Hello again to the helpful Scotland travelers: we are going to be in Edinburgh for the end of the Royal Military Tattoo and international festival . We will be attending the final show/ fireworks display of both. In early September we will head up to Stirling, Speyside, balmoral and the northeast for a few days and then to the Trossachs, Loch Lomond, Isle of Mull etc. for a few more days. We will end up in Glasgow around September 10-12. I will book an apartment (ahead) in Glasgow for a week or so. I am wondering if we will easily be able to book a night or two here and there in the northeast and the highlands without booking ahead. It would be wonderful to do this part of the trip more spontaneously. Ideas and advice are appreciated. We are renting a car for the time between Eburgh and Glasgow. Thank you all once more for your help. Susan
Posted by
Glasgow, Scotland
1639 posts
Strongly advisable to book ahead, and essential on any island that is not Great Britain.
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
I'm sure MC's right, about booking, but if you are willing to be flexible and by that I mean have a room with the bathroom down the hall, or vice versa, pay more, you will be fine with mid-week bookings. The problems arise on weekends. Also, if there are festivals. For example, at the last minute I decided I wanted to to to the music festival at Tarbert. By the time I made that decision, there were no rooms at Tarbert. However, there was a room at Stonehaven, the castle hotel and I decided to stay there. The whole weekend was awesome. Another time I went through the TI office and ended up at what I would call a "motel". I had wanted to be in Calendar, but I was too late and ended up at this newly built sterile "motel" which I could have dealt with if the breakfast had been decent. It wasn't. So, I moved on. That's what I mean about flexibility.
PAm
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
I was in this area the second week of June last year and many places had their no vacancy signs out all week long. September is equal to June in terms of weather and popularity, so I would advise to book. You don't want to spend hours each day looking for accommodation and in some areas, mobile phone reception maybe weak if trying to phone around or check online, which could be frustrating.
Certainly don't go to an island without booking ahead. I hope you have better weather than I had in June!
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
BTW you don't have to spend hours looking for a place. You go to the Tourist Information Office and they will find a place. You pay a small fee. They listen to what you want and they make the calls. Do not drive around looking for a place. Drive to the TI and pay the couple of pounds!