Visiting Scotland? Prepare For Your Trip With These 7 Tips
If you’re planning a vacation to the United Kingdom soon, you may have some destinations in your itinerary already, with London probably being at the top of your list.
The British Isles might seem small on a map, but there are plenty of places to visit within the UK.
For example, apart from London experiences, you could venture north of England and take a tour of Scotland—a country rich with history, culture, beautiful scenery, and intrigue.
It makes sense to prepare for your visit before booking your flights or other transport to bonny Scotland.
Take a look at the following seven powerful tips and suggestions to help you have a memorable time:
1. Book Your Accommodation In Advance
You and your traveling group will undoubtedly need somewhere to stay for the duration of your trip to Scotland.
That’s why it makes sense to book your accommodation in advance, so you don’t have to worry about finding hotel rooms or similar for you and your party.
It’s easy to search and book for places to stay online, and even if you don’t want to stay in a hotel, there’s always Airbnb!
Wherever you stay, just make sure your accommodation gets organized before you visit Scotland.
2. Rent A Car
Scotland isn’t as densely populated as England, for instance, and even its cities aren’t as populated as other European cities. The further north you travel in the country’s interior, the more significant the gap between villages, towns, and cities you will find.
All major towns and cities in Scotland have excellent public transport links, but elsewhere, you’ll struggle to find buses and trains to take you to your destinations.
With that in mind, it would be best for you to rent a car for the duration of your visit to Scotland. You can rent a car with ease from all the major airports and cities within the country.
3. Remember To Drive On The Left
Scotland and the rest of the UK drive on the left, whereas the United States and most of Europe drive on the right.
If you’ve never driven a car abroad before, you need to remember that you must drive on the opposite side of the road to what you’re used to!
Another point to keep in mind about driving in Scotland is that most rental cars will have a manual transmission.
You typically have to pay more for a vehicle with an automatic gearbox, so check your rental reservations carefully in case you’re not happy with driving a stick shift.
4. Take A Raincoat With You
Most people know that it can rain quite a lot in the UK. Historical meteorological records conclude that Scotland experiences the highest levels of rainfall than the other countries that make up the United Kingdom.
Even if you visit Scotland during the height of summer, it still makes sense to take a raincoat with you on your travels just in case of any sudden downpours.
5. Keep Your Luggage Stored Somewhere Safe
If you feel that you’ve got valuables you’d rather not leave at your accommodation, the good news is you’ve got several options available for securely storing your belongings.
For example, if you’re looking for luggage storage Edinburgh has plenty of secure locations where you can drop off your bags and collect them at a later date when you need them.
If you stay in a hotel room, the chances are high that you’ll have an in-room safe availble for storing small valuables like jewelry.
6. Take A Decent Camera With You
Let’s face it: you will undoubtedly want to capture Scotland’s natural beauty during your vacation there. Yes, you could use your smartphone to take some panoramic shots or even short videos.
But, if you want a truly memorable experience you can relive at any time from high-quality footage, it makes sense to invest in a decent camera for the job.
A DSLR (digital SLR) camera will help you capture perfect shots. Moreover, DSLRs are more affordable than ever these days.
7. Understand How To Pay For Things
Last but not least, you need to consider how you’re going to pay for things during your travels throughout Scotland. As with the rest of the UK, most retailers accept debit and credit card payments.
If you’re planning to use cash, one point to keep in mind is that you’re more likely to see banknotes in circulation from the Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank, or the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Most retailers will accept banknotes issued by the Bank of England, however, they aren’t under any obligation to do so.