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Question: re Edinburgh Rental Car Pickup and Hotel Location

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This fall, we're taking our child to college in St. Andrews.
We'll have 5 nights total in order to give us some lead time before move in and do some light sight-seeing. Still the main purpose of the travel is to get our kiddo moved in and settled. We'll be traveling "heavy": 2 bags per person (one carryon and one checked) in order to have at least a semester's worth of clothes for her. Comfort items, electrical appliances, etc we'll either have shipped or buy while we're there.

Itinerary
I have 4 nights of accommodation booked in airbnb in St. A and am about to book 1 night and rental car in Edi.
Day 1 Wednesday - flight arrival 10a at Edinburgh Airport. Walk a bit of Royal Mile and Castle. Nothing too intense - just a taste
Day 2 Thursday - drive to St. A via side trip to Stirling
Day 3 Friday - tour St. A - shop for a few items for school
Day 4 Saturday - move her in
Day 5 Sunday - wife and I go on a shopping run for kid.
Day 6 Monday - return to Edi for 11:30a flight - drop off rental car.

Notes: I've never been the driver on left side of road in UK or anywhere... I'm not massively freaked out by it. Just the normal amount of freaked. I've been the navigator so I have the gist, but have never done it myself. As far as I can tell... renting from a non-airport rental location is not a great option for this trip. Sounds like return to different location (airport) than pickup is not possible and driving 1.5 hours from St. A, returning car offsite (if possible), taxi to airport, and making an 11:30 am international flight seems like a lot to do on a Monday morning .

So... to the question. Should I....
A) Rent a car at airport upon arrival and stay in Old Town (or close) in order to maximize time walking in Edi? Pros: we can put the bigger bags for school stuff in the car and not have to contend with them again until St. A. Also no issue returning car from whence it originated. Can see a bit more of Edi. Cons: Have a car for a day we really won't need. Have to contend with driving in Edi right out the gate
B) Taxi to Old Town (or close) hotel upon arrival Day 1. Return to airport to get car Day 2 and leave St. A. Pros: No wasted day of rental car. No driving in Edinburgh. Can get right on express roads and ease into left side driving. Cons: inefficient to return to airport. Will have to deal with all bags with taxi and hotel.

C) Stay at airport hotel for that first night. Shuttle to town for sight seeing and taxi back. Pros: Can check in and stow bags immediately. Won't have to deal with car 'til day 2. Ease of driving north east to St. A. Cons: won't be in Edinburgh at night or morning nor within walking distance of hotel. Also airport hotel... yuk, but may have to.

Thoughts?

Posted by
161 posts

Driving a car in Edinburgh, particularly after a transatlantic flight, will be an experience you will never forget. And I don’t mean a positive one.

Sounds like return to different location (airport) than pickup is not possible

Why is that not possible?

Posted by
864 posts

Personal view, of course.
Bit of a waste to stay at airport - if you stay in or near Old Town you can maximise your sightseeing time.
Rent a car at the airport and try and find accommodation with secure parking.
For example https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-blu-edinburgh
Driving should not be too terrifying, especially if you rent an automatic - one less thing to think about.
That would be convenient for returning the car, too.
You don't give dates, avoid August - Festival, Tattoo etc - nightmare.

Posted by
1709 posts

Another option is to pick up the car upon arrival and stay outside the city center. South Queensferry is a charming area with incredible views quite close to the airport and served by the train from Dalmeny to Waverly (it's 30-40 minutes, but there's a parking lot at the station). Plus, you'll be a lot closer to the route to St. Andrews.
Or you could look at something with parking on the tram line between the airport and the city center.
To get more time in Edinburgh, I suggest returning the rental car on Sunday and taking the tram into the city for your last night.

Posted by
2780 posts

I would stay at the airport and hire a car from the next morning, trams and buses will get you right into the city center in 30 minutes. It really is difficult to get parking in the city and if you do it is expensive.ilive in Edinburgh about 3 miles from the center and seldom take my car into the city center, last time I did was picking stuff up for a friend and it cost £6 for one hour parking and that was still about 300 yards from the shop I was picking stuff up from.
Do not ship electrical stuff from the US unless they are dual voltage and have British plugs, using adaptors will not be allowed in most accommodations and all university properties.( I worked for several Universities in Scotland including consultancy work for St Andrews)
Lot of pretty new hotels at the airport and standards are very high.

Posted by
1608 posts

Definitely option C. Tram to the city is easy. Driving in the city and parking an absolute nightmare as UncleGus said.

Airport hotels especially Moxy are nice.

Posted by
1799 posts

Another vote for C. After a transatlantic flight you just need a comfortable bed. Edinburgh is not great to drive in even if you know the city.

Collecting a car from the airport end is also the side of the city you want to be before heading up to St Andrews, and links relatively easily onto the main roads to the north and west (A8, M8, M9 and M90)

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