We booked via D-Reizen and there was no transfer involved. So we panicked, what should we do? We asked our hotel if they could arrange a transfer and they pointed us to the tram. We hesitated, but finally we went for the tram and boy are we not sorry!! We downloaded this app on our phone, M tickets and with this app we could purchase tram- or bustickets. You need to buy tickets for 10 pound each, but you could share your tickets so you don't need to spend 10 pounds each. You need to have the app both, but one buys the tickets (a return to the airport costs 8,50 pound for one). In addition to this we bought a day ticket for the bus for 4 pound. With this we made our very own hop on hop off bus ;-).
We arrived at the airport, you walk outside and there is the tram! Is it really easy. You swipe your ticket, then it is activated and you show it to the ticket controller in the tram. In the tram there are luggage bins, really easy and with 30 minutes you are in the city.
Our hotel wouldn't check us in before 15.00, so we had the whole day to discover Edinburgh. It is gorgeous!! Great looking cabs, phone booths, double-decker bus and a great red bus.
Further more you can't miss the pubs, most of them have live music.
He is buried at the cemetery behind the Greyfriars Bobby pub. It is very impressive to walk around there. I understand that story's like Harry Potter were born in Edinburgh, because all the buildings throughout the whole city speak to your imagination.
After a fish and chips with a Lager beer it was time to go to bed. The next day we would take a Highland tour with Grayline.
I would recommend Grayline because they pick you up from your hotel. Our driver was Dougie (Douglas official), you should get him. He is very funny, talks really Scottish and knows a whole lot of the history.
The first stop was in Callander, also known as the gateway to the Highlands. Here we stayed for 30 minutes to get some breakfast.
The next stop was at Glencoe. We stopped here for about 10 minutes to take pictures.
It is beautiful here. Ans to my surprise there was this wee boy, who played the bagpipes and very well may I add. I think it is wonderful that the youth learns to play this instrument, please keep it alive!!
Then we drove all the way to fort Augustus, beter known as Loch Ness. Be aware if you take this tour that the main objective is Loch Ness and the rest is extra. At Loch Ness we stop for two hours. You can do an additional boottour here for 13 pound each.
We didn't see Nessie so we went back to the hotel. The tour is twelve hours in the bus. You see a lot while you are in the bus, but they rarely stop. But we have seen enough, that meaning that we will definitely go back to the Highlands!!!!
The next morning we got up really early and went to Arthurs Seat.
One tip: go around the left of the mountain!! We went right and we had this very difficult, steap path to walk and when we thought we were there, we had to go down and then up again. When you go left, you don't have this problem! If you are finally up there, you have the best view of the town. On top of the world!!
We will certainly return to Scotland and to Edinburgh, because I haven't had the time to drink whiskey and listen to live music! We will not return to our hotel, hotel Piries. We travel a lot, but this was seriously the baddest hotel I have ever been to. There were stains on the bed, staff smoking under our window and when we returned from Arthurs Seat, we were 8 minutes late for breakfast and they didn't want to give a even a cup of coffee, because we were late. The male receptionist was very rude, he jawned in front op people, he grabbed cakes for the guests from the breakfast and ate them himself. After we couldn't have breakfast, he made himself a sandwich. No manners this guy unfortunately. I must say that Julia, the receptioniste, was very helpful, compliments for her.
We are definitely in love and we will return!!
When you think what a bad pictures, you are right, these are all mine. If you want to see really good, mind-blowing pictures please take a look at Edwins Facebook album Edinburgh and Edwins Facebook album Highlands
