Edinburgh is a great place to go on holiday. There is stunning scenery, some of the most interesting history and architecture there is, as well as the biggest arts festival in the world. It really is a beautiful, and many faceted, city. It inspires writers as diverse as Ian Rankin, JK Rowling and Alexander McColl Smith today and previously people like Adam Smith, Robert Louis Stevenson and Muriel Spark.
So you have decided to come to Edinburgh. Where are you going to stay? You have plenty of options each with their pros and cons.
Hotels are an obvious choice. There is a wide range from top of the market luxury and grandeur at the Scotsman and Balmoral, more intimate at the Glasshouse and Channings through to budget options such as Premier Inns and Holiday Inn Express with lots in between. A point to be aware of is the Edinburgh hotels are reputed to be 2nd only to London in the UK in terms of expense and occupancy.
Guest Houses and Bed and Breakfast establishments offer a more personal service than hotels. They are plentiful around Edinburgh and again you can get luxury, budget and most options in between. Whilst guest houses and B&Bs may have less facilities than the larger hotels some cater to specialist markets such as Vegan or gay.
Hostels are a popular choice for the young. The Scottish Youth Hostel Association rents out some student accommodation as summer hostels so boosting capacity. The YHA on Leith Walk is extremely well appointed with single rooms. There are some good value hostels on and near the Royal Mile and some will provide private rooms.
Self-catering is another option. You can get self catering properties that work out to be even cheaper than hostels, and you will usually get a kitchen/living room of your own. At the other end of the scale there are some wonderfully luxurious self-catering properties available that will come with maid service and you can even hire a chef if you want to have self catering luxury and space without the effort of cooking!
Self-catering is a particularly good option for families. The sleeping arrangements are normally more appropriate with children being able to have separate rooms from Mum and Dad without huge cost. You have a kitchen so you can feed them food you know they will eat (at least for some of the time!). When they get tired you can retire to your apartment and let them rest or just watch TV for a while.
Whatever accommodation you choose, you should have plenty to do and see in Edinburgh. Have a great time!
Author: Janet Unsworth. Janet is a partner in Edinburgh Flats Partnership which provides a range of budget to luxury self-catering accommodation in Edinburgh - book online today at http://www.edinburgh-flats.com or call Janet on (044) 789 420 5600 |
