Making Plans to Travel to Scotland--

I touched down at Glasgow International Airport, now BAA Glasgow. My friend, and host for the next two weeks, John, was patiently waiting in the arriving passenger's lounge for me after I cleared customs. Now, I know and you know that it is dangerous to meet men you have never met before alone in a foreign country and the even more foolish to depend on them to provide you with room and board and to help transport you around on your travels. Do not try this yourself. It was foolish and I was quite fortunate.

John was just as warm and personable for the entire two weeks I stayed with him as he was online and over the telephone. We had conversed in depth for weeks and I felt like I knew him well. I didn't and ultimately, we did not get along well. What we thought may have been a budding romance ended up as just a passing friendship. BUT--he was an unfailingly polite and gentlemanly host and provided me with a great place to stay, a full Scottish breakfast every morning and an escort around Scotland while I got my bearings and got used to living in an English speaking, but most foreign country for this USA isolated Yank. John was a fine example of a Scottish gentleman and I was a very lucky lady. Later, I realized just how fortunate I was.

For those of you who do not have a stellar host like John waiting to pick you up at the airport on the other side of the pond, I recommend an invaluable travel service provided by Transport Direct.

http://www.transportdirect.info/TransportDirect/en/?abandon=true

RESEARCH is the key to a good trip-PLANNING, PLANNING and more PLANNING. READ everything you can find about the area to which you are traveling. You can get brand new travel guides for discounted prices from book services like Alibris or on E-bay. Completely map out various itineraries and contingency plans. I find these cautionary measures the key to being safe and prepared while overseas. This is easy now with the Internet and even easier with the wonderful system of tourist offices available on the web for most of Europe and the British Isles. You can find all the information you would ever need about Scotland at http://www.visitscotland.com/.