Hi, Due to a mistake on Continental's part, my husband has an unexpected one-night stay in Edinburgh in a week or so. He will be coming from Glasgow early (via train/bus) in the day and has an early flight (7:00 a.m.) the following morning. He would like to spend the day seeing Edinburgh, but not be too far from the airport for the early flight.

Usually when visiting a city, I would research it to death, but we don't have time as we just found out about the mistake this morning.

So, I am really hoping Fodorites can help in deciding where to stay. Any recommendations about a hotel (under $250, if possible) in either the airport area or city center would be appreciated, as well as which of the 2 areas would be better. He will be leaving on a weekday, if that influences the recommendation.

Thank you!

I can't say how far to the airport the city center is,as when I was in Edinburgh we had driven up from Glasgow, but Edinburgh is such a great place. It would be a shame not to stay in the city. There is a quirky little hotel that wasn't too expensive called the Bank Hotel. It has a bar in the ground floor, which can be noisy till the wee hours, so try to get one the nine rooms at the highest level. Each room is themed to a great Scotsman. We stayed in the Watt room. The Ritz it aint, but it's central to everything, right on the Royal Mile, and has a young vibe to it (like most of the city). He may feel that it is too noisy for a great night's rest, but if he's looking for a vibrant, youthful experience...

As for seeing things in the city, try a tour of the underground city. We shopped a bunch of tours and decided on Mary King's Close (sp?). You enter through a bookstore down a dark staiway and find yourself in a pitch black city that hasn't seen the light of day for 400+ years. It's very cool! The tour is guided, and the guide does have a light!

Good luck to him!

Bill

I didn't go to Edinburgh Airport, but there's an airport bus that goes there very quickly from several destinations in the center of town. A taxi would be even quicker.

Thanks for the information. I will pass it along to my husband.

Any other recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Can't help w/ city center hotels since I either stay in B&Bs or rent apartments so not sure what the rates have gotten up to at those hotels I do know. (But we have a couple of Fodorites who live in Edinburgh and a few others from Scotland so hopefully they will see your thread)

But just in general - the airport bus goes from the center of the city out to EDI and is easy and cheap. He can see a lot of Edinburgh in one day so it is a nice mistake to have. If he does decide to stay out at EDI because the flight is so early - I'd stay in the city centre all day and not head out until 9:00 or 10:00 to get the most out of the days.

It's less than 7 miles from the centre of Edinburgh to the airport so there's no real point in staying near the airport.

There are 2 ways of getting from the centre that early by public transport - www.flybybus.com which runs it's normal service from Princes Street and www.edinburghshuttle.com which will pick you up from your hotel.

If he has to be at the airport REALLY early then the N22 night bus runs to the airport from Princes Street, details are on the flybybus website

I stayed in the Scotsman last night for a mere £99. Look on laterooms.com

There is an excellent Marriot very close to the airport and also on a direct bus line into the city (in case he does not have car). It is actually a golf club but the hotel is excellent, has good dining options, and of course meets the normal Marriot quality standards. It is the
Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club here is a link
http://marriott.co.uk/Channels/hotel...-country-club/

Thank you all so much for all the info. I think with the airport being so close to downtown, he will probaby stay there. Also, I found that his flight is not until 9:30, so that makes it a lot easier!

A city centre hotel would be the better suggestion as he can then spend as much times a he likes during the day looking round the city. In the evening he could take one of the many walking tours or continue with his sightseeing especially as there is a lot to do and see in the in the Old Town / Royal Mile areas of the city centre. The hotels best suited to such a stay would be the Scotsman, Radisson, Hudson as these are all within a very short walk of an airport bus stop / stance and they get reasonably good reviews.
Depending on when your husband needs to be out at the airport the best option would be to take the dedicated airport bus. Early in the morning the airport bus gets passengers out to the airport in 20 minutes and the single fare is £3. The bus at its slowest can take about 25 - 30 minutes but that is only during the peak morning or evening traffic.

W/ a 0930 flight I'd definitely stay in the city and not out at EDI. My suggestion was based on an 0700 flight time (and even then I only offered it as a possibility)

He'll be able to see a lot in 1 day