Page 2 | Christmas weekend in Edinburgh - affordable hotels

sborber · 2022-10-06T21:06:46+00:00

DH and I have discussed potentially visiting Edinburgh in December with our two DS (2yo and 1yo)... We like the idea of spending our money on a weekend away as a family instead of buying each other gifts (kids will still have presents). Anyway, can anyone recommend an affordable hotel/hotel apartment in Edinburgh to stay in that will accommodate the four of us? Both would still be in travel cots and we prefer to have a separate sleeping space to them wherever possible so perhaps a one bedroom apartment somewhere? That would be ideal. Also since we're planning, any must-dos while in Edinburgh around Christmas time would also be appreciated 🙏

JingsMahBucket · 07/10/2022 12:34

Alltheholidays · 07/10/2022 12:27

@JingsMahBucket Yeah I bet it’s really popular with toddlers😌

Not everything has to revolve around toddlers. Talk about a boring life. The OP and her husband are adults who are allowed to enjoy themselves while on holiday as well. Besides, there are trains, a big dinosaur, Lego, and much more there. I see plenty of toddlers there every time I go. When in doubt, there’s the cafe with the nice view.

emmathedilemma · 07/10/2022 12:50

Alltheholidays · 07/10/2022 12:27

@JingsMahBucket Yeah I bet it’s really popular with toddlers😌

It is! My godson has been visiting since he was 18months old and it's still the first place he asks to go when they visit and he's now a dirty great teenager!

Doidontimmm · 07/10/2022 14:09

It’s just so busy and rammed at Christmas I found it stressful when my two were wee. I’d definitely not have taken a 1 year old into town.

MorrisZapp · 07/10/2022 14:17

This thread is hilarious. There are plenty of toddlers in Edinburgh, and I wouldn't let my kid play with anyone who didn't go the museum in their first year of existence!

Loads of family friendly stuff, cafes, parks etc.

'don't go to Edinburgh it's too cold' wtf. Aye we close for four months, better stay home 🤣🤣

Alltheholidays · 07/10/2022 14:19

Go without the sprogs. You will have a great time then! 😀

Original poster

sborber · 07/10/2022 22:58

emmathedilemma · 07/10/2022 08:11

There’s loads to do in Edinburgh with toddlers……national museum, dynamic earth, watch the trains, ride on a double decker bus and tram, go to the beach at portobello, soft play at the commonwealth pool, walk up Calton hill, Edinburgh zoo, botanic gardens Xmas lights, Georgie farm……
there’s a few serviced apartments around including Fraser Suites, residence inn, adagio aparthotel on the royal mile, Sonder royal garden apartments, Eden Locke

Thank you, this is helpful!

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Original poster

sborber · 07/10/2022 22:59

Alltheholidays · 07/10/2022 11:07

I would stay at home. Really what is a one and two year old going to get out of it?
They will literally not have a clue where they are.

I suppose we shouldn't do anything or leave our house until our kids are over 5 yo right? 🙄

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Original poster

sborber · 07/10/2022 23:00

Paslaptis · 07/10/2022 12:28

Take a look at the Adagio ApartHotel; they make a special effort to be family-friendly and have equipment like high chairs, strollers, etc. available for guests. (They also have downloadable "family friendly" Edinburgh city guide which might interest you - although I'm not sure how much there would be for such small children.)

There are also three StayCity properties, which are usually a bit less expensive. The West End one in particular often has very good prices, but they are a bit out of the way (about ten minutes' walk to Haymarket Station) so perhaps not ideal if you're planning to do most of your travel on foot/by tram.

Edinburgh also has several independent and small-chain aparthotels - you might try searching on a site like hotels.com and booking.com, selecting the "ApartHotels" category, to see what's available and affordable for your dates, then checking reviews and comparing prices on the hotels' own sites if you prefer not to book through a third party.

Thank you for this - very, very helpful.

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Original poster

sborber · 07/10/2022 23:01

JingsMahBucket · 07/10/2022 12:34

Not everything has to revolve around toddlers. Talk about a boring life. The OP and her husband are adults who are allowed to enjoy themselves while on holiday as well. Besides, there are trains, a big dinosaur, Lego, and much more there. I see plenty of toddlers there every time I go. When in doubt, there’s the cafe with the nice view.

Show quote history

Dinosaurs? Sold!

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Original poster

sborber · 07/10/2022 23:04

Thank you everyone who has offered helpful, useful advice.

A shame to other negative posts as I have fond memories of the city as a child growing up and so even though I needn't explain my reasoning for wanting to visit to anyone, this plays a part in our decision making. We also prefer to not let the age of our children restrict what we do or where we go. Any trip is what you make of it. In no way do I expect it to be relaxing 🤣 weekends away, holidays or whatever are just as much for us as it is for them.

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MightyAtlantic · 07/10/2022 23:10

I live in Edinburgh and I think you'd have to be out of your mind to bring two wee ones here on holiday at that time of year.

Original poster

sborber · 07/10/2022 23:14

MightyAtlantic · 07/10/2022 23:10

I live in Edinburgh and I think you'd have to be out of your mind to bring two wee ones here on holiday at that time of year.

Is there anywhere else you'd recommend nearby in Scotland?

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ToooOldForThis · 07/10/2022 23:23

I stayed in the summer with my 2 kids (older) in a Staycity apartment and have been raving about to it everyone since. The staff were so so nice and we could leave our bags in lockers before check in and after check out! 1 bedroom apartment, really well equipped kitchen. We stayed in the west end one cos mine are old enough to manage the walk/bus/tram, but you could use taxis or try the more central one.

ToooOldForThis · 07/10/2022 23:24

Altho as per pp I'm not sure what you'd do once you were there?!
Maybe with wee kids somewhere like crieff hydro?

Ladylalaboo1 · 07/10/2022 23:26

Love love love Edinburgh! Me and my DH went when we were first together 11 years ago - fell in love with the place - we did the castle, had a ghost walk as tour through the underground tunnels and graveyard in the evening. We went to the castle and enjoyed visiting places to do with Harry Potter like the elephant and castle cafe and the gravestones jk got some names from. Went to the museum and local bars and restaurants.We just had the most wonderful time. Went again just us two. We then went again when we had our two eldest. Eldest DD was 2 and youngest was 6 months. It wasn't the same experience that we had had before ofcourse not but we knew that going in. We still went for lovely walks, had a nice look around the castle again, we visited the museum and eldest DD got to do some fun activities. We had some lovely meals, one again at the elephant and castle and we visited some lovely bakery's and local shops. We also got to spend some time at the park with the kids and exploring the gardens. We did an open bus tour also. We made the mistake of going out in the evening for a fancy meal - kids were cranky and loud etc so the next evening we just got a delivery to the room and it was lovely. We also got breakfast from a local cafe ( I'd run out and bring back to the hotel room) and it was great. We stayed at the Apex city of Edinburgh hotel, stayed there all the times we have been and it's been wonderful. Great value for money and right on grassmarket. We didn't go at Christmas ( although that would be a dream) we went February time. I think as long as you know what to expect with a break away with 2 young children ( which you have just picked them up today so I'm sure you are well aware !) then you will be fine and will enjoy it. I just planned ahead more checked things to do, I made sure the hotel was good and local still so we were able to back for naps in the day. Honestly we have another now and if wasn't for her being the worst sleeper ever and just a maniac in general 😂 I'd book again for us. Actually I'm going to look for feb half term now! Do it, plenty to do and you will look back and love it! Oh also our hotel links in with the apex sister hotel next door where you could use their spa and leisure facilities as part of the package so we used the pool which the kids loved! And me and partner also shared time between us for the spa/gym. If you go, please go to BIBIS bakery - nicest cupcakes ever!

Ladylalaboo1 · 07/10/2022 23:31

Sorry that should say with 2 young kids you Havent* just picked up!!

wishingchair1 · 07/10/2022 23:39

b+b Edinburgh is a fab place to stay. it is a bed and breakfast but very boutique style. Gorgeous little library with fairy lights. Our room overlooked a gorgeous place, it had such history. Used to be a wealthy gentlemans home and when he died left it to be a hospital for woman and encourage women into medicine.
The room had a extra room with bunk beds but main room had large bed, then the room was split with sofa bed and tv behind. So possibly good for young ones. Think we stayed in room 2. In the evening, you can get take aways go have a glass of wine in the library etc.

Alltheholidays · 08/10/2022 09:29

sborber · 07/10/2022 22:59

I suppose we shouldn't do anything or leave our house until our kids are over 5 yo right? 🙄

Show quote history

Do what you like! Plenty of people on here (some that live in Edinburgh ) have said they wouldn’t take kids as young as yours for a city break in the dead of winter.
Personally I love Edinburgh for food and drink and the very adult vibe it has!
Wouldn’t have dreamt of taking kids who are barely out of nappies there. Waste of time and money!

Original poster

sborber · 08/10/2022 10:36

Ladylalaboo1 · 07/10/2022 23:26

Love love love Edinburgh! Me and my DH went when we were first together 11 years ago - fell in love with the place - we did the castle, had a ghost walk as tour through the underground tunnels and graveyard in the evening. We went to the castle and enjoyed visiting places to do with Harry Potter like the elephant and castle cafe and the gravestones jk got some names from. Went to the museum and local bars and restaurants.We just had the most wonderful time. Went again just us two. We then went again when we had our two eldest. Eldest DD was 2 and youngest was 6 months. It wasn't the same experience that we had had before ofcourse not but we knew that going in. We still went for lovely walks, had a nice look around the castle again, we visited the museum and eldest DD got to do some fun activities. We had some lovely meals, one again at the elephant and castle and we visited some lovely bakery's and local shops. We also got to spend some time at the park with the kids and exploring the gardens. We did an open bus tour also. We made the mistake of going out in the evening for a fancy meal - kids were cranky and loud etc so the next evening we just got a delivery to the room and it was lovely. We also got breakfast from a local cafe ( I'd run out and bring back to the hotel room) and it was great. We stayed at the Apex city of Edinburgh hotel, stayed there all the times we have been and it's been wonderful. Great value for money and right on grassmarket. We didn't go at Christmas ( although that would be a dream) we went February time. I think as long as you know what to expect with a break away with 2 young children ( which you have just picked them up today so I'm sure you are well aware !) then you will be fine and will enjoy it. I just planned ahead more checked things to do, I made sure the hotel was good and local still so we were able to back for naps in the day. Honestly we have another now and if wasn't for her being the worst sleeper ever and just a maniac in general 😂 I'd book again for us. Actually I'm going to look for feb half term now! Do it, plenty to do and you will look back and love it! Oh also our hotel links in with the apex sister hotel next door where you could use their spa and leisure facilities as part of the package so we used the pool which the kids loved! And me and partner also shared time between us for the spa/gym. If you go, please go to BIBIS bakery - nicest cupcakes ever!

Appreciate the time you took to share this. This is all super helpful, so thank you! That's all I expect to do really, walks around, food, and perhaps the museum and castle. See Christmas lights etc. Do some shopping. We survived a week abroad in July with both of them so I can't imagine Edinburgh would be much more difficult 😅 we live nearby to York and frequently visit the city with both so I can't imagine Edinburgh would be that much different - perhaps colder, but there's no wrong weather... Only wrong clothing!

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