SCOTLAND: RESOURCES GUIDE
About Scotland:
Scotland is a land of majestic landscapes, rich history, and cultural heritage. Whether you are seeking rugged wilderness, ancient castles, or vibrant cities, Scotland has something for everyone.
Start your journey in Edinburgh, the stunning capital city, where you can stroll along the Royal Mile and explore the iconic Edinburgh Castle. Don't miss the chance to hike up Arthur's Seat for panoramic views of the city.
For a taste of Scottish countryside, head to the Scottish Highlands, where you can hike through rugged mountain ranges, spot wildlife, and explore quaint towns like Fort William and Inverness. Make sure to visit the iconic Loch Ness and keep an eye out for the legendary monster.
Scotland is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with endless opportunities for hiking, cycling, and other outdoor adventures. From the rugged peaks of the Cairngorms to the stunning beauty of the Isle of Skye, there are countless trails and landscapes waiting to be explored. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just starting out, Scotland's breathtaking scenery is sure to inspire and invigorate you.
If you are a history buff, you will love exploring the many castles that dot the Scottish landscape. From Stirling Castle to Eilean Donan Castle, there are endless opportunities to immerse yourself in the country's rich past.
And no trip to Scotland is complete without experiencing its vibrant culture. Sample traditional Scottish fare like haggis and neeps, sip on a wee dram of whisky, and take in a ceilidh, a traditional Scottish dance party.
Scotland truly is a land of wonder and adventure, and with so much to see and experience, it's no wonder it's one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your Scottish adventure today!
Welcome to Adventure Fares' Resources and Information Guide. These guides are compiled to provide a great "starting place" for planning. Here, we try to help you with the 4 big planning goals for any destination: Where to Stay / Where to Eat / What to See and Do / How to Budget. We even try to include some great itinerary links. Have fun planning your travel adventure! These resource pages are always being updated. If you would like to see a country / city / place not already in our resource guides, please email your requests or suggestions to: [email protected]
BUDGET RESOURCES:
We typically go to Budget Your Trip to research budgeting! We highly recommend their website. They do a fantastic job of compiling data from thousands of travelers around the world! This data is so useful for anyone who’s wanting to make the most of their travel budget. If you sign up and enter your own expenses - you contribute to the data and also get to access their fantastic planning tools - with charts, maps, graphs, and tables of your trip finances. Bookmark their site, and go there for a lot more in-depth budgeting research: BudgetYourTrip.com
With this chart, we just wanted to give you an idea of how your budget might look compared to a few familiar places here in the U.S
Rentals / Hotels / B&B Lists
Finding the perfect accommodation can make or break a trip. That's why we compile so many lodging lists - to help you find reliable and affordable recommendations for AirBNBs, VRBOs, boutique hotels, and B&Bs. These lists should give you a great starting place, and hopefully make that trip even better!
AIRBNB LISTS
VRBO LISTS
(coming soon)
AIRBNB Resources:
airbnb.com - It has become a very popular resource for travelers. We try to limit our lists to rentals in great locations, with good pricing, and great views when we find them. We use AirBNB a lot. ALWAYS double-check reviews and avoid "new" listings most of the time. Be sure to double check for air conditioning in the summer, and feel free to reach out to the owner for tips / questions!
VRBO Resources:
vrbo.com - VRBO is another great one to use. Sometimes you find rentals here you won't see on AirBNB - its always great to have more options, especially during peak seasons when rentals book up fast. Always double-check reviews and avoid "new" listings when possible. The VRBO system won't let us filter neighborhoods as well as some others, so always double check location after finding a good property.
Bed and Breakfast Resources:
Booking.com - this is often our “go-to” for this category. We find their customer reviews to be very reliable!
bedandbreakfast.guide (B&B Guide) - this one screens out the worst-reviewed places, so their lists are pretty reliable.
bnbfinder.com - this one is promising, but they don’t have near as many listings as the others here. We hope they grow!
Boutique Hotels Resources:
BoutiqueHotel.me - this one is usually our favorite. However, their list will only provide you with hotels who allow booking through booking.com - so some great hotels won’t be on their lists.
MrandMrsSmith.com - This is fantastic and inspirational resource for finding places to stay around the world. Much of their focus is on premiere hotels (and not what we would call “budget” finds), but it can be a fantastic place to search. It’s fun to just click on their “Inspiration” tab and find some new places around the world.
TheHotelGuru.com - This site also links to booking.com, and can be a complimentary resource.
GreatSmallHotels.com - Another resource the books through booking.com, this one tends to go a little more upscale, especially in large European cities.
Some More Interesting Lodging Guides:
gounusual.com - Great Resource for those trying to find unique places to stay: Castles, igloos, boats, more!
eruoglamping.com - Just what it sounds like - a resource of upscale camping places in Europe:
goglamping.net - GoGlamping / More upscale camping experiences - UK and Europe
NOTE: No matter what form of lodging you book, we recommend you always confirm your booking one last time a week to 10 days ahead of your travel.
Restaurants / Dining Lists
Choosing dining options can be confusing and intimidating. We've compiled these lists to help you start planning some memorable meals. Lists are organized by city and include some of the best and most affordable dining destinations in each city/area. Every adventure deserves some great meals!
TripAdvisor Dining Lists:
TripAdvisor.com - We recommend using TripAdvisor’s dining directories whenever you find yourself needing good food in a place with which you’re unfamiliar. They have a huge volume of reviews, great genre help, and mapping.
Michelin Guide - Dining Lists:
Michelin Guide - For respected and relevant reviews of restaurants around the world, Michelin has been the Iconic dining guide since the 1800s. If you find a 1 star near you, book it. If you find a 2 star, you’re in for a treat. If you find a 3 star - make a travel detour if you need to and get there!
Wanderlog Dining Lists:
Wanderlog.com - Wanderlog is an interesting site - compiling lots of travel planning possibilities. Their trip-planning features are worth checking out, but we’ve come to really like their restaurant lists. They’re just a little pickier than TripAdvisor, but not as exclusive as Michelin. They’re worth checking out in most towns.
When trying to get a nicer restaurant into your travel plans, we recommend making reservations at least a couple of weeks ahead of time. Some of the Michelin star restaurants might even require more advance (varies).
Things to See and Do Lists
Finding what to see and do is always a travel priority. We've compiled lists/links from the world's most credible sources to help you find the best adventures for your destination. These lists will help you find the most popular attractions (and some hidden gems) for your travel adventures.
Things to See and Do Resources:
These are some itineraries and itinerary resources from sources we trust. Even if you don't find the exact itinerary you need, they will give you some great places to start. Rank your priorities (and your travel friends' priorities), see what works for your schedule, and plan an amazing travel adventure. *Don't try to cram too much in - it's those "unplanned" moments that often product the best adventures.
FodorsTravel.com - In our experience, Fodor’s is the best overall place to start when planning a trip. Once you search and find their guide to a city - they break the guide down into Sights, Nightlife, Shopping, Performing Arts, and Sports and Acitivities. There’s not tons of inspiration here, but good, reliable information. There are ads, but they do a good job of keeping the content credible. They also have a great “Map View” feature for the different sections so you can always check to see what’s close. Their Hotels and Restaurants guides are also pretty good.
RickSteves.com - Rick Steves has been an awesome resource for budget travelers for decades, and his content just keeps getting better. His reviews are reliable, his itineraries are fantastic, and his reputation for credibility is great. We check out his information on any destination we're thinking about visiting.
AtlasObscura.com - This is our favorite guide source! We don’t know how the team at Atlas Obscura finds so many cool, interesting, and odd things to see around the world - but they do it. It’s easy to find those top few things to do in any location, but these guys go beyond - and get you some off-the-beaten path adventures.
TripAdvisor - Trip Advisor is pretty commercial in nature, but they have really high traffic - so it's easy to see what's popular pretty much anywhere in the world. That can be helpful for planning what to see, and sometimes what to avoid. It's one of our go-to resources for seeing what might be in the town ahead on a road trip.
Wanderlog.com - Wanderlog is an interesting site - compiling lots of travel planning possibilities. Their trip-planning features are worth checking out, and we really like their “THINGS TO DO” lists. They’re pretty much ranked from most popular to least - so its a great place to figure out a priority list of things to see.
GetYourGuide.com - We really like this one! Get your guide is becoming a great source for planning as well as inspiration for travel adventures. Even if you aren’t looking for things to do on your trip, it’s a good place to get new trip ideas and browse exciting things to do. They have some "decent" pricing on local activities - worth considering for booking.
Nomadicmatt.com - Matt travels as much as any blogger / content creator we follow. He's a good writer, a good planner, and delivers entertaining content. We certainly recommend you check out his travel guides. If he's been somewhere, he shares great stuff!
OTHERS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
The Crazy Tourist - This is a travel resource that covers destinations all over the world. Just type the name of a country or city in their search section, and they have good
CultureTrip.com - This one is pretty commercial (lots of ads), but its also pretty reliable. They’ve been a travel industry leader for a long time, so there are enough reviews on things to know if you’re making good decisions. We always check out the Culture Trip guide for any location we’re planning on visiting.
Itineraries to Get You Started
Building an itinerary for your travel adventure can be a daunting task. Here are a few resources to help you get started without all the "noise" associated with online research. These are sample itineraries from travel pros who are credible, reliable, and know the places they're writing about. Itineraries are made to be broken, but hopefully these will start you out on the right path.
If you're planning a trip to Scotland, there's so much to see and do that it can be overwhelming to know where to start. To help you plan your itinerary, here's a comprehensive checklist of must-see destinations and off-the-beaten-path gems to explore. Below our checklist, you'll find several sample itineraries we recommend.
DON’T MISS:
- Explore the beautiful city of Edinburgh, with its stunning castle, charming old town, and beautiful Georgian architecture.
- Take a trip to the stunning Isle of Skye, known for its beautiful landscapes, rugged coastline, and charming villages.
- Visit the beautiful Loch Ness, known for its stunning scenery, ancient myths, and legendary monster.
- Explore the historic city of St. Andrews, known for its beautiful medieval architecture, charming streets, and world-renowned golf course.
- Take a trip to the beautiful Cairngorms National Park, located in the heart of Scotland, and known for its stunning mountain landscapes, beautiful lochs, and abundant wildlife.
IF YOU HAVE MORE TIME:
- Visit the beautiful Orkney Islands, located off the northern coast of Scotland, and known for their stunning landscapes, ancient ruins, and charming villages.
- Explore the beautiful Isle of Mull, known for its stunning landscapes, beautiful beaches, and abundant wildlife.
- Visit the historic city of Glasgow, known for its beautiful Victorian architecture, vibrant arts scene, and lively music scene.
- Take a trip to the beautiful Outer Hebrides, a chain of islands located off the west coast of Scotland, and known for their stunning beaches, rugged coastline, and traditional Scottish culture.
- Explore the beautiful Trossachs National Park, known for its stunning landscapes, beautiful lochs, and charming villages.
OFF THE BEATEN PATH
- Visit the charming town of Portree, located on the Isle of Skye, and known for its beautiful harbor, charming streets, and traditional Scottish atmosphere.
- Explore the beautiful Glen Coe region, known for its stunning mountain landscapes, beautiful waterfalls, and rich history.
- Take a trip to the beautiful Isle of Arran, located off the west coast of Scotland, and known for its stunning landscapes, charming villages, and world-renowned whisky.
- Visit the beautiful town of Dunkeld, located in the heart of Scotland, and known for its beautiful medieval cathedral, charming streets, and stunning natural surroundings.
- Explore the beautiful Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, known for its stunning landscapes, beautiful lochs, and charming villages.
Best of Scotland in 7 Days / Trip Savvy
Trip Savvy is one of our absolute favorite travel sources. They have great travel guides and great itineraries. They usually keep the advertising at moderate levels - and focus on good content for travelers, and by travelers - one of the first places you should check.
Scotland Itinerary / Rick Steves / 3 Days to 15 Days
Rick Steves itineraries page is great. With lots of options (from 3 days to 15 days), this is a great run-down of the some of Scotland's most spectacular highlights. This should give you a fantastic starting place for planning your adventure. Rick Steves content is always fantastic.
9 Different 10-Day Scotland Itineraries / Secret Scotland
This guide page has created 9 separate Scotland itineraries - with a little something for everyone! Not tons of content here, but some simple maps, and some loops that would certainly work when it comes to travel time. Be sure to click the "READ MORE" link to see the full itineraries.
One Week in Ediburgh / Frommer's
Frommer's has been around for decades, helping travelers explore the world. This fantastic Edinburgh itinerary gives you some great options for spending a week in one of our favorite cities in the world. Check this one out. You can almost plan an entire trip on their site.
5 Unique Itinerary Ideas for Scotland / 1 Week / kimkim.com
These are great looking itineraries with several options. This site does a fantastic job of putting all the highlights into concise, practical plans. If you're wanting a few great ideas for a unique trip to Scotland - you couldn't go wrong with this one.
*photos from pixabay.com, pexels.com, unsplash.com and Darrell Potts
EMAIL Us - We Want to Hear From You!
We believe that the best travel advice comes from those who have experienced it firsthand. That's why we're inviting our members to share their travel tips, and recommendations with us. Whether it's a hidden gem of a restaurant, a must-see attraction, or an off-the-beaten-path adventure, we want to hear about it. Your contributions are helping us build a new database of "Member Suggestions." Email us when you get a chance - links, maps, and reviews all help! Email us at [email protected]
These resource pages have been fun to work on! We hope they keep getting better. Are we missing something? Are we missing one of your favorite travel resources? Please email me - I'd love to learn anything that can help make travel adventures even better! Darrell Potts.
