Frommer's Scotland 8th Edition - To Parent Directory

SPECIALIZED TRAVEL RESOURCES 37giving you new ways of seeing theworld through smaller pairs of eyes.When booking rooms, ask whetherfamily suites are available. Accommodationsin more rural areas sometimeslet self-catering cottages or apartments,which might be an ideal solution forfamilies trying to save some moneyand looking for a bit more space thana typical hotel room. Look also for our“Kids” icon, indicating attractions,restaurants, or hotels and resorts thatare especially family friendly. Note thatsome castles and more private luxuryaccommodations do not accept youngchildren as guests. Such instances arenoted in all reviews.Remember that for people 15 andunder, a passport is valid for only 5years, costing $40, whereas for those16 and up, a passport is valid for 10years, costing $60.Familyhostel (& 800/733-9753;www.learn.unh.edu/familyhostel) takesthe whole family, including kids ages 8to 15, on moderately priced domesticand international learning vacations.Lectures, fields trips, and sightseeingare guided by a team of academics.You can find good family-orientedvacation advice on the Internet fromsites like the Family Travel Network(www.familytravelnetwork.com); TravelingInternationally with Your Kids(www.travelwithyourkids.com), a comprehensivesite offering sound advicefor long-distance and internationaltravel with children; and Family TravelFiles (www.thefamilytravelfiles.com),which offers an online magazine and adirectory of off-the-beaten-path toursand tour operators for families.STUDENT TRAVELStudents traveling outside of the U.S.would be wise to arm themselves withan International Student IdentityCard (ISIC), which offers substantialsavings on rail passes, plane tickets,and entrance fees. It also provides youwith basic health and life insuranceand a 24-hour help line. The card isavailable for $22 from STA Travel(& 800/781-4040, and if you’re notin North America there’s probably alocal number in your country;www.statravel.com), the biggest studenttravel agency in the world. Ifyou’re no longer a student but are stillunder 26, you can get a InternationalYouth Travel Card (IYTC) for thesame price from the same people,which entitles you to some discounts(but not on museum admissions).(Note: In 2002, STA Travel boughtcompetitors Council Travel andUSIT Campus after they went bankrupt.It’s still operating some officesunder the Council name, but it’sowned by STA.)Travel CUTS (& 800/667-2887or 416/614-2887; www.travelcuts.com) offers similar services for bothCanadians and U.S. residents. IrishTips Farmhouse HolidaysOne way to understand the agricultural roots of Scotland is overnighting ona Scottish farm. Scottish Farmhouse Holidays, Renton Terrace, Eyemouth,Berwickshire TD14 5DF (& 0189/075-1830; fax 0189/075-1831; www.scotfarmhols.co.uk), will find you an appropriate croft. Only family-managedworking farms are selected for the program, most within easy driving distanceof at least a handful of historic sites. Many of the farmhouses are acentury or so old and have been in the same family for several generations.Rates for bed-and-breakfast in rooms without a bathroom are from £20($32); rates for dinner, bed, and breakfast run from £28 ($45). Occupants ofsingle rooms usually pay from £5 ($8) for a supplement.