Page 218 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

216  SUR VIV AL GUIDE TR A VEL INFORM A TION  217

TRAVEL INFORMATION advertised in newspapers and
travel magazines. Students,
As the UK is an international gateway for air on the mainland, and also to the island those under 26 years old and
and sea traffic, travelling to Scotland poses groups. Another way to island-hop is to take senior citizens may be eligible
few problems. There are direct flights from the ferries. There is an extensive network of for a discount. Children and
North America and continental Europe. roads in urban areas and renting a car can babies travel for less.
If you choose a discount fare,
Coach travel from Europe via the ferries be the best way of travelling. The inter-city always buy from a repu table
is a cheap, albeit slow, form of transport. rail network is limited in Scotland, but a operator, and check with the
Travelling by train using the Channel Tunnel small network of trains serves the country, airline to ensure your seat has
is an efficient way of crossing to the UK. some with scenic routes. Coach travel is the been confirmed. Pack ages may
Travelling within Scotland itself is fairly easy. cheapest option; services run between also be worth con sidering for
cost­savings, even if you enjoy
Internal flights are available between cities most cities.
The terminal at Glasgow International Airport independent travel. Airlines and
tour oper ators can put together
flights can be relatively expensive, Coaches or buses provide a great range of flexible deals to
Travelling within the UK
destinations includ ing Paris, so unless saving time is a priority, cheaper transport to the town suit your needs, sometimes with
Dublin and Brussels. from Scotland the cost may be prohibitive. centres, though during rush car rental or rail travel included.
A number of transatlantic Flights from Scotland to hour or heavy traffic, coaches, This can often be cheaper than
airlines offer direct services to other British destinations buses and taxis may be slow. arranging transport once you
Glasgow International Airport, operate from all the mainland National Express as well as have arrived. A small airport
including British Airways, international airports. British Scottish Citylink (see p219) tax is imposed on all those
American Airlines, United Airways offers express services provide direct coach services departing from British airports.
Airlines and Air Canada. Flights to London’s Heathrow and Sign directing passengers to locations from the major airports to
to Edinburgh and Glasgow are Gatwick airports. easyJet within an airport various destinations. DIRECTORY
available from long-haul and Ryanair operate between Prestwick International is
destinations such as North Scotland and the English served by its own train station; Arriving by Air
Africa, South Africa, Australia airports of Luton, Stansted a service runs to Glasgow city Air Canada
and the Far East. These are and London City, while bmi centre every half an hour. Tel (0871) 220 1111.
routed via a Euro pean capital, regional offers flights to a ∑ aircanada.com
often Brussels or Amsterdam. limited number of UK airports. Directions to the department for
Flights direct to Glasgow can There are also direct flights to information on customs Air Fares Air France
be expensive and it may be a other major cities in the UK, Air fares to Scotland are usually Tel (0871) 663 3777.
more economical option to fly including Manchester, Newcastle at their highest from June to ∑ airfrance.co.uk
Check-in desks at Glasgow International to London and then take a upon Tyne, Leeds, Birmingham, Internal Flights September. The best deals are American Airlines
Airport domestic flight north. These Belfast and Cardiff, and to some Scotland’s size means that available from November to April, Tel (020) 7660 2300.
flights can cost as little as £29 of the smaller ones such as internal air travel is quick, but it excluding the Christmas period ∑ americanairlines.co.uk
one way. Alternatively, take the Bristol and Southampton. These can prove an expensive mode – if you want to travel then, you
Arriving by Air train north; it’s only four hours of travel compared to rail, coach should book well in advance. British Airways
Tel (0344) 493 0787.
Edinburgh and Glasgow are the to Edinburgh and just over five or car. There are good air con­ Apex (Advance Purchase ∑ britishairways.com
principal airports in Scotland. to Glasgow. It is advisable to nections between the Highlands Excursion) fares are often the
The four other inter national book in advance for the best and Central Scotland. When best value, though they must bmi regional
Tel (0330) 333 7998.
airports are Prestwick, deals (see p219). travelling to the islands off be booked a month ahead and ∑ flybmi.com
Aberdeen, Inverness and The airports at Glasgow, the coast of Scotland, flying are subject to restrictions, such
Sumburgh on Shetland. Edinburgh and Aberdeen becomes a par ticularly viable as minimum and maximum easyJet
Air France, bmi regional, offer good facilities, including option. Flybe and Loganair, stays and no refunds. Charter Tel (0330) 365 5000.
KLM and Lufthansa offer direct banking, shops, cafés, hotels both subsidiaries of British flights offer even cheaper seats, ∑ easyjet.com
flights from continental Europe. and restaurants, as well as Airways, provide regular flights but with less flexibility. Flybe
Glasgow and Edin burgh have parking. Each of these airports from all the major cities on the Promotional fares are often Tel (0371) 700 2000. ∑ flybe.com
the most frequent services, is connected to the nearest city mainland to the Western available, and it is worth KLM
with direct and indirect flights centres by regular and reliable Passengers from abroad passing through Isles, Orkney Islands and checking direct with the air lines Tel (020) 7660 0293. ∑ klm.com
to many major European shuttle bus services. International Arrivals Shetland Islands. for special offers. Cheap deals
are sometimes offered by Loganair
Distance to Taxi Fare to Public Transport package operators and are ∑ loganair.co.uk
Airport § Information Transport from
City Centre City Centre to City Centre Lufthansa
the Airports
Bus: 30 mins Tel (0371) 945 9747 (Edinburgh).
Aberdeen (0844) 481 6666 7 miles (11 km) £14
Taxi: 20 mins Scotland’s main international ∑ lufthansa.com
airports lie on the outskirts of
Bus: 25 mins Ryanair
Edinburgh (0844) 448 8833 8 miles (13 km) £20 Glasgow, Edinburgh and
Taxi: 20 mins ∑ ryanair.com
Aberdeen, where there are
Bus: 25 mins
Glasgow (0844) 481 5555 8 miles (13 km) £19 efficient transportation links. United Airlines
Taxi: 20 mins
Taxis are the most convenient Tel (0845) 607 6760.
Train: 45 mins ∑ united.com
Prestwick (0871) 223 0700 29 miles (47 km) £44 form of door­to­door travel, but Rental car collection point at Glasgow
Taxi: 40 mins
they are also fairly expen sive. International Airport
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