Edinburgh Christmas Markets - Accommodation?

Jo4

My husband and I want to visit Edinburgh Christmas Markets which are located on East Princess Streets Gardens. We wanted accommodation which also has car parking facilities and which is within a mile walking distance, preferably less, of the Christmas markets and the shops.

I have been looking at numerous websites and some of them give conflicting information. Does anyone have and personal experience of staying in Edinburgh at that time of the year and if so where would you recommend? What area is better to stay in than others?

Grumpelstiltskin

Cars and central Edinburgh don't mix.

Look a bit further out but on a good bus or tram route.

martinthebandit

Last time we did Edinburgh we looked for a hotel reasonably close to the park and ride (I forget which one we used)

daveyjp

Edinburgh has excellent public transport.

Look for anywhere near the tram or main bus routes. We have stayed at the Marriott near the airport. 20 minutes by fast airport bus service.

MovingForwards

Plenty of Airbnb up here, close to town.

Cars are not really accommodated in town as the bus service is reliable

pogofish

Grumpelstiltskin wrote: »

Cars and central Edinburgh don't mix.

Look a bit further out but on a good bus or tram route.

This - and Edinburgh rates will likely be pricy at that time, pricy enough to make a trip to somewhere with proper Christmas Markets and an actual tradition of them a viability.

Jo4

Thank you all for the responses.

With having a lot of medication and medical supplies to carry it would be easier it we could either park at the hotel in Edinburgh or be able to get back to the hotel as quickly as possible via public transport should the need arise.

lozzy81

Hi, if you stay at the Premier Inn at Edinburgh Park you can park in the car park and get the tram right outside into Princess St. I think a train also stops at Waverly so really convenient.

Jo4

lozzy81 wrote: »

Hi, if you stay at the Premier Inn at Edinburgh Park you can park in the car park and get the tram right outside into Princess St. I think a train also stops at Waverly so really convenient.

It only takes 21 minutes on the tram from the hotel you mentioned to Princes Street. I must try and find out what time the first tram departs the hotel and what time the final tram departs Princes Street to the hotel each day.

Jo4

Which train ticket would we need to purchase for the two of us for the two days? Can tram tickets be purchased in advance or only on the day in cash at a tram ticket vending machine?

pogofish

Tram tickets can be bought from the machine at the tram stance every day and when I was there a few weeks back, they had finally got contactless sorted on the machines - and on the offchance your machine is full/out of order, you just need to use the machine at the other side and on the even rarer offchance both machines are out, the tram guards have to sell you a ticket and each tram has a card machine they can get out and use.

Personally, I've used the Edinburgh Park place several times now and found it a very convenient base to visit the city from, free parking (log your reg at reception and they will give you another day on your departure date so you can spend more time if you need. Plus, a number of other main bus routes (eg Leith/Holyrood) radiate from that station but there are equally good options on the bus routes as well.

Just about every train stopping at the Park Station is headed for Waverley and they are regular!