Below are some general packing tips and information. Please read the luggage requirements and travel insurance information carefully.
Packing/Luggage
It is always much easier when you travel light. We’ll be moving around throughout the adventure frequently and getting on and off flights for those coming to Scotland with us.
YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE LUGGING AROUND HEAVY LUGGAGE ON AND OFF AIRPLANES & TO AND FROM YOUR HOTEL ROOM! Please do your best to keep your luggage to 1 medium sized suitcase & 1 smaller carry on size MAX. An additional backpack/camera bag is also OK *We may not always be able to help you with your luggage and some hotels may not offer a porter service. Everything you bring you must be able to carry yourself up and down stairs, and potentially 5 minute + walks to &from our hotel rooms.
Ireland Weather in July – August
In Ireland, everyone talks about the weather. Whether it’s discussing the direction of the rain from a supermarket doorway, or musing that it’s 75°F in March from a bar counter. Irish weather can be unpredictable, so we like to discuss it. A lot.
In summer (May to July), the averages for highest temperatures are between 64 and 68°F. The warmest months, July and August, get about 18 hours of daylight and it gets dark only after 11pm. Hence the well-worn phrase in Ireland; “sure there’s a grand stretch in the evenings”. The most important thing to consider is that it rains in Ireland all year round, a lot. From all day rain, to short showers, to mostly sunny followed by a downpour, you must always prepare for rain and getting wet! July has a history of some stretches of dry sunny days but this history is equally paralleled by stretches of wet. Unpredictable is the keyword….
- Average high: 20°C / 66 °F
- Average low: 12°C / 54 °F
Scotland Weather in July – August
Despite being a relatively small country, one of the most surprising things about the Scottish climate is just how much it varies from one region to another. It’s often the case that you can drive for 20 minutes and find that the conditions are completely different. The unpredicatable nature of the climate means it’s not uncommon to experience all four seasons in one day!
June, July and August are normally the warmest months in Scotland, with average maximum temperatures ranging from approximately 15°C (59°F) to 17°C (63 °F). Scotland’s high latitude means that we enjoy lovely long summer days and often an extended twilight. In the north of the country, Lerwick in Shetland has about four hours more daylight at midsummer than London. At this time of year there is actually no complete darkness in the far north of Scotland. And, with the extra hours of daylight, we can pack a lot into our adventure! That said, the rain and sun change here on a dime similar to Ireland, and the variety of micro climates is even greater. Prepare to be putting on and off your rain jacket, sweater/sweatshirt, hat, sunglasses, etc, multiple times each day.
- Average high: 17°C/63°F
- Average low: 11°C/52°F
* Above averages are based on Edinburgh weather in central Scotland and the farter north we get, the higher we get, and the higher we get, the cooler it gets…
Plug Adapters
Plug Type: Basic Universal Plug adapter is all you need. Only need power converter if bringing your own hair dryer. See link below for images and more details:
“Type G” British BS-1363
Currency
- Ireland, Euro (EUR) (http://www.ireland.com/en-us/about-ireland/must-know-information/money-in-ireland/) 1 USD = .80 EUR
- Scotland, British Pound (GBP) (http://www.scotland.com/currency/) 1 USD = .71 GBP
How much $$$ to bring: Ireland & Scotland are not cheap unfortunately, however, the exchange rate is essentially much better than it has ever been. Lunches will generally range from 15.00-20.00 USD and Dinners from 25.00-40.00 USD. Please bring enough cash to suit your personal spending habits and have a debit/credit card as back up. Credit cards are accepted at many restaurants and establishments in each area we’ll be visiting but CASH is important to have handy at all times. Be sure to bring enough extra cash for tipping as well (see below).
Tipping
We recommend 7.00-10.00 USD per day for our guides and 2-3.00 per day for our drivers. There will be some V2 & 1 day guides leading us on specific tours only, and we recommend tipping these guides 5.00-10.00 USD total. Tipping for luggage porters (1.00 USD per bag) and maid service (2-3.00 USD per day). We will be collecting tip money in an envelope and handing it to the guides for the group at the end of the adventure. If you wish to tip our drivers and guides directly be sure to bring envelopes with you or ask for them at the hotel front desk.
* Tipping for everything else is NOT necessary, however in more recent years it has become expected to leave 5-10% tip at restaurants if you feel the service deserves it.
Recommended Packing List
Clothes
- T shirts
- Shorts
- Long sleeve shirts/sweatshirts
- light weight jacket
- Rain jacket w/ hood
- pants/jeans
- swimsuit(s)
- 1 pair very comfortable shoes/sneakers for walking & hiking
- Hat/Umbrella
- Layered clothing
Documents (and backup photocopies):
- PASSPORT
- Travel Insurance cards/confirmation (if you purchased)
Miscellaneous
- Daypack/small backpack
- Money belt
- Large & small ziplock bags to protect cameras and other technology in rain
- Camera, lenses, extra batteries, extra memory cards and related gear (tripod
- optional)
- Empty re-useable water bottle/ bladder
- Alarm clock/ cell phone alarm clock
- Earplugs- Especially if sharing room!!
- Your medicine (labeled)
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Power converter/Plug Adapter: Plug adapter only. Only need power converter if bringing your own hair dryer *Not needed for most electronics
- Personal Contacts Address list (e-mail & emergency contact info)
- After bite
- Anti-bacterial hand lotion
- Bonine/Motion Sickness Wrist Bands (for car sickness during long drives)
- Sandals/Flip Flops/ Shoes that slip on and off easily
- Headlamp/flashlight
- Toiletries (Toothbrush/paste, Shampoo, Conditioner, Soap, etc)
First aid kit including:
- Prescription medicines
- Anti-diarrheal
- Mosquito repellent
- Antibiotic cream
- Ace bandage
- Pain reliever
- Lip balm
- Band-aids
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/pack-trip-ireland-13060.html
REMEMBER TO PACK LIGHT!
