How much for a weekend in the Scottish capital?

How much for a weekend in the Scottish capital?

Where:Edinburgh

When:August 29th to 31st

With the tour operatorAs part of the package, we will be staying in the five-star Glasshouse boutique hotel. The hotel is just off Princes Street, and next door to the Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre.

It is, the tour operator says, "a striking architectural statement that combines the facade of a 150-year-old church with modern steel and glass". The package covers just the room so we'll have to sort out our own breakfasts. We depart Dublin at 1.45pm on the Friday on what www.lastminute.comsays is a no-frills carrier - which we take to mean Ryanair - and leaves Edinburgh at 3.15pm two days later. The total price is €340.76 per person, a total of €681.52. We estimate our breakfasts will cost a tenner a head per day.

Total€721.52

On our ownRyanair.com has flights to Edinburgh on the Friday with a basic price of €29.99 for the outward journey and €16.99 on the way back, but once we add in all the taxes and charges - we opt not to check in any luggage and go for the online check-in - the price of our flights rises to €210.40. Our flights leave Dublin at 12.10pm and depart Edinburgh at 12.20pm. We book the hotel through www.theetoncollection.com, and the price for two adults for the two nights is €468.40, a price which includes a full Scottish breakfast.

Total€678.80

DIY savings€42.72