My first trip to Scotland was a mix of wonder and learning curves—adjusting to driving on the left, unexpected parking stress, and under-researching places like Aberdeen. It was unforgettable in the best (and most honest) ways. Since then, I’ve learned a lot about planning smarter, using points more effectively, and creating a Scotland road trip itinerary on points that helps me travel with more intention and save more money.
If you read my first post about Scotland (Scotland Road Trip Itinerary: 400 Miles, Lessons & Points Tips), you’ll know how rewarding and challenging the journey was. In this post, I’ll walk through how I’d plan my Scotland road trip itinerary now: where I’d book differently, how I’d use points to save more, and what I’d change to make the experience even better—from flights and accommodations to saving more points and avoiding stress along the way.
The recommendations and opinions shared in this post are based on my personal experiences and preferences. I do not earn commissions or receive any financial compensation from the businesses, services, or products mentioned here, including accommodations, places to visit, or any travel-related services. My goal is to provide helpful and honest insights for fellow travelers.
How to Start Your Search for Award Flights to Scotland
Searching for award flights is a bit different than booking cash flights. If you search the same way you would for cash tickets, you might miss out on a lot of great options. Award flights don’t always show up in a simple search from your home airport to your destination.
When planning a trip to Scotland (or anywhere internationally), the key is breaking down your flight search into two essential steps. This approach helps you identify routes that give you the best award availability, no matter where you’re flying from.
Also, booking one-way flights for award travel can often be the way to go. It gives you more flexibility, and since award availability fluctuates, this strategy lets you lock in the best options for each leg of your trip without being restricted by a round-trip search.
🔍 Step 1: Find Direct Flights to Scotland
Start by familiarizing yourself with direct flight routes from the U.S. and Canada to Scotland. Knowing the major airlines and airports will give you a solid foundation for finding award availability. Some direct options include:
- American Airlines:
JFK (New York) to EDI (Edinburgh)
PHL (Philadelphia) to EDI (Edinburgh)
DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth) to GLA (Glasgow) - United Airlines:
EWR (Newark) to EDI (Edinburgh)
ORD (Chicago) to GLA (Glasgow)
IAD (Washington, D.C.) to EDI (Edinburgh) - Delta Airlines:
JFK (New York) to EDI (Edinburgh)
ATL (Atlanta) to EDI (Edinburgh) - Air Canada:
YYZ (Toronto) to EDI (Edinburgh)
This list covers a good number of carriers, but there are plenty of other routes you can consider as well. Look for direct flights from major hubs in the U.S./Canada to your destination. Once you’ve found options, you’re ready to move on to the next step.
🌍 Step 2: Check Routes from Your Home Airport
Next, check for direct flights from your home airport to major European hubs. For example, I found direct flights from my airport in Raleigh, NC (RDU) on Air France to Paris (CDG) and Lufthansa to Frankfurt (FRA)—both great jumping-off points for onward travel to Scotland. If you’re near a larger airport like New York (JFK), you may have even more options to choose from!
Once you identify these European hubs, you can plan your next leg of the journey to Scotland. It’s about finding what works best based on your airport, preferences, and the best use of your points.
✈️ Step 3: Add Positioning Flights if Needed
Positioning flights are simply flights that get you from a smaller airport to a major hub, before continuing on to your final destination. For example, if you’re flying from a smaller U.S. airport that doesn’t have direct flights to Scotland, you might need to book a domestic flight to a larger airport like JFK or ORD. Or you could fly to a major European hub like Paris (CDG) or Frankfurt (FRA), and then hop on a direct flight to Scotland from there.
🧰 Tools I Use for Award Flight Searches
When researching award flights, the right tools are essential. Here are some of my favorites:
- Seats.aero: A powerful tool to help you search for award availability across multiple airlines. The free version offers solid functionality and lets you see which routes have availability for the best points prices. I use this one so often I upgraded to the pro version!
- Points Path: This handy Google Chrome extension works with Google Flights to show both points and cash prices. It allows you to easily compare the cost of flying with miles versus cash.
- Flight Connections: A useful tool for mapping out direct flight routes between airports, helping you plan positioning flights or locate non-stop options. The free version is more than enough for casual planning.
🧭 My Flight Booking Strategy
When narrowing down flight options, I focus on two main priorities: minimizing unnecessary connections and finding opportunities to upgrade or save points without compromising comfort.
Start with One-Way Flights
I always start by searching for one-way flights. This allows me to prioritize the most important (and often most expensive) segment first: the transatlantic flight. From there, I build the rest of the itinerary around it.
Finding the Best Flight Options
Luckily, I found a couple of options that suited my needs (BONUS: I was able to add on my positioning flight for little to no extra points cost):
- Option 1: Economy Class (Virgin Atlantic via Air France)
RDU → CDG → EDI
12,000 Virgin points + $176 outbound / $301 inbound in taxes & fees
- Option 2: Business Class (United via Lufthansa)
RDU → FRA → EDI
80,000 United miles + $47.70 in taxes & fees (thanks to my United credit card, I get a discount on miles!)
For the best mix of comfort and savings, my choice is to mix it up! Book business class on the way there and economy on the way home.
- The Lufthansa business class flight (80K miles) ensures a comfortable overnight ride in a lie-flat seat. While it’s not Lufthansa’s new Allegris business class, it still makes a huge difference in arriving well-rested. Thanks to my United credit card, I get a discount from 88,000 miles to 80,000 miles, making this an even better deal. I can transfer 80,000 Chase or Bilt points to United Airlines to book it.
- Then for the return, the 12,000-point Air France flight is unbeatable. Even with UK departure taxes ($301), it’s still a fantastic deal. I can transfer Chase, AmEx, Capital One, Citi, Wells Fargo, or Bilt points to Virgin Atlantic to book.
💡 Points Tip: Always check for transfer bonuses before moving points. Virgin Atlantic often runs promos, and since they partner with all major banks, you can stretch your points even further.
Final Cost of Flights Per Person
- Total points: 92,000 transferable points
- Total cash cost: ~$348 in taxes & fees
This approach lets me balance comfort and affordability, all while maximizing the value of my points!
Choosing the Best Way to Travel Scotland
Scotland offers a few well-known road trip routes, like the famous North Coast 500 (NC500) and the South West Coastal 300. While these are stunning options, I still prefer to create my own tailored route based on specific destinations I want to explore. I’ve mapped out my DIY Scotland road trip route, which spans about 521 miles—just the right distance for a 7–10 day trip.
Renting a Car vs. Public Transportation
I researched both public transportation and car rental options for the trip, and here’s what I found:
- Public transportation (train and bus connections) would cost around $181 per person and take much longer with multiple stops along the way.
- Car rental: A rental for 10 days came to $354, which provides the flexibility to explore at my own pace, stop for scenic views, and reach remote areas like Isle of Skye.
Given the additional benefits, I’ll opt for renting a car again, especially since it makes exploring Scotland more convenient and less stressful.
My DIY Driving Route (521 Miles)
For my custom itinerary, I’ll start and end in Edinburgh, visiting these key spots along the way:
- Edinburgh → Fort William (3.5 hours)
- Fort William → Isle of Skye (2.5 hours)
- Isle of Skye → Inverness (2.5 hours)
- Inverness → Edinburgh (3.5 hours)
Accommodations
Edinburgh– Preflight and Post-Flight Stays
For my arrival night, I opted for Doubletree by Hilton Edinburgh- Queensferry Crossing. It’s close to the airport and conveniently located on my route heading north. With a quick 16-minute drive, it’s an easy stop before starting my road trip.
- Standard Room Reward: 30,000 points
- Complimentary parking
- Dining: The Shore Grill and Fish House offers a great meal overlooking the river, perfect for a relaxed evening.
If you’d rather stay closer to the city, Moxy Edinburgh Fountainbridge is a modern, affordable option.
Edinburgh – Explore the City Stay
When it comes to exploring the city, I’m sticking with Hilton Edinburgh Carlton for its prime location, comfort, and great breakfast. If you’re not stocked with Hilton points, consider these options:
- IHG: Kimpton Charlotte Square, Hotel Indigo- Princess Street, Intercontinental- The George
- Marriott: W Edinburgh, Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa, Edinburgh Marriott Hotel Holyrood
Fort William – A Castle Stay
There aren’t many points options in the western regions of Scotland, but I wasn’t about to miss out on a castle stay!
Standard Room Reward: 110,000 points or free night certificate
At least once a year, I see Hilton credit cards offering free night certificates, even on no annual fee cards. Be on the lookout!
Isle of Eriska Hotel, Spa and Island
Standard Room Reward: 95,000 points or free night certificate
For a more remote relaxing stay, try an island stay!
Isle of Skye (Portree)
Again, not really any points options in Isle of Skye. The great thing about points, you don’t feel as strapped or guilty about paying for a small part of your travels!
I will go with Stonefield House, a luxury Bed and Breakfast for a reasonable price, free cooked and continental breakfast, plus free parking. It’s located a short walk from the center of town and receives a 5 star google rating!
If you’re looking for more upscale choices, Cuillin Hills Hotel offers stunning views, or The The Cúil at Thistles on Skye is perfect for a romantic VRBO getaway.
Inverness
There are a few points hotel options in Inverness, though I’ll note that there are additional properties near the airport that I haven’t included here.
- Expected Points Price: 50,000–55,000 points per night (lower rates sometimes available)
This Marriott property is riverside, just a 10-minute walk to High Street, and centrally located along River Ness. On-site parking is available for £10 per day, but spaces are limited.
- Expected Points Price: 15,000–20,000 points per night
Located to the east of the city along the NC500 route. It’s not flashy, but it works. Free parking.
- Expected Points Price: 15,000–25,000 points per night
This Accor hotel, located on Church Street near River Ness, also offers on-site parking. Booking through the Capital One travel portal might be simpler than navigating Accor’s website. The Mercure stands out as a solid value, especially if you catch it at an off-peak rate.
That said, by this point in the trip, I’ll likely be craving a washer and dryer. Inverness is around the halfway mark on my itinerary, so having laundry access would let me pack lighter and carry less overall. After my first trip to Scotland, I became a fan of choosing well-located short-term rentals when it makes sense. Like this one:
Airbnb: Inverness City Centre Apartment with Elevator
This highly rated, Superhost-listed flat is a Guest Favorite and offers self-check-in, a king bed, two additional beds, and an in-unit washer and dryer—all in the heart of the city. With a 4.96-star rating, I’d feel confident booking it for both comfort and convenience. Sometimes a washer and dryer is worth more than a free breakfast!
Packing It Up
My first Scotland trip taught me a lot—from navigating roundabouts to realizing how much smoother a trip goes with a bit of upfront planning. This time, I’m approaching it with more strategy, better use of points, and fewer avoidable hiccups. A few castle stays don’t hurt either.
Have you planned a trip using points and miles? What lessons have you picked up along the way? I’d love to hear your tips!
