Page 216 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

214  SUR VIV AL GUIDE PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  215

Communications and Media Expect a call on the most basic Airmail provides a Television and Radio
prepaid plan to cost around 15p speedy and cost- The BBC (British Broadcast-
With continuously improving telecommuni cation per minute. effective method ing Corporation) operates
systems, staying in contact and making plans while of communication. eight TV channels, most of
travelling has never been easier. The tele phone system in Internet Aerogrammes go first which are also available in
HD (high definition). BBC
Scotland is efficient and inexpensive. Charges depend on All cities and most small towns 1st-class airmail letter class anywhere in the Alba is a part-time Scottish
world and cost the same
when, where and for how long you talk. Mobile phone across Scotland have some regardless of destination. Gaelic digital-only channel.
networks offer excellent coverage of most of the country, form of public access to They take about three The BBC’s main rivals are ITV,
and Wi-Fi is available in most places, often free of charge. computers and the Internet. to four days to reach Channel 4 and Channel 5,
Mail services are generally considered reliable, even to Free Internet access is often European cities, and but the BBC is the only
more remote areas. available at main library branches. between four and seven one that does not show
Access is very cheap and is 1st-class stamp 2nd-class stamp days for destinations Pillar box commercials. The BBC
most reasonable during off- elsewhere. All mail sent operates a number of radio
peak times. within Europe goes via airmail, stations including BBC Radio
Mobile Phones
Almost all hotels and many while overseas mail rates are Scotland, and services for Shet-
Mobile phone use is all but B&Bs and hostels provide Wi-Fi, classed by weight. Sending post land and Orkney, and in Gaelic.
universal among Scots who sometimes free, as do many overseas by surface mail may be There are BBC digital-only
have four major cellular cafés and restaurants through- more economi cal, but it can stations as well as numerous
networks to choose from: EE out the country. Wi-Fi hotspots take anywhere up to 12 weeks competitors and local stations.
(formerly Orange and T-Mobile) can be found in the main cities for it to reach its final destination.
is the most popular network, in some public areas such as Greetings stamps featuring char acters from The Post Office offers an express DIRECTORY
followed by O2, Vodafone and railway stations and airports – children’s fiction deliv ery service called
then 3. O2 usually has the best look out for the black-and- Parcelforce Worldwide. Mobile Phones
coverage in the remoter parts white symbol. the Post Office is also the only Available from most main 3
of Scotland, where all network shop. Post Offices are usually Post Offices, Parcelforce is Tel (0800) 358 8460 or
services can be patchy. open from 9am to 5:30pm comparable in price to many (0800) 338 1001.
Visitors with a phone that Monday to Friday, and until private courier com panies. ∑ three.co.uk
works on European frequencies 12:30pm on Saturday. Mail-
should be able to use their boxes – in all shapes and sizes Newspapers and EE
home number automatically via but always red – are found Tel (0800) 956 6000. ∑ ee.co.uk
Traditional phone boxes outside the walls a local network. Do check the throughout cities, towns and Magazines 02
of Edinburgh Castle roaming charges with your villages. These may be either National newspapers in Tel (08448) 090222 or
provider before leaving home – free-standing “pillar boxes” or Scotland fall into two (0344) 499 0202. ∑ 02.co.uk
they can be prohibitive. It may wall safes, both painted bright categories: serious publications,
Public Telephones Vodafone
be worth purchasing a SIM card red. Some pillar boxes have such as Edinburgh’s The Scots­ Tel (08700) 700191.
You can pay for a payphone from a mobile phone shop; separate slots, one for overseas man or Glasgow’s The Herald; ∑ vodafone.co.uk
using coins or a card. Payphones prices are very low and usually Collecting the mail via Postbus in and first-class mail, another for and those that are heavy on
accept 10p, 20p, 50p and £1 include some credit. You may rural Scotland second-class mail. Initials on gossip, such as The Sun or Useful Numbers
pieces, while newer phones find that your handset is not older mailboxes indicate who The Daily Record. Weekend
also accept £2 coins. The compatible or hasn’t been was monarch at that time. newspapers, such as Scotland Emergency Calls
minimum cost of a call is unlocked, in which case the Postal Services Mailboxes are often embed ded on Sunday and the Sunday Tel 999. Police, Fire, Ambulance,
Coastguard, Mountain and
60p. If you expect a call to best option may be to buy the Besides main Post Offices in Post Office walls. Collections Herald, are more expen sive than Cave Rescue.
be short, use 10p or 20p most basic phone available, that offer all the mail services are usually made several times dailies, with many supple ments
pieces, as payphones only along with a prepaid plan available, there are many sub- a day during weekdays (less including sections on arts, Directory Enquiries
return unused coins. Some (also called “pay-as-you-go”). Post Offices in news agents, often on Sat urdays and rarely on restaurants, entertain ment, Tel 118500 (BT).
payphones accept credit and Calls in Scotland are charged grocery stores and general Sundays and public holidays); travel and reviews. International Tel 118505 (BT).
debit cards. The minimum according to outgoing calls; information centres, particularly times are marked on the box. Operator Assistance
fee for local and national incoming calls are free no in more isolated areas and Stamps can be bought at Tel 100. International Tel 155.
calls is £1.20 and £1.50 for matter where they originate. smaller towns. In many villages many outlets, including International Dialling Codes
international calls, calls to supermar kets and petrol Tel 00 followed by country code:
premium rate numbers, stations. Hotels often have Australia (61), Canada (1), Ireland
mobile phones and calls mailboxes at their reception. (353), New Zealand (64), South
made through the operator. When writing to an address Africa (27), United States (1).
Directories, such as Yellow anywhere in the UK always
Pages and Thomson Local, list include the postcode. Letters Postal Services
local businesses and services. and postcards can be sent
They can be found at local either first or second class Parcelforce Worldwide
Post Offices, libraries and often within the UK. First-class service Tel (0344) 800 4466.
at your hotel. A number of is more expensive but quicker, ∑ parcelforce.com
operators now offer telephone with most letters reaching their Royal Mail
directory enquiry services destination the following day Tel (0345) 774 0740.
at different levels of cost to (except Sunday); second-class Buying a tabloid newspaper from a ∑ royalmail.com
the caller. 24-hour Internet access at the easyInternetcafé mail takes a day or two longer. stand in Glasgow

214-215_EW_Scotland.indd 214 10/23/17 11:57 AM 214-215_EW_Scotland.indd 215 10/23/17 11:57 AM