Getting or renewing your passport?
Don’t get fooled by Internet links. Here is the official US Government website: https://www.usa.gov/passport.
Traveling to the UK?
https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
Check if you need a UK visa
You may need a visa to come to the UK to visit, study or work.
Depending on your nationality, you may need to get an electronic travel authorization (ETA).
Eating out
Look at the table where you are seated. Many restaurants have a QR code on the table. Scan the code from your phone and viola you’ll see the menu in English. If you are not technological no worries. The menus often have English subtitles and as a last resort your waiter generally speaks English!
Travel backpack report
I purchased the Peak Design 45L travel bag for an upcoming 14-day vacation. I was able to pack clothes, shoes, medicine, everything in this one bag. I didn’t want to schlep a roller bag up and down stairs, across cobblestone streets, over curbs, etc.
I wanted everything convenient and in one bag forcing me to travel lightly. Well . . . the good news is this bag will hold two weeks of clothing. The bad news is this bag will hold two weeks of clothing. Not my idea of traveling lightly! It’s a great bag and it proved to be everything I wanted and needed with the exception of my need to over pack.
Carry-on Luggage Size
Carry-on Luggage Sizes, Weight Limits and Fees by Airline
Typically, a carry-on bag should not exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches (inclusive of the handle and wheels). However, the rules can vary by airline. For example, American Airlines’ carry-on luggage size is 22 x 14 x 9, while Southwest allows a slightly larger carry-on measuring 24 x 16 x 10.
What size luggage is a carry-on?
While carry-on luggage sizes can vary by airline, several major carriers go by these dimensions.
| Domestic Airlines | 22 x 14 x 9 inches |
| International Airlines | 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 inches |
How to Use Credit Cards While Traveling in Europe
https://www.notesfromeurope.com/travel-blog/credit-cards-europe
How to Play Golf at St Andrews
Planning on golfing at The Home of Golf? Plan ahead the courses at St. Andrews are often booked way in advance.
Old Course Ballot
The Ballot is drawn 48 hours in advance of play and golfers should provide their names, home club and handicaps either online, by phone or at one of the clubhouses before 2pm, two days before the day they wish to play. To enter there must be a minimum of two and a maximum of four players.
A tip . . . if you can’t get on the old course check for cancellations on their other courses. Golfers who have T times on those often get selected to play the Old Course that creates an open T time on the course that they beat you out of by booking early.
- The Old Course: The holy grail. Opened around 1400.
- The New Course: Opened in 1895 and designed by Old Tom Morris. Many locals consider it a tougher test than the Old.
- The Jubilee Course: Situated between the New Course and the sea, this is a challenging championship layout.
- The Castle Course: The newest addition (2008), perched on cliffs with dramatic views of St Andrews Bay.
- The Eden, Strathtyrum, and Balgove Courses: These offer a more forgiving but still authentic links experience. The Balgove is a fantastic 9-holer perfect for a warm-up or for families.
View from the Castle Course at St. Andrews.
https://standrews.com/golf/courses/old-course
Check out this link for How to Play Golf at St. Andrews:
https://www.caddiehq.com/resources/how-to-play-golf-at-st-andrews#understanding-the-st-andrews-links
The Bridge Picture
The 700 year old Swilcan Bridge is a must take selfie at the Old Course in St Andrews. It spans the Swilcan Burn and right next to a public sidewalk. You can easily run out for a quick pic if you haven’t made the cut on the Old Course ballot.
Renting Clubs
The guys working at St. Andrews are great! I would think that with the endless American hackers that show up to play their fabulous courses they would be a little burned out. Not So! They are friendly, professional, helpful, and extremely thoughtful. They help make your Home of Golf experience special.
They fixed us up with Calloway clubs the morning of and we were good to go. Tip . . . hit some balls and make sure that your driver is set up. My Calloway Epic at home is set up to draw and I found myself on the course hitting a fade because I hadn’t taken the time to set it up properly and I was on the course without the tool to fix it. I was a little rushed that morning having taken a phrenetic Uber ride from Edinburg to make our T time.
Getting to St. Andrews
You’ve got to know how to get there! Unless you’ve got a private jet or yacht you’ll probably go through Edinburg. You can fly commercial into Edinburg or you get there by train. We flew into Edinburg and slept our way from Edinburg to London via the Caledonia Sleeper. It was a fun experience.
I recommend going to St. Andrews the day before. Unless your T time is in the afternoon it takes about 90 minutes from Edinburg to St. Andrews in an Uber racing to make your 10:00 T time. Not recommended . . . and expensive!
Heading back from St. Andrews to Edinburg we took a bus to the train station and a train back to Edinburg. This was easy, cheaper, and much less frightening than the Uber driving ensuring that we got there in time!
Eating in Scotland
Two London Metro police officers advised that “you’ve got to try the Haggis with whiskey sauce!” They provided a “tell” through their sly smiles when recommending.
Haggis looks innocent enough. Haggis with whisky sauce typically includes haggis, neeps (mashed turnips), and tatties (mashed potatoes), topped with a creamy whisky sauce made from double cream, whisky, mustard, and seasoning. What this description doesn’t say is that it also includes “sheep’s pluck.” Sheep’s pluck consists of their heart, liver, and lungs. I’m thinking that’s why you need the whiskey sauce! I didn’t try it.
I tried the Scottish macaroni and cheese pie on the “turn” on the Castle Course.
Macaroni and cheese pie is not something I would normally eat but I would order it again.
If you’re a golfer The Home of Golf is a bucket list item you must enjoy . . . either with or without the Haggis.
Life with Cancer 