I'd rent a car just for two days Thurs to Sat AM and drive maybe one of the loops I mentioned above. Then Early Sat morning drive back to Edinburgh, drop the car and spend most of Sat and Sun in the city car-less. Fly back to London in the evening - after dinner if there is a flight that fits time-wise. This will give you the best part of 2 days for the countryside and almost 2 days in Edinburgh.

As for what to see/do one easy loop would be Stirling the Trossachs, and Loch Lomond. I'd stay somewhere w/i about 5 miles of Callander both nights. It would be a good base to see lovely scenery and be w/i about 1hour of EDI if you wanted to drop the car there.

Or -- you could drive into Fife and stay in Crail or Anstruther your 2 nights.This would be a base for St Andrews, the fishing villages, Falkland Palace, maybe a boat ride out to the Isle of May. And still just a little over an hour from EDI.

Where to stay -- what is your budget?

We're flexible on costs. I'm hoping that hotels are cheaper than London!

there's 'flexible' -- and then there is FLEXIBLE :)

Honestly, you must have some sort of budget to give us an idea.

Sure hotels are cheaper in most of Scotland -- But Edinburgh gets nearly London rates (and sometimes more). But B&Bs and country hotels are usually much cheaper -- unless you want a posh castle hotel.

So - budget??

We're thinking between $150 - $200 tops. I love quaint little hotels and B&B's.

Probably the single best located B&B in Edinburgh http://www.castleviewgh.co.uk/index.html

Right off Princes street and Rose street w/ some views of the castle, good breakfasts, walking distance to everything.

Only downside --it is on the 3rd and 4th floors (4th and 5th floors in 'American') w/ no lift. But they will carry the bags up for you. I also see from the website they've added accommodations on the 1st floor (2nd floor)

As for where to stay on the nights away from Edinburgh -- Fife, the Trossachs, Callander, Aberfoyle, etc are full of B&Bs. Once you decide which direction you are heading we can help w/ suggestions.

At this late date you may have to contact several places to find availability.

What's the closest (and easiest to get to) airport to the Charing Cross Hotel?

In looking at fares for Ireland (Easyjet)and Scotland (Aer Lingus), I saw that that there are different prices based on the airport. However, I know that I'll need to pay to get to the airports as well (which varies considerably as well!).

Right now I'm considering Gatwick, Luton and Stansted airports. One of the flights I'm looking at leaves at 6:20am so I'll need to make sure I can get there in time.

I think Gatwick is the easiest as it is simple on the train from Victoria or London Bridge (Southern Trains, not Gatwick Express which is more costly). Stansted isnt too bad - train from Liverpool St.

Luton requires a train and bus trip.

When considering cheap airlines like Easyjet or Ryanair be sure you understand the extra charges and luggage allowances. They are SUPER strict and you could be charged a tonne if you go over.

Ryanair.com

Easyjet.com

Venice

Paris

Cheap booked in advance

Have done Venice(Treviso) for 1 pound plus fees like 15 pounds in the past

Edinburgh Highlands by train wonderful amazing

Carrentals.com to Bath Cotswolds Wales closer beautiful also

Happy Planning,

Just booked my hotel in London and my flight to Edinburgh. Here's my itinerary so far.

6/24: Fly to London
6/24-6/25: Holiday Inn Kings Cross
6/26 - 6/29: Charing Cross Hotel
6/30: Fly to Edinburgh early morning
6/30 - 7/1: Travel around Scotland by car. Itinerary TBD.
7/2: Return to Edinburgh. Hotel TBD
7/3: Late evening - fly back to London
7/4: Fly back home

Any suggestions on what do do and where to stay in Scotland for the first 2 days would be wonderful. I'll also need to find a place in Edinburg the night of 7/2. Our stay in Scotland is very short so I know we won't be able to see much. However, I'd like to maximize our time as much as possible.

Thank you!

Just time for a quick comment right now . . .

This hotel is located on the Lake of Menteith and just about 1 hour from EDI. It is lovely, fits in your budget (at least some of the rooms do) and is in a <u>terrific</u> location to tour from Killin/Falls of Dochart to Loch Lomond to the Trossachs to Doune/Stirling Castle. Plus is is a short walk to the pier for the boats out to Inchmahome Priory.

http://www.lake-hotel.com/

Bump

Honestly I would do whatever janisj or shelia told me to do.
I went to scotland in 2008 and they were immensely and immeasurably helpful in planning my itinerary.

I do second the suggestion of taking the boat out to Inchmahome Priory. It was magical.

The Lake Hotel looks really nice and they do have availability for my dates. Sounds like this could be a good base for our driving tours.

As we'll only have Thursday and Friday, what are the must see sights? My husband's getting used to the idea of having to drive in Scotland :) We'll be heading back to Edinburgh on Saturday.

I pretty much laid out the main sites in my previous post.

Killin/Falls of Dochart, Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, Doune Castle, Stirling Castle - and definitely Inchmahome Priory.

There are other places you'll see along your Trossachs drives - Loch Katrine, Loch Earn, Loch Voil/Balquhidder (where Rob Roy is buried), Loch Tay (next to the Falls of Dochart) etc.

There won't be traffic at any of these places.

Any suggestions on restaurants while I'm in Scotland? I'll be staying by Lake of Menteith the first 2 nights and then Edinburgh for 1 1/2 days.