Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
twice that. Most flights within Scotland are
operated by
flybe
(
W
flybe.com), or its franchise
partner
Loganair
W
loganair.co.uk). For inter-
island flights in Shetland, you need to book
through
Directflight
(
T
01595 840246;
W
direct-
flight.co.uk). Competition emerges from time to
time, with
Eastern Airways
(
W
easternairways.
com) currently offering flights from Aberdeen to
Stornoway and Wick.
ACCOMMODATION PRICES
Throughout the Guide, accommodation
prices
are quoted according to the least
expensive
double room
in high season.
Individual prices for
dorm beds
and (if
available) double or twin rooms are given
for hostels. For campsites the figure given
is for a
pitch
including a vehicle and two
people, or else per person.
Accommodation
In common with the rest of Britain,
Scotland is expensive, but in terms of
accommodation, budget travellers are
relatively well catered for, with numerous
hostels, campsites and bunkhouses. Those
with money to spend will relish the more
expensive country-house hotels. In the
middle ground, however, the standard of
many B&Bs, guesthouses and hotels can
be disappointing. Welcoming, comfort-
able, well-run places do, of course, exist in
all parts of the country - and you'll find
the best ones listed in this Guide.
you'll always find somewhere to stay outside this
period, but the choice may be limited.
Hotels
Hotels
come in all shapes and sizes. At the
upper
end
of the market, they can be huge country
houses and converted castles offering a very
exclusive and opulent experience. Most will have a
licensed bar and offer both breakfast and dinner,
and often lunch as well. In the cities the increasing
prevalence of modern
budget hotels
run by
national (and international) chains may not win any
prizes for aesthetics or variety, but they are compet-
itively priced and for the most part meet criteria for
clean, smart, serviceable accommodation.
Star ratings
VisitScotland
, the country's tourist board, operates
a system for grading accommodation, which is
updated annually. However, not every establish-
ment participates, and you shouldn't assume that a
particular B&B is no good simply because it's not on
VisitScotland's lists. The tourist board uses star
awards, from one to five, which are supposed to
reflect the quality of welcome, service and hospi-
tality - though it's pretty clear that places without
en-suite toilets, a TV in every room, matching
fabrics or packets of shortbread on the sideboard
are likely to be marked down.
Guesthouses and B&Bs
Guesthouses and B&Bs
offer the widest and most
diverse range of accommodation. VisitScotland uses
the term “
guesthouse
” for a commercial venture
that has four or more rooms, at least some of which
are en suite, reserving “
B&B
” for a predominantly
private family home that has only a few rooms to
let. In reality, however, most places offer en-suite
facilities, and the different names often reflect the
pretensions of the owners and the cost of the
rooms more than differences in service: in general,
guesthouses cost more than B&Bs.
Similarly priced are
inns
(in other words, pubs), or
their modern equivalent, “restaurants with rooms”.
These will often have only a handful of rooms, but
their emphasis on creating an all-round convivial
atmosphere as well as serving top-quality food
often makes them worth seeking out.
A surprising number of guesthouses and B&Bs
still have decor that consists of heavy chintz and
floral designs, but a good location, and the chance
to get an insight into the local way of life, can be
some compensation. Many B&Bs, even the pricier
ones, have only a few rooms, so
advance booking
is recommended, especially in the Islands.
Booking accommodation
If you decide not to book online, most
tourist
o
ces
will help you find accommodation and
book a room
directly, for which they normally
charge a flat fee of £4. If you take advantage of this
service, it's worth being clear as to what kind of
place you'd prefer, as the tourist o
ce quite often
selects something quite randomly across the whole
range of their membership. Bear in mind, too, that
outside the main towns and cities many places are
only open for the
tourist season
(Easter to Oct):
