How much money should i bring with me for a two week trip to Scotland?

Question

My family has alot of Scottish ancestry, and i asked my brother if he wanted to take a trip to Scotland with me in the next year and a half.

How much money should i bring?
I don't know much about money, but can i walk into a bank in the UK and have my US $ taken in exchange for British Pounds?

If so how much should i bring?(excluding flight tickets)

We'll be staying in Edinburgh

Most of our expenses will probably be a 3 star Hotel, rental car/gas, average dining, and site seeing.

We'll probably be making several trips to Stirling whilst we're there. Perhaps others as well. I'd like to have plenty of money on the side as well.

Thank you

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Just bring your debit card and use ATMs to get cash. (Don't use your credit card in an ATM; it's considered a cash advance and carries an extremely high interest rate.)

Answer 2

I would say that around $1000-$1500 should cover you easily. If you stay away from all the usual tourist traps in Glasgow and Edinburgh you should be able to manage ok. As for hotels, we stayed here when we went last year-it was great-close to the centre:
http://www.ramadajarvis.co.uk/edinburgh
Dont forget to take a tour of the highlands!
http://www.visithighlands.com/

Answer 3

Scotland can be very expensive but you will enjoy Edinburgh and Sterling. Look up the Scottish tourist board for hotel and car hire charges.

Answer 4

Scotland ?
2 weeks ?

i'd say 28 pounds should do it......... maybe 30 to be on the safe side

Answer 5

you should bring around a 1000 $ just in case.

Answer 6

As well as cash don't forget your travellers checks as they are always useful in case of emergencies. At the same time just in case the unthinkable happens and you run out of cash make sure your folks have your bank details so that they can deposit money in an account for you whilst your in Scotland. And yes you can take your US dollars into a bank and get them exchanged. However, shop around for the best deals you can get good exchange rates with Bureaue de Change and some travel shops (check rates on a daily basis with the tourist board information service good one top of Princes Street).

With out a doubt your biggest expenditure will be fuel & food and let me tell you some of the food here leaves a great deal to be desired, so prepare for days when taking a packed lunch with you will be your best option. There will always be bakeries where you can find fresh bread bagels etc., and delicatessens for the filllings. Marks and Spencers department store have an excellent food hall but it is rather expensive....though you pay for what you get Quality!

Places worth a mention to visit since your staying in Edinburgh:

1. The Rosslyn Chapel - De vinci code fame;
2. Forth Road rail bridge;
3. Edinburgh Castle;
4. Glasgow......a must;
5. Stirling Castle;

6* Glen Coe & Kinloch Rannnoch;
7* The distilleries;
8* Isles of Sky via the Kyles of Lochalsh.

* Those with an asterisk would be places that would be best visited by taking a coach trip as fuel prices are very high here in the UK especially so in Scotland and coach trips are good value for money as you get a guided tour thrown in as well. The Isles of Skye would probably include an overnight stay though.

If you find your funds do not run to these trips just enjoy the breathtaking scenery which can be found round nearly every corner especially Glen Coe...where the MacDonalds and Campbells fought a bitter feud hundred of years ago.

Enjoy your trip and 'Haste Ye Back'!

PS. I don't wish to play the devils advocate here but you say your hiring a car- well watch the drivers over here and don't overtake it's not worth the risk.