The Dickins Edinburgh Accommodation Blog

Dickins Sold Out on Flats for the Edinburgh International Festival and in DESPERATE need for more...!

Dickins: for your Edinburgh home from home are completely sold out on flats for this year's Edinburgh International Festival and are in DESPERATE need of more.....!!!

If you, a friend or family member own a well-presented apartment or house in the most sought after areas including: The Pleasance, Meadows, Old Town or New Town then please contact Dickins(www.dickins.co.uk, 0131 558 1108) where one of their friendly team will be happy to offer you information and will personally come and meet you in your home to discuss what’s involved in letting out your home.

 

Experts in their field, with over 10 years experience, Dickins pride themselves in providing clients with excellent customer service and high level of care, ensuring clients are placed in an apartment which is specifically suited to their needs and offers them a real ‘home from home’.

 

Dickins specialise in providing high quality apartments in great central Edinburgh locations for Holiday Lets,  Short Term & Corporate Lets and City & Weekend Breaks all year round as well as specialising in Edinburgh Festival Accommodation and therefore understand their clients needs.

They have been working with the quality Festival venues, promotional companies and media groups for over ten years now and understand how to match the right people with the right apartment.

 

So if you are interested in unlocking your property's money making potential this Summer, please contact Dickins today:

 

Dickins 0131 558 1108

enquiries@dickins.co.uk

Springtime Special Offers with Edinburgh Apartment Agency Dickins...!

From the temperatures we've been experiencing recently as well as the snow....yes, snow just a little north of Edinburgh, it may not feel like it but Summer will soon be here! Edinburgh is a fantastic city to see and explore during the Summer months but it can get very busy in the weeks leading up to the Edinburgh Festival, Fringe and Tattoo taking place. So if you want to avoid the crowds, why not book a trip to Edinburgh now and experience everything it has to offer but without waiting close to an hour for a table in one of Edinburgh's top restaurants or going to book a tour to find it's already fully booked...?

With the recent ash cloud disruptions to flights both domestically and abroad, Edinburgh is a wonderful location for a short trip as not only is it easily accessible by train, car or bus but it also has so much to offer for families, individuals, couples or groups depending on what type of holiday or break you're looking for!

Dickins: for your Edinburgh home from home have a vast selection of apartments ranging in style and size from modern studio apartments to sleep 2 people up to large Georgian townhouses sleeping 8-10 people. Dickins properties are available for city and weekend breaks (3 nights), holiday lets (1 week or more), short term & corporate lets (+1 month, ideal if you're planning on being here for longer) as well as the Edinburgh Festival and start from as little as £275 per week.

 

So why not check out what Dickins have available now and take advantage of their great 'Special Offers' available on selected apartments only....!

http://www.dickins.co.uk/special-offers-edinburgh

 

 

So don't delay, book your Edinburgh self catering apartment with Dickins today...!

 

Dickins, 0131 558 1108

enquiries@dickins.co.uk

Fantastic opportunity to gain invaluable work experience in small, dynamic, central Edinburgh based property company....

Dickins: for your Edinburgh home from home have an exciting work experience opportunity from May until the beginning of October 2010. There may also be the opportunity for further part time work until January 2011.

   

Dickins let special and unique central Edinburgh apartments for festival lets, short lets and holidays. We are a small business with high standards and limitless horizons. Our office is friendly yet professional and efficient. Offering excellent customer service at all times is key to us.

The summer period is extremely busy in the office as Dickins lets around 250 apartments and houses for the Edinburgh Festival. We have many retained clients including some of the biggest stars appearing at the Festival and Fringe, venues such as the Assembly Rooms, Gilded Balloon, Underbelly, many national Newspapers and also leading London based promotional companies.

This work experience opportunity is the perfect environment in which to gain real experience of how a small tourism/property business operates. This is not just a boring admin job. Whilst there will be administrative tasks you will also have the chance to speak to clients both in person and on the telephone and be responsible for a number of crucial tasks. Dickins embrace up to the minute marketing tools such as their blog, newsletter, Twitter and Facebook and you will gain experience of using these tools for marketing and PR. The job is not desk bound and will involve visiting and checking apartments before lets too.

 

You have the following skills:

 

• An understanding of the importance of attention to detail
• A good knowledge of Microsoft Office Packages i.e. Word, Excel & Outlook
• Good social skills
• An understanding of good customer service
• The ability to write to clients in a professional manner
• An enthusiastic attitude
• A desire to learn and to use your own initiative
• The ability to multi-task

As well as the huge range of skills the successful candidate will gain from this experience, Dickins will also offer £125 per week and if the candidate fits well within our office environment there is the potential for further paid work until January 2011.

Here's what Lauren Macleod who worked for us in 2009 had to say about her experience here at Dickins:

'Being part of a small team at Dickins meant that I had a wide range of hands on experience right from the start. Not only did I have responsibilities in the office such as processing bookings and payments, and managing various databases, I also had the opportunity to visit and check the apartments and prepare all keys for customers over the Festival period.

This work experience very much helped me in getting my job today due to the variety of skills I gained during this time. I had a great Summer at Dickins, everyone in the office were extremely nice and made me feel comfortable straight away.'

 

To apply for this position please send your CV by email to gaby@dickins.co.uk and tell us why you think you are right person for this role.

Springtime Special Offers in Dickins Edinburgh Self Catering Apartments....!

Dickins: for your Edinburgh home from home have a fantastic selection of Edinburgh self catering apartments ranging from 1-5 bedrooms, from modern studio apartments to large Georgian townhouses available now for Edinburgh Holiday Lets, Short Term & Corporate Lets and City & Weekend breaks. Within this selection of Edinburgh self catering accommodation, they currently have some great special offers on in a variety of their apartments , just take a look below:

http://www.dickins.co.uk/special-offers-edinburgh

Edinburgh looks beautiful at this time of year, the snowdrops are flowering and you can see the bright colour of yellow daffodils dotted about on roadside verges or in one Edinburgh's central parks including Princes Street Gardens nestled just below Edinburgh Castle.

There's plenty going on in Edinburgh at the moment including the award winning Mary King's Close Ghost Fest which is bigger and better than ever this year as not only are the well known spooky tours of Mary King's Close taking place, Chris Conway (from Living TV's Most Haunted) also visits The Real Mary King's Close for the first time. Many new and favourite locations also open their doors for overnight vigils including Blair Street Vaults, Damnation Alley, the Dalmahoy Hotel and Scotch Malt Whisky Society vaults being just a few of the highlights! 

If you're looking for something a little less terrifying, you will most definitely enjoy Ceilidh Culture which starts on the 26th March and runs until 18th April. Ceilidh Culture is Edinburgh's Annual showcase of traditional arts including music, song, dance and storytelling and brings together a large number of contributors from all over Edinburgh and beyond, for a real celebration of all that is wonderful about the traditional arts in Scotland.

Whether you’re familiar with the traditional arts or not there is something for everyone to enjoy. From family friendly workshops and concerts to late night award winning folk clubs. There are also some great ceilidh's to get you moving with introductions to dances for those who may be new to ceilidh dancing – so no excuses now – give it a go!

So if you're planning an Easter break away with your family or friends, book a trip to Edinburgh today. To truly enjoy and feel a part of the city and it's history, why not stay in a Dickins Edinburgh Self Catering Apartment...? Whether it be for a 3 night city break or an Edinburgh Holiday Let, Dickins will help you find an apartment that suits you.

 

Don't delay, book a Dickins Self Catering Apartment today....!

 

Dickins, 0131 558 1108

enquiries@dickins.co.uk

Edinburgh Festival Accommodation 2010 with Dickins: for your Edinburgh home from home

Dickins: for your Edinburgh home from home are currently taking on more and more apartments and houses for the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe so if you're thinking of letting out your property over the Edinburgh Festival, contact Dickins today or take a look at their owners section of their website (http://www.dickins.co.uk/owners).

Over the summer, if you need some extra money to do that work to the bathroom you've been dreaming of, or would like your home to help pay for your holiday, then a Festival Let could well be the answer for you. Dickins have been working with the quality Festival venues, promotional companies and media groups for over ten years and understand how to match the right people with the right apartment.

Alternatively, if you're thinking of coming to Edinburgh this year, there is no better place to stay than in a self catering apartment where you can truly feel a part of the city. Dickins self catering apartments are fully equipped so all you need to bring is your suitcase...! Not only is an apartment a more cost-effective option than staying in an Edinburgh hotel, you'll also have the space and freedom to return back to your very own 'home from home' when you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the City Centre to make yourself a quick meal before taking in your next show rather than trying to source an available table in one of the City's busy cafes, bars and restaurants.

In the meantime, if you've never been to Edinburgh before then why not check out some of Dickins 'Special Offers' currently available in their Edinburgh Self Catering Apartments and enjoy a short break in Edinburgh to get a taste of the city. With plenty to see and do, you'll not be disappointed and will definitely not need an excuse for a return to Scotland's Capital City - Edinburgh....!

Take a look at Dickins 'Special Offers' below:

http://www.dickins.co.uk/special-offers-edinburgh

 

So don't delay, book a trip to Edinburgh and stay in a 'home from home' self catering apartment today....!

 

Dickins, 0131 558 1108

enquiries@dickins.co.uk

Celebrate 'Burns Night' in a Dickins Edinburgh Self Catering Apartment...!

January 25th marks Burns Night in Scotland and people staying in a Dickins Edinburgh Self Catering Apartment are likely to find plenty to entertain them during their stay in Scotland’s Capital city.

There will be all kinds of celebrations taking place to mark the occasion, many of which are based around the life of the poet Robert Burns, as well as explorations of his works.

Born in Alloway, Ayrshire, in 1759 to William Burness, a poor tenantfarmer, and Agnes Broun, Robert Burns was the eldest of seven. He spent his youth working his father's farm, but in spite of his poverty he was extremely well read - at the insistence of his father, who employed a tutor for Robert and younger brother Gilbert. At 15 Robert was the principal worker on the farm and this prompted him to start writing in an attempt to find "some kind of counterpoise for his circumstances." It was at this tender age that Burns penned his first verse, "My Handsome Nell", which was an ode to the other subjects that dominated his life, namely scotch and women.

On the day of his burial more than 10,000 people came to watch and pay their respects. However, his popularity then was nothing compared to the heights it has reached since.

On the anniversary of his birth, Scots both at home and abroad celebrate Robert Burns with a supper, where they address the haggis, the ladies and whisky. A celebration which would undoubtedly make him proud.

So if you're in Edinburgh or not and would like to celebrate 'Burns Night', you can cook your very own Burns Supper if you're staying in one of Dickins Self Catering Apartmentswhich have fully equipped kitchens and space to entertain. You only need a few ingredients including a Haggis of course, turnip (AKA neeps) and potatoes (AKA tatties). Alternatively, if you don't fancy the traditional fare then why not try a Haggis Supper from one of Edinburgh's local fish and chip shops where your Haggis comes deep fried in batter with a serving of chips on the side. Domino'sare also offering a Haggis Pizza to their customers in Scotland as a one off today. The decision was made to create the one off pizza just for Scotland as not only is it Burns' 250th Anniversary but as a nod to the fact that Scotland is one of the most patriotic nations in the world. The pizza includes mozzarella, tomato sauce, onions and Haggis.....mmmm!!!

So come on....if you've never sampled it before.....do it today in whatever way suits your fancy!!!

Some Last Minute Edinburgh Festival Accommodation Special Offers to Tempt You!

Just decided to come to Edinburgh this August? Well, we have some special last minute offers if you book festival apartments from Dickins for the whole month of August.

Three bedroom New Town Festival Apartment at 32a Drummond Place is available for £2,000 for 4 weeks from 1st August saving you £400 from the advertised rate of £2,400.

Three bedroom New Town Edinburgh Festival Apartment at 29 Drummond Place is available for £2,200 for 4 weeks from 1st August saving you £425 from the advertised rate of £2,625.

Four Bedroom New Town Edinburgh Festival Apartment at 33 Dundas Street with broadband is available for £3,000 for 4 weeks from 1st August saving you £600 from the advertised rate of £3,600.

Four Bedroom New Town Edinburgh Festival Apartment at 56 India Street is available for £3,000 for 4 weeks from 1st August saving you £300 from the advertised rate of £3,300.

Snows Falls on Midsummer's Day

I'm not sure if you've been to, or even heard of Jupiter Artland. I hadn't until Friday, but my strong advice is to get there as soon as possible.

Robert and Nicky Wilson have turned the 80 acre estate around their home Bonnington House, into the most incredible sculpture featuring works by major artists including Andy Goldsworthy, Anthony Gormley, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Charles Jencks and Anish Kapoor.

On Sunday we arrived at 11am and a few metres after entering the gates we were driving through softly falling snow for at least 200 metres down the drive. This work was the brain-child of Peter Liversidge and it was magical. All the children there, and quite a few of the adults too, were in paradise, throwing snowballs. This was a one of piece, but the park is open Friday to Dunday 10am to 4pm until 1st August, when to the end of August, it is open on Thursday too. www.jupiterartland.co.uk 

Back in the reality of the office and we're getting there with housing all our clients for the Edinburgh Festival. So if you're looking for Edinburgh Festival Accommodation and haven't secured any yet, you'd better get in touch fast if you don't want to be pitching a tent on the Meadows.    

Our Hot Tip of the Month

Visit the Dovecot Studios at 10 Infirmary Street (www.dovecotstudios.com). Following an £8 million refurbishment, this former Victorian Baths is now the permanent home of The Edinburgh Tapestry    Company. Forget images of Granny's with needles, this space is sleek, modern and beautifully designed with gallery space on the ground floor and the tapestry looms in a magnificent galleried room upstairs. A new gem for the Old Town.

 

Dickins look after a charming and contemporary one bedroom apartment at 54/8 St Mary's Street, less than 5 minutes from The Dovecot Studios.

Eric Robinson's Five Favourite Things about Edinburgh

Eric Robinson is the coolest 78 year old bon viveur we know! Eric lives in a stunning flat in, what he describes as the fag end of the New Town, Broughton Place packed with art and fascinating things. He saw 43 operas last year and loves art, yoga, walking and gossiping over lunch or coffee.

His five favourite things about Edinburgh are:

1. Coffee shops - Glass & Thompson on Dundas Street and The Circle on Brandon Terrace. Excellent coffee, relaxed ambience, wonderful staff and always something to gossip about.
2. Walks - The Water of Leith from Canonmills to the Gallery of Modern Art shows you a fabulous cross section of the best architecture and The Millennium Edinburgh to the Falkirk Canal is a fascinating slice through Edinburgh's development with wonderful views of the Pentlands and nothing to disturb he contemplation.
3. Shopping in Broughton Street - not  a Supermarket in site. Warm friendliness and superb quality.
4. A winter evening in my flat, alone with a fire burning, some wine and Lully, Strauss, Verdi, Beethoven or my latest passion playing.
5. Private views at The Open Eye Gallery, Scottish Gallery or Lyon & Turnbull. Lots of friends to greet and news to exchange, after all we may not have met for several days. There are usually pictures and antiques too.

If you agree with Eric or would like to give us your Five Favourite Things about Edinburgh, then please email us on enquiries@dickins.co.uk, we would love to hear your throughts.