Distant early planning for Summer 2004 for the Mr. Go family. These two places seem to be the leading contenders. Which would you recommend, and why?

To recap our travel situation/preferences:
* 40-year-old couple w/ 10-year-old daughter
* Probably about 10 days/nights
* Typical 3-star travelers
* Like the natural splendor, quaint villages, interesting sights & people. Don't need the nightlife or gourmet restaurants.

OK...cast your vote. I have to start somewhere in the planning process, and this is as good a place as any. Thanks for your opinions!

mr. go... sorry but I don't think this is distant early planning. I'm starting to look at rates and reservations for Sept 2004. But, to your question. I think that either area is wonderful. Even though my first taste of Europe was Denmark I vote Scotland. I think that your daughter will have more fun being able to read and understand (kind of)the Scots whilst visiting. You can meet all of your requirements anywhere in Scotland. I don't think that anyone wants to think of their day to day life as "quaint". I always vote for the southwest of Scotland.

Yes - do drop the "quaint" bit. Europeans are used to Americans calling their homes quaint - but it does sound a little Disneyesque or "twee" to them.

As for your question - you can't really go wrong either way - but my vote is also firmly in the Scotland column. The scenery, history, too many castles to count, fabulous gardens, Edinburgh, etc, etc.

Weather and daylight hours will be about the same (bascially your young daughter will not see a dark night sky the whole trip).

getting to Scotland is a little cheaper than getting to most parts of Scandanavia. You could have you daughter read some Scottish literature and about Mary Queen of Scots before the trip and she will be able to help plan the trip . . . .

Absolutely Scotland. Grandeur and history, sparkling seas and soaring mountains.

Oh, and a fellow Fodorite has just published The Ravenmaster's Secret (following a trip she planned here) about a child of the Jacobite revolution. Have your daughter read it before she comes.

Was just peeking in with interest to the replies given to date. I think I've been misreading the word quaint or hadn't realized it had fallen from favor or at least could no longer be read with either positive or negative connotation.

quaint (as checked through a couple of dictionaries): Unfamiliar or unusual in character; cultivated, amiable, agreeable, neat, Curious and fanciful; affected; odd; whimsical; antique;

In terms of architecture, layout, ambience, and history - I confess that I too have referred to villages (not people, or notions) as quaint. I learn something new everyday. I shall work on referring to them hence as "historically intact, alternatively cultural leaning micro population centers" or HIACLMPC's.

It's too early in the morning for this, Clifton.

But I just want to say how much we Scots are looking forward to your trip, so we can provide you with a wee doch an' doris, in our unusual heather girt cottages, close by the seaweed and seal strewn shores, where we eke a barely sustainable harvesting the deep.

We'll only speak amiably in dialogue when you're around, but we'll try to remind you how educated our nation is with its traditions of the lad o' pairts, and we'll engae you in discusssion of the Tales of Ossian and their origin.

The neat rown of houses in the Victorian planned villages of the hinterland will provide a backdrop for whimsical stories of antique times gone by.

And you wan't call us quaint, will you

Hi

If you like natural splendor please take a look at these links: http://www.gardkarlsen.com/preikestolen.htm and http://www.gardkarlsen.com/kjerag.htm. They are both taken at places in Lyse fjord near Stavanger in Norway (south west coast)

Regards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway

Is there any cultural or ancestral reason you would be more drawn to one location or the other? I would take that into consideration. Maybe everyone in the family can look at various guidebooks and work on attractions and budgets and then decide where to go.

Would you want to rent a car? That is rather more expensive in Scandinavia, I think - but best to look up the prices yourself. Three-star travel in Scandinavia will be pretty costly - it's not so bad at the zero-star or one-star level. But Scotland is hardly cheap either. Careful planning and economizing could easily save a thousand or two.

Sorry sheila,

Wasn't meant as a challenge and I promise if and when we come to visit family over in the Oban area, we won't call them or you quaint!

I'd just never thought of the word in relation to people or in a condescending way, just in relation to architecture, physical things. But I shall extract that from my traveling vocabulary all the same.

Now -me- I still consider quaint. Old(er), set in my ways but with a bit of charm. Ok, two out of three...

I guess I'll put in a good word for Scandinavia where we traveled last August. Of course Scotland is beautiful as are lots of other places. And both have rugged scenery. Nothing can surpass the fjords, though. Let it be remembered that many speak English in Scandinavia yet it is a bit more like being in a "foreign country."
BTW, some Swedes are better understood than Scots!

The key is to plan with and not for your 10 year old. What does she really want to see and do. That can be a difficult age to "entertain." So browse the travel books and talk things over. Personally I don't think the use of quaint is wrong...don't we all look for charming places? Travelers often do look for and find picturesque villages...thinking of Sigunta in Sweden and Gilleleje in Denmark and Oygarden in Norway (and others will have many more in mind).

Good luck...Bill in Misssouri
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In the American idiom, quaint usually means "small and charming." That is certainly how I meant it.

And yes, Will, my ancestry is Scottish...so that's definitely on the plus side. My daughter's middle name is Stirling, after my grandfather, so she'll get a kick out of seeing the castle.

So far, the votes are going Scotland's way, and I have no problem at all with that. Except for the driving on the wrong side of the road bit. ;-)