Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Entry requirements
country. Details for these, and many other aspects
of the gay scene in Scotland, can be found in the
monthly Scotsgay newspaper, versions of which can
be downloaded for free online ( W scotsgay.co.uk).
Citizens of all European countries - except Albania,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro,
Serbia and all the former Soviet republics (other
than the Baltic states) - can enter Britain with just a
passport , for up to three months (and indefinitely
if you're from the EU). Americans, Canadians,
Australians and New Zealanders can stay for up to
six months, providing they have a return ticket and
adequate funds to cover their stay. Citizens of most
other countries require a visa , obtainable from the
British consulate or mission o ce in the country
of application.
Note that visa regulations are subject to frequent
changes, so it's always wise to contact the nearest
British embassy or high commission before you
travel. If you visit W ukvisas.gov.uk, you can
download the full range of application forms and
information leaflets and find out the contact details
of your nearest embassy or consulate. In addition,
an independent charity, the Immigration Advisory
Service or IAS ( W iasuk.org), offers free and confi-
dential advice to anyone applying for entry
clearance into the UK.
If you want to extend your visa , you should
contact the UK Border Agency ( W ukba.homeo ce.
gov.uk), before the expiry date given in your passport.
Health
Pharmacists (known as chemists in Scotland) can
dispense only a limited range of drugs without a
doctor's prescription. Most pharmacies are open
standard shop hours, though there are also late-night
branches in large cities and at 24-hour supermarkets.
If your condition is serious enough, you can turn
up at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) depart-
ment of local hospitals for complaints that require
immediate attention. Obviously, if it's an absolute
emergency, ring for an ambulance ( T 999). These
services are free to all. You can also get free medical
advice from NHS Direct, the health service's 24-hour
helpline ( T 111, W nhsdirect.nhs.uk).
Insurance
Even though EU health-care privileges apply in the
UK, it's a good idea to take out travel insurance
before travelling to cover against theft, loss and
illness or injury. For non-EU citizens, it's worth
checking whether you are already covered before
you buy a new policy. If you need to take out
insurance, you might want to consider the travel
insurance deal we offer (see box, below).
Gay and lesbian travellers
Both Glasgow and Edinburgh have reasonably
prominent gay and lesbian communities, with a
well-established network of bars, cafés, nightclubs,
support groups and events. In Edinburgh , the area
around Broughton Street is the heart of the city's
“pink triangle”, while in Glasgow the scene is mostly
found in the Merchant City area; our entertainment
listings for both cities include a number of gay bars
and clubs. Elsewhere in Scotland, there are one or
two gay bars in both Aberdeen and Dundee, and
support and advice groups dotted around the
Internet
Internet cafés are still found in the big cities and
towns, but wi-fi is now the best way to get online,
with free networks available at most B&Bs and
hostels, even in the Highlands and Islands. If you
don't have your own smartphone, laptop or tablet,
the tourist o ce should be able to help -
sometimes they will have an access point - and
public libraries often provide cheap or free access.
ROUGH GUIDES TRAVEL INSURANCE
Rough Guides has teamed up with WorldNomads.com to offer great travel insurance deals.
Policies are available to residents of over 150 countries, with cover for a wide range of
adventure sports, 24hr emergency assistance, high levels of medical and evacuation cover,
and a stream of travel safety information. Roughguides.com users can take advantage of
their policies online 24/7, from anywhere in the world - even if you're already travelling. And
since plans often change when you're on the road, you can extend your policy and even claim
online. Roughguides.com users who buy travel insurance with WorldNomads.com can also
leave a positive footprint and donate to a community development project. For more
information, go to W roughguides.com/travel-insurance/.
 
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