Accommodation Standards
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Introduction to Tourist Board Standards for Accommodation in Scotland
Where to Stay in Scotland | Understanding Accommodation Standards | Hostel Standards | Understanding Camping
Area tourist boards publish accommodation lists which include campsites, hostels, self-catering accommodation and STB-approved hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs. Places participating in the STB system will have a plaque displayed outside which shows their grading, determined by a number of stars ranging from one to five. These reflect the level of facilities, as well as the quality of hospitality and service. However, do not assume that a B&B, guesthouse or hotel is no good because it is not listed by the tourist board. They simply don't want to pay to be included in the system, and some of them may offer better value.
Hotels
At the top end of the scale, there are some fabulously luxurious hotels, often in spectacular locations. Many of them are converted baronial mansions or castles and offer a chance to enjoy a taste of aristocratic grandeur and style. At the lower end of the scale, there is often little to choose between cheaper hotels and guesthouses or B&Bs. The latter often offer higher standards of comfort and a more personal service, but many smaller hotels are really just guesthouses, and are often family-run and every bit as friendly. Note that some hotels, especially in town centres or in fishing ports, may also be rather noisy, as the bar can often be the social hub. Rooms in most mid-range to expensive hotels almost always have bathrooms en suite. Many upmarket hotels offer excellent room-only deals in the low season.
Guesthouses
Guesthouses are often large, converted family homes with up to five or six rooms. They tend to be slightly more expensive than B&Bs and, though they are often less personal, usually provide better facilities, such as en suite bathroom, colour TV in each room and private parking. In many instances they are more like small budget hotels. Many guesthouses offer evening meals, though this may have to be requested in advance.
Bed & breakfasts
B&Bs provide the cheapest private accommodation. At the bottom end of the scale you can get a bedroom in a private house, a shared bathroom and a huge cooked breakfast for around £15-20 per person per night. Small B&Bs may only have one or two rooms to let, so it's important to book in advance during the summer season and on the islands where accommodation options are more limited.
More upmarket B&Bs have en suite bathrooms and TVs in each room and usually charge from £20-25 per person per night. In general, B&Bs are more hospitable, informal, friendlier and offer better value than hotels. Many B&B owners, particularly in the Highlands and Islands, are a great source of local knowledge and can even provide OS maps for local walks. B&Bs in the Outer Hebrides also offer dinner, bed and breakfast, which is useful as eating options are limited, especially on a Sunday.
Some places, especially in ferry ports, charge room-only rates, which are slightly cheaper and allow you to get up in time to catch an early morning ferry. However, this means that you miss out on a huge cooked breakfast. If you're travelling on a tight budget, you can eat as much as you can at breakfast time and save on lunch as you won't need to eat again until evening. This is particularly useful if you're heading into the hills, as you won't have to carry so much food. Many B&B owners will even make up a packed lunch for you at a small extra cost.
Youth hostel associations
Australia Australian Youth Hostels Association, 422 Kent St, Sydney, Tel. 02-92611111. Canada Hostelling International Canada, Room 400, 205 Catherine St, Ottowa, ON K2P 1C3, Tel. 800-6635777. England & Wales Youth Hostel Association (YHA), Trevelyan House, 8 St Stephen's Hill, St Albans, Herts AL1 2DY, Tel. 01727-855215, www.yha/england/wales/org.uk France FUAJ, 7 Rue Pajol, 75018 Paris, Tel. 1-44 898727 . Germany Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk, Hauptverband, Postfach 1455, 32704 Detmold, Tel. 5231-74010. Ireland An Oige, 61 Muntjoy St, Dublin 7, Tel. 01-8304555, Ireland Youth Hostel New Zealand Youth Hostels Association of New Zealand, PO Box 436, Christchurch 1, Tel. 03-379970. Northern Ireland Youth Hostel Association of Northern Ireland, 22 Donegal Rd, Belfast, BT12 5JN, Tel. 01232-324733. Scotland Scottish Youth Hostel Association (SYHA), 7 Glebe Cres, Stirling FK8 2JA, Tel. 01786-451181, Scottish Youth Hostel Association USA Hostelling International-American Youth Hostels (HI-AYH), 733 15th St NW, Suite 840, PO Box 37613, Washington DC 20005, Tel. 202-7836161, American Youth Hostels