Scotland

Scotland Travel Tips

We’ve visited Scotland twice in the past 8 years. It’s one our favorite countries, and a place I would seriously considering moving to. (Except for the fact that I like to be warm in the spring.)

Here are our Scotland itineraries, budgets, and tips for visiting every area of this bonnie country.

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Scotland bucket list: 8 epic experiences to help you plan the best Scottish vacation
Scotland, UK
Scotland bucket list: 8 epic experiences to help you plan the best Scottish vacation
Scotland, UK

Scotland is one of our favorite countries. Our bucket list included the Fringe Festival inEdinburgh and hiking on the Isle of Skye. Read on to help create your Scottish bucket list.

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Scotland, UK
How to travel to Edinburgh, Scotland using points and miles
miles and points, Scotland, UK
How to travel to Edinburgh, Scotland using points and miles
miles and points, Scotland, UK

Edinburgh is a beautiful old city, but it’s also notoriously pricy, especially if you are traveling from the US because the dollar is weak against the British pound.

For our second visit to Edinburgh, we used points for our flights and hotels in order to make our trip more affordable.

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miles and points, Scotland, UK
5+ unique accommodations in Scotland for your summer holiday
Scotland, UK, Camping
5+ unique accommodations in Scotland for your summer holiday
Scotland, UK, Camping
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Scotland, UK, Camping
7 magical Harry Potter spots in Scotland and Northumberland
UK, Scotland
7 magical Harry Potter spots in Scotland and Northumberland
UK, Scotland

If you have a Harry Potter fan in your house and love old towns and beautiful landscapes, then you must plan a visit to Edinburgh and Northumberland (and ideally, the highlands).

Read on about some of our favorite Harry Potter spots in the UK.

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UK, Scotland
48 Hours in Edinburgh, Scotland with kids
Scotland, UK, Capital Cities
48 Hours in Edinburgh, Scotland with kids
Scotland, UK, Capital Cities

Edinburgh, Scotland is one of our favorite capital cities to visit. It has the perfect blend of history, culture, and family-friendly museums packed into a walkable area. Our first visit was in August of 2018 and we enjoyed the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival. (If you have older children, then I would look into attending during Fringe).

For our second visit, we stayed for 4 nights in June and planned about 48 hours of activities to keep our 6-year-old daughter engaged and happy.

Here’s our favorite museums, activities, and restaurants in Edinburgh that can keep the whole family happy.

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Scotland, UK, Capital Cities
Two Weeks in Scotland: Itinerary
Scotland, UK
Two Weeks in Scotland: Itinerary
Scotland, UK

Mountains, lochs, endless beaches, and lovely people.  By the time we finished our first week in Scotland, I felt so comfortable that I nearly forgot we were traveling on our daily trips to Tesco or the nearest CoOp. 

Below is an outline of our activities, accommodations, and what we wish we did differently.  We traveled during the end of July and beginning of August of 2018. We spent 15 days in Scotland, and it was so beautiful that we are already longing for a return trip. 

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Scotland, UK
16 days in Scotland: Budget (2024)
Scotland, UK
16 days in Scotland: Budget (2024)
Scotland, UK

How much does it cost to spend 2 weeks in Scotland? You might be surprised to find out that you can travel Scotland on a budget. Read on to see what we spent for two people in the summer in Scotland.

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Scotland, UK

Videos from our time in Scotland

Switzerland itineraries
Scotland itineraries for couples
Empty cobblestone street in Dublin, Ireland, with colorful buildings, flags, and storefronts on both sides.
Scenic river landscape with rocks in the foreground, green trees on the riverbanks, and mountains in the distance under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Frozen Icelandic landscape with icebergs floating in water and snow-covered mountains in background, with the word 'ICELAND' in bold black letters in the center.
Italy itineraries- Dolomites

Follow along on our more recent adventures.

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12 days in Norway Budget (2026)
Norway, Scandinavia
12 days in Norway Budget (2026)
Norway, Scandinavia

How much does it cost to spend 2 weeks in Norway? Here’s the breakdown of what our family of 3 spent in Norway from Bergen to Geiranger.

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Norway, Scandinavia
24 hours in Bergen: A family-friendly itinerary for your first trip to Norway
Europe, Norway, Scandinavia
24 hours in Bergen: A family-friendly itinerary for your first trip to Norway
Europe, Norway, Scandinavia
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Europe, Norway, Scandinavia
Grand Hyatt Scottsdale-Hotel Review
North America, miles and points, USA, hotel reviews
Grand Hyatt Scottsdale-Hotel Review
North America, miles and points, USA, hotel reviews

Decide is the Grand Hyatt is the right hotel for your and your family. We had a wonderful 2 night stay here for spring break. Here’s our honest review (and photos) to help you decide if this hotel is worth your time and points!

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North America, miles and points, USA, hotel reviews
Guide to Southwest Harbor: How to escape the crowds in Acadia National Park
USA, National Parks
Guide to Southwest Harbor: How to escape the crowds in Acadia National Park
USA, National Parks
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USA, National Parks
Scotland bucket list: 8 epic experiences to help you plan the best Scottish vacation
Scotland, UK
Scotland bucket list: 8 epic experiences to help you plan the best Scottish vacation
Scotland, UK

Scotland is one of our favorite countries. Our bucket list included the Fringe Festival inEdinburgh and hiking on the Isle of Skye. Read on to help create your Scottish bucket list.

Read more →
Scotland, UK
Guide to Blackwoods Campground in Acadia NP: Our favorite place to camp
National Parks, USA, North America
Guide to Blackwoods Campground in Acadia NP: Our favorite place to camp
National Parks, USA, North America
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National Parks, USA, North America
How to travel to Edinburgh, Scotland using points and miles
miles and points, Scotland, UK
How to travel to Edinburgh, Scotland using points and miles
miles and points, Scotland, UK

Edinburgh is a beautiful old city, but it’s also notoriously pricy, especially if you are traveling from the US because the dollar is weak against the British pound.

For our second visit to Edinburgh, we used points for our flights and hotels in order to make our trip more affordable.

Read more →
miles and points, Scotland, UK
Southwest Road Trip: Spring Break on a Budget: From Phoenix to Moab on Points and Miles
miles and points, USA, North America
Southwest Road Trip: Spring Break on a Budget: From Phoenix to Moab on Points and Miles
miles and points, USA, North America

We love a good roadtrip through the American Southwest. And we especially love a roadtrip that allows us to stay at hotels with great pools and fun towns for our daughter. Read about how we used points and miles to subsidize our travel in Arizona and Utah.

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miles and points, USA, North America
How are we able to afford traveling during peak season? Miles and points. With a little (ok, a lot) of planning and a few choice cards from America’s favorite banks, we can take more than one trip a year. We used to save all year for summer v
Finland is the ultimate winter break getaway. 🎄 The adults came for the Christmas markets and northern lights, and we were able to enjoy reindeer rides and a visit to Santa Claus Village for our daughter. 💬 Comment "Finland" for our i