From planning this trip to modifying plans on the fly, we had an amazing trip. I wanted to share some thoughts and tips gathered throughout our journey in hopes that they're helpful to others who may visit Edinburgh, Dublin or London. I'm sure things will change over time, so make sure to double check what I've noted to make sure the info is still current.
Planning and Useful Apps
VisitACity.com came through for us as it did when we planned our trip to Paris. It's an easy-to-use site that allows you to customize itineraries based on traveling with children, whether you're looking for a leisurely or jam-packed day, etc. It's particularly useful for first-time travelers because it suggests things to do based on your interests and expectations while mapping out itineraries to maximize time and efficiency by mapping out and clustering points of interest in close proximity.
When it came to navigating the cities, we were able to easily hail a cab in both Edinburgh and Dublin on our own or via our hotel. You may want to consider the iHail app for these cities. It works very similarly to Uber which does operate in these cities, but given the scrutiny of the company by the EU and U.K., it's good to have a backup.
Each of these cities is best seen on foot, but when it comes to London, leverage the great public transportation system to get around the sprawling city. We used an app called MoovIt and it was great to map out whether we should walk, take a bus, take the Tube or some combination of them while in the city, as well as in the suburb we stayed in. It was 100% accurate for us as we moved about and would highly recommend it!
It goes without saying that you'll need to ensure you have cellular access on your mobile device if you're relying on apps to get around or research when you're in these countries. Check with your provider before you travel to ensure you understand the terms, conditions, costs and anything else you need to do to stay connected while you're abroad.
Planning and Useful Apps
VisitACity.com came through for us as it did when we planned our trip to Paris. It's an easy-to-use site that allows you to customize itineraries based on traveling with children, whether you're looking for a leisurely or jam-packed day, etc. It's particularly useful for first-time travelers because it suggests things to do based on your interests and expectations while mapping out itineraries to maximize time and efficiency by mapping out and clustering points of interest in close proximity.
When it came to navigating the cities, we were able to easily hail a cab in both Edinburgh and Dublin on our own or via our hotel. You may want to consider the iHail app for these cities. It works very similarly to Uber which does operate in these cities, but given the scrutiny of the company by the EU and U.K., it's good to have a backup.
Each of these cities is best seen on foot, but when it comes to London, leverage the great public transportation system to get around the sprawling city. We used an app called MoovIt and it was great to map out whether we should walk, take a bus, take the Tube or some combination of them while in the city, as well as in the suburb we stayed in. It was 100% accurate for us as we moved about and would highly recommend it!
It goes without saying that you'll need to ensure you have cellular access on your mobile device if you're relying on apps to get around or research when you're in these countries. Check with your provider before you travel to ensure you understand the terms, conditions, costs and anything else you need to do to stay connected while you're abroad.
Europeans, Getting Around and Eating Out
The benefit for English-speakers is most everyone speaks English in these cities. However, as mentioned in other posts, sometimes the accents can be very thick and difficult to understand. Whenever we needed assistance, everyone we encountered was very kind and helpful.
Another thing we had to adjust to was driving on the other side of the road. At times it was confusing to remember which way to look for oncoming traffic. But, fortunately, the pedestrian crosswalks in all three cities are very visible and drivers are highly aware and respectful of these crossings.
When we travel to countries where tipping isn't customary, it takes getting used to. These countries were no exception. I created some tips below based on research on the Internet, as well as what we observed during our trip.
Tipping
In general, tips aren't expected, but appreciated especially when earned and deserved. At restaurants ask whether a service charge is already included. Find out if service charge goes to wait staff or to company. If the latter, then leave a tip to ensure the wait staff get something.
In the U.K., Edinburgh and London in our case, you can deduct the service charge that is often automatically added and either not leave a tip or leave a separate cash tip to ensure it goes to the server. Or, if you're good with the service charge (usually about 12.5%), then just pay the bill as-is and leave no more.
When it comes to pubs, it's a little more complicated. Some bartenders in certain establishments find it kind of offensive to leave a tip. Unlike bartending in the U.S. most of these pubs are tended by people who have trained to become a bartender and it's seen as a serious craft. Either forgo a tip or leave a tip and say, "Have one for yourself." The bartender will either then keep this tip for himself/herself or may pour a drink for themselves right then and there.
Here's a general tipping guide we leveraged when in doubt.
Another thing we had to adjust to was driving on the other side of the road. At times it was confusing to remember which way to look for oncoming traffic. But, fortunately, the pedestrian crosswalks in all three cities are very visible and drivers are highly aware and respectful of these crossings.
When we travel to countries where tipping isn't customary, it takes getting used to. These countries were no exception. I created some tips below based on research on the Internet, as well as what we observed during our trip.
Tipping
In general, tips aren't expected, but appreciated especially when earned and deserved. At restaurants ask whether a service charge is already included. Find out if service charge goes to wait staff or to company. If the latter, then leave a tip to ensure the wait staff get something.
In the U.K., Edinburgh and London in our case, you can deduct the service charge that is often automatically added and either not leave a tip or leave a separate cash tip to ensure it goes to the server. Or, if you're good with the service charge (usually about 12.5%), then just pay the bill as-is and leave no more.
When it comes to pubs, it's a little more complicated. Some bartenders in certain establishments find it kind of offensive to leave a tip. Unlike bartending in the U.S. most of these pubs are tended by people who have trained to become a bartender and it's seen as a serious craft. Either forgo a tip or leave a tip and say, "Have one for yourself." The bartender will either then keep this tip for himself/herself or may pour a drink for themselves right then and there.
Here's a general tipping guide we leveraged when in doubt.
Scotland
|
Ireland
|
England
| |
Taxi
|
10% or round up
|
Round up + extra
|
10% or round up
|
Restaurant
|
10% (service charge?)
|
10-15% (service charge?)
|
10-15% (service charge?)
|
Bar (drinks only)
|
Minimal or 10% w/food
|
NO – buy bartender drink
|
Minimal or no
|
Hotel (maid, porter)
|
£2-£5
|
€1-€2
|
£2-£5
|
Tour guide
|
£5-£10
|
10%
|
£2-£4/day
|
Misc Info
- Use chip (or chip + pin) credit cards which were accepted everywhere we went. Tip: Make sure to contact your credit card company to find out whether there are any foreign transaction fees that will be incurred.
- Stand on right side of elevators so those in a hurry can pass on the left, especially for the Tube in London.
- Some pubs don't serve food after 3pm, so be mindful of that when looking for places to dine.
- Not all pubs have licenses that allow children, so ask when in doubt.
- When asked, opt to pay in Pounds Sterling (London, Edinburgh) or Euros (Ireland) for better rates than when they offer option to pay in U.S. Dollars.
- Bring plastic/reusable bag with you as some retailers/markets charge a (nominal) fee for bags.
- In London, some public restrooms had a fee to use, so good to have change (e.g. 50 pence to use restroom at London Eye, 30 pence to use restroom at King's Cross Station).
- Not all Metro lines in London have AC, so when traveling during warmer weather, be sure to bring water and dress appropriately as the trains can get really warm especially during rush hour with many people packing the trains.
- Dress comfortably and wear shoes for walking if you plan on sight-seeing mostly on foot. People dressed similarly to the U.S. though I would say no one dressed sloppily - there were minimal sweatshirts and baggy jeans.
- Heathrow airport in London - Not sure if this was just for our Delta flight, but our gate assignment was not given until an hour before the flight. We spent a couple of hours in what I would call a "common area" in Terminal 3 where Virgin and Delta airlines operate out of. There are restaurants and stores in this area to peruse. However, once the gate assignment is provided, it'd be best to make your way to the gate because there will be a queue to get to your gate. It may feel like you're being herded like cattle down a corridor, but you'll soon see people exit to the sides as they approach their gates. Note that when you a sign that says "Last toilets" those will be the last bathrooms as there are no bathrooms at the gate, so you should use the facility then if you need to. Also, there are no vendors or restaurants for food, so get those from the common area. The only things in the gate area are chairs and vending machines.
Traveling with Children
Keira has been a great traveler since she was a toddler, so there was no question for us as to whether she'd join us on this trip. Plus, she's talked about visiting London since she was in first or second grade and learned about Big Ben, double-decker buses, etc. We certainly couldn't exclude her - she'd never have forgiven us!
As with previous trips, we made sure to build in kid-friendly and interesting places to visit. She was content with the playgrounds, kid-friendly activities and other places of interest. We took care in making sure that at least one or two activities a day would be appealing to her. Of course there were times when we did things that she didn't find particularly exciting (e.g. art museums, some castles), but it was a good lesson in patience, adapting and being flexible, and figuring out how to have fun and making the most of whatever experience she was in the midst of.
Planning for treats (ice cream stops) and breaks for our feet (riding the bus/metro) were also very helpful. Being flexible and ready to adjust was very important to ensuring we'd have a good time. Sometimes the weather dictated adjustments. Other times our mood and energy levels dictated what we would be doing. Several times we had to remind ourselves that Keira is still a kid and dial back our packed agendas.
City Passes
From our experience, I'd recommend the Dublin Pass and the London Pass. Unless you're into historical sites and have more time, the Scotland Explorer Pass was not necessary for Edinburgh. We weren't there long enough to get to many of the sites and mistakenly thought some attractions were included when they weren't or the attractions were already free. If you have the time and the sights you want to see are covered, then you'll usually break even, if not come out ahead on the purchase.
The London Passes were particularly valuable since they came with the Oyster Card allowing for traveling on the buses and Tube if you select that option.
The Weather and Walking
We traveled mid-to-late June and experienced a variety of weather ranging from cold to hot. Edinburgh was damp, chilly and usually misting with rare glimpses of sunshine and temperatures in the 50's. We needed layers , umbrellas and even gloves and hats some days. Definitely check the weather before you travel and remember the dampness adds to how cold it may feel.
Dublin was sometimes damp and chilly - this was more the case when we went to the West Coast to the Cliffs of Moher. However, in the city, it alternated between chilly weather and comfortable weather. We saw more sun in Dublin than Edinburgh, but still needed our jackets from time to time.
By the time we got to London, it was nothing but sunshine and some days were quite warm. We were told it was unusually warm for June. But, finally we were able to wear the shorts and short sleeves and tank tops we packed! I didn't mind getting a tan too even though I have some wicked tan lines now. There was not one drop of rain while we were there. Unless you're staying in a hotel, don't be surprised if there are no screens in the windows and no AC. They're not common in most people's homes.
These are some of my initial thoughts that I think would be helpful. But, if you have any specific questions, I'd be more than happy to provide my thoughts. Cheers!
