As summer approaches, some of you will be traveling to either Scotland or Ireland. For some of you it is a regular pilgrimage and for others it is your first time visiting these magical and beautiful countries. Either way, it is a trip of a lifetime!
While we have some travel information on the Foundation website, I thought it might be worthwhile to send out a few travel tips. At this time, you are likely to have air travel and lodging reserved, so we are going to get into a few of the finer points. Bundling a night or two lodging with airfare can save on costs.
Research Your Destinations Carefully
While it is impossible to see everything, even after spending several days just in Edinburgh, a good plan and reservations and advanced tickets will help you avoid disappointment.
- If you are traveling to Aberdeenshire, stop in for a tour or book a night at Leslie Castle in Insch.
- You may want to see Leslie sites, so book a day tour with tour guide Amy Tomlins of Atoms Tours. She provides personalized tours and covers all of Northern Scotland.
- If you are driving or with a tour guide, consider a visit to the Leslie owned Wardhill Estate.
- If you are in Edinburgh, visit the Celtic Craft Center, a kilt shop on Paisley Close ( a little path off of the Royal Mile) and say hello to our world-famous Leslie kiltmaker, William James.
- If in Ireland, consider a visit for lunch at the Lodge and a walk around on the estate grounds of Castle Leslie Estate in Glaslough, County Monaghan.
- If you are an Ulster-Scot, and in Belfast, which is near many Game of Thrones filming sites, please visit the Discover Ulster-Scots Center.
Don’t forget to provide itinerary and travel plans with a relative. Plan to check in with them while traveling.
Identification Documents
Remember to do the travel authorization several days before departure. The ETA is required for entry into the UK. https://uke-visa.com/. It is wise to have photocopies of your passport, driver’s license and credit cards (both sides). Your passport needs to have a six-month expiration date from the time you arrive.
Clothing
In late July, temperatures range from the mid 60’s in cloudy and rainy weather, daytime highs can be mid-70s on sunny days. Rain, especially misty rain is possible.
Dress during the tour is casual. Jeans are quite acceptable along with khaki pants, but men rarely
wear shorts or sandals in the UK. Both long and short sleeved shirts are suggested. T-Shirts without political messages are also acceptable. A light jacket is suggested, along with a cap for sun protection. Comfortable walking shoes are necessary. A small travel umbrella can be quite useful.
For attending highland games, a kilt is not necessary and adds to the luggage weight. If you have a splash of tartan that’s great but not needed. Clothing that can be mixed and matched makes for some flexibility and variety.
Money and Expenditures
Scotland and Northern Ireland use British pounds. Ireland uses Euros.
Do not change from USD to British Pounds or Euros at the airport. It is recommended to have some British Pounds with you when you arrive in Scotland, and money is best converted by your local bank. Generally ordering foreign currency through your local bank is easy. Another alternative is to use an ATM, but you need to know your card PIN.
Using a credit card or debit with no foreign transaction fees is recommended but not required.
Always pay in the British Pound, (sometimes shown as “local” currency), not in the USD.
BE SURE TO NOTIFY Your Card Company that you are traveling to the UK. A back up credit card is suggested. You may want to set transaction notifications for your card, so you get a text or email after each transaction. Some travelers have an app on their phone so they can turn off credit or debit cards. Whenever possible, if you have card with a chip, tap to pay, and ask for a receipt. Nearly all restaurants in the UK bring the handheld machine to the table.
Tipping for services and food is discretionary, not mandatory, with 10% being a good tip. Check your bill before adding a tip, some establishments add a service charge automatically.
Phone Service
Most cell phone carriers have a foreign travel plan that you can activate. This is preferred over getting a UK SIM card or virtual SIM and UK service for phone service. Adding WhatsApp to your phone and having people you want to call or text to in the USA is a particularly effective way to stay connected.
Car Rental
If you plan to drive, view some tips on YouTube. It is good to have someone else in the front seat to help look for signage and other traffic. Generally, rental at the airport is most convenient, but it may be more expensive with airport fees. Check off-site rental centers and compare costs. Taking a taxi from the airport to the off-site rental is an easy way to save some money and making the airport departure less stressful. The collision waiver on your rental car gives you peace of mind.
Parking
Parking in many places requires a small charge at a self-pay kiosk. The ticket is displayed on the dashboard. In town squares, there is generally a parking enforcer on duty, so even a short stay in a parking spot can cost you £50.
Snacks and Incidental
If you need to do some shopping for incidentals, Tesco is like our Walmart store. There are Tesco stores in nearly every town.
Edinburgh Tattoo
If attending the Tattoo, make plans with your family to have a meeting place in the event of getting separated from your group when exiting the event. The Tattoo is an ‘after dark” event and it can be cool, so bring a jacket! Getting a taxi after the Tattoo is a significant challenge. Walking a few blocks away from the castle improves your chances of getting a ride.
If you have additional tips, drop them in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
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