Weekend in Edinburgh, we can’t go can we? Hotel refusing to refund

[TeapotCollection]

We’ve had a weekend in Edinburgh booked since December, the event that we were due to attend has of course been cancelled

We were still going to go, but as I understand it, the advice is to not travel there unless necessary isn’t it? To be fair we did book the hotel on an ‘early booking no amendment’ basis but seeing as we can’t go surely they should refund us?

If you can go, I'd go. And spend all day enjoying the penguins at the zoo!

Wander down the Royal Mile and look at the architecture
The museum of Scotland is amazing. Edinburgh has so much history.
Hope you enjoy yourselves

Yeah the romantic evening in a restaurant with wine is currently not an option!

If your hotel is central and you're lucky with weather you can stroll through the city.

For a holiday in Scotland the weather is always an issue, even more so now that you are restricted with indoor stuff.

@Itsabeautifuldayheyhey

No, you can't go if it is this weekend or next weekend as the 16 days of restrictions aren't up until 6 a.m. on Monday 26th October.

You should have booked a flexible room rate which would have enabled you to receive a refund. It isn't your fault you can't go but it isn't the hotel's fault either. You took the chance due to the lower rate and, sadly, it didn't work out this time.

Unless you live in Wales, where does it say you can't travel?

i thought hotels were exempt with guests eating after 6 or is that only in england

I would still go

There's lots still to do outdoors, go to the museum, the castle, the zoo. Climb Arthur's Seat or Calton Hill. Or both. Walk to Cramond Island. Have a big fancy lunch and accept you're going to have to eat in your hotel or room in the evening. Or get fish and chips and eat them walking up the Royal Mile or along Portobello Prom. It's not great but nothing is this year. You'll still have fun if you go with the right attitude.

You can go. Nothing is open in the evenings though there is plenty to do in the day time.

@GabsAlot hotels can still serve food but not all of the discount hotels have restaurants and not many hotels have restaurants I'd want to eat in

Have fun OP. Don't forget your waterproofs, it's been pouring all week.

@Itsabeautifuldayheyhey Please just don't make up rules

@Itsabeautifuldayheyhey Please just don't make up rules

Hear hear. there's a lot of that on MN.

OP, hope the weather's kind and you have a good time. It's good to have a change of scene and Edinburgh is full of interest.

All tourist attractions are still open and the city seems to be fairly quiet so a good time to visit for sight seeing! You'll need to pre-book tickets but it's business as usual for them. Definitely plan ahead for meals though, there's plenty of local supermarkets if a sandwich meal deal type thing will suffice for lunch (take a picnic to the zoo, the cafe isn't great and over priced) and there's cafes still open during the day.
Some restaurants are doing takeaway / delivery again but check the details as some require you to heat or finish cooking at home! www.edinburghlockdowneconomy.com/post/edinburgh-restaurants-doing-takeaway-in-october?fbclid=IwAR1vBk--u9vItZyibb0IdenQsbyQPCwtKLJYZRPBM2aCcq6WlkWLkqeCoPI

You can still go under current advice so I would if I were you 😃 but just to let you know all pubs and restaurants are closed completely in central belt (including Edinburgh) I.e they aren’t open until 6. Coffee shops are open until 6 so you can get coffee and cake and sandwich. I think hotels can still serve residents and most restaurants have now started doing takeaway so you can take back to hotel. All the shops are open though so you can still find some fun things and the city is much quieter. Hope you have a great time!

The zoo is great, although the indoors events are cancelled. No penguin march (or whatever it is). I’d recommend taking a sandwich with you as there were very few catering places open, apart from an astronomically expensive van selling hot dogs.

If I was you, I would go!

My Dsis and BIL have just come back, they said it was absolutely gorgeous place with very few tourists that made it seem even more beautiful. They ate in some lovely posh restaurants as they weren't booked for months on end and had a few drinks in their room in the late evening as they were shattered anyway. My Dsis went to uni there and some of her friends were trying to put her off saying she would have a shit time and have to stay in her room most of the time whereas some were really helpful and suggested places they could go (I'll ask my Dsis for the recommendations if you want?). Dsis said there was so much to do and see that she is planning on booking a few more nights soon. Hope you have a lovely time if you decide to go.

Dillydallyingthrough That would be very helpful thank you 😊

We’re definitely going, it’s a week on Friday

Will certainly take some food to the zoo with us, thanks to all who suggested that

Hotel have said they’re allowed to serve guests an evening meal so 🤞 that’ll be ok

Good point lonny. what sort of hotel is it op?

cross post great news have a good time!

The Scottish governement advice is not to travel to the central belt.

and not many hotels have restaurants I'd want to eat in

Have you even been to Edinburgh? There are some superb hotel restaurants. Plus lots of restaurants are doing take out.

Edinburgh is beautiful, and the low visitor numbers make it the perfect time to visit.

I realise my view will not be popular but I personally wouldn't travel to the Central belt anytime soon. It's where I live and I'm abiding by the rules which state that I should stay within my health board area and not travel outwith it so it is quite galling that people can come from much further afield and travel wherever.
I do think there should be tougher restrictions on travel unless it's strictly necessary.

I hope the weather holds up for you!

Calton Hill is another nice walk to see the 'auld disgrace' and views of the city. Also Stockbridge is nice with planty of cafes or Bruntsfield similar. You can walk along Water of Leith. All walkable from centre.

If raining camera obscura, museum, art galleries, royal yacht btitania. There is lots just book ahead.

@ladylunchalot , they aren't rules at the minute but recommendations .

I guess the distinction is that rules would have forced hotels and accommodation to close and refunds to have to be issued and money to be found somewhere from the government.

It may indeed have been more effective to restrict travel, but there's certainly no rule against OP travelling, and on the basis that activities will be outdoors and eating inside only in hotel restaurant, then I doubt she is a high contributor to the spread.

@Aragog

Because there's no travel bans no where will refund. Therefore most people will still go away, especially over half term, as otherwise it's wasted money.

Me and dh are due to fly to the highlands at October half term. We've booked a SC flat for the week. This is actually a changed plan - originally we were going to the Caribbean which was then cancelled. Then we were flying up and driving the NC500 staying in a number of hotels. And this is now the 'final' plan - unless there's more changes. I'm not actually concerned about the flight as there's virtually no one on it at present!

I did the NC 500 with a break for the Orkney at the end of August and totally recommend it.

However, the issue we had was a lot of places weren't taking people for 1 night only and preferred 2 or more night - was ok for us as we only stayed 1 night in ullapool but stayed 2 or more around other places.

amazing drive !!