First Trip to Europe - Is Edinburgh Possible?
 

My boyfriend and I are traveling to Europe for the first time ever this September. We can both only take off two weeks from work so we are going to stick to our top picks in the Northern part of Europe - England, Paris and Amsterdam. We leave Friday, Sept 7 and return Sat, Sept 22. We would really like to include a visit to Edinburgh, Scotland in the trip but not sure how travel would work to incorporate this into our trip! We thought of two potential options but wanted to seek some advice!

1. We would take a red eye on Friday from US to London, have a 2 hour layover at Heathrow and then fly to Edinburgh. We would arrive Saturday evening in Edinburgh, have 2-3 days there and then train down to London. We would then finish our trip as planned going from London to Paris, Paris to Amsterdam and then fly back to the US via Amsterdam.

2. We would take a red eye on Friday from US to London, stay in London 3-4 days, then train to Edinburgh for 2 days. I've heard of day trips but don't know if that would be worth it. My hesitation with this plan is we would have to check out of our London hotel, train to Scotland, stay a few days and then in order to go to our next destination (Paris) we would go right back through London. Not sure if that is a good use of time!

Any other suggestions or advice? Thank you very much for your time and help on this!

If this will help you decide, you wouldn't have to return to London to get to Paris. You can fly directly from EDI to CDG.

Edinburgh at the front end or after London would work equally well. If it was me, I'd probably do London first. But some like to get all the heavy traveling out of the way as soon as possible.

Thanks for the advice! I think flying to Paris is a great idea. Can you make a suggestion on how to find direct flights to Paris from Edinburgh?

I really liked Edinburgh, but didn't do things in that direction (I flew into Dublin, then flew from Dublin to Edinburgh then took local transportation down to London). SO it is out of the way a bit if you fly into London, but I agree with Janis, there is no reason for you to go back through London from Edinburgh before going to the continent. Why do you think you have to go through London? You can fly from Edinburgh to Paris on Easyjet, for example, pretty cheap. Would save a lot of time, also. You can also go on www.flybe.com airline pretty cheap.

Air France, easyJet and FlyBe all fly EDIt o CDG.

I believe there is also a direct flight from the US to Edinburgh, possibly from Newark.

That is exactly what we did. Started our trip in London, then trained to Edinburgh and then took Easy Jet to CDG. Very easy. No backtracking.

oops - should be >>EDI to CDG<<

Thank you!! The reason I said going through England to Paris was if we took the train. We had hoped to take the Chunnel (for the experience!) but if we wanted to see Edinburgh then I think your suggestion of flying from EDI to CDG is wonderful advice.

The track is dead smooth and the train just goes in one end and out the other. From memory I don't think there are many lights. My G&T stayed level all the way. It is a little dull no helicopters coming in behind you at all.

"Can you make a suggestion on how to find direct flights to Paris from Edinburgh?"

1. Go to computer
2. Google Edinburgh airport
4. Go to its website
3. Find out who flies to it from Paris

This works for every flight to every airport in the civilised world. Admittedly it's a bit trickier between two multi-airport cities.

But Edinburgh isn't such a city.

Haha. Thanks! I think the flight from Scotland to Paris will be easiest! Here is what our itinerary may look like. Advice?

Friday 9/7: Red Eye from US to Heathrow
9/8: Arrive London
9/9: London
9/10: London
9/11: London
9/12: London
9/13: Train to Edinburgh
9/14: Edinburgh
9/15: Evening flight Edinbugh to Paris
9/16: Paris
9/17: Paris
9/18: Paris
9/19: Train Paris to Amsterdam
9/20: Amsterdam
9/21: Amsterdam
9/22: Noon flight Amsterdam to US

Thanks for the advice flanneruk. I love that I can ask a question and get such eclectic answers. The point of that particular question was to receive personalized advice on what flights you all would suggest taking for Edinburgh to Paris (which is shy I use and love thus forum!) I understand that google could give me the facts of which airlines fly where but thank you for the reminder. ;)

*why and *this. Sorry for the "auto-correct"!

There are direct flights from the US to Scotland - either Edinburgh or Glasglow. Not sure where you are coming from or what your choices are - but do look into this option. You could then train to London and take the Eurostar to Paris and Thalys on to Amsterdam - avoid all the hassles of more flights.

There are very few gateways in the US w/ direct flights to Scotland. If you are near one of them then nytraveler's option is good.

Otherwise, your last itinerary is about perfect. I might (just <i>might</i>) take one day from A'dam and add it to Paris . . . or at least take a late train to A'dam to give most of another day in Paris.

<i>Can you make a suggestion on how to find direct flights to Paris from Edinburgh?</i>

Edinburgh Airport website or any flight finding website like Kayak.

There are also flights to Amsterdam that you can find the same way.

So you could do the maths and work out which order of cities works out cheapest.

Thanks everyone!! I appreciate all of your advice. Please let me know if you have any suggestions for our itinerary. I will probably post again once it's solidified! Thanks again!

Buy a ticket to EDI via AMS return by Paris(KLM/Delta/Air France).
To book this you will have to contact the airline and it should cost no more than a straight return flight from USA-LHR or USA-EDI/AMS.
Stay in Amsterdam a few nights, then Edinburgh a few days train to London & Paris and back home. Big saving the high cost of getting from London Airports to City. Big bonus is Edinburgh is Europes most beautiful Capital City don't miss it!