Scotland
 

We are first time travelers to Scotland and need to know how much money to take. Do we rely on our credit card and ATM machines or do we get travelers checks or do we take loads of American $$$ or English pounds? We will be there for 10 days and have already booked rooms and a car- this is just for food, tips, purchases, etc.

Wade,<BR>I would rely on ATM card for cash. We've been to Scotland and there are ATM machines in all major and mid-size cities. If you are going to any rural areas, take out some extra cash before-hand. Credit cards are accepted at most restaurants and B&Bs/hotels. Have a wonderful trip! Scotland is a beautiful country and the people are great.

Thanks, Kendra! Do I need to take American $$ or British pounds or both?

I was in Scotland last summer. there are ATMs everywere. Bring only enough US cash to get to the airport.

Wade, Wade, Wade, think about it. You are going to Scotland, part of the UK, and the currency there is the British Pound...so your question is sort of silly isn't it. You can take US dollars if you want, but you will have to convert them to pounds before you can spend them. Make sense to you?

Hey, gosh, why the sarcasm?<BR><BR>They said it was their first time to Scotland. Give them some slack, willya? We were all newbies once.<BR><BR>Lucky them! Imagine being able to see Scotland for the first time again!!!<BR><BR>(My advice? We rarely take more than $50 in American dollars(mostly for use at the U.S. airports), but we use our credit card for the majority of purchases in Scotland, including food, and then hit an ATM (which gives you money in the local currency) when we find places that won't take credit cards. The vast, vast majority of places DO take credit cards, tho.)<BR><BR>Have fun in Scotland!

Actually, Wade the money you get in Scotland will not be English or British pounds, it will be Scottish notes, so ignore Gosh. Different Scottish banks issue their own notes. These are however legal tender in England too. You will find cash machines all over the place, even in some big shops like Marks and Spencer, Boots, several supermarkets etc. and credit cards are accepted in most places.<BR>You could perhaps take a few travellors' cheques just to be on the safe side but you are very unlikely to need them.

Wade,<BR>I usually take about $70 to $100 in US dollars just in case I need to exchange some money. Have fun!

Wade, just remember to spend some of that cash (or credit card) on a full Scottish breakfast, YUM!!!<BR><BR>Please, will you give us a trip report when you return?

I have traveled to Scotland 6 times and I use the bank ATM You will need an international pen # and activate your bank card in the states. I would recommend taking two different cards, Machines do get eat cards. No Joke my worst nightmare. I did note remember my personal pen # and I only had the word the 1st time I used the Atm in 1995. I did get money and I was only charged $1.00 US to exchange in this manner. I personally would not take Am. or travelers check. You will be using Scottish bank notes that are British Pound Sterling. London shops hate the notes from Scotland banks but do accept them on close inspection. Go to Glasgow to the Willow Tea Room for a wonderful treat for me.

Although Scotland uses Scottish notes, am I correct in assuming that the British Pound can be used there as well?<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR><BR>Kathryn

Hi Kathryn,<BR><BR>You are correct the english notes ( Bank of England) are used north of the border as well<BR><BR>Occasionally in some of the smaller shops in London I have had a small problem changing Scottish notes ( especially &pound;20 notes).<BR><BR>When returning overseas I would get rid of the Scottish notes before leaving Scotland/UK as the scottish notes are apparently very hard to exchange overseas.<BR><BR>Regards<BR>Gregory<BR>

The ATMs at Glasgow airport used to pay out in Bank of England notes (rather than Scottish) for the convenience of travellers - they probably still do.<BR> Although Scottish notes are accepted in most places in England, the only currency which you must legally accept throughout the UK is from the Bank of England.<BR> Technically Scottish notes can be refused in Scotland, though I wouldn't like to try it.You can insist on any payment being made in English notes only.You can get English notes by using your ATM card inside a bank & asking the teller.<BR> Some money changers try to charge a premium for converting Scottish notes.If this happens, don't do business with them.They are probably giving you a bad deal otherwise too.<BR> The same situation exists in N.Ireland - a bank there issues its own notes.

Hmmmm, I use a personal PEN and it is a real nice PaperMate. However, for getting money no matter how much I try to cram that PEN in the ATM it just won't work. But, if I use my personal PIN then wow I get money.

Bank of england is the Central bank of the United Kingdom (England Scotland Wales and Northern ireland ) like the United states fed reserve. but 3 scottish banks issue their own notes that are the same value as B of eng notes.the banks in Scotland that do this are : the Bank of Scotland . the Clydesdale bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland <BR>these are the same value as the Bank of England Notes . these scottish notes technically are legal tender throughoout the UK .but some people in the rest of the UK can refuse them we here in Northern Ireland have 4 banks that issue notes: the Ulster bank the Northern bank and the first trust bank and Bank of Ireland which are all sterling notes which circulate along with the Bank of England notes and 5 different types of say a &pound;5 or &pound;10 note like the scottish note these are technically legar tender throughout the UK but most people have never seen a Northern ireland note b4 and refuse them even thought they pounds sterling also we must be the only part of the UK that accepts scottish notes !!!<BR>

TO further clarify/confuse, these notes aren't actually legal tender...<BR><BR>In the United Kingdom (all of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) there is only 1 currency - the Pound Sterling, and only one set of bank notes that is legal, the Bank Of England notes. <BR><BR>Historically though several Scottish and Northern Irish banks have been allowed to print their own notes, and these have a de facto currency status.<BR><BR>English shops may or may not accept them (I would imagine the further away from the Scotland and the less touristy would be less likely to), and often there will be an embarrassing wait whilst some checkout person asks their supervisor. If you can swap your Scottish notes for English ones before you get to England.<BR><BR>I have no idea what a beaureau de change would make of them in a foreign country, so again I would see if you can swop them for the BoE notes.

I am married to a Scot and regularly travel to Scotland. I usually have Scottish notes with me and have never in over 30 years had one refused in England. I've used them in large shops, my local village shop and my works' canteen.

With respect to Alistair Scottis notes are legal tender in Scotland.<BR><BR>All Scottish banks have the right to print their own notes. Three choose to do so: The Bank of Scotland (founded 1695), The Royal Bank of Scotland (founded 1727) and the Clydesdale Bank (owned by National Australia Bank). Only the Royal Bank prints pound notes. All the banks print 5,10,20,50 etc notes.<BR><BR>Scottish bank notes are not legal tender in Scotland. English bank notes of denomination less than 5UKP were legal tender in Scotland under the Currency and Bank Notes Act 1954. Now, with the removal of BoE 1UKP notes, only coins constitute legal tender (in one pound denominations)in Scotland.<BR><BR>English bank notes are only legal tender in England, Wales, The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. In Scotland, 1 pound coins are legal tender to any amount, 20ps and 50ps are legal tender up to 10 pounds; 10p and 5ps to 5 pounds and 2p and 1p coins are legal tender to 20p (separately or in combination). 2 pounds coins and (if you can get hold of one) 5 pound coins are also legal tender to unlimited amounts, as are gold coins of the realm at face value (in Scotland at least). <BR><BR>Whether Scottish notes are legal tender or not does not change alter their inherent value but it dictates their legal function. Credit cards, cheques and debit cards are not legal tender either but it doesn't stop them being used as payment. Only a minuscule percentage of Scottish and British trading is carried out using legal tender. Just because something is not legal tender certainly doesn't imply it's illegal to use it. <BR><BR>Practically Wade, you will find it easy to use Scottish currency in Scotland, not too big a problem to use it in England, but a problem to exchange overseas.<BR><BR>Generally we don't deal in dollars:)<BR><BR><BR>

Sheila, I've always used English bank notes in Northern Ireland, and I always ask for English notes when I'm there because if I'm traveling around the UK from NI, so many places won't take the NI notes.<BR><BR>Legally, merchants have to accept any pound notes anywhere in the UK. If you really want to press the point, you can call a policeman over and he will direct the merchant to accept your money, as I've seen a few friends from NI do when they get really annoyed. I find it much easier just to get the appropriate notes!<BR><BR>Also, make sure if you have any cash left over when leaving the UK that it is in English notes. I discovered, like another poster above, that you get a worse exchange rate for Scottish or Irish (NI, not Republic) notes. Of course, now I just keep my leftover cash for my next visit.

I think it depends on your ATM limit. We have a daily cash limit of $200, (although a higher charge limit) which those darned ATMs seem to know. We brought a couple hundred $'s of traveler's checks, which was a good plan for paying off our B&amp;B for the last 3 nights in Edinburgh. We had a hard time cashing checks in Amsterdam banks, but in Scotland they still work. It depends on your needs, and planning abilities. We then cashed in the remaining checks when we returned. Have a grand time!