This Is One Of The Best Types Of Lodging To Stay At In Scotland, Per Rick Steves

Rick Steves has been touring around Europe and telling us all about it for over four decades, so he knows a thing or two about finding the best places to stay. He has tipped us off about his favorite hotels in European cities like Madrid and Rome and checked out hostels for more thrifty tourists. Steves always keeps budget-conscious travel in mind, balancing value for money with the occasional splurge. Generally, he prefers family-run lodgings, not only for their modest price but also because they can plug you into the local culture more than any hotel chain. Steves is a big fan of the humble bed and breakfast, celebrating them in glowing terms on his website after his trip to the Isle of Skye off the coast of Scotland.

Traditional British B&Bs conjure up certain nostalgic images. You might think of a middle-aged couple wearing matching cardigans running the place, the wife mothering her guests and the husband engaging them in conversation about the weather or his model railway setup. There may be a family pet and meals around the family dining table. In larger establishments, particularly those on the seafront in coastal towns, you might have longer-term residents hanging out in the sitting room or maybe older folk nodding off in front of the TV or fire. There may still be an element of that in older-fashioned B&Bs, and as Steves passionately points out, there are few better ways to feel at home on your visit to Scotland.

The classic B&B is now widespread around the world, but few countries do it better than the British. Such lodgings sprouted up in the 18th century as more people found the means or the necessity to travel around the country. The golden era of the B&B began in Victorian times when working-class holidaymakers flocked to resort towns along the U.K. coast, and lodgings to suit their budgets became a fixture of the seafront.

Things have changed over the decades. The package holiday boom in the '70s meant more families were trading a wet weekend in Skegness for a cheap deal in Torremolinos or Benidorm. More recently, the rise of Airbnb and similar sites has endangered the old-school B&B. The COVID-19 crisis also changed the way many owners did business, forcing them to swap the friendly personal welcome for more socially-distanced ways of checking guests in.

Still, the charm of the B&B has endured. As Rick Steves points out, staying at one requires a little more effort, as you will often interact far more with your hosts than you would with a hotel receptionist. This goes double in Scotland; the Scots are arguably the most friendly bunch in the United Kingdom, and the country is regularly voted one of the most welcoming in the world. They are rightfully proud of their nation and will delight in sharing tips about the best sights, hidden gems, good pubs, and nightlife venues.

While many traditional B&Bs still exist, some owners have modernized their game to match the tastes of discerning travelers. Nowadays, many overlap with the kind of comfort, facilities, and service you might expect from a cozy boutique hotel. Scotland is particularly well-suited to a rural B&B experience, with some of the best within easy strolling distance of lochs, beaches, and mountains. Most modern B&Bs displaying star ratings and lodgings in the upper brackets will often come with luxuries that you might commonly associate with a good hotel stay, such as ensuite bathrooms, romantic getaway packages, heated balconies and terraces, jacuzzis, and a wider range of food and drink options. If you're lucky, you will also get treated to a complimentary dram of famous Scotch whiskey on arrival as your hosts share their local knowledge.

While Rick Steves is a fan of the B&B setup in general, he is most enthusiastic about the breakfast part of the equation. Like its English equivalent, a full Scottish fry-up is truly one of Britain's greatest culinary triumphs. It may vary from place to place, but expect a huge plate stacked with bacon, sausages, eggs (usually scrambled or fried), baked beans, black pudding, fried mushrooms, and tomatoes, plus traditional Scottish add-ons like square sausage, haggis, and tattie scones. It's a lot of food, but usually not nearly as incapacitating as you might imagine. It'll set you right up for a day of sightseeing or incredible outdoor adventures in the Highlands.