "Converter" below.
​
Power Converter
To charge products like a hair dryer, straightener, razor or electric toothbrush you will need a "power converter". These items to not have built in converters like your cell phone and tablet do, so they require this "special converter". Do not confuse this with a "power adapter", they are 2 different things.
​
Things to Remember
Passports
Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to update your passport if you are traveling. Some passport changes are taking 3-4 months, so make sure to plan accordingly.
​
Medication
Traveling internationally with medication can be tricky, especially if you have layovers in different countries. The first thing you should always do is check with your destination's embassy (United Kingdom) and the embassy (all others) of any country that you will have a layover to make sure your medications are permitted.
​​
VAT Refund
VAT is essentially sales tax. Some merchants (not all) will have a Tax Free form you can fill out or they might offer an instant refund and mail your forms for you. Bring your purchases, receipts and refund forms to the VAT offices at boarder crossing in the airport. You will need to show them each item you bought and the receipt.
​