RS Travel Bag - Good to use??

When you are going, has a bigger impact on what to wear (due to weather, for one thing) than "appropriateness". Airlines allow you to check larger bags, so you're not restricted to carryon size bags. However, many people prefer to travel light, and go with carryon only. Plenty of packing tips on this website, under the Travel Tips link on the menu to your left on this page.

Which bag of Rick's are you looking at? I use the smallest suitcase he sells - the 21 inch roller bag and have gone for up to 8 weeks in it. It is generally carry on size BUT it depends on your airline as to what dimensions they will allow and how you pack it. If you stuff things in to the front pockets it can exceed the airline dimensions.

It also depends on your flights - I fly a Delta regional jet out of my local airport and nearly everything has to be gate checked. On the bigger Delta planes this size as a carry on is not problem.

Thanks Stan and Pam!!

I have no idea which airline we are using. Depends on the tickets and length of flight. The bag I was talking about is the convertible carry on (I think that's the one). I can pack for trips around the U.S., but not sure about Scotland. I looked at the pack light tips from RS, but it still seemed like a lot to go into the travel bag. I will do a practice run on what I'm going to take and see what I can do to make it fit in a smaller bag.

8 Weeks in that one bag?? How did you do that???

Kathy

Pay attention to what Stan said. In addition, explore the Packing forum.

Capris won't cut it if you're in Scotland for almost any season, unless you're ready to have cold, wet and maybe muddy legs. Leggings might work, depending on what you have over them and if they will dry overnight. Think potential cold, wind and sideways rain almost any season and anywhere. Think slippery cobblestones. Add mud if you are anywhere that's not paved.

At least that was my experience a couple of years ago in late May and early June. Be sure to check the weather for typical conditions where you are going and expect it to be variable.

Edited to add: the way many of us travel carry-on only for long trips is to pack for one week and wash clothes along the way. You can do that in your room sink, at a laundromat yourself or have them done for you at a laundromat.

Here's how I did it. I pack the same things for 3 weeks as 8 weeks. I do sink wash and have worked my capsule wardrobe so that everything matches everything else.

Here's a thread from April of 2017. There were several discussions going at the time on capsule wardrobes.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/packing/capsule-wardrobe-paris-and-western-france-april-may

Here is my trip report for my Scotland trip this June.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/tour-report-best-of-scotland-june-6-june-15-2018

The actual list of what I had in the bag was in the first part of the trip which was the Villages of Southern England tour report. 2nd post I think is the clothes list.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/tour-report-villages-of-southern-england-5-21-6-2-18

I LOVE packing cubes and have used them for several years. This last trip I changed to a different kind of cube and really liked how they sit upright in my bag instead of laying flat. Here's a link to Amazon. I have no connection with the person who developed and is selling them.

https://tinyurl.com/ybsvsk6n

Start with your packing list on paper. ONLY include enough clothes for a week or less.

I agree with Lo, depending on when you travel capris may be too light for Scotland!

Uh-oh, Pam! I'm in big trouble now. Those cubes look great, and they're compression, too. They look like they'd work quite well with my Lipault. In fact, that almost looks like a Lipault in the Amazon listing.

Thank you!! Ok, then what type of pants do you suggest?? I read that jeans aren't a good choice because they are heavy when wet and are hard to dry. What do you mean when you say "what I wear over them" - the leggings, I mean? I wear leggings, capris and capri leggings all year round, even in winter. Granted winter in NC isn't as cold as it used to be, but we can get down in the teens. I am bringing a pair of JBU shoes for some of the time and looking for a good pair of hiking shoes to wear also. In case I didn't mention, we are hoping to arrive @19th of June next year in Scotland and are starting our journey in Edinburgh.
Kathy

I actually always take jeans but all the ones I've got are a cotton/poly mix. I sink wash mine and they dry overnight usually. I also take a pr of the Costco travel pants which are cheap and light. They don't work if you are tall....but I'm getting shorter and slightly dumpy so the length is fine.

https://www.costco.com/Kirkland-Signature-Ladies'-Ankle-Length-Travel-Pant.product.100321853.html

You may have to have 2 sets of bottoms in mind. If it's as hot next June as the end of this June, your capris will probably be fine altho I flew out June 18 and was still comfortable in jeans.

Lo, so happy to be an enabler. Yes, I REALLY like these. I'm not thrilled with the color - red and gray....wish it was aqua and gray, hahaha but they are so functional. Sometimes I never even took them out of the suitcase. Just slotted them in with the zipper closure on top and pulled things out with them still in place.

I am a winter baby and do not mind the cold. I usually only use a thin windbreaker jacket most of the time. If I do wear something heavier it is usually a hoodie (those I absolutely love). My leggings are "jeans" along with long legged in several solid colors. I always buy and use colorful tops to accessorize.
kathy

If you are thinking about the convertible bag, how do you feel about wearing a backpack around? Is this something you are practiced at? I purposefully do not do the convertible bag when traveling in Europe because I am tired to being bashed by people who are unaware of how much space they take while wearing a backpack, and I don't want to be one of those "bashing" fellow passengers on buses and subways.

I find his roller bag has worked well for me. I pack for a week no matter how many weeks I am going to be gone. I think many of the travelers on this forum do the same. It usually is not that difficult to do laundry along the way.

I can tell that you are going to get a great deal of enjoyment out of the planning part of this trip :)

Uh huh!! Found me out!! I love to plan. My friends tell me I should plan vacations for a living. When asking about the bag, I am meaning it just for a suitcase. I carry very little with me on a daily basis. We are staying 3 nights each in Edinburgh, Inverness, Oban and 2 at Airth Castle. We plan to drop off luggage and get out and enjoy the sights. I read about having to struggle with luggage and possibly having to tote it around a lot. Don't want to do that, so I thought the bag might be a good alternative. I have never traveled out of the states before so this is a new experience for me. If all goes well, it won't be my last trip. We wanted (or at least I do) something that will hold all our stuff and will not keep us at the airport any longer than necessary. Also I'm a little "scared " of losing my stuff along the way and want to keep it close at least until the hotels and B&B's. As I said before, I love to plan, make changes and plan some more and for some reason it always seems I start almost a year from when I'm leaving. But, in my favor, by the time we leave, EVERYTHING is in place (and usually plans for what if...) and we have a great time. Hoping this trip is no different!!! :))

Kathy,

My wife and I bought the RS classic convertible bag for a trip to Scotland back in 2002. We've been using them since, including a trip to London and Paris last October.

How will you be traveling? We rented a car. Even so, it was nice not to be burdened with a lot of luggage. We to the RS bags, the RS day pack (empty and tucked in the RS bag), a small camera bag and a large purse. When we checked in at Air Canada in Toronto for our flight to Glasgow, the staff wanted to know where the rest of our luggage was. They couldn't believe we were going on a 10 day trip with so little luggage!

One thing that helped is that we didn't take a sweater. We knew we wanted to buy an authentic wool sweater once there. We went to the Barrows in Glasgow and got a great deal. The sweaters are bulky so I think we wore them home.

You are in for an exciting time! Do you know where you'll be going? As much as we liked Skye, we liked the Isle of Mull more. We stayed in the north end of the island in a B&B just outside Dervaig. It is far from the more crowded southern end of the island. We took a day trip to Iona, driving a wild and gorgeous single track road down the western coast.

If you are considering getting the Rick Steves Luggage, I encourage you to wait for one of his 20% off sales. There is always one before Christmas. You have some time.....

Ooh, I love sales Carol. Maybe that will be your Christmas present to myself.
Douglas I think we're going to try to do that three Island Tour that covers Iona, Mull and Staffa. We also want to take the tour to the Isle of Skye. We will be staying 3 nights each in Edinburgh, Oban and Inverness. I hope we can do all of that in the time frame oh and we also want to throw in a whale watching trip if possible while we are in Oban. And yes we have a car reserved for us we're picking it up when we leave Edinburgh.

Hi all just wanted to ask what about hoodies, are they a good alternative to coats and sweaters? I bought a hoodie that has Scotland embroidered across the front of it at the Highland Games here in North Carolina ca couple weeks ago I'm hoping to take that with me. I also like the idea of buying something when I'm there but I'm not real sure about wool I'm slightly allergic to it😩🤐 are there sweaters or jackets over there very expensive I'd like to know about how much to take with me to get a really pretty one thanks for any advice or comment.

If you plan to sink wash, wash everything at home first to see how long each items takes to dry.

To me the bad thing about a hoodie is that they are bulky. You'll either take up room in your suitcase or wear it going/coming. I DO get cold on the international flight so always have a cardie or long-sleeve pullover with me but I want something that packs down smaller than a hoodie.

For the last few years I've been taking Land's End cardigans but they may be too stodgy for you. This last trip I also added in a LS dri-fit half zip Ideology shirt that was perfect and my new go-to. It's lightweight but warm. It layers well under a rain jacket. I always travel with a waterproof (not water-resistant) jacket with a hood and you will need that in Scotland. It will shield you from rain and wind. The islands can be very windy.

Anywhere you would plan to buy a nice sweater will take a credit card.

Ok, then, Hoodie if I take a bigger bag and LS if I take the smaller bag. Thanks for straightening out the jacket requirements. I'll look for the waterproof one.
Kathy

I first start with the airline requirements for overhead or under seat then shop based upon that measurement.
I always purchase Patagonia or North Face products for regions I visit that experience varying weather conditions.
I also base upon what my expected commute between airport or train station to hotel, around cities, etc.

We generally go with smaller North Face bags and mail back home anything extra we buy or cannot fit into bag headed home. What makes this easier is in Edinburgh, the post office at Waverly train station is open on Sunday afternoons. They have staff that are really helpful in packing and shipping.

Can’t comment on the RS bags but his other travel accessories are fantastic.

Forgot to add about the clothing:

Scotland is casual in summer. Even in a nice restaurant for dinner, sticking to a basic black or neutral ensemble with leggings you should be just fine. We find the winter months in some restaurants to be dressier but summer travel there is about comfort and practicality.

I took leggings, a dress skirt, 3 shirts, water resistant jacket, Merell water resistant sneakers, REI water resistant slacks. That was all I needed for a week. The shoes are really important if doing a lot of walking.

Have fun and buy some clothes there! Fantastic TK Maxx just off Princes St in Edinburgh has great travel accessories and some really gorgeous clothes.

Thanks Explorer!!
I will check out the North Face bags! As far as leggings go, did you take long leggings or capris? I read somewhere previously from someone who took just a few pieces - pants shirts and scarves that were color oriented and interchangeable. That sounded like a good option. I also read about Laundromats in Scotland where you can do your own laundry or you can drop it off. Have you ever done that??

Kathy

Hi, Kathy,

You won't find many laundromats in Scotland any more - at least the coin-op (DIY) type. There's one in Inverness, across from the downtown Tesco; one in Stornoway (at the college); one in Camelon, next to Falkirk; and a couple on Glasgow's east end. There are none in Aberdeen. There is one at Big Sand, near Gairloch. Some campsites will have them. You don't necessarily have to be a camper to use the laundry facility.

I guess what I'm saying is that self service laundrettes are getting harder to find. If you do find one, expect to pay about eight to 10 pounds for wash and dry. Make sure to have plenty of pound and 50p coins. If you don't have washing powder/liquid, you'll have to purchase it from the laundrette, or scrounge it from somewhere.

There are many places which will do a service wash for you. Oban, Tobermory, and Elgin have them. Expect to pay 10 to 12 pounds. It's a little bit more, but you can leave your wash and explore the town while it's being done for you. Your hotel/B&B will know the location of the nearest laundry facility.

Mike (Auchterless)

Thanks Mike!!

I am going to do a practice run on washing and line drying in my house overnight to see how well that works. The less laundry I have to do the better!!! That's why I thought leggings might work better on this trip. I need to look for thr pants I've seen others write about for the wet weather. Hope they dry quickly!!
Kathy

I took long leggings because I figured I could always scrunch up the legs to knee length if need be.

Every place we stayed had laundry service in house or close by.

If you get stuck, pull a Rick Steves and ask a local for laundry help.

Since the original post has morphed into the subject of packing and doing hand laundry, let me throw in two euros worth that might be beneficial.

You indicated you will have at least one traveling companion. That being the case pack half your stuff in his (or her) bag and vice versa. Bags do get gate checked from time to time regardless of bag size or weight. If that happens and a bag goes on it's own vacation, at least you'll have half your stuff and can get by until the other bag arrives.

Now to washing tips. Take "quick dry" clothing and wring out each piece thoroughly. Then shake the piece vigorously to throw off any excess water and "unwrinkle" it. Then roll it up in a towel and really squeeze it. Amazing how much water will still come out.

As to soaps, we've found the ones supplied by the B & B or hotel work just fine. But we do take a couple of three ounce containers with good sealing tops with some Prell concentrate shampoo just in case.

Drying tips. Get a braided stretchy clothes line such as the one Rick Steves sells. That by itself doesn't always lend itself to odd shaped rooms. So go to an outdoor sporting goods store, REI, or military supply store and get about 18 feet of nylon "para" cord or parachute cord. It's very light, takes up little space and is very strong. Attach it to the stretchy end of the cloths line with a really good knot. You should then be able to rig a drying line no matter how your space is configured. We also take one heavy duty leaf bag (cut open) to place under the wet clothes if we have to hang them over a wooden floor or rug and not the bathroom.

Thank you Explorer and TC!! great advice from both.
TC, I never thought about the packing half and half. That makes a lot of sense!! I will pass that along to my friend. She is also a teacher and gets the same time off as I do even though we teach in different districts. I use that type of cord (para cord)sometimes in my class to hold my students work and yes it is strong! I think leggings are the way to go and will dry quickly and I can match them up with several different tops. I believe that the bag from RS or similar dealer will work out. I will keep looking or wait for the RS sale :))
Kathy

Before you buy the Rick Steves bag, take a look at the eBags Motherlode TLS Weekender Convertible or the convertible bags from Eagle Creek. Their quality, IMHO, are better. The eBags bag also comes in a junior version that is two inches shorter.

If you have never traveled with a convertible bag, get your hands on almost any backpack, fill it with between 15 and 20 pounds of stuff, and go for a long walk. See how much you like it

Hi Frank II,
Hopefully I will not have to carry the bag excessively. Hopefully to the plane, plane to car, car to hotel, hotel to car,etc.. )Lord that does look like a lot doesn't it?) I mean a lot on a daily basis. But in regards to the bag you suggested... OOH! I LIKE that bag!!! That is the one I think I will buy!! The video was good to see. I think I might also but the packing cubes as well. I read the reviews and all seemed positive. Have you ever used the packing cubes??
Thanks for the advice.
Kathy

Hopefully I will not have to carry the bag excessively. Hopefully to the plane, plane to car, car to hotel, hotel to car,etc.. )

You will carry it more than you expect. You indicate you don't carry much at home, which leads me to believe you are not someone who likes to carry. If you don't use a backpack when you travel at home, you won't want one overseas. I often pity people with a carryon pack in the airport, as those walks are often long, the wait is sometimes long (1 1/2 to 3 hours), and browsing fills the time. You will carry your pack more than you expect. I did carry a pack, twice, in 2000/2001 because it was recommended by one bag and this site. I felt grubby, like a pack horse, and not well put together YMMV, and it was annoying. I had carried my suitcase pre wheels easily enough so I went to wheeled carryons. SO much nicer for me. You carry it for a minute at the most, up stairs or over the gap, etc. The rest of the time you are wheeling a small suitcase. My bag...well gets heavier as I get older...last time it was about 22-23lbs, if I recall correctly...but included more luxuries. I can easily carry this as a 64 year old female. I carry my underseat bag as a small backpack....due to my camera, but it doesn't look campy and weighs about 7 lbs. All my weight is always under 30 lbs. usually way under. So think seriously, if you don't pack in a backpack on domestic trips, don't start in Europe. I'll also say I have some pretty fancy wheeled carryon's but I almost always fall back on my RS wheeled bag as the exterior pockets organization works perfectly for me. YMMV

Dear Wray,
In response to your reply, it isn't that I don't like to carry things really, it's more that I don't want to waste precious time in an airport waiting for luggage or waiting to see if luggage shows up and it's more to do with being able to "hit the ground running" as they say. I also liked the advice from a previous response about packing half of my clothes and half my friends clothes in two bags in case something happens to one of the bags, That way we will still have a outfit or two to wear until the bag shows up. Here in the US where I travel with a large suitcase, I know where my luggage is, where it is going and how many times I will be lifting it. I always travel by car in the US and can keep my luggage with me and not have to carry it around all the time. If I could find a really good wheeled travel bag that could be a carry on that would be great. I am unaccustomed to flying and the easier I can make it on myself the better I will be all around. If I can keep my belongings with me on the plane then that is one less worry for me!!!
I am sure the bag carrying will get old real fast, but then again we will be dropping it off at our lodgings asap. Also, as a teacher, and a single person, I am used to carrying a lot around on my on on a daily basis. Nothing will be perfect either way, with a travel backpack, wheeled carry-on or large suitcase. But for now at least I am considering the backpack. I could change my mind once I do a "dry run" with everything packed that I want to take. If not, can you tell me the type of carry-on you use? I'll look at that type too. Just let me see if I have this correct also... you used a wheeled carry on and a backpack, both of which you took on the plane to your seat with you?
Thanks for your advice. BTW, what does YMMV mean???? I see that it has several meanings. Which do you mean??
Kathy

Katsinca, You do realize the 21" wheelie is a carryon, right? Nonetheless, many people prefer backpacks and that's fine. I just learned that YMMV is 'your mileage may vary'. I use it so hopefully people don't yell at me when I voice my opinion...it happens. LOL Wray

Whoops, missed this:

you used a wheeled carry on and a backpack, both of which you took on the plane to your seat with you?

Yes, I fly BA to and around Europe, generally. Flew SAS with in Sweden. My backpack is 12x16x6, which is the size of BA's underseat bag. The 21" wheelie goes overhead in the bin and is quite a bit under BA's guidelines. (Although, these days I often check the wheelie, just for convenience...however it works well as a carryon.) I think it is what Pam uses as well for her 8 week trips.

Hi Wray!!

yes
I know that luggage @22x14x9 are carry-ons, but also know some people check them too. All I want is a good piece of luggage that I can carry on board the plane with me, to keep close to me and can keep me from waiting in line to pick up luggage. There are so many types and brands out there that it makes my head swim trying to decide.
I was just asking what others use and what they think is great about their choices. As I have said before, I have never traveled by plane before, so I am unsure of what to get. I just know that I/ don't want to get bogged down with a large piece of luggage, and want something that will hold enough supplies for a 10-14 day trip to Scotland. I have appreciated everyone's advice and have googled everyone's suggestions and all have their good points about them. As I have said before - decision, decisions, decisions. I just want to choose something and buy it so that will be one less thing to plan for or stress over. :))
Kathy

We use the Rick Steves' wheeled carry on (20" x 13 ½" x 9" including wheels) for three or four weeks at a time in Europe and everything we need fits. It's small enough to be easily handled and small enough for the European airlines. We also use his Veloce bag as our personal item. Let me know if you need a packing list.

Hi TC!
Yes I would love to see a packing list. My friend and I are going for about 14 days (including arrival/departure) and there is a possibility of me staying a few days longer, I would love to see what people, especially women pack and how. I will check out the RS bag. Thanks!!!
Kathy

Katsinca, I see my last post didn't have the name of the bag...too many assumptions. LOL. I use the same bag as TC, as does Pam I believe: Rick Steves 20/21 inch wheelie, so I'll ditto TC's suggestion. It's a nice, reasonably priced bag, so give it some serious consideration. It's an easy carryon and I love the outside pocket organization. I've never had to expand it, but that feature is nice to have. Wray

Hi Wray!
I looked at that bag and it does look good. I sat here playing out the trip in my head and all the times I would be dealing with my luggage. I like the idea of a backpack, where I can be hands free, but in reality, I will not be carrying my luggage around on a daily basis and to the attractions. It will either be in the hotel( or B&B) or in the car most of the time. To be honest, the wheeled carry on will probably be a better option for me, especially as I have a tendency to aggravate my rotator cuffs (or so the Dr. said today) and I need to watch lifting heavy objects. I looked today at my local Wallyworld to see the sizes of wheeled carry-ons. They do look spacious. I liked the American Tourist case. So....I will definitely give more consideration to the wheeled carry=on :)))
Thanks for the advice. I want the trip to go as smoothly as possible. That's why I'm stressing now and buying as I go so it's isn't left to right before we leave!!

Kathy

Kathy,

Here is the packing information you requested. To travel lightly with only a carryon bag and a personal bag one has to accept three things.

First, laundry will have to be done along the way. We do all ours by hand. It only takes 20 or so minutes a day. If you don’t have experience doing hand wash while traveling I can give you in a few tips. Or did I sent that already?

Second, you will wear the same outfit more than once -- perhaps even two or three times apiece.

Third, don't worry what others may think if they see you in the same outfit several times. You'll see them in the same outfits multiple times also. In addition, they don't pay your bills so why worry about what they think at all.

Don't take a hair dryer. Every place we’ve stayed in years has had one in the room, or we borrowed one from the front desk. Worst case scenario you can buy an el cheapo there and call it a souvenir.

General thoughts: Take only black, white, and grey clothing that can be mixed and matched. You can add a splash of color with a scarf or tee or tank. Take things that are light weight, wrinkle free, and will dry quickly. Several sources are Magellan's, Travel Smith, and Chico's. All have web sites and Chico's has regular stores. Chico's is really great.

If you take a lot of meds, get an extra label from the druggist, put it on a freezer zip lock, and put the pills in the baggie. Saves a ton of space and weight. Just take the data sheet with you to show what it is and that it is for you.

Take very little jewelry. One or two necklaces and ear pieces at the most.

Take only two purses at the most. Your regular day bag will do ok for daytime. If you feel the need for another then a small clutch for evening.

Don't take a lap top or tablet. It'll just take up space and add weight. Check email with a smart phone at a hot spot.

Specific items:
Three under shirts – two regular and one tank top – wear one and pack two.
Five underwear -- wear one and pack four.
Three bras -- wear one and pack two.
Five pairs of socks – wear one and pack four.
Two pairs of shoes – wear one and pack one.
Three pairs of pants – wear one and pack two. (Can substitute one skirt for a pair of pants.)
Three shirts or blouses – wear one and pack two
One jacket and one belt – both to be worn in route.
One vest, one sun hat, and one light sweater – all to be packed.
Rain coat to be packed.

This is the bare bones packing list. You might be able to add another shirt or pair of pants – just depends on how much space is taken up with cosmetics, phone chargers, guide books, and misc.

Each of us also carries a RS Veloce Shoulder Bag as a personal item. It will hold lots of odds and ends.

This list isn’t perfect for everyone but it works well for me. It will serve as a starting point for developing your own.

We also use a combination of packing cubes, folders, and tubes to organize things and aid in the placement of the various items. One of the keys to being able to travel for a long period with only a carryon is experimenting with the packing and seeing what does and doesn’t fit and work for you.

Hope this helps as you experiment and develop your own plan.

Thanks TC!!!

One of the things that I can leave out is the purses!! Don't carry one. I carry a small wristlet, have ever since I went to work for our local school system. I will be taking mostly leggings (no dress or skirt!) and tops. I will pack a sweater or two or maybe one hoodie t wear when chilly. I need to get a waterproof jacket. I have a water resistant one but was told a waterproof one was better. I like the color choices except I need a few light colors as they say the midges love dark colors and I don't want to invite them to bite me :( when in the Highlands! Shoes will probably be one pair of JBU Regattas and a pair of hiking shoes. Hope to layer outfits together when packing. I always shop so the tops will match several different bottoms so hopefully that will help with the wardrobe! I doubt I will see anyone too much that they will notice my limited clothing choices except my friend, and she'll be experiencing the same. Oh, I am so looking forward to going regardless of what I'm wearing!!! :))
Kathy

Hi, Kathy,

You're going to Scotland, not Rodeo Drive! Wear what is most comfortable for you. Don't go OTT. T-shirt and jeans are absolutely okay for everyday wear in Scotland in the summer. Only exceptions would be upscale restaurants and church services in the Western Isles.

Best wishes,

Mike (Auchterless)

Hi Mike,
No, I am not a Rodeo Drive kinda gal!! Give me shorts and a T-shirt and I perfectly happy!! As I have said before, I live in either shorts or capris (leggings or other material) year long. I like to be comfortable. If the people in Scotland (mostly other tourist, I'm sure) don't like what I'm wearing, so be it :) I'm not wearing clothes to please them, I'm wearing to be comfortable and to enjoy my time there. So, since you seemed to have visited a lot in Scotland, I'll take your word for it that it will be ok!! Besides, maybe buying something to wear while over there might be a souvenir for me to bring back :))
Kathy

I have two comments:

plane to car, car to hotel

Does that mean you plan to rent a car or are you thinking of a taxi?
In Scotland (as indeed most of Europe) it makes more sense to use public transport to get from airport to hotel. Only if you are really loaded with luggage or physically challenged does a car/taxi makes sense. From your text this is not the impression I get :-)

Edited: I see you start in Edinburgh and there is a nice quick tram from the airport to the center. https://www.edinburghairport.com/transport-links/trams

Washing

Perhaps you know this already, but after hand washing remember to dry the clothing in a towel to wring out as much water as possible before hanging it to dry. It can easily save a days drying, if you get a summer like 2017. If 2019 is like 2018 it doesn't really matter. Check https://www.onebag.com/travel-laundry.html

Hi l.p.enersen,

Sorry if message was vague. When we land we will take public transportation to the hotel and while we are in Edinburgh. When leaving Edinburgh, we will be picking up car for the rest of our travel. We will drop off car at airport on the fay we fly home. As for the drying process, several have written about drying in a towel. Hopefully everything will dry overnight, but if it's still a little damp, maybe using the hairdryer will help. :)) As for the summer, as the saying goes... "expect the worst and hope for the best!"

Kathy