Stay at Home in a Real Home

With oil prices and airline fuel surcharges very much in the news, if you're already in the UK, why not stay here? Scotland is really not that big, or that far away, so it's easy to find a great place for a holiday just as exciting as a week anywhere else in the world!

With self-catering accommodation you can find a proper 'home' to stay in when you holiday at home. Cosy cottage, elegant city splendour, rustic lodge, seaside retreat - it's all there on EmbraceScotland.co.uk.

The EmbraceScotland website has advice on travel to and within Scotland, whether you want to come by car or public transport. And, of course, we have an extensive island ferry network which can add a little seafaring adventure to your trip!

Will you be staying at home or going abroad this year? Whatever your choice, do tell us why...

Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival

Are you a foodie? Do you love to attend the many food and drink festivals that dot Scotland this Spring & Summer season? Well there’s a fantastic food and drink festival in Loch Lomond this coming weekend. Why not take a last minute short break & attend?

The festival is called The Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival, and is a celebration and demonstration of great Scottish cooking and excellent produce from both within Scotland's first National Park, and throughout Scotland. From the farmers to the chefs, the Festival will whet your appetite by tasting and selling game and fresh fish, tasty soups and bread, succulent roast meat and vegetables, and washing it down with fine ales and whisky.

The EmbraceScotland website has large number self-catering properties that offer late availability to suit all tastes. Or perhaps try the properties in the Loch Lomond area. Enjoy the best of both worlds, a fantastic holiday in a homely setting without having to do any cooking!

Seaside Sensations

Why not spend your summer by the sea? Not only is Scotland's coastal scenery amongst the more dramatic you will find anywhere in the world, but there is also so much to do! Ever tried kitesurfing? Diving the crystal-clear waters around Scotland? Or finding out all about Scottish seabirds in North Berwick?

The EmbraceScotland website has a list of properties that really are right by the sea. No remote sea views if you peer from a top storey window! No 20 minute walk to the beach! Literally a stone's throw, or a hop, skip and a jump. Browse, search or sort the list on EmbraceScoltand according to your needs, then contact the owners direct to book your summer holiday by the sea.

Year of Homecoming 2009

Scotland is getting ready to welcome even more overseas visitors in 2009, as Scots and their descendants worldwide make 2009 the year to return to their homeland. There are many events planned, with the main focus being the Great Gathering in Edinburgh in July 2009 – the biggest ever gathering of the Clans.

There will be things to see and do throughout the year, from January to December. Staying in self-catering accommodation gives everyone the perfect chance to find themselves a home from home for their visit to the old country. The EmbraceScotland website has over 2,000 properties to choose from right across the country, whether you are staying in Edinburgh, Pitlochry, the Highlands, or anywhere else!

Are you thinking of 'coming home' in 2009? What will you be looking for in your holiday cottage or apartment? Do let us know!

The Summer Holidays Are Coming...

Although most of Britain is engulfed in unseasonably cold air this week, the sun is out and there is no doubt summer is on its way. Indeed, in Scotland the school holidays are only about six weeks away. Which is why EmbraceScotland, the quality assured website for self-catering holiday accommodation, is highlighting properties which still have availability in this busy period.

On their Summer Holidays Offers page you will find all manner of cottages, houses, apartments and lodges. If you're lucky, there may even be the odd castle still available too!

Or why not make a quick getaway before the kids arrive and organise a short break or longer in the next few weeks? What you need then is the Last Minute Offers page - self-catering which is confirmed as available within the next four weeks. Take a break while the sun's out!

How Important is Quality Assurance?

Scotland has had an official Quality Assurance scheme for over 20 years, providing visitors with clear guidance on the overall quality they can expect from accommodation and other tourism services. Launched by the Scottish Tourist Board, now VisitScotland, the Quality Assurance Scheme is based on annual inspections by properly trained independent assessors.

The ASSC (Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers) are committed to quality and insists that all members who want to be featured on the EmbraceScotland website are participants in the QA scheme and have been awarded between One and Five Stars.

But how important is all that to you, the visitor? Do you look for specific star grades? Or are they less relevant than price and location to you? Please leave a comment here and let us know what you think.

All Going Swimmingly

EmbraceScotland today marked the approach of summer by highlighting self-catering properties with swimming pools on site or nearby. Of course, one of the great things about swimming is that it's a wonderful activity for all the family, whether the sun is out or it is pouring with rain! No wonder we have almost 100 holiday cottages which advertise their swimming credentials on the website.

But if your ideal accommodation isn't making a thing of swimming, don't worry. You can look up local pools easily on the Activity Point website. And if you are really keen, you can also find swimming events to visit while in Scotland on the SwimScotland site. Then, for the really keen, there is http://www.scottishswimming.com/ - Commonwealth Games 2014 anyone?

What else are you looking for? Let us know what aspects of self-catering holiday facilities you most want to find, and we will try to highlight the most popular sometime soon!

ASSC Launches EmbraceScotland website

With the start of the new 2008 season, the ASSC (Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers) launched EmbraceScotland (http://www.embracescotland.co.uk/). This is a brand new website to help visitors and potential visitors to Scotland find the perfect self-catering holiday cottage.

All the properties on the website are Quality Assured by the VisitScotland/Scottish Tourist Board annual inspection scheme, and are clearly shown as having between One and Five Stars.

A key feature of the new website is a special section giving Last Minute and Seasonal Availability for self-catering accommodation throughout Scotland.

What do you think of the EmbraceScotland website? We would welcome your comments. Click on the "Comments" link below to post a comment.