Scotland on a Budget

When my husband and I decided to go visit family in Edinburgh, Scotland, we knew we wanted to travel around and see more of the country while we were there, but our budget was tight. I did a lot of research on planned tours, train routes, and other options for traveling the island. I am sharing what I learned because I hope I can save other travelers some time by offering some tips and recommendations. Now, if you are the type who like big cities, tourist traps, and do not like outdoor activies, this guide may not be for you. If you are the adventurous type who like to play things by ear and get off the beaten path a bit, keep reading!

1. The Freedom of Scotland Travel Pass: http://www.scotrail.co.uk/content/feedom-scotland-travelpass.html
This will save you a lot of time and headaches. ScotRail offers a very affordable way for travelers to get around the island. For £114-153, this pass offers 2 price levels based on the number of days you will be traveling. It covers most trains, busses, and ferries in Scotland as well as offering some discounts for other services. Just make sure to read the instructios thoroughly, and order it in time for your passes to be shipped to the U.S. This pass allowed us to travel all over the country without any surprise fees. All the ScotRail employees were very helpful when we had questions about how to use our passes. We considered renting a car, but I think we would have regretted it. Though the island is small, traveling the highlands by car can take much longer than you might expect because of all the twists and turns through the rough terrain. The trains were comfortable and clean, and we liked being able to relax and enjoy the scenery instead of having to navigate maps and unfamiliar road signs.

2. Tourist Information Centers: A Great Way to Book Lodging and Get Travel Help on the Go: http://www.visitbritain.com
I would have never thought to go into a Tourist Information Center if a cab driver in Fort William had not suggested it. My husband and I did not take our cell phones or laptop to Scotland with us and found that we had a difficult time booking places to stay from on the road. In almost every city, you will see a bright blue sign with a lowercase italic i, which signifies a Tourist Information Center. Not only do they have maps, guidebooks, brochures, and helpful staff... they will actually book rooms for you! We like to play things by ear and book lodging as we go, but we had not taken the holiday weekend into account, and a helpful cabbie recommended that we book lodging for our next few stops before the weekend. We thought that hostels would be the best option for our price range, but staff at the Information Center in Fort William helped us find affordable B&B's that are much cheaper than the inns here in the U.S. They charge a modest flat booking fee, but it was well worth it. The inns they found us were clean, cozy, and friendly. Many do not have websites, so we would not have been able to find such a selection by looking on our own before we left. Prices vary, but most were around £20-30 per person per night, and included a full Scottish breakfast of eggs, beans, toast, black pudding, bacon, coffee, milk, and juice!

3. Visit the Isle of Skye
A trip to Scotland without a weekend or more on this strikingly beautiful island wold be incomplete. Make plans to rent a car while you are there so you can get around to all the remote beaches, wee villages, hiking trails, and castles. Portree is the main city on the island and offeres an array of lodgings and eateries from charming pubs to fancy seafood restaruants. This is a good city to make your "home base". We rented a car and took a day to drive around the northeastern peninsula of the island, stopping for hikes, picnics, and castle exploring. We made it as far west as Dunvegan Castle, where a walk through the castle gardens made us feel like we were stepping back in time. My only regret is that we didn't have more time to spend on this island. It's remoteness and striking scenery made this leg of our trip extremely peaceful and relaxing.

4. Explore Edinburgh by City Busses
We had no trouble navigating our way around Edinburgh on the clean city busses. Public transportation in Scotland is very efficient and affordable. Though you may need to take cabs late at night when busses stop running, busses can get you where you need to go throughout the day. There is so much to see in Edinburgh that you can keep yourself busy for days just exploring the city! Don't miss a night-time tour of the underground city: www.blackhart.uk.com FYI: The locals do not pronounce the "burg" sound at the end of the city's name. It is pronounced Ed-in-bur-uh.

5. Don't Feel Obligated to Visit Loch Ness
Our family who lives in Scotland said that while the lake is beautiful, it's ultimately a tourist trap, and everything there is crowded and overpriced. There are plenty of beautiful lochs in Scotland, and if you are strapped for time, don't feel like you HAVE to go to miles out of your way to see Loch Ness. Plan a trip to the highlands or Isle of Skye instead, and you won't regret it! Fort William is a nice city from which to explore the highlands. It reminded me of Boulder, Colorado in a way. There is a picturesque cobblestone pedestrian main street that runs the length of the downtown area, lined by pubs, shops, and restaurants. In the winter, this is a popular skiing destination, but there are plenty of things to do if you are the adventurous, outdoorsy type.

6. Attend a Ceilidh for Traditional Scottish Music and Dance!
We were not sure what to expect when our family members told us we would be attening a traditional Scottish dance called a Ceilidh. It took us a while before we could even pronounce the word correctly (kay-lee). But this was easily one of the most memorable highlights of our trip. What is a Ceilidh? Picture a square dance with a bearded, kilted Scotsman calling out dance steps as a live band plays traditional gaelic music. Though there were some tourists like us, most of the attendees were kilt-donning locals who were very friendly and didn't even laugh at us as we stumbled through the dance steps! You may have to do some online searching to find one of these events, but it is well worth the effort. The Ceilidh we attended in Edinburgh cost about £10 to get in, and food, wine, and beer were available for purchase. All proceeds went to a charity to help needy children in Nepal.

7. Need Help? Ask a Friendly Locals
We were amazed at how warm and friendly the Scots we met were. Many who heard our American accents approached us to ask where we were from and how our trip was going. Scotland is a great place to visit, and you will have a wonderful vacation there. Enjoy your trip!