Scotland is a very friendly country and although the people are generally modest, they are also proud of their diverse and historically significant country and attractions. The people of Scotland are known as Scots or are referred to as Scottish. The word Scotch only applies to things such as whiskey, beef, eggs, etc. Never refer to Scotland as England or to the Scottish people as English as you are likely to cause them great annoyance and possible offence.
As part of the United Kingdom, Scotland’s currency is the same as the British Pound Sterling (£) which is divided into 100 pence (p). The three national banks of Scotland are Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank and The Royal Bank of Scotland which issue their own banknotes however these Scottish banknotes are quite difficult to exchange once you are outside the UK as foreign banks aren’t generally familiar with these notes so it is recommended that you either spend these or exchange them for Bank of England notes before you leave the UK.
Most hotels offer internet access however there are also internet cafés located throughout the main tourist areas. When it comes to plugging in your devices, Scotland uses the British BS1363 three-pin rectangular socket (230V/50Hz).
For international dialing use 0011 + country code + area code + local number. As Scotland is part of the UK it uses the same international telephone country code which is 44. Check the area code where you are staying. When trying to contact home, particularly by phone remember the time difference. Scotland's time zone is the same as the rest of the UK, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) for much of the year.
Driving is one of the best ways to get around Scotland as it is the ideal way to enjoy the country’s stunning scenery, however you should allow adequate travelling time as despite its smaller size driving can take longer than expected. Road conditions on dual carriageways and motorways are good however drivers should beware of cracks, potholes and patches on more rural roads. Trains are a fast and affordable way to get around Scotland with journey times generally taking the same as travel by road. The bus is one of the cheapest ways to travel around Scotland however it is much slower and less comfortable than other transport options.
As part of the United Kingdom, there are no border controls when entering Scotland from within the UK and you will not require a passport to travel between parts of the UK, Ireland and Scotland. Although the same visa and immigration requirements as in the UK are enforced in Scotland, visitors from many countries including Australia only need a passport for entry into the country and don’t require a visa for any visit less than 6 months.
