Edinburgh by night, a gorgeous scene from Calton Hill. Photo by Andy Hayes

With the pound dropping significantly against world currencies, it’s a great time to check out the British Isles! More specifically? It’s about time you got your kilt to Edinburgh!

Sure, accommodations can still be a bit of a budget-buster, especially in those year-round tourist hot spots like Scotland’s capital city, but with a few local Cheapo tips, you’ll be enjoying old world charms with money to spare.

First things first – What not to do

There are two times of year when you cannot get cheap accommodations in Edinburgh:

• Hogmanay (that is New Year’s Eve to you non-Scots)
• August. Yes, the entire month. Have you heard of the Edinburgh Festival?

If you absolutely must join us for one of these two events (and why wouldn’t you?), book in advance to get a reasonable price. Say, six to nine months in advance. Really.

So, what are the great budget hotels?

One of my personal favourites is the Edinburgh Central, a member of the Scottish Youth Hostels program. It is one of the few hostels in the world that’s rated higher than some 3 or 4 star hotels – with ensuite rooms, a bistro with fresh and tasty breakfast fare that even attracts some locals, and all of the typical amenities you would expect in a good hostel. With rock-bottom rates, the Edinburgh Central is centrally located on the top of Leith Walk, just a ten minute walk to the busy Prices Street, but also surrounded with local pubs and kitsch restaurants.

I had guests in September (2008) who stayed near me here in the Old Town at the brand, spankin’ new Holiday Inn Express – Royal Mile. It’s not on the Royal Mile but only one block away; it actually sits on the Cowgate, which is full of late-night pubs and clubs, but thankfully the noise never drifts down this direction. The rates are reasonable, especially considering the top-notch facilities and very friendly staff.

Lastly, I would suggest checking out the Premier Inn Edinburgh. It is near Haymarket Station in the West End, a ten to 15 minute walk into the center of town. This part of Edinburgh is great for food and drink; there is also plenty of that timeless Georgian architecture for enjoyment.

How about some great, unexplored neighbourhoods?

The great thing about Edinburgh is that it is so easy to get around, either by walking or taking one of the efficient and inexpensive buses. There are a couple of great areas to check out that have budget accommodation options. Unfortunately, these neighborhoods are often overlooked by tourists:

Newington. This is just south of the Old Town and sits in between Holyrood Park and the Meadows. The main street here, Clerk Street, is full of fun costume shops, boutique restaurants, and nearby you can find a really great wine and whisky shop, The Great Grog. The further away from the city centre you are, the better the deal you’ll get. So, this is a great budget-friendly option with flair.

Stockbridge. Most people think of the trendy, posh side of Stockbridge, but a closer look reveals that this neighbourhood extends up into Inverleith Park, as well as west along the Water of Leith. Get away from the main street and you’ll find a deal.

If you go…

My absolutely favourite part of Edinburgh is the Water of Leith. Catch Bus #26 or 31 and have the driver let you off at Roseburn Terrace. Join the trail here and walk the scenic, peaceful two to three miles back into Stockbridge, where you can finish off the stroll with a coffee or a nice glass of wine in a nearby café.

Tell me, Cheapos: What’s your top tip for Edinburgh?

Andy Hayes is a freelance travel writer and one of Edinburgh’s top local Cheapos. For more travelogues and inspiring travel ideas, visit his website called Sharing Experiences.

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Photo by Karen Bryan

Hawick is the largest town in Scotland’s Borders Region. The Rough Guide to World Parties recently voted the city’s June Annual Ridings festival of the best festivals in the world.

The Ridings follows the ancient custom of riding around the town boundaries in order to look out for dawn raids. The proceedings last for several days. Events include the reinactment of the capture of the English flag in 1514, various ceremonies, and horse racing.

You can find our about local history at the Hawick Museum. Since 1910, the museum has been housed in Wilton Lodge, a grand Victorian mansion. Clotheshorses should know that Hawick is also known the “Home of Cashmere,” with a tradition of producing high quality knitwear. Peter Scott has an outlet shop in the town.

One of the new Hawick landmarks is the James Thomson Bridge—a modern footbridge—which crosses the River Teviot. The bridge is named after James Thomson (1827 - 1888) a local poet and songwriter best known for composing the lyrics to the “Star o’ Rabbie Burns,” the only song not written by the great baird to be sung at traditional Burns suppers.

Thomson also wrote songs and poems about the Hawick Ridings. A statue of Thomson, sculpted by local artist Bill Landles, sits at the bridge. Landles’ great great grandmother was a friend of Thomson’s. The two once lived in the same row of tenement flats. When the row of houses was demolished, Thomson carved Landles’ great great grandmother a goblet out of a wooden roof beam. A cast of the goblet sits prominently at the front of the statue today.

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Photograph by Jet2

Jet2 has just announced a Newcastle-Gatwick route, with one-way fares (including taxes!) starting at £26.99. Jet2’s decision to launch this route was driven by the recent abandonment of said stretch by British Airways, and the airline is operating three flights a day in both directions.

Best of all, when we tried to price the route, we came up with lots and lots of £29.99 one-way fares. This suggests to us that while the lowest fare may be limited, fares nearly as cheap are plentiful.

Note the special Newcastle-Gatwick craft above, which takes the low-cost airline strategy of assigning every last square centimeter of space to advertising to a new level. For some reason, when it comes to scrappy Jet2, we don’t quite mind…

Note: This post was accurate as of press time.

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