Calling Scotland — To call Scotland from the United States, dial the international prefix, 011; then Scotland's country code, 44; then the city code (for example, 131 for Edinburgh and 141 for Glasgow — minus the initial zero, which is used only if you're dialing from within the United Kingdom); then dial the phone number.

Mobile Phones  If your cellphone is on a GSM system, and you have a world-capacity multiband phone (most are these days) you can make and receive calls in Scotland. You’ll need to opt for an “international roaming” plan with your carrier, and these are often available, providing voice and data, for about $10 a day. If you have an unlocked phone, you may also install a prepaid SIM card; a retailer who sells these inexpensive cards will usually install them for you. You’ll be assigned a new number and be able to make and receive calls at much lower rates than those for international calls with many U.S.-based plans. You might also consider simply buying an inexpensive phone with a prepaid card to use while you’re in Scotland. Many carriers also offer the capability to make calls via the internet, similar to Skype or other internet-based services; if your plan offers the service, your phone will switch to this mode as soon as you connect to Wi-Fi. The only drawback is that you need to be in Wi-Fi range to make calls; check with your carrier about a Wi-Fi calling feature.

Internet & Wi-Fi — There are abundant opportunities to connect to the Internet just about everywhere in Scotland, with Wi-Fi in most hotels, cafes, and other public spaces; if in need of a connection in a small town or village, the public library is always a good option.

Today nearly all hotels in Scotland provide Internet access either within the bedrooms/rooms or in public areas, and even some upmarket B&Bs offer this service as well. Most laptops in Scotland operate on 110 or 200 volts, and in such cases only an adapter is needed. Of course, it is always best to ask at your hotel or B&B before plugging your computer into any socket. In the rare case that your hotel doesn't have surge protection, you might damage your computer. A surge protector can be purchased in Scotland and plugged into a socket.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.