Edinburgh during late May -- hotel?
 

Hi there,

Hikrguy and I are thinking about going to Edinburgh during the long Memorial Day weekend, departing NYC Thursday evening May 25 and returning on Tuesday May 30. We would be on the ground 4 full days.

We're only just starting research now and would like to know if there are certain neighborhoods in Edinburgh which are more centrally located than others. I saw one recent post which recommends the Premier Inns, which are in our price range. We prefer not to be in the middle of it all (we hate Times Square in NYC for instance) but still would like to be within general walking distance.

Hikrguy would like me to ask what the public transit system is like in Edinburgh. How is the bus network? He is interested in renting a car for a day to go out to some nearby distilleries and was wondering if it made more sense to keep a car for the whole visit. (I think not, but he wanted me to ask the experts, so I'll let you all weigh in -- gently please.)

Thanks very much for any and all assistance!

Well first of al there ain't anything like Times Square in Edinburgh. For such a short visit I'd want to stay as centrally as possible. There are several Travelodges, Premier Inns and Apex in the central area (either up on top in the Old Town or down the hill on and just north of Princes Street.

As for renting a car for a Whisky tour -- I'd recommend this instead:

https://www.rabbies.com/en/tour-scot...hisky-day-tour

Rabbies is a terrific company and does small group tours (fewer than 16 passengers)

. . . also on the Royal mile just down from the Castle is the Scotch Whisky centre https://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk

Just a heads up. We changed our Edinburgh days from the time you are going to be there, because that weekend is the Edinburgh Marathon.

((H))

... which covers everything you would want to see re whisky manufacture leaving more time for the really important part - the drinking

maitaitom on Jan 2, 17 at 1:28pm
Just a heads up. We changed our Edinburgh days from the time you are going to be there, because that weekend is the Edinburgh Marathon.


oh! Thank you maitai! That changes things. I hate NYC on Marathon weekend and would not want to visit somewhere for the first time with a crowd like that.

Also -- don't laugh -- we were so excited about the idea of Edinburgh in the spring that we completely forgot we are having a guest from England the week before Memorial Day. We're his last stop on his RTW tour before he goes home. So of course we better be here in NJ and not on vacation. Somehow it wasn't on the shared google calendar. Oops. So this entire trip is now postponed until 2018. Hikrguy now wants to think about going during the Fringe Festival. ....

thanks anyway, everyone!

>>Hikrguy now wants to think about going during the Fringe Festival. ….<<

Another heads up -- Edinburgh is much MUCH more crowded during the Fringe/Festivals/Tattoo in August than it is for the marathon. <B>MUCH

And room rates are MUCH more expensive

The Marathon is a mere blip by comparison

janisj on Jan 3, 17 at 10:37am
>>Hikrguy now wants to think about going during the Fringe Festival. ….<<

Another heads up -- Edinburgh is much MUCH more crowded during the Fringe/Festivals/Tattoo in August than it is for the marathon. MUCH

And room rates are MUCH more expensive

The Marathon is a mere blip by comparison


Janis, I will definitely tell him!

Hello. On my last visit we stayed at Knight's Residence apartments. It offered free parking, was an easy walk into town and was well located for grocery shopping.

While free parking may be a plus, you really don't need a car while visiting Edinburgh. As janisj mentioned for a day trip use Rabbies.

As to hotels, Premier Inn has several good locations. If you're there during the marathon, and I agree I don't think it'll be too much of a problem, try the Premier Inn on Prince's Street. It's at the west end and marathon course starts at Holyrood Palace ( east end) although the start will be early enough that it won't interfere with visiting the Palace. The rest of the course shouldn' t affect the usual sightseeing spots.