Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ONLINE
traveler's
TOOLBOX
W
Airplane Food
(www.airlinemeals.
net)
W
Airplane Seating
(www.seatguru.
com; and www.airlinequality.com)
W
Foreign Languages for Travelers
(www.travlang.com)
W
Maps
(www.mapquest.com)
W
Subway Navigator
(www.subway
navigator.com)
W
Time and Date
(www.timeand
date.com)
W
Travel Warnings
(http://travel.state.
gov, www.fco.gov.uk/travel, www.
voyage.gc.ca, www.smartraveller.
gov.au)
W
Universal Currency Converter
(www.oanda.com)
W
Weather
(www.intellicast.com;
and www.weather.com)
3
Wherever you go, bring a
connection kit
of the right power and phone adapters,
a spare phone cord, and a spare Ethernet network cable—or find out whether your
hotel supplies them to guests.
TIPS ON ACCOMMODATIONS
Edinburgh
Edinburgh offers a huge choice of places to stay, from the super posh and ridicu-
lously pricey five-star hotels to rock-bottom bunkhouses and youth hostels. It is a
city that anticipates bundles of tourists and travelers, whether backpackers, families,
or business types in the Scottish capital on commercial or governmental matters.
But be warned, however: During the 3- to 4-week period of the Edinburgh Festival
every summer, the hotels fill up. If you're planning a visit at that time, be sure to
reserve your room as far in advance as possible. Otherwise you'll end up in a town
or village as much as 40km (55 miles) from the city center. And don't be surprised
if the rates in Edinburgh are higher during August, particularly at guesthouses and
smaller hotels.
The
Edinburgh Information Centre,
near Waverley Station, atop the Princes
Mall shopping center, 3 Princes St. (
&
0131/473-3800
or 0845/225-5121; fax
0131/473-3881; www.edinburgh.org; Bus: 3, 8, 22, 25, or 31), compiles a lengthy
list of small hotels, guesthouses, and private homes providing bed and breakfast for
as little as £20 per person. A £4 booking fee is charged, and a 10% deposit is
expected. Allow about 4 weeks' notice, especially during summer. It's open year-
round; typically the hours are Monday through Saturday from 9am to 7pm and
Sunday from 10am to 7pm, though it is open later during the Festival and closes
earlier in the winter months.
Glasgow
The tourist trade in Glasgow is less seasonal than in Edinburgh, with fewer visitors
in general coming to Scotland's largest city. However, it has become a popular spot
for business conferences while the increase in budget-airline flights from the Euro-
pean continent seems to have increased the overall number of visitors. So if, for
