ah, now I'm just depressed. This was kind-of a spur of the moment trip...well, for a couple months we've been talking about it. Had to get my birth certificate to get my passport, and that all took a little bit of time and money. So I had to wait to get my passport before I could book a flight. But I don't know anything about ff miles, and never would've imagined you would have to book so far ahead. That's really messed up. They give people these miles, but they really can't use them when and how they'd like to.

Caroline, we are planning on calling bmi Friday (waiting til then cuz that's when I get paid. lol) and so I hope that maybe by calling, as you said, they can find something for me. I've figured that the website might not be accurate. Of course, I've been looking at general flights, not ff flights because I don't have the log-in to the "Diamond Club" section where, I guess, they show the availability of the ff flights.

I wish I had the money to just book a regular ticket, but sadly, I don't. Now I'm so sad that I might not be able to go. I've always dreamed of going to the UK, and now it may not be happening :-(

wow a year ahead. I just did some searching on Continental's site and I see some options for us. I don't see how to buy one ticket though and use miles for one. It seems like it has to be two separate bookings, which doesn't make sense to me.

I guess we will have to fly to EDI like usual. One flight there is 1,100. A flight to Aberdeen is 3,000. Ridiculous.

I hope you get to go er77 :(

Hi ER...
Was just checking in on this post and realised you asked me a question ages ago... sorry!

I really hope you're able to go... you never know, my inlaws came to visit us on airmiles and were able to book them a couple months in advance. so it is possible. Good luck! I would definitely call back if the first person doesn't seem helpful - sometimes if you get a nice person it can make all the difference.

In answer to your question, we love living here! It was such a fantasy of ours to move overseas and it was such a great decision for us. I still get excited whenever we walk past the castle, it's just such a beautiful city.

Keep us posted!

Can I tell you that my daughter recently booked an FF flight to New York City and back from Philadelphia on Air France and B.A. respectively from Edinburgh. It was relatively easy because she is going in November which didn't seem to be so popular so don't give up!
On the basis you get to Edinburgh then a really good walk is up to Dean village then down the Water of Leith to (you've guessed it ) Leith and then sit in a pub waiting for your mate to come and pick you up. I did this in November last year and enjoyed it very much- you get a view of another side of Edinburgh. It will take you a few hours most obviously influenced by how long you spend in the pub!

er, I am keeping my fingers crossed for you. But maybe if you can't come next month, you could come another time ?

If you are around in the next few hours & tell me where you want to travel from, I could have a look at the Diamond Club site to see what it says.

Ok...some possibly good news....

James called bmi yesterday to try to get flights. He talked to a rep, in India, not that there's anything wrong with that, but the rep couldn't understand what he was trying to say, and I don't think James much could understand him either. lol But James asked him about using the airmiles for my trip, and that I was leaving on the 18th. The rep said that it wouldn't be a problem using his airmiles, but that there was nothing on the 18th, but there was on the 19th, and it would be Lufthansa from Charlotte to Munich, then to Heathrow, then to Edinburgh. James said that was fine, and then the rep quoted him £870 ($1600 USD), which is almost the amount of a full fare, not using ff miles! So James told him that that was wrong, and that he had talked to a rep about it a couple months ago (when we first started thinking about this) and that rep quoted him £272. I had been thinking he said $272, not pounds, but still, that would be fine with me. But the Indian rep didn't seem to understand and James demanded to know why the price went from £272 to £870. I guess the rep couldn't come up with a reason, and he told James to contact Customer Care, but by the time James got off the phone, customer care had already closed for the day. I looked online, and though reservations and inquiries is open all week, customer care is only mon-fri. So James has to wait til Monday to contact them and see why the difference in price and hope they lower it back down.

So, good news is, they have flights available for me, even if it is a day or two or three away from what I originally planned. Bad news is, if they don't lower the price, I won't be going.

OH, Sweetbippity...if I leave on the 19th...I might run into you somewhere along the journey! What airport are you leaving out of?

Frances...thanks for your suggestion on walking to Leith. I've thought about going out that way before, but your suggestion has made me decide to do it! :-)

Pittpurple...where did you move from? You're so lucky to live in Edinburgh. Ever since I was very young, I've wanted to live overseas. Back when I was that little, I wanted to live in Paris, France, but the UK obsession came later on, in my early 20's and continues to this day. Whenever I used to say I wanted to live in Paris (I was like, 8-10 years old) my mom and her ex-fiancee would get all fired up and say "You don't know how lucky you have it, young lady, you live in the greatest country in the world!! You should be proud to live in the USA!!" and I would just roll my eyes. lol And, I'm not bad-mouthing the US, and it is a great country, but I've just always felt like I would fit in better in the UK or Europe. I would love to live over there one day.

Caroline...keep crossing those fingers for me! lol Maybe (HOPEFULLY) by Monday, I'll have good news to pass on!

Hi er,

First of all, good to know we're not visiting the same guy! hehe.

My fingers are also crossed for you! I know how disappointing it would be to have to cancel a trip you've been looking forward to. :( I almost had to do that when Zoom collapsed.

I'll actually be in Scotland from October 3-27, so I won't be flying the same day as you, but I would be heading to Livingston on the same day (19th). I'd be going there from Glasgow, though.

Again, best of luck. Hope you come back with some good news!

Good luck ER, keep us posted!
Well... I grew up in NY but was living in Pittsburgh for several years when I moved overseas. I had never had the opportunity to travel much growing up so we decided to just jump on this opportunity while we had the chance - no real responsibilities yet! So my husband applied for every single job he was qualified for in several English-speaking cities (unfortunately neither of us has any aptitude for languages!) and we took the first offer. It's been such a great experience - it's so amazing to actually see all the places I've heard about from other people.

I hope you'll make it to Edinburgh, it's such a beautiful city.

I love edinburgh and go over as often as I can. I could spend hours just going from coffee shop to coffee shop as there are so many unique, cosy little ones there (elephant house and patisserie florentine to name a few). There is a museum of childhood on the Royal Mile that's worth a visit and try to get up Arthur's Seat for the view.

You might get a few ideas from here too: http://www.gaelcommunity.com/forums/t/10458.aspx

Finally, for some good restaurants try these (my favourites):
http://www.thaiorchid.uk.com/
http://www.mammas.co.uk/

So, I think its pretty clear from my post that I would suggest a good few hours just to amble round and soak up the atmosphere without plannin too much!

Well, as of right now, still not sure that I'll even be going. Things aren't looking too good :-( James called customer service and they wouldn't lower the price to what they originally quoted him. So, as it stands, it's £870 for my tickets. Which is a little over $1500, which I sooooo do not have! I told James he tried, and thanks anyway, but he is determined to get me over there, and he said he applied for a loan from his bank. He said that if they don't approve him, he will try a couple others. I feel really bad and told him not to worry about it, and that in a few months time, I could have the money, but he said he wants to do this for me. He is so sweet!

So, he hasn't heard anything yet from the bank. I really hope it goes through, and that I can go visit him, but at the same time, I hate that he would have to do that.

I'll keep you updated :-)

And thank you pinpin for the advice!
Will check out those websites now.

er, that is sweet ! Still keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Let me know if and when you want my restaurant list - personally I wouldn't recommend Mamma's.

Ok, thanks Caroline! I will!

I was only in Edinburgh for the day in 2004, but loved the city and the people. If you go on a tour of the Britannica (I thought it would be alot more luxurious), try the homemade fudge they sell onboard - wow! I ate dinner at The Witchery (which is just down the street from Edinburgh Castle on the right) and it was one of the BEST meals I have ever had. Yum yum. I accidentally left my good scarf there, I emailed them from home (US) about it and they sent it to me - nice people!

Thanks blondiepopo! I do love fudge! lol I heard The Witchery was really good, but it sounded expensive. Was it?

I like chocolate but am not crazy about fudge sometimes but I bought the 3 layer flavor (chocolate, vanilla/coconut, and I think the pink flavor was strawberry). Kind of like those triple color candies that you find in the US. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I think my dinner and dessert at the Witchery was about $50 with tip. I was by myself so didn't have a family to feed but to me, it was worth every penny. I think they have a website. I rarely drink so doubt I had any liquor on the bill either. It's down the stairs in an old building (guess witches were burned at the stake hundreds of years ago) and it was all candlelight (I ate there for dinner) with wooden beams and I just loved it.

They do have a website - thewitchery.com. Looks like it may be a little more than $50 for dinner/dessert but it depends on what you order and if you order alcohol. I don't think you will be disappointed at all though by this restaurant. I had such a great day in Edinburgh. I was in London by myself, and flew there for the day. I took the bus to downtown and walked everywhere except I had to take a bus to the Brittanica. If I had to omit one thing I saw that day, it would be the Brittanica. I expected Onassis type opulence and it wasn't that. I saw the Edinburgh Castle, Holyroodhouse, went on the whiskey tour (near The Witchery). The tour was fun and learned alot of new facts about how whiskey is distilled. I do like Bailey's Irish Cream, and this company makes a cream liquor that tastes very close to Bailey's and I bought a bottle of that and brought it home. There's a shop on the left side of the street walking towards downtown from the Castle (it's very close to the entrance to the Castle) and they weave scarves, other woolen items. I bought alot of scarves for gifts and everyone loved them. I saw all of this in less than 12 hours from arrival to departure time, and left about 8pm and returned to London. It was one of the highpoints of my trip to London/Paris. The people are wonderful - very warm and friendly. I would love to see the western coast of Scotland - I've heard that is beautiful. Hopefully another trip----------------

I've eaten at the Witchery twice. First time was amazing, second time did not live up to it. My Dad did say it was the best steak he's had in his life though.

I enjoyed The Witchery Tour (leaves from the same place).

My take on The Witchery is that it is too expensive for what you get. There are several more moderately priced restaurants in the New Town area on Rose St. that are a better deal.

My take is that the Witchery is very expensive; and while it's quite good, there are quite a few better - Martin Wishart, the Kitchin (two of the 3 Michelin starred restaurants - of which the Witchery isn't one) and the Vintners' Rooms, to name but 3. The Witchery's two restaurants are both quite atmospheric, though. The name is hokum.

P.S. The rooms are pretty amazing though, for a 1 night stay for a special occasion.