Glasgow: Money & Costs

• Currency

  Name

  Pound Sterling

  Symbol

  £

  Notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and £50.00 notes.

  Coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 pence pieces as well as the £1.00 and £2.00 coins.

• Changing Your Money

  A plastic/travellers cheque combination is the way to go. Travellers cheques are widely accepted in banks and you might as well buy them in pounds sterling to avoid changing currencies twice. The bureaux de change at international airports are the best place to change money as sterling travellers cheques are cashed for free.

• Money Tips

  Scotland is expensive, but nowhere near as expensive as England. Backpacker accommodation is much more readily available, so you'll be able to keep sleeping costs down. Edinburgh is more expensive than the countryside, and prices rise steeply in the Highlands and on the islands. Even outside these areas you'll still need at least £20.00 a day, and if you stay in B&Bs, eat one sit-down meal a day and don't stint on entry fees, you'll need around £50.00 a day.

  The pound sterling is valid on both sides of the border, but Scottish banks also issue their own banknotes. These are generally accepted in England, but if problems do arise, most banks will exchange Scottish currency for pound sterling without a hassle.

  Cashpoints (ATMs) are very common in Britain: most are linked to major credit cards as well as the Cirrus, Maestro and Plus cash networks, but if a machine swallows your card it can be a nightmare. Most banks insist on chopping it in half and sending it back to your home branch - very helpful.

• Sample Price Guide

  pint of beer

  £ 2.20

  glass of wine

  £ 2.50

  coffee

  £ 1.80

  bus ticket

  £ 1.00

  souvenir t-shirt

  £ 10.00

  fish & chips

  £ 3.50

  small bottle of water

  £ 0.60

  car hire per day

  £ 25.00

  bottle of malt whisky

  £ 25.00

  Average Room Prices
  Low	Mid	High	Deluxe
  £15-50	£50-90	£90-150	£150+
  Average Meal Prices
  Low	Mid	High	Deluxe
  £5-8	£8-15	£15-25	£25+

• Tipping

  In general, if you eat in a Glasgow restaurant you should leave a tip of at least 10% unless the service was unsatisfactory. Waiting staff are often paid derisory wages on the assumption that the money will be supplemented by tips. If the bill already includes a service charge (usually 10%) you needn't add a further tip.

  Tipping in bars is unheard of, but if you order a large round, especially towards the end of the evening, saying 'and one for yourself' will endear you to the staff. Likewise with Glasgow taxis, a small tip can make all the difference to your journey! A couple of quid for those hard working chambermaids can never go wrong either.

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