julies

I can find good airfares into Glasgow and have always wanted to visit Scotland. However, I am wondering about how terribly expensive this is as a destination. We are looking at the end of May or beginning of June. We like nature, scenery, historic sights, rural areas, local music, hiking & biking, and being off the beaten path. Our last few European vacations we've rented small houses or gites in France & Spain and established a base from which we spent some time sightseeing and some time walking or biking. We'd like to do the same in Scotland. Where can I look to get an idea of what a self-catering rental like this would cost (there are only 2 of us)? We like charm and a good location but do not need any type of luxury. Also, are all of these weekly rentals only, or can we find something for say 4 or 5 nights? And, are there any general vicinities that you think would be best to look in? When staying in hotels, typically, we stay in small family run pensions, B & Bs, 2 star hotels, gasthauses etc. About how much will something like this cost us in Scotland because we would probably also have some nights in these types of places? I've read through the last 100 or so posts on Scotland and can't really find anything that addresses my questions.

hanl

Hello,
This is just an idea, but have you thought of staying in youth hostels? Many of them now offer private rooms with en-suite facilities and some are housed in wonderful historic buildings around Scotland. Have a look at www.syha.org.uk - you can even book online

rex

Probably not the answer you are seeking, but maybe see http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34589078

Best wishes,

Rex

leonberger

Hi, julies.

Click on my name and read my trip report from September 2004. I listed a lot of B&B's and their prices, plus some general information about transportation, food, the Great Britain Heritage Pass, etc.

Also look for a trip report about the same time from "mrs_go" (or is it "mrsgo" or "mrs-go?). Great information.

I believe that you can travel pretty inexpensively in Scotland - just depends on where you want to sleep and what you want to eat.

The GBHP is now $92 per person (on the BritRail site), but is still a great bargain.

I found much of Scotland (in two separate trips) to be absolutely free - the scenery is spectacular! Just drive around and look at everything, take a walk, sit on a bench in a small village.

I vote "go for it!"

Gayle

janis

You can visit Scotland on a budget w/o resorting to youth hostels.

Staying in Edinburgh will be more expensive but you don't need (nor want) a car while in the city so that saves money.

Then out in the countryside you can find very inexpensive B&Bs and self catering cottages. One problem - I usually rent cottages or apartments at least part of every trip to Scotland - but in May/June probably 95% of all cottages require a full week's rental. And most of those will rent only from Sat to Sat. In the off season you can get short breaks of 3, 4, 5 days but not in June. And the end of May is a Bank Holiday weekend so it is even less likely you will find a short let.

Now - apartments in Edinburgh do rent for shorter periods and sometimes even by the night.

How long is your full trip? If it is two weeks you could stay 2 or 3 days in Edinburgh, a week in a cottage and 4+ days in B&Bs.

Here are a few agencies w/ good choices of cottages from very budget to pretty deluxe:

- Ecosse Unique www.uniquescotland.com
Tel: 011-44-1835-870779 Excellent Agency with cottages of all sizes and prices.

- Mackay’s Agency www.mackays-scotland.co.uk 011-44-131-225-3539 [email protected] Large Scottish vacation rental agency.

- National Trust for Scotland 011-44-131-2439594 Approximately 50 cottages and flats on National Trust properties in many areas. Some are in castle grounds, some in nature reserves, some DELUXE, some very rustic. All are one-of-a-kind and tend to book up early

- Stillwells’ Holiday Cottages www.stillwell.co.uk Catalog of independently owned cottages.You deal directly with the owners so prices can be lower.

Don't think staying in one place for seven days will limit your sightseeing. If you pick a good centrally located base you can see a huge area. For instance from the area west of Stirling in the Trossahcs you could do daytrips all the way from Oban/Mull to Glencoe to Blair Atholl to Perth to Loch Lomond and a hundred other places. Or from somewhere near Inverness you would be convenient to the whole northwest, Caithness, the speyside whisky trail, and even Skye or the Orkneys.

It is still easy to find B&Bs for £20 per person per night - sometimes even less. But I usually count on £20-£25 pppn

julies

Wow! I'm impresssed with how quickly I got lots of thoughtful responses. I had never even thought of the youth hostel option. I assume there is no age limit (we are middle aged). thanks again.

Glitterball

Hi there

It is possible to do Scotland cheaply. Youth Hostels are good advice - they are cheap and cheerful, usually reasonably located and graded so if you wanted somewhere a bit nicer you could go somewhere of a better grade - check out http://www.syha.org.uk/SYHA/web/site/home/home.asp

The UK in general is more expensive than the States for some things (which is why we all love to go over there to shop!), but if you avoid anywhere with tartan, piped music, kilts and shortbread you can eat pretty cheaply. Pubs are always a good bet for good, reasonably priced food. A good tip for anyone coming to the UK is a website called 5pm.co.uk
http://www.5pm.co.uk/ where you can book tables online in advance, or get good deals if you want to eat that day. Really you can eat as cheaply or expensively as you like, just like in the US (but portions will be smaller!).

B&Bs are usually good value and friendly. Again these are usually graded by the Scottish Tourist Board, so you have an idea of what sort of place it is. You can book these in advance online at http://www.visitscotland.com/ or you can book a bed ahead at any tourist information when you get here. We also have budget hotels such as Premier Travel Inn, Travelodge, Holiday Inn Express and Ibis, which do rooms for around £50 - £60 per room per night, but these tend to be located only in the major towns and cities.

Visit Scotland also gives info on self catering accommodation, but this can work out expensive if there is only a couple of you (I often have this problem myself).

Hope this helps a bit - please feel free to fire any questions back. I'm Scottish and live here so can probably find out anything I don't know myself!

Hope we can welcome you here soon.

Glitterball

And no - you don't have to be a "youth" to stay in a Youth Hostel! Otherwise they'd kick me out too!

my2cents

You might also try http://www/cottageguide.co.uk for self-catering options. It has good search features (can search by area and tell it how many people will be sleeping there, etc.) and yielded me a wealth of options for my trip this summer. Another reasobably inexpensive option can also be renting a caravan for a week (a mobile home that's not mobile!). Some b&b's have that option along with their regular rooms. The prices are often pretty reasonable.

sheila

All of the suggestions made are good one. You should know that there are independent hostels as well as the syha ones and I posted a link about a week or 10 days ago (click on my name to scroll back through my postings- she said immodestly).

Of the agencies you've had suggested, mackay's is probably the cheapest. I have a number more boomarked at home but they will be dearer again.

The tourist board offices and indeed the godawful visitscotland web site will have cheaper self catering options available than using the agencies- no fee to pay, you see, but it takes more work to find them.

I somewhat disagree with janis inasmuch as I think you'll still get part week lets. There is a Bank Holiday at teh end of May but it is only a public holiday in England; not most of Scotland. The English DO cross the Border (damn them!) but not in such numbers at the end of May to make it impossible to get short term lets; and the more remote you go, the easier it will be.

Try Ullapool. Really.

zippo

For Edinburgh & Glasgow, see eurohostel.co.uk - ensuite rooms very cheap.Search for backpackers hostels.Use buses, not trains.You can do this very cheaply if you research.Try posting on the lonely planet's thorn tree - used by backpackers.

my2cents

Sheila makes a good point about the agencies charging a booking fee (as I found out the first time we went to Scotland -- without everyones wonderful help on this website). However, cottageguide.co.uk is not an agency and doesn't charge you any fees to book -- you do your booking directly with the owners of the properties.

The eurotrip.com website also has good info on hostels, including reviews as well as a hostel forum where you can post questions. Here is the link to the reviews, if you're interested: http://eurotrip.com/hostels/

There's plenty to see and do (as well as places to stay and eat) that won't break the bank for you. Have fun!

Danna

We've enjoyed our trips to Scotland. For cost efficient travel we liked taking the bus, rather than train or rental car. We found we could pretty much get anywhere on a bus, needing the odd taxi now and then. You get to visit with folks more easily on a bus I think. Have a grand time!

DDA

We just returned from Edinburgh, and loved it. The weak dollar was, however, depressing. It seemed to us that the pound seemed to have about the spending power of a dollar--so every price was doubled. We certainly enjoyed our trip--but did less shopping than usual.

julies

DDA--

You just confirmed what I was apprehensive about.

bellastar

I traveled all around Scotland solo a few years ago, staying in Youth Hostels. At time I was just this side of 40, and met wonderful pwople of all ages. Some of the Hostels in Scotland are really beautiful! I remember one especially on the shores of Loch Lommond that was a former Estate, and the interior was really amazing- huge fireplaces, stained glass windows, Carved oak panels and friezes on the walls, huge kitchen, lovely grounds, and interesting cimpanions who sound like minded to the travel style you describe.
It's really worth while to check this option in depth, many of the hostels have private rooms for couples.
It was my "Roots" trip and most of it endedup being off the beaten path, as some of the roads were very pathlike (well, you'll find out!)

Best of luck to you!