Between hiking in a trench coat and only carrying US dollars, I probably looked like the ultimate tourist on my recent trip to Scotland.
As someone who frequently travels to the UK, I thought I’d be prepared for my first trip to Edinburgh.
However, I ran into a few awkward moments, including packing missteps, planning errors, and a few surprises along the way.
Here are seven mistakes that made me feel like a total tourist.
I didn’t pack the right outfits for Scotland’s diverse terrain.
When I started planning what clothing to pack for this trip, my mind immediately went to all the outfits I’d saved on Pinterest — things like trench coats, boots, tights, and sweaters.
However, none of that accounted for the amount of walking I had to do in Scotland, or the variety of terrain I encountered.
For example, when I plugged in a destination on Google Maps, I would see warnings like “steps ahead” or “steep elevation change.” As I followed these walking routes, I had to navigate hidden staircases in alleyways, steep hills, and forest paths.
So, there I was, trying to make my Instagram-worthy outfits work through rugged, muddy trails, while locals breezed by in leggings, windbreakers, and sneakers.
Next time, I’d definitely pack some athleisure and a good pair of walking shoes.
Despite having five days to explore the country, I missed out on trying traditional Scottish food.
On the plane ride home, I found myself thinking back on the trip and all the fun I had. And then it hit me — I never even tried traditional Scottish food.
During my travels, I tried lots of other types of restaurants, from Italian to Indian. Somehow, though, I never made it to a proper Scottish place.
Everything I ate was still incredible, but looking back, I can’t help but feel like I missed out. I made it all the way to Scotland and didn’t try black pudding, meat pies, or haggis.
It feels a little silly that I was in the heart of it all and somehow skipped over one of the most iconic parts of the culture.
Following social media recommendations without further research threw off my schedule.
Before the trip, my friends and I researched tons of places to visit. I kept seeing TikTok videos of a farm just outside Edinburgh with Highland cows.
Every video started the same way. Someone would walk into the farm, and bam — there were the cows right in front of them. I didn’t think to look into it any further.
When we arrived, we asked a group of people which direction the cows were. They pointed to the very top of an incredibly steep mountain and said, “up there.”
It turns out, the online videos had left out the part where visitors had to hike for an hour up a grueling incline to see the cows.
Once again, I found myself hiking up a mountain in my full trench coat and styled hair, passing people who were decked out in hiking boots and gear. I don’t think I have ever screamed “tourist” more.
By the time we got to the top, we’d also completely thrown off our schedule for the day, ending up sweaty, disheveled, and smelling like the farm, rushing to a dinner reservation.
The experience was incredibly cool, and I’ll never forget seeing the cows up close. But next time, I’ll definitely do more research in advance.
I thought I could explore Edinburgh Castle without a guide, but I ended up feeling lost on my own.
In my opinion, the iconic Edinburgh Castle is a must-see when visiting Scotland.
After we purchased our tickets, the website offered an option to add an audio tour to listen to while walking around the grounds. However, my friends and I decided not to purchase it.
Without the audio guide, though, it was hard to make sense of everything, and we ended up wandering about aimlessly, hoping we didn’t miss anything too important.
We did our best, but I’m sure there were some cool things we completely overlooked, simply because we didn’t know they existed.
Looking back, it would’ve been worth it to add on the audio tour and save ourselves the confusion, especially because it only cost a couple of extra pounds.
It would’ve been helpful to have local currency on me instead of relying on credit cards.
I don’t always take out local currency before I travel because it can feel like a hassle. So, on my last few trips to the UK, I relied on my cards.
However, this time around, I ran into a few situations where having pounds on hand would’ve been really helpful.
For example, we visited a pub that didn’t accept my type of credit card, so my friend had to cover the cost for me. Plus, there were moments when I wanted to tip impressive street performers, but I only had US dollars.
Next time, I’ll definitely pull out money before I go. It’s helpful for emergencies or those little moments when cards won’t suffice.
I took rideshares everywhere, which was convenient — but also costly and limiting.
As an American, the idea of driving on the opposite side of the road always freaked me out. It sounded like one of those things I’d never, ever attempt. However, when it came down to it, we had to find a way to get around, so we opted for Uber.
We Ubered everywhere — restaurants, pubs, farms, and even castles. I hadn’t realized how much we stuck out until a guy at a pub casually joked, “Americans Uber everywhere instead of walking.”
It was definitely the easiest option, but also pretty costly. And honestly, it didn’t give us the same freedom renting a car would’ve.
Looking back, I wish I’d faced my fear and tried renting a car. It would’ve opened up more possibilities to explore beyond the city and the ability to come and go wherever we pleased.
Only exploring Edinburgh made me feel like I missed out on all the other places Scotland has to offer.
There is no doubt that Edinburgh was absolutely stunning. However, I felt like we only scratched the surface of what Scotland has to offer.
There’s so much more I would like to see, like Glasgow, the Highlands, or the gorgeous landscapes on the Isle of Skye.
I think three to four days in Edinburgh could’ve been just enough to soak in the city’s charm. However, with a bit of extra time to hop on a bus or take a day trip somewhere else, we could’ve gotten a much more complete feel for the country.
Read the original article on Business Insider
The post I visited Scotland for the first time. These 7 mistakes made me feel like a total tourist. appeared first on Business Insider.
