General suggestions for European travel:
Do your
homework before planning a trip. Many European countries practially shut
down in the summer months, so make sure that you're going at a good time.
If you're going to a major tourist city like Paris or London, many merchants take American Express travelers' checks. In other countries, and smaller cities, this is not the case (as I found out the hard way). It doesn't hurt to have travelers' checks in case you lose your ATM card, but I would suggest taking smaller amounts and getting cash as you need it instead. You can transfer travelers' checks to local currency in banks and many locations, but you do pay a fee for it, and you have to work on their hours.
Scotland:
In my opinion,
the best way to visit Scotland is to plan your own trip. There are many
places to see, and a ton of the neatest things (like random monuments and such) are
off the beaten path. Renting a car can be expensive, especially with the
gas prices in Europe, but it was worth it to me.
Do not expect driving times to be the same as in the US. Many roads are 2 lane, so 120 miles might take you 3-4 hours, especially if you stop to take pictures. Also, make sure you know the rules of the road since you'll be driving on the left (and watch those round-abouts...they're a little tricky at first).
As for lodging in Scotland, B&B's are the best! I am listing a few of my absolute favorites here, with links to their web sites.
Kirkton House (Cardross) - my absolute favorite place...this charming farmhouse is North of Glasgow, near Loch Lomond. The hosts are awesome, and they make sure everyone feels welcome. Make SURE you stay for dinner at least one night, and try the haggis appetizer (you'll be glad you did!).
Kinnaird Guest House (Perth) - another favorite! The Stiells are wonderful hosts, and have a lovely house.
Skye Picture House (Isle of Skye) - a wonderful place for photographers, as the hosts are professionals. They even offer photographic holidays. And the Isle of Skye has spectacular scenery and stunning views, so it's definitely worth the trip.
Park View Villa (Edinburgh) - great location, friendly people. The single room has a great view of the castle. Update - my parents stayed here in 2005, and the place is under new management.
Sweden:
My best friend planned everything for my trip to
Sweden and I stayed with her, so I don't have any suggestions about lodging or
trip planning in Sweden.
I do recommend going to the Grand Hotel for a traditional Swedish smorgasbord. It's well worth the time and money, but you should make reservations.
While in Stockholm, also be sure to visit the Vasa Museum ...the history of the ship is pretty interesting. The museum is easy to find, as you can see the top of the ship's masts poking out of the building.
Another wonderful place to visit is Visby, on the island of Gotland. Visby is a fantastic 12th century town, with beautiful architecture. They have a medieval festival there every August, so definitely book ahead if you're interested in attending that. The rest of the island is also worth seeing.
If you're interested in old churches, there are TONS of them in Sweden. They say that you can stand next to one church tower and always see another in the distance. I certainly found that to be true. And the churches are all spectacular.
