In Scotland, violent crimes against tourists are very rarely seen but like anywhere else in the world, violent crimes do occur but usually in the inner cities between gangs and rarely affect the tourist population. You must always exercise caution especially when traveling to big cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow as petty crimes and tourist traps exist. Be vigilant when buying souvenirs as some items may be overpriced. Theft and pick pocketing is generally low in Scotland as compared to other European countries but of course, you must always be on the lookout for suspicious individuals when in crowded areas. Avoid wearing fancy jewelry and always carry your valuables in a bag or pouch that is secured to your body to avoid losing them. If your hotel has a safety deposit box, it is a good travel tip to use it to store any valuables that you do not feel comfortable leaving in your hotel room. It would be best to secure travel insurance before beginning your trip to avoid any extra costs in case of theft or loss. Make sure to report stolen items to local authorities immediately. In the event of a stolen or lost passport, contact your embassy immediately so you can arrange for a replacement. Always have your embassy or consulate phone numbers available to avoid any delays.

When going to a pub or a bar at night, it is advisable to exercise caution especially when nearing closing time. There have been reports of alcohol-driven fights during these hours and the best thing to do is to simply avoid getting involved and leave the premises as soon as possible. Exercise caution as much as possible when using public transportation late at night. When riding trains after 9 o’clock in the evening, ticket examiners or conductors may not always be available for assistance. If you find yourself in a situation, you may dial the number for the British Transport Police at 0800-40-50-40. If faced with an emergency, you may also call 112 or 999 and request for the police, fire station, an ambulance or the Coast Guard. Try to call the emergency number through a landline as much as possible to avoid additional costs.

Like the other nations in the United Kingdom, Scottish drivers drive on the left side of the road. If you are not accustomed to this, it is best to hire a driver or use public transportation when traveling. If you must drive a car, you are required to have an active driver’s license to do so. In the United Kingdom, a foreign driver’s license is accepted up to 12 months. Like in most European countries, wearing a seat belt is required at all times when in a moving vehicle and drunk driving is not tolerated. Most of the roads in the larger cities are in good condition but roads tend to be winding and narrow in the more rural areas of Scotland. Roads with just one lane have “passing places” signs to indicate where drivers can pull over to let oncoming traffic pass. These signs also indicate that you can let faster moving vehicles overtake. When on the road, a good travel safety tip would be to always exercise common sense and common courtesy to avoid running into problems.

You are not required any vaccinations when traveling to Scotland. All European Union citizens are entitled to free or subsidized health care from local hospitals. Non-EU citizens will be charged a fee, however, and it is a good travel tip to have medical insurance available. Make sure to keep all receipts and paperwork to ensure that you will be reimbursed after receiving medical treatment. When out hiking, always bring warm water-proof jacket as the weather in Scotland has a tendency to be fickle and can change suddenly. What may start out as a sunny day could turn into rain without warning. When outdoors, be careful of small biting insects called midges that are common especially in Western Scotland. You will most likely itch when bitten however, their bite is largely non-toxic. It is best to carry insect repellant to avoid any unwanted rashes when outside.

In Scotland, the standard voltage is 240V. It is advisable to check whether your appliances require a transformer or adapter before plugging them in to avoid any damage. Electrical plugs usually have three pins so you may need to have an adapter available at all times.

These are just a few of the Scotland travel safety tips provided by the Travel Guide Scotland. Always remember that in order for you to thoroughly enjoy your travel, you must keep in mind that travel safety must be a primary concern. You can bring along the Travel Guide Scotland when traveling in order to have all the useful information handy at all times.