axeljen

We are spending one night in late August in Edinburgh prior to departing by rented car to explore various regions of Scotland. We’ll have a bit more time in the city at the end of our trip, but just an afternoon and morning there initially. The idea of landing at the airport, picking up the rental car, getting comfortable with driving on the other side of the road, and making our way into Edinburgh to park and sightsee (all while acclimating to the time change) seems insane, especially given that it is the busiest, most crowded time of year to see Edinburgh with multiple festivals going on, etc.

I have not yet booked lodging or a car in the city, and am wondering if it would work to stay at a hotel near the airport or on the outskirts and take the train into Edinburgh for an afternoon and evening of sightseeing. We’d return to our hotel & car and depart from there the next morning. If this is feasible, can anyone suggest a more concrete plan including where we might stay that is convenient to the train and where we’d rent a car?

Thank you very much for any and all input!

janisj

You have two practical options:

1) stay at an airport hotel and take the tram into town and back to get a taste of the city. You could pick up the car on arrival and park it at the airport hotel, or the next morning after a good night's sleep.

2) Take the tram or a cab (depending where you are staying) into the city, stay the night, back to EDI in the morning, collect the car and head out.

I'd choose #1 because many city center hotels will have 2 or 3 night minimums in August, and even if they allow a one-night booking, the rates will be really high for basically a few hours in the city.

BTW - there is no 'train' into Edinburgh -- it is a tram that stops several places in the center.

Have you booked your hotel when you return to the city at the end? If not, do so ASAP

Cathinjoetown

Another option is to pick your rental car in the city center the morning after your flight, I did this years ago at Waverly train station. I don't remember any issues getting out of town from the station.

Gardyloo

I've stayed a couple of times at the Dakota near EDI - quite modern and sleek, but surprisingly affordable too. Land, collect the car, drive 5 min. to the Dakota, and the next morning you can be off either on the M8, M9 or the A90 over the bridge, all readily accessible from the hotel. If you don't want to hit the sack immediately upon arriving and checking in, it's a very short drive or a rather long walk from the Dakota to South Queensferry, which is a quite picturesque and historic village on the water, with superb views of the Forth bridges. http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.u...rry/index.html

http://www.dakotahotels.co.uk/hotels/edinburgh/

Oh it now appears the Dakota has an airport shuttle M-F, so if the timing works you could use that and pick up the car the next morning back at the airport.

janisj

>>Another option is to pick your rental car in the city center the morning after your flight,

PalenQ

Weird no train service and the main train line to Glasgow skirts the perpiphery of the airport - can't fathom why an airport station was not put up long ago - now the tram is good to go to Edinburgh but folks from all over could take the train right to the airport.

axeljen

Thank you all for your speedy replies and advice! I'll look into an airport hotel and the Dakota. Thanks for the correction on the tram too.

I think we'll avoid driving in the chaos of the city center and pick up a car at the airport, perhaps the next morning.

Dukey1

Good idea! When I was making hotel reservations last year for the beginning of the Fringe period this year there were already some places which were almost sold out.

tom_mn

JanisJ has excellent advice here.

Practically an airport hotel is the Edinburgh Marriott which is within walking distance of a shopping mall, the tram, and a short drive to the village under the Forth bridges for the spectacular view most miss. I think most other airport hotels (Hilton, holiday inn) are isolated so no walking.

cmcfong

Based on gardyloo's suggestion, I booked the Dakota. We are traveling in Sept and got a good rate, almost half the posted rack rate, by booking directly with the hotel.