Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own. Advertiser Disclosure

Travel money guide: Scotland

Use a card without foreign transaction fees and carry cash for incidentals.

Updated

Sep 27, 2022

Fact checked

As a part of the modernized United Kingdom, the Scottish take plastic for hotel stays, dining, supermarkets and gas. Still, some smaller establishments, like a family-owned B&B or restaurant, may take only cash. Since you might be wandering across the country to sight the monster in Loch Ness or tour the castles of Edinburgh and Glasgow, consider carrying a combination of pound sterling and plastic. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card makes a travel-friendly carry-along since it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees when you swipe.

Our picks for traveling to Scotland

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Go to site on Capital One's secure site

Rewards

Up to 1.25 x miles

Annual fee

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Go to site on Capital One's secure site

Rewards

Up to 1.5 % cash back

Annual fee

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Go to site on Capital One's secure site

Rewards

Up to 5 % cash back

Annual fee

$39

Travel card, debit card or credit card?

All major card networks are widely accepted in Scotland. Just make sure your card has no foreign transaction fees. Otherwise, you could pay a fee of up to 3% of every purchase made abroad. Another way to save money is to avoid conversion fees by paying in local currency.

If you’re looking to make cash withdrawals, consider using a debit card to avoid cash advance APRs and fees. You could also try withdrawing money with a prepaid travel card, but only if it’s loaded with British pounds. Otherwise, you’ll pay a foreign transaction fee, which is higher than what debit cards incur.

Credit cards from such major networks as Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover are widely accepted in Scotland. They are best used for purchases where it’s possible to earn rewards, while debit cards are best used for ATM cash withdrawals. Prepaid travel cards can also work if you load them with British pounds.

But whichever card you choose, make sure it comes without foreign transaction fees.

If you’re still not certain which payment method will work best while traveling to Scotland, check out our travel money guide page.

These are your options for spending money in Scotland

stack of credit cards Compare credit cards for travel

Using a credit card

Using a credit card without foreign transaction fees in Scotland gives you the best exchange rates on all of your purchases, such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

If you frequently travel to Scotland, consider an airline cobranded card. You can save money on flights, checked bags, lounge access and more. Alternatively, consider a travel credit card to get rewards on your travel purchases, travel insurance, luggage insurance, car rental insurance and more.

Tip: Avoid using a credit card for ATM cash withdrawals, as they come with cash advance fees and a cash advance APR.

Tip: Notify your bank you will be traveling to Scotland.

Pros

Credit line access
Rewards
May come with travel insurance and coverage
May come with concierge service

Cons

Cash advance fees on ATMs
Cash advance APR on ATMs

Compare travel credit cards

Narrow down top travel credit cards by welcome offers, rewards and annual fees to find the best for your budget and financial goals. Select Compare for up to four products to see their benefits side by side.

1 - 3 of 39

Name	Welcome Offer	Rewards	Annual fee
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card	40,000 miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $400 in travel	Up to 1.25x miles	$0	Earn 40,000 bonus miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel	Up to 5x miles	$95	Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 in your first 3 months of account opening	Up to 10x miles	$395	Capital One's premium luxury travel card, featuring airport lounge access at 1,300+ lounges.	Go to site View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

Debit card being swiped in a POS station Best international debit cards

Using a debit card

Debit cards can be a great option for cash withdrawals in Scotland. Some debit cards have no foreign transaction fees and no ATM withdrawal fees, such as the Betterment Checking, which reimburses you for these international fees.

Tip: Use a debit card for ATM withdrawals.

Tip: Notify your bank you will be traveling to Scotland.

Pros

No cash advance fee
No cash advance APR
No overdraft

Cons

Weak or no rewards
No access to a credit line
Potential foreign transaction fees up to 3%.
Potential ATM withdrawal fees

person at laptop with credit card and phone Prepaid travel money cards

Using a prepaid travel card

Using a prepaid travel card is a particularly safe option as they are not linked to your bank account. However, travel cards come with many fees that make them an expensive alternative to credit and debit cards.

Tip: Use your travel card without incurring foreign transaction fees by loading it with British pounds.

Pros

Can load multiple currencies
No cash advance APR
No links to your bank account

Cons

Many fees
May take time to load
No rewards

Hand giving cash to other hand Cash pickup services

Paying with cash in Scotland

Having cash in your wallet is always useful wherever you are. In Scotland, you’ll need cash to pay for taxis, incidentals, small purchases and tips. You can take US dollars with you and exchange them at the airport or make an ATM withdrawal.

Pros

Payment flexibility
Convenience
No need for ATMs

Cons

High risk of theft

Woman taking a check picture Traveler’s checks guide

Using traveler’s checks

Traveler’s checks can be an expensive, inconvenient option. They incur a number of fees, including a foreign exchange fee, and many shops and hotels do not accept them. You’ll have to cash your checks in at exchange bureaus or banks, which will cost you time and more fees.

Tip: You may want to consider other money options in China.

Pros

Security

Cons

Not accepted everywhere
Fees for purchasing and cashing checks

What’s the Scottish currency and where can I get the best exchange rate?

Scotland uses the British pound with the symbol £ and the currency code GBP.

Banks typically have the best exchange rate for cash. You can also make an ATM cash withdrawal, which also comes with an excellent exchange rate. But make sure you use a debit card without foreign transaction fees or ATM withdrawal fees.

Using money transfers to safely travel with cash

WorldRemit lets you send money to Scotland before you depart. Once you’re in Scotland, you can pick up your cash from a local WorldRemit agent.

But before you make the transfer, you’ll need to provide a Scottish address and a phone number. If you’re without one, WorldRemit recommends using the address of the place you’ll be staying at in case the local agent needs to contact someone.

The main banks in Scotland are:

Bank of Scotland
Royal Bank of Scotland
Clydesdale Bank

TSB Bank
Sainsbury’s Bank

Refreshing in: 60s | Tue, Mar 21, 10:39AM GMT

ATMs in Scotland

You can readily find ATMs in Scotland, such as in banks like the Bank of Scotland and even in small convenience stores. You may be charged a small fee if the ATM is independently owned, a scenario that happens more often if located in small towns or small stores. If you go with a Betterment Checking account, using the debit card means that you can get reimbursed for these foreign ATM fees within 24 hours of submitting for reimbursement.

Case study: Roslyn’s experience

Roslyn McKenna
Publisher

I visited Scotland with friends in October 2018. I used my Quicksilver card just about everywhere because it offers no foreign transaction fees and a flat cashback rate on everything. Credit cards are even accepted in rural areas like Inverness and Aberfeldy. I also brought some cash for small transactions and exchanged it at London Heathrow at a fair rate.

The only issue I encountered was the new scanning credit card machines. I’d researched to make sure I had the newer chip-and-PIN card when going to Japan, but I didn’t know Europe and the UK had already switched over to new scanning styles. There were several places my card wasn’t accepted, like at Tesco supermarkets, because it could only be inserted or swiped.

If you’re going abroad, I recommend bringing a solid cashback card that doesn’t charge for foreign transactions and uses the most up-to-date payment style.

Thank you for your feedback!

Kliment Dukovski

Kliment Dukovski is a personal finance writer at Finder, specializing in investments and cryptocurrency. He's written more than 700 articles to help readers compare the best trading platforms, understand complex investment terms and find the best credit cards for their needs. His expert commentary has been featured in such digital publications as Fox Business, MSN Money and MediaFeed. He’s also well-versed in money transfers, home loans and more — breaking down these topics into simple concepts anyone can understand. In another life, Kliment ghostwrote guides and articles on foreign exchange, stock market trading and cryptocurrencies.

More guides on Finder

COLDCARD Mk4 review
Learn about the security features of the COLDCARD Mk4 — a Bitcoin-only hardware wallet.
Gas prices a concern for US households
Gas prices are on the rise, which has the vast majority of Americans worried about what the future holds.
How do ETFs work?
Your simple and straightforward guide to ETFs, how they work and the different types available.
How to short Bitcoin
Learn how you can use various short-selling strategies to further your Bitcoin profits.
Finder Money Newsletter: Jan. 04, 2023
Your place to check out the latest Finder Money Newsletter.
Best Bank Account Bonuses in March 2023
Coinbase Ventures Portfolio assets and market cap
Discover more about the 31 assets in Coinbase Ventures Portfolio and its $484bn market cap.
US personal saving rate in 2023
Data on the personal saving rate in the US.
Disposable income in the US
A breakdown of disposable income stats for the US including historical charts, averages and more.
How to buy stocks online
The best trading apps come with low fees and are easy to use.

Ask an Expert

Click here to cancel reply.

Finder.com provides guides and information on a range of products and services. Because our content is not financial advice, we suggest talking with a professional before you make any decision.

By submitting your comment or question, you agree to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and finder.com Terms of Use.

Questions and responses on finder.com are not provided, paid for or otherwise endorsed by any bank or brand. These banks and brands are not responsible for ensuring that comments are answered or accurate.