I have some general questions. I am planning a trip to Scotland in May. We arrive on Friday and will have 9 days to explore. Does anyone have itinerary ideas? <BR><BR>We only have one &quot;must&quot;-we would like to go to Forfar and Anstruther (sp?) to visit relatives. Also, we fly in and out of Glasgow. <BR><BR>Also, would we be able to find nice accommodations for under $100 a night? <BR><BR>I appreciate any advise!! Thanks!

Hi Danielle!<BR><BR>Check out www.2002toscotland.com for some great info, itinerary and accomodation ideas!<BR><BR>You don't say how many are going with you, but, a suggestion for a place to stay would be renting/self-catering a place!!!! Whether just two people or whatever, you can't beat it price wise!<BR><BR>Three of us are going to Scotland 4/26 thru 5/3 and we are renting a great place for the week we will be there!<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

Hi! I spent a week in Scotland in May of 1998. It was wonderful! I spent 2 days in Edinburgh and then drove up to Dunfermline and then the coast to Dunottar (incredible castle perched on a cliff). Then over through the &quot;castle trail&quot; and up along Loch Ness, through the Highlands and over to the Isle of Skye. You can't go wrong in Scotland! Beautiful, breathtaking scenery and nice people! I found B&amp;B's as I went along, we had no set plan or reservations, etc. and we made out just fine!!!! ENJOY! I have been all over Europe since then, and it is still my all-time favorite vacation.

I spent 2 1/2 months there earlier this year working, and took lots of day trips on the weekends. Some of my favorite experiences were:<BR>Stirling castle (I recommend the free guided tours, and I actually preferred Stirling to Edinburgh castle)<BR>Open-top bus tour in Edinburgh (there's several - we took the Guide Friday tour which had a very entertaining live guide)<BR>Visiting the Britannia in Edinburgh - something different from all of the castles.<BR>Dunottar and Crathes castles near Aberdeen<BR><BR>For Edinburgh, you might try the Hotel Ibis. Its a modern chain hotel, with very simple but clean rooms. The location though is excellent, right in the center of everything off the Royal Mile. Rooms run about $85 per night.

Thanks to all for the great information. I will report back on my experiences.

Before giving you some suggestions as to your itinerary, can you give us some idea of what sorts of things you like to see or do? <BR><BR>Forfar is a bit of a nowhere place but is close to glamis Castle which you might like to take in. The Discovery Centre in Dundee (Scott of the Antartic and all that) is good, too. <BR><BR>Anstruther is gorgeous, and in a lovely place. There is a terrific restaurant there, the Cellar, and you might want to look at the Crow's Nest for accommodation. Somewhere on this site there's a recommendation for a good B&amp;B in Ainster too.<BR><BR>I think you will enjoy your experience more if you drive than if you restrict your self to public transport.<BR><BR>I assume you are looking for a double room (ie for 2 people) for a total price of not more than $100? You will find that and it will be fine and nice but not over the top terrific.<BR>

We would like to spend two or three days in Edinburgh, a day on the Isle of Skye, work in Stirling Castle and St. Andrews. My husband’s family is from Forfar and he has some relatives he would like to visit (same for Anstruther). We don’t have to stay overnight, but would love to work it into our itinerary. The more my husband and I read on travel in Scotland, the more inclined we are to rent a car and drive from Glasgow to the various towns and sites and then spend our last few days in Edinburgh.(how much time should we devote to Glasgow?) <BR><BR>Also, the issue of $100 a night was so we can figure out a budget; we are open to all suggestions on accomadations!<BR><BR>Thanks again for all the assistance!

The more I read about your plans, the more I think you will have no CHOICE but to rent a car!!<BR><BR>Where do you arrive? Glasgow? What time of day? Where do you leave from? What time of day?<BR><BR>The basic shape of your trip should probably be something likeBR><BR>Straight to Edinburgh;<BR><BR>One day for the East Neuk (incluing St Andrews; on up to Forfar and Glamis-one day; across to Skye; down the west to Glasgow, pausing in Stirling on the way.<BR><BR>Thatw ay you will have done the &quot;must dos&quot; first and left time for the &quot;it might be fun&quot;s<BR><BR>Glasgow can be great but it depends what you like. What do you like?