planning a trip & need advice

[packofjedis]

Hi! I'm planning a trip for 2013 and need some help with cottage rental. I'm leaning towards renting from Landmark Trust or National Trust, but I didn't know if there were other reputable places to let a cottage. A lot show up on google, but I don't want to arrive and find it's not what was advertised.

We're planning to stay a week in NE Wales near Wrexham, Chester, etc. My aunt lived in Buckley, so that's where I'm comfortable starting out. The second week we'd like to be in Scotland. Any suggestions there? So far, I've thought about staying just north of Glasgow or Edinburgh. That way we can explore south of them and north easily.

Also any day trip ideas for Scotland in that area? The Wales/England part is fairly easy to me since I'll show my kids places I went as a kid. However, I've never been to Scotland so reading the guide books/looking online is all very daunting and unfamiliar.

The trip will include my 2 sons, 14 and 16. They've never been overseas so they want to see all the touristy things - castles, cathedrals, villages, etc. My older son is also a devoted Manchester United fan, so we're hoping they'll have a game away somewhere in our vicinity so we have a chance of getting tickets. If not, we'll do the Old Trafford tour and go to some other team's game.

We'll be renting a car, so we can get around. Any other advice or information is welcome!

 

[A Small World]

Hi

We have rented cottages in North Wales through this company several times in the past and always found them good

http://www.northwalesholidaycottages.co.uk/File/locations.asp

Also look at Hoseasons as they are a big company who have cottages

http://www.hoseasons.co.uk/

 

[cherjp]

www.holidaylettings.co.uk are another we have used too. will post back with info later when I have more time xx ,

 

[packofjedis]

Thanks so much for the replies! All of this is helping. We're in the initial planning stages, but I'm trying to figure total costs so we save enough money.

It's strange going over for my first trip not having my aunt to rely on. She would always suggest places for us to see or help us get around. Now, we'll be on our own. I'm hoping I can make our trip just as much fun as ours were with her.