I've got a flight out of Edinburgh booked for a couple weeks time and I'll need overnight accommodation somewhere in the vicinity.
Flight is 11:50 in the morning so not stupidly early and I'll be dropping a rental car off and I'll have a bike bag.
I haven't booked rental car yet, so not sure whether it will be an airport drop off or somewhere local (Arnold Clarke have small vans which would be very useful but don't allow airport drop off, but their depot isn't too far away - E11?)
"Airport" hotels are stupidly expensive so what other areas should I be looking at?
I'll be traveling down from Cairngorms the day before and I'm hoping to get a ride in somewhere around Perth. But Perth sounds a bit far out for staying the night before and would involve crossing Forth Bridge.
(Anyone any idea about rental car drop logistics with a bike bag? Do you need to get a bus from the drop off to the departure terminal? If so, are they mini buses or full size with luggage racks?)
1150 puts the entire edinburgh city centre at your disposal with an easy tram ride all the way in.
Sack off the car in the city?
But also...
"But Perth sounds a bit far out for staying the night before and would involve crossing Forth Bridge."
Its really not. Infact that would be perfect, an hours drive from perth to the airport the bridge is zero issue (and the forth bridge hasn't been a thing for 10 years)
Bike bag on a tram? Wouldn't the locals get a bit uppity? 😃
BTW: 11:50 flight means 8:50 check-in as it's a transatlantic flight 😔
Just been looking at Google Maps and it shows a big blob of red on the bridge with roadworks! Granted, I won't be travelling until near end of August....
It's a short walk from the car rental drop off to the terminal. Your flights late enough that you could stay in the city centre and tram / bus to the airport or maybe stay out at South Queensferry if city centre isn't your thing.
Here's you itinerary.
Enterprise sixt or basically any car hire.
Drop off on their leith walk branch (they all have one in that area.
Premier inn or other hotel on leith walk (again many options in a small area)
Jump on t a tram at 750 after a leisurely breakfast and arrive at airport chilled.
I'll be travelling with this (but leaving doggo at home)
So, I'm somewhat nervous about travelling on a tram in peak hour with it!
Its a tram that goe to the airport thats smaller than the average suitcase for a week in Málaga
Does your airline allow for twilight bag drop? If so that is a great option as also includes free short stay parking the evening before and then less travel hassle in the morning.
i agree that there is no need to stay near the airport but if you do, take a look at the pods at Lost Shore Surf resort. We stayed there recently for early flight and it was much nicer, and cheaper, than any airport hotel.
If it's in August hotels in Edinburgh will be pricey because of the festival. Perth won't be too bad, school holidays so traffic might be better, certainly less cars at rush hour just now. Dunfermline has a Premier Inn if you just want a bed for the night, get dinner in Perth.
Does your airline allow for twilight bag drop?
Not one of the airlines on the list, unfortunately 😔
I was contemplating dropping the bike bag at left luggage the night before though (assuming it's even possible). I don't mind paying a fee for overnight storage to save same hassle. That would also give me more freedom for rental car choice as I can't drop a van off at the airport. I'm fact, I could probably shorten the rental car/van period to the previous evening and just use hotel shuttle bus or tram depending on where I end up staying...
Just get the Ember bus to Edinburgh Airport from Aviemore.
Just get the Ember bus to Edinburgh Airport from Aviemore.
This.
Or it stops in Perth or Stirling.
Just get the Ember bus to Edinburgh Airport from Aviemore.
This.
Or it stops in Perth or Stirling.
That Ember website is....interesting. If you don't know the area, how do you determine where the bus stops are exactly for each route?
I can see it being advantageous to getting into the airport but I've still got to drop off a rental car and I'll still need to have accommodation the night before the flight. Eg I can see various rental car agencies in Perth (mostly on the outskirts) but I don't know exactly the bus stop is, so this would fall apart if I've got to hike miles between car rental agency, hotel and bus stop!
I had missed the August factor.
Sack off edinburgh the festival ruins hotels staying in the city.
But you really are over thinking this the airport is not hard to get to. If a van os more useful then just get rid of the van the day before in perth or even stirling and public transport it the rest of the way.
If a car is fine then the airport is very compact of the case has wheels its a very short walk.
I had missed the August factor.
Sack off edinburgh the festival ruins hotels staying in the city.
But you really are over thinking this the airport is not hard to get to. If a van os more useful then just get rid of the van the day before in perth or even stirling and public transport it the rest of the way.
If a car is fine then the airport is very compact of the case has wheels its a very short walk.
Yeah, I've been cursed with overthinking all my life! 😆
Ideal scenario is find somewhere on an Ember services which serves the airport which has a hotel/B&B relatively near to a bus stop so I can drop bike bag off at hotel/B&B then get rid of vehicle the day before, and then get early bus (with bike bag) straight to airport next morning.
Ideally, the Ember route is 30mins or less!
I'm still nervous of being that clueless tourist in Edinburgh a la Trainspotting 😉
Ember bus stop in Perth is at the railway station but the timing isn't going to work for you.
I'd follow Josh's itinerary.
Bike box on the tram is fine. Fifth Bridge (Forth Bridge hasn't been used for a few years) can still be a PITA and the bypass can also be terrible, I'd not want to be heading south from Perth with a deadline.
August puts all accommodation in Edinburgh into truly silly money territory. For an overnight before a flight, the Dakota at Queensferry is decent and might not be too bad given it’s out of town. 15 min drive to airport in the morning and free parking. They might even do a shuttle, not sure. But as others have said, Perth is an hour to the airport by car. I too would just stay there and head down in the morning. It’s an easy road.
Just been looking at Google Maps and it shows a big blob of red on the bridge with roadworks! Granted, I won't be travelling until near end of August....
There are roadworks for a few miles approaching the Queensferry crossing, if anything they are smoothing out the traffic flow so the bridge itself is less congested.
school holidays so traffic might be better,
Depends when in August as the schools go back middle of the month.
Fifth Bridge (Forth Bridge hasn't been used for a few years) can still be a PITA and the bypass can also be terrible, I'd not want to be heading south from Perth with a deadline.
You don't need to go on the bypass.
The worst bit in rush hour is the Newbridge roundabout, but even that probably only adds 15 mins at its worst. All in heavy traffic might add 30 mins to the journey. Well within what I would have as contingency for a flight.
I'm still nervous of being that clueless tourist in Edinburgh a la Trainspotting 😉
Ok, it's edinburgh in August, unless you dresstomake it onto a locals game of "Freak or Fringe" no one is going to bat an eyelid.
Alternative idea which avoids the Queensferry Crossing. After riding Perth, head down the A9 rather than M90 and stay around Stirling/Falkirk overnight. Cheaper hotels and you'll then have a 20-25min drive to the airport along the M9 - little traffic compared to the M90/Queensferry Crossing, might get a bit snarled up where the M90 joins the M9 before Newbridge but overall not usually a big issue.
Alternative idea which avoids the Queensferry Crossing. After riding Perth, head down the A9 rather than M90 and stay around Stirling/Falkirk overnight. Cheaper hotels and you'll then have a 20-25min drive to the airport along the M9 - little traffic compared to the M90/Queensferry Crossing, might get a bit snarled up where the M90 joins the M9 before Newbridge but overall not usually a big issue.
Stirling South Premier Inn - right on motorway junction. And 300m from my house for a cuppa.
Drive to airport in AM.
Can i just point out that i suggested stirling first 🤣
So you were.
Great minds and foolsetc.
If Ember go to the airport, that's a real plus point. They don't like bikes on the trams at rush hour and they don't like ebikes at all.
I live in Perth and take far too many flights from EDI.
If you haven't got it sorted already, I'd just collect and return the hire car at the airport.
Dunfermline Travelodge is a good shout. There are a couple of Travelodges in Perth as well - 45 mins drive to the airport at a sensible time or 60 mins in peak times.
They don't like bikes on the trams at rush hour and they don't like ebikes at all
Which is different to a bike in a bike case ie luggage going to the airport...
Which is different to a bike in a bike case ie luggage going to the airport...
True. I reckon you need to be thoughtful whether you present it as a bike or as luggage. Either way, it can be hard work. It's no fun testing the discretion of the on board staff when you've a plane to catch.
Edinburgh Trams re bikes:
"Up to two bicycles may be carried on trams at the discretion of the on board staff. Cyclists should board at the centre section. Once on board, cyclists must take guidance from staff and remain with their bicycles at all times. Restrictions apply on peak services (Monday to Friday 07:30-09:30 & 16:00-18:30), throughout the Edinburgh Festival in August or any pre-publicised events".
Edinburgh Trams re luggage:
"Yes, we have six spacious luggage racks on each tram, including racks for large/bulky suitcases. Please do not block aisles, exits or priority seating areas and do not place luggage on seats".
if you turn up three hrs before you will have three hours to spend money in their shops! 2hr is perfectly adequate for transatlantic.BTW: 11:50 flight means 8:50 check-in as it's a transatlantic flight 😔
if the traffic is bad then via Stirling won’t add much difference to the Airport if you do decide to stay in Perth.Just been looking at Google Maps and it shows a big blob of red on the bridge with roadworks! Granted, I won't be travelling until near end of August....
