Travel and living

Facts You Should Know when Traveling to Edinburgh

EdinburghBefore most of us visit a new place, we usually make sure to read up on a bit of information about the locale. This is only standard practice to ensure that we have a pleasant travel experience. So if you are visiting Scotland, whether you are going to Edinburgh or Glasgow or other areas, it is always a good idea to familiarise yourself with a few essential facts that will make your trip a sure delight (and prevent you from being caught in a situation you are completely clueless about!).

Customs limits

If you are arriving in Scotland from a country outside the UK, you should know about customs and duty-free limits. Each individual is only allowed to bring in 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco, 60cc of perfume or 250cc of toilet water, and 2 litres of table wine and either 2 litres of fortified wine or liqueurs or a litre of strong liqueurs or spirits. The other items you bring in should also not exceed a value of £145. If you are from an EU country and you are over 17, you can bring in unlimited goods for personal consumption only if they are not bought duty-free.

Insurance concerns

When traveling to Scotland or anywhere in the UK from another country, you should arrange for baggage, medical, and trip cancellation insurance before you even leave your place of residence. In case you are involved in a medical emergency, hospitals will require you to present the details of your insurance, such as your policy number and the name of your insurance company, so always bring these details along with you wherever you go to the UK.

Electric concerns

When bringing in hair dryers and other small electronic appliances, keep in mind that the electricity supply in the UK is 50-cycle AC and 220 to 240 volts. This is different from the US, for instance, which uses 110 to 120 volts and 60-cycle AC. To be able to use your appliances, you should bring or buy an adaptor.

Drinking in Scotland

Ahh, drinking. Who doesn't want to try a pint or two whilst in Scotland? But whether your preference is beer or whisky, you should know that there are age restrictions to drinking in the country. Only individuals who are 18 or older can drink, and even then, some bars only admit people over the age of 21.

Driving in Scotland

The wonderful thing about Scotland is that even if you will be based in a city like Edinburgh for the duration of your travel, you can easily rent a car from local car rental companies like Pixorental and drive for two hours or less, and you will be in a picturesque location in the midst of nature. Keep in mind, however, that the legal age for driving is 17, but most car rental services only allow people who are over 21 to rent a car.

Whether you are in Scotland for business or pleasure, it is always good to know what to look out for and what to expect. Having the right knowledge about the area will give you an overall more pleasant, memorable trip.

If you have any questions, please ask below!