Here are some answers to a bunch of questions which we seem to get asked a lot. Hopefully this will include any you may have. If not....contact us
Click the question to reveal the answer...
The tour price covers transportation on our sexy buses and an even sexier tour guide to lead the way! We also reserve all accommodation whilst on tour so a bed is guaranteed. Accommodation should be paid for on arrival at each hostel. Hostel prices are approximately £15 - £20 per night.
Travelling is all about choice. Unlike others we do not operate a restrictive kitty system, if you want to spend your budget differently to the next guy, that’s cool with us. We don’t believe in treating people like sheep and recognise everyone has their own likes and dislikes. Accommodation and meals are not included in the tour price allowing you to keep your options open.
We always take full payment before the day of departure. This is because we need to secure your place so other passengers are not turned away! Depending on availability, we might be able to reserve your place until a few weeks before your tour so that you can check with friends or pay for your connecting travel.
We keep extra costs to a minimum – there may be a couple of entry fees into various attractions, but these are usually £3 - £8 and are optional. On some of our trips we have chucked in some freebies that we feel you absolutely must see!
Food can really be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. Most of the hostels have self-catering and some of the hostels offer excellent meal for £5 - £7. There is also plenty of opportunity to eat out at local pubs, cafes and restaurants.
Ideally you should budget £25 - £30 per day if you stay in a hostel and eat at cafes or the pub. There are always the fabulous British pubs to tempt you in for a pint or two after a day on the road! A pint of beer costs around £2.60, a wee dram of malt whisky in Scotland would be about £2.
Unlike others, we are not tied exclusively to any hostel chain so are free to select the very best hostels. We choose places packed full of character, everything from rustic cottages and farms to castles and country houses. We only use top quality independent and Youth Hostel Association hostels, mostly 3 and 4 stars. We guarantee dorm bed accommodation on all our tours. All the hostels we use have great facilities, provide free linen, (you don't need a sleeping bag), most have top quality self-catering kitchens, security, laundry facilities and comply with the most stringent safety regulations.
Some of the hostels we use have private (double/twin) rooms but these are limited and dependent on availability.
All accommodation requests need to be made to us direct and before the departure date (the longer notice the better). Please let us know your booking reference, date of travel, tour type, room preference and name at least 7 days before your departure.
Please be aware that private room requests are not generally available on HAGGiS Britain tours.
A sleeping bag is not required as all hostels provide linen but it is a good idea to bring a towel although some hostels do rent them.
Some hostels accept credit cards but it is always best to bring some cash with you in case they don’t. Your guide will always make sure cash points are visited before arriving at these locations.
You can book your Edinburgh and London accommodation through our website by clicking
here.
Tours departing from London: check in is at 7.15am at the HAGGiS office and leave at 7.30am. Tours usually get back in to London at 6.30pm although this is dependent on weather and the infamous London traffic so if you're leaving the city that night, give yourself plenty of time to get your connecting transport.
Tours leaving from Edinburgh: check in is at 8.30am at the HAGGiS Office and departure at 8.45am sharp (except the Loch Ness 1 Day Tour which will check-in at 7.50am and departs at 8am). Tours usually return to Edinburgh at about 5.30pm (except the Loch Ness Hunter which will get back at about 8pm). Return times are approximate (depending on roads and weather conditions) so if you're leaving Edinburgh that night, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to make your connection.
To make sure we make the most of our day we only pick up and return to the HAGGiS office. Other companies provide this service but it means your day is compromised running around the city. Most hostels are only a short distance from the office. Likewise, the bus and train station are a few minutes walk from our office and the airport has frequent and cheap transport from the city centre.
As we are the leading youth travel tour operator in Scotland, the majority of our passengers are in the 18 - 35 age bracket and the style of tour reflects this. The minimum age on all tours is 17. There is no maximum age. As long as you are reasonably fit and have a good sense of fun, we are sure you will have a fantastic time!
As much time as possible! The aim of our tours is to get you out and about and to actually experience the country you’re in. We’ll take you for walks, to explore castles, explain local myths and legends and tell you about our often turbulent history.
Whilst we regularly get couples and friends travelling together, every tour has a number of people travelling on their own and from the first day onwards you’ll have made a whole bunch of new friends!
Occasionally we do have more than one departure each day so it is not guaranteed that you will be on the same bus if bookings are made separately. This can be easily arranged by contacting us at least 48 hours prior to your departure date. Just call or email us with everyone's names, booking references and the tour they are on – we’ll do the rest.
Each passenger is allowed one standard piece of baggage, carried in the cargo area of the coach, up to a maximum weight of 15 kg. This weight should cover a standard 60 litre backpack or a medium holdall or suitcase. You will not be entitled to transport baggage in excess of this allowance and you may be asked to leave excess baggage behind in secure storage. In addition a standard daypack may be carried on the coach, containing the essentials you require for the day, provided it can fit in the luggage rack or under your seat.
No, we do not have luggage storage facilities but facilities may be available at your hostel. Edinburgh Waverley and London Victoria train stations also have secure storage facilities.
Tipping is not compulsory. If you'd like to recognise great service then please feel free to do so. 100% of tips are retained by our team - not the company. [We are often asked 'How much?' - around £1 / day on average - but feel free to tip as little, as much or not at all, as you feel appropriate.]
Great savings can be made if you hold a ISIC, ISE or ITIC card on all our tours. Make sure you let us know at the time of booking and the discount will be applied. You will need to show this card when you check in for any of our tours. If you do not produce this at checkin you will be charged the difference between the normal brochure price and the discounted price in addition to an administration fee of £25. To purchase your ISE card click on the ad below and start saving now!
