Ultimate Scotland Road Trip
Know before you go!
🤑 Money
Pounding Sterling: $50 = £39.22 (time of writing guide 2024)
Cash: I always bring cash for every country because you never know. What if your cards lock or get stolen? There was never a situation where I couldn't use my card, but I was happy I still brought some cash.
Average Daily Cost Per Person: low end $77 | high end $197
How much we personally spent for 7 days: $619 (I was able to stay with family friends 2 nights)
💳 Credit Cards
I recommend applying for a 0% APR travel credit card. I have two, one from Capital One and the other from Bank of America. I have had no issues with them and no yearly fee! I even used my points from my Capital One to pay for a portion of my flight to Iceland!
✈️ Airport
I recommend flying into Edinburgh Airport or training depending on where you are coming from.
🚗 Rental Car
Car Insurance: I did not get car insurance because my Bank of America CC covered me. If you're uncomfortable with that, I recommend purchasing insurance.
Young Driver Fee: Make sure you check their policies on young drivers. We got royally screwed.
Pro tip: check prices a few days to a week before leaving and see if prices have dropped. In Iceland, I originally paid $335.05 and rebooked 1.5 weeks for $174.35. Score! I was proud of that one. You can do this with accommodations as well!
⛽️ Driving
⚪️ Left side of the road (remember wide rights and tight lefts and - as the driver, you want to hug the middle)
⚪️ Gas gonna expensive as fuck $80-$100
⚪️ You might accidentally hit your wipers when going for the blinker. Don't be flustered. It's okay.
⚪️ Make sure you look both ways!! Ally pulled out in front of a cop, and we almost got a ticket. lol
⚪️ Be prepared to pay for parking nearly everywhere.
Day 1 | Edinburgh
Depending on your timing, you can either pick up your rental car right away and head to Loch Ness or take a night in the city and pick up the car the next morning. If you stay the night, I would wait to get the car because 1 parking in the city is gonna be shit, and 2 why pay for an extra day.
Day 2 | Inverness & Loch Ness
Stop at an Aldi for groceries
Dinner in Inverness
Sleep
Day 3 - 4 | Isle of Skyes
Day 4
Dinner in Portree - make a reservation! This wasn't our first option but we were happy to have gotten seated. Everything was booked booked booked!
Sleep
Day 5
Head back to Edinburgh
Day 6 | Edinburgh
Transportation
Ma I'm Fine Resources
Please note that this guide contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything using my link, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you! Thanks, hun 🤎
The home for unique & authentic travel
