Edinburgh: Fly+car hire or drive?

corblimey

Considering a little trip over to Edinburgh soon, and was trying to decide whether to fly over and rent a car at the airport or just drive myself via a Belfast ferry. Obviously, the flying option would be a lot quicker, but it also is more than 60% more expensive based on what I'm seeing at the moment:

Fly Cork-Edinburgh for about e120 return
Car hire for 10d will cost the bones of e250 (I've not compared, just picked Budget as an example)
Total e370.

Whereas if I drive myself, all I have to pay for is the ferry, which costs about e220 and that's my grand total. Assuming the timings work out, etc, (ie I don't have to rent a hotel in Belfast or anything like that) is there any costs associated with either method that I'm missing?

Procrastastudy

What would you be doing in Edinburgh that would require a car?

Its a nightmare (well pretty bad) to drive round - tiny and has an excellent bus service. If you want to get Glasgow or any of the central belt (Sterling, Gleneagles, Falkirk, Perthshire) its all very accessable by train from Waverly.

Also most of the funs stuff in Edinburgh will put you over the limit and I wouldn't tangle with Lothian and Borders police

Louche Lad

Agree about just using public transport (many years since I last visited, mind) - it's quite good. And just get taxis on top to make things easier. Save your money for pubs and restaurants.

corblimey

Well I was hoping to see a bit of the countryside, get into the highlands. Edinburgh's just my initial destination.

Procrastastudy

Really good rail services around Scotland even to places like Fort William and Inverness. That said a drive around Scotland is a pretty epic holiday - I'd consider carefully exactly where you want to go and see first though.

Personally if I'm using the ferry I always go for a cabin even on a 4 hour crossing. I love having a good nap and a shower then off again - much better then flying imo.

ProudDUB

corblimey wrote: »

Fly Cork-Edinburgh for about e120 return
Car hire for 10d will cost the bones of e250 (I've not compared, just picked Budget as an example)

Does the quoted car rental fee include insurance and/or any other add on fees that car rental companies like to hit you with at the last minute? 250e for 10 days, every thing included, sounds like too good of a deal to me.

Whereas if I drive myself, all I have to pay for is the ferry, which costs about e220 and that's my grand total. Assuming the timings work out, etc, (ie I don't have to rent a hotel in Belfast or anything like that) is there any costs associated with either method that I'm missing?

Petrol. A return Cork-Belfast trip would cost a pretty penny there. It is also a pretty long drive. Add in pit stops for snacks, cups of coffee, meals etc etc & that adds to your overall cost.

.

Procrastastudy

The other option is a train up to Dublin and a super cheap Ryan air flight to Edinburgh.