Scotland Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hotel-Bargains.co.uk?
Hotel-Bargains.co.uk is a collection of Special Offers, Packages short
breaks and Weekend Breaks from superb hotels throughout Scotland.
Although luxury accommodation is available for that special treat,
many featured hotels are
owner-operated accomodation nestled in pockets of Scotland's countryside,
willing to show you the best the area has to offer.
What types of travel deals will I find in Hotel-Bargains.co.uk?
Most deals will offer a combination of accommodation, meals, entertainment
(e.g. theatre, festival), outdoor sports (e.g. fishing, hunting,
golf, etc), conference facilities and transfers or car hire. Packages
including flights are not available.
What is the Hotel of the Month?
The Hotel of the Month is a Hotel Deal of exceptional value for
money (based on their standard tariff), valid for the current or
following month.
I'm booking at the last minute, do the deals
still apply?
We recommed that you allow at least 3 days between placing an enquiry
and the date of your arrival. For all bookings that are made within
1 week of arrival, a telephone call is also recommended as the Hotel
Deals are often subject to certain criteria and availability. However,
if you do not breach these, the Deals still apply. Don't forget
to mention the Hotel Deals web site, as some deals are WEB ONLY
deals.
Will the X-ray machines at the airport affect
my unexposed film?
The X-ray machines in most international airports will not harm
your film, provided it's X-rayed just once or twice - which is what
usually happens on the average trip.
The exception to this rule: films rated ISO 800 (like the new Kodak Gold Max) or faster, which may be harmed by a single zap. Insist that they be hand-inspected, even on a one-leg trip. This is a good idea for any film you think is going to be subjected more than twice to security X-ray machines en route to your destination.
More vulnerable, perhaps, is videotape, which isn't affected by X-rays, but is sensitive to the magnetic field emitted by the security gateway that passengers walk through. Always place videotape on the conveyor belt with your hand luggage, or have it hand-inspected.
Do I need a visa or pre-entry clearance to visit
the UK?
Not all persons wishing to travel to the UK require visas or pre-entry
clearance. However, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office aims to
provide a fair and fast entry clearance service to those who do.
TO find out if you require a visa, please visit, visa.fco.gov.uk.
Do I need travel insurance?
Travel insurance is the best way to protect yourself against financial
loss. The most useful plan is a comprehensive policy that includes
coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, default, trip delay,
and medical expenses (with a waiver for preexisting conditions).
Without insurance, you will lose all or most of your money if you cancel your trip or have to cut it short, regardless of the reason. Default insurance covers you if your tour operator, airline, or cruise line goes out of business. Trip-delay covers unforeseen expenses that you may incur due to bad weather or mechanical delays. Study the fine print when comparing policies.
What do I need to know about getting married
in Scotland?
For a useful guide of ideas and resources for planning your wedding,
as well as a list of experienced hotels go to www.scottish-wedding.co.uk
What about Foot & Mouth?
Much of Scotland's countryside is free of foot and mouth disease
and is open for outdoor pursuits and tourism. However, given the
serious nature of the disease, care is still required. Please follow
the sensible precautions below as you enjoy the countryside. While
large areas of Scotland are accessible it is advised that you check
your particular destination before you travel.
PLEASE follow this advice to avoid endangering farm animals and people's livelihoods.
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Do not touch or feed farm animals.
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Do not enter enclosed fields with farm animals.
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Avoid farm steadings and yards.
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Do not leave waste or scraps of food or litter.
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Do not park your car in areas where farm animals gather.
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Keep dogs on a lead at all times.
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Clean your boots and vehicles between visits to the countryside.
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Obey official signs.
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Respect advisory signs and requests from farmers and other land managers.
Humans, dogs and horses can't catch foot and mouth disease but they can spread it to cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and deer.
Foot and mouth is a highly infectious disease but for the general public, who don't work with livestock, the chances of spreading it are generally low. Indirect transfer from person to person contact, for example at sporting or social events, and then onwards to livestock is possible but unlikely.
The main risk of people spreading the disease comes from direct contact with an infected animal or its dung. People can pick up the virus on their hands, clothes and footwear and transfer it to another animal. This is why it is crucial to avoid all physical contact with livestock and to avoid farm steadings, yards and enclosed fields where there could be dung from infected animals. This advice is especially important for dog owners. Dogs must not be allowed off the lead as they may disperse other animals and can be attracted by dung.
In areas of Scotland which are free of foot and mouth disease, the risk from walking on the open hill or paths not regularly frequented by sheep and cattle is extremely low. It is still important to ensure that livestock, wild deer and goats are not disturbed.
The virus can remain active for three days in summer and up to two weeks in dried mud or dung on clothing, shoes or vehicles but it can be killed by heat or disinfectants. If you have mud or dung on your footwear, you should clean them as soon as possible. Washing your footwear with soap and hot water will be sufficient.
The risks of spreading foot and mouth are greatest in the areas where the disease has already occurred. But we can't assume the disease isn't present elsewhere. By following the advice in this article, we can all minimise the chances of spreading foot and mouth and begin to allow life in the country to return to normal.
What are the opening times of shops in Scotland?
Shops usually open Monday to Saturday, from 0900-1730/1800hrs. In
popular visitor areas, many shops stay open until later in the evening
during the summer and in towns there is late night shopping until
1900/2000hrs on Thursday evenings throughout the year. Many stores
open on Sundays, particularly in the larger towns. In smaller communities
opening times may vary. Check details with your local Tourist Information
Centres.
Can I get a tax refund on the goods I buy?
Value Added Tax (VAT) is 17.5% and is applied to goods and services.
Non-EU visitors to Scotland can reclaim it on goods only, by using
the Foreign Exchange Tax free Shopping arrangements. A Tax free
Shopping form is obtained and completed at the shop where you must
also show your passport. The form has to be presented to HM Customs
and Excise as you leave the UK.
Where can I get tax free shopping?
Value Added Tax (VAT) is 17.5% and is applied to goods and services.
Non-EU visitors to Scotland can reclaim it on goods only, by using
the Foreign Exchange Tax Free Shopping arrangements. You can reclaim
VAT at participating stores. A Tax Free Shopping form is obtained
and completed at the shop where you must also show your passport.
The form has to be presented to HM Customs and Excise as you leave
the UK.
What bank notes can I use in Scotland?
Scottish banks issue their own bank notes for all denominations,
which differ from English notes, but they are of the same value
and are accepted elsewhere in the UK (although you are best to change
£1 notes for £1 coins before you leave Scotland). English
notes are accepted in Scotland.
Where can I change currency?
In Scotland banks usually give the best exchange rate for foreign
currency. Many banks offer this service. They usually open Monday
- Friday between 0900 - 1600/1700hrs (some open until later on Thursdays
and a few open on Saturday mornings). It is also possible to change
money, in airports, larger rail staions, travel agents and some
larger hotels (if you are a resident); there is usually a handling
fee and commission.
Can I use my credit card in Scotland?
Main stores, hotels and restaurants in Scotland will accept the
majority of credit cards. It is advisable to carry some £Sterling;
for example, many smaller accommodation establishments such as B&Bs
are unlikelly to accept credit cards; this also applies to other
small businesses.
How much do I tip in Scotland?
There are no definite rules for tipping. If you feel that you have
received good service then you may wish to leave a tip. This is
most common in restaurants, where the tip can be up to 10% of the
bill, but you should check to see if a service charge has already
been included. Tipping in hotels is also at your discretion. It
is not normal to tip bar staff, although they may be offered a drink.
Taxi drivers are often given a tip, particularly on longer journeys
and if they carry your luggage, with 50p-£1.00 normally being
sufficient.
What is the weather like in Scotland?
Scotlands position on the edge of the European continent with sea
on three sides means that the weather is very varied. Records show
that May and June are usually drier than July and August (when the
average monthly rainfall, for example, in Edinburgh is at its highest.)
Even so, Edinburghs annual rainfall is only slightly greater than
Londons and many of the east coast towns have less annual rainfall
than Rome. Generally speaking, the east coast tends to be cool and
dry, the west coast milder and wetter. More importantly, if it rains,
with Scotlands ever-changing weather patterns, it will probably
not last for long. Besides, with Scotlands longer summer daylight
hours - the midsummer sun sets in Shetland at 2234 hrs - you have
plenty of time to fit in your excursions. Average temperature in
the Summer is 15-22 degrees centigrade.
What should I wear?
As the weather changes so quickly, be flexible. Between May and
September it is often warm, but take a sweater and a light waterproof
coat. If you are coming between October to April, pack heavier sweaters.
What happens if I become ill on holiday?
Holidaymakers who become ill while in Scotland are eligible for
free emergency treatment at National Health Service Accident and
Emergency hospital departments. If, however, you are admitted to
hospital as an in-patient, or referred to an out-patient clinic,
you will be asked to pay unless you are a citizen of a European
Community country, or a national/resident of a country which has
a reciprocal health-care agreement with the UK. It is best to take
out insurance cover before travelling. Your travel agent can give
advice. You do not need an International Certificate of Vaccination
for entry to the UK, but one may be needed for re-entry to your
own country. Scotland does, however, have midges, small flies that
bite, so if you are travelling in the Highlands, you should pick
up some midge-repellent at a chemist.
When do restaurants and pubs open and close?
Restaurants (including those in hotels)in towns usually open 1200-1430
hrs for lunch and 1800-2400hrs for dinner, but in the countryside
they are likely to close earlier. Last orders are often taken 45
minutes before closing. Many restaurants/bistros/cafes and pubs
are open all day in cities and larger towns. The standard opening
times for pubs are 1100-1430hrs and 1700-2300hrs Monday-Saturday,
1230-1430hrs and 1830-2300hrs on Sunday, but many pubs open all
afternoon, while some have a late licence, especially at weekends.
Most pubs also serve coffee, snacks and meals.
What should I pay in a restaurant or pub?
The price of food and drink varies considerably. As a general guideline,
eating out in a pub at lunchtime will cost from around £5.00;
in a restaurant it is usually more expensive, but you can get business
lunches, with a restricted menu, at a very reasonable cost, around
£5. For dinner expect to pay from £15.00-£20.00.
There are many restaurant guides available to help you make your
choice, but you can also ask the Tourist Information Centre or someone
at your accommodation may be able to advise you - local recommendation
is best.
Pubs are generally cheaper than hotel lounges for alcoholic drinks. A measure of whisky (25 or 35 millilitres) costs around £1.40, single measures are also known as nips. A pint of beer costs around £1.90 or more. Scottish draught beers are usually ordered by the pint or half-pint. The English term bitter isn’t usually used in Scotland (heavy or export are the nearest equivalents). When in doubt, order by the name on the tap or ask the person behind the bar for advice.
Are there facilities for people with disabilities?
The Scottish Tourist Board assesses accommodation for it’s
disabled visitors. The three categories of accessibility, drawn
up in close consultation with specialist organisations, reassure
you that the property either provides unassisted wheelchair access;
assisted wheelchair access or access for those with mobility difficulties.
Look for the Scottish Tourist Board access information in brochures.
Wheelchair Hire/Loan
Edinburgh – Manual and electric wheelchairs and scooters can
be hired in Edinburgh from Medacos. Tel: +44 131 221 9191. Local
delivery can be arranged.
Glasgow- Free loan of manual chairs can be arranged from Kincaid.
Tel: +44 141 570 5000
Aberdeen – Free loan of manual chairs can be arranged from
Wheelchair Loan. Tel: +44 1224 663180.
Disability Scotland has a comprehensive bank of disability information.
Enquiries can be answered on all aspects of disability, except the
purely medical. The holidays database includes information on hotels,
guest houses, bed & breakfasts, self-catering, camping and caravanning,
and sports and leisure facilites. Two full holiday directories are
published, one covering the rest of the UK. Contact:
Disability Scotland, Princes House, 5 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh,
EH2 4RG.
Tel: +44 131 229 8632
www.dis_scot.gcal.ac.uk
Can I use my electrical equipment in Scotland?
Voltage is 240v 50Hz. Most establishments in Scotland have square-pin
sockets for 3, 5 and 13 amp fuses. You can buy an adapter at your
departure airport.
What side of the road do I drive on in Scotland?
Remember to drive on the left hand side of the road.
Remember to give way to the right on roundabouts.
Many of the roads in the Highlands and Islands are single track
with passing places. Driving on them demands a slow speed and awareness
of cars coming the other way.
By law, it is compulsory to wear seatbelts in the front of any car,
and in the back if you have them.
Can I work in Scotland?
There are many different types of opportunities for working in Scotland.
On entering the United Kingdom work visas and permits should already
have been obtained; E.C. nationals are free to live and work in
the United kingdom, others should check when applying for visas.
If there are enquiries about permits the address to contact is:
The Department for Education and Employment
Overseas Labour Services, Moorfoot, Sheffield S1 4PQ
Tel: 0114 2594074 - Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.
Fax: 0114 259 3728
