Hi All!

Going to Ireland and Scotland with a married couple in July. My date canceled on me at the last moment, so my question is:

Inexpensive lodging for a single traveler in Ireland and Scotland; Is there such a thing? (I am 32 so I doubt a youth hostel is ideal for me...)

Just ask for a single room. Ask if the beds are single (twin) or double though. Sometimes a single is only a twin bed in Europe. I was in Ireland by myself and had no problems with lodging.

B&B's are the most economic choice of lodgings for singles or couples apart from hotels. With only a few notable exceptions, most all places have a single rate and a double rate that includes breakfast. Some will publish the single rate and others provide it on request. Most of the places we stayed had a double rate (two people in one room incl/breakfast) of $60 Euro and a single rate (one person in one room) of $40 Euro. I think this is fairly common pricing.

You'll see mostly couples in B&B's but you shouldn't feel awkward - single travelers are no uncommon and you'll find plenty of hospitality.

Oh, thanx for the info! My first big trip and wasn't so sure I was going to be able to afford it now. I saw another post about hostels (from a traveler that just got dumped)...would anybody recommend those for a single female traveler?

Hi--I am touring solo in Ireland and Scotland this July as well. I am staying in some B&Bs but mostly hostels-most hostels have all male and all female dorms. Check out
www.hostels-ireland.com
http://www.irelandyha.org/
www.syha.org.uk/
www.hostel-scotland.co.uk/
Perhaps our paths will cross on our travels! : )

Another option for budget lodging might be this: a number of universities rent out their dorm rooms in the summer months. When my hubby's family visited from the States a couple of years ago, we stayed in dorms down in London. The rooms were basic....bed, desk, bathroom....but all we needed was a place to drop our luggage and GO. I think we paid £20/per person or something like that. I would imagine the universities in Ireland and Scotland rent out their dorms in the summer months, too.

i'm your age and I pretty much stay exclusively in hostels when travelling alone. I've seen women as old as 60+ in hostels in the US and Europe, I think it's the only way to go.