Kathryn has caught the points and miles bug. Kathryn is a personal friend of mine and I love our treadmill “points talk.” She recently went to Scotland on points and miles. Here is her story:

Where did you go?

We have previously been to England, Wales, and Ireland and just felt like we needed to complete the British Isles. This trip we went to Scotland—specifically Edinburgh, Stirling, Highlands, Isle of Skye.

Using Miles to Scotland

The flights we took were KLM Premium Economy by opening the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Tickets were about 70k points roundtrip! We did pay the cost of taxes and fees out of pocket.

Using Points in Scotland

We stayed in two Hilton hotels: the DoubleTree Dunblane Hotel (which was originally a Victorian Health Spa Resort built in 1878) and Hilton Edinburgh Carlton for 40k points per night. When you book 4 consecutive Hilton nights on points, you get the 4th night free! Since we hold the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, we receive complimentary status and enjoyed an $15 per person breakfast credit at the DoubleTree Dunblane Hotel. We enjoyed both hotels and I highly recommend both locations!

We booked an Airbnb for our last location, but it was so gross that I refused to sleep there! Needless to say, we stayed at another hotel. I was okay spending some money on a hotel since I got a refund from Airbnb and saved so much money booking our trip on points.

Itinerary

Day 1: Exploring Edinburgh’s Rich History

We kicked off our adventure in Edinburgh with a guided tour of the iconic Edinburgh Castle. We booked this Edinburgh Castle Tour through Viator Via Rakuten, which allowed us to get cash back. (Check out this blog post to learn how to get points back through Rakuten!). Afterward, we strolled along the Royal Mile, soaking up the charming atmosphere, shopping for souvenirs, and enjoying delicious Scottish cuisine.

Day 2: Harry Potter and History of Edinburgh

This area is where J.K. Rowling got inspiration for her Harry Potter Books. We booked a free Guru Walk guided tour that visited some HP inspired sights but also shared the general history of Edinburgh. We visited key filming locations and historic landmarks around Edinburgh. I HIGHLY recommend Guru Walk tours. This is the exact tour we booked, just be sure to tip! That afternoon, we picked up a rental car and headed out to marvel at the massive Kelpies Statue before ending the day in Stirling.

Day 3: Stirling and the Hogwarts Express Bridge

In Stirling, we took a guided tour of Stirling Castle and climbed the Wallace Monument for breathtaking views. The tour of Stirling castle is included with ticket price- they have guides walking you through the grounds for free. Then, it was off to the Glenfinnan Viaduct, famously known as the Hogwarts Express Bridge—a must for Harry Potter fans!

Days 4-5: The Magic of the Isle of Skye

We drove to the stunning Isle of Skye, exploring Portree and the enchanting Eilean Donan Castle. Highlights included hiking at Old Man of Storr and Quiraing, visiting Kilt Rock, and discovering the whimsical Fairy Pools and Fairy Glen. A sunset at Neist Point Lighthouse was the perfect end to our Skye adventures.

Day 6: Inverness and Loch Ness Legends

The final day took us to Urquhart Castle Ruins, where we searched for Nessie in Loch Ness. We also visited the historic Culloden Battlefield and nearby standing stones, immersing ourselves in Scotland’s deep history.

What was your favorite part?

My favorite parts were hiking Isle of Skye, walking the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, and touring Stirling Castle. Scotland is otherworldly beautiful–I couldn’t believe it at times. It’s the perfect historical intersection between ancient, medieval, and enlightenment with contemporary culture and natural beauty.

Tips

There are no big hotel chains on Isle of Skye, so book early before everywhere is filled up! Additionally, people are super friendly if you are. Don’t be rude.😉

Final Details

On our amazing trip to Scotland, we were able to bring my mother-in-law AND stay within our budget all thanks to using points and miles! Not only that, we splurged and stayed in some nice hotels that we wouldn’t have stayed in otherwise. Using Viator, we booked our tours and got Rakuten cash back so we could afford a car rental. I highly recommend adding Scotland on to your list and we are grateful that points and miles made it so much more affordable!