A Journey to Discover Scotland’s Finest – Exploring the Treasures of the Northeast

A Journey to Discover Scotland’s Finest – Exploring the Treasures of the Northeast

Every year, I spend Christmas in the northeast of Scotland. The main city is Aberdeen, the third largest city in Scotland. Even if you have been to Edinburgh or Glasgow, you may not have travelled this far. It takes more than seven hours by train from London to Aberdeen, so when I go from London, I always fly (Once I have travelled by night train from Aberdeen to London). As the plane gained altitude during the flight from Heathrow to Aberdeen, I saw the most beautiful sky I have ever seen. When I think about it, even in Japan, I get bored if I stay at home all the time…

Review: Hilton Edinburgh Carlton

Review: Hilton Edinburgh Carlton

Conveniently located just minutes from Edinburgh’s main Waverley Station is the Hilton Edinburgh Carlton. The hotel is a grand, turn-of-the-20th-century building, which originally housed a department store, and sits at the southern end of the North Bridge. Although we only realised that the hotel was undergoing renovations when we arrived, the friendly staff at the front desk were working hard to ensure there was no disruption to guests. I am so excited to return once the renovations are complete: the works comprise a new, expanded lobby and will extend the total room count to almost 300. We arrived in the early afternoon by train and enjoyed the short walk to…

Review: The Caledonian Edinburgh (2023)

Review: The Caledonian Edinburgh (2023)

I decided to spend the weekend visiting a friend living in Edinburgh and, when I searched for a last-minute hotel room, I was lucky enough to be able to reserve a room at the Waldorf Astoria (Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh, the Caledonian was rebranded to The Caledonian Edinburgh, Curio Collection by Hilton in 2024). In Scotland the number of tourists greatly increases in the summer, so walking along Princes Street from the station to the hotel was already very crowded. From the window of our upgraded guest room, we could see the impressive Edinburgh Castle up close. Princes Street Gardens lies at the foot of Castle Rock, whose trees have grown…

Review: Hilton Aberdeen TECA

Review: Hilton Aberdeen TECA

We came to Aberdeen in north-east Scotland during the Easter holidays. The Azuma, which I used when going to Edinburgh, also runs to Aberdeen, but it would take over 8 hours, so I decided to fly. We stayed at the Hilton Aberdeen TECA near the airport. The hotel looks huge as it is integrated with a large event venue, including a 15,000-capacity arena. The complex opened in 2019, so my first impression was that everything still feels new and very clean. Having been more than 5 hours since I left home, I was tired when I arrived so quickly put my luggage in the room and headed to the lounge….

Review: Hilton Grand Vacations Craigendarroch Suites

Review: Hilton Grand Vacations Craigendarroch Suites

Although I associate them more with places like Hawaii or Florida, there is a Hilton Grand Vacations property in Scotland too! Craigendarroch is located in the Cairngorms National Park, and although it would be difficult to reach without a car, it is easy to find with a car navigation system and, like Japan, driving is on the left side. The scenery that can be seen on the way is stunning in summer, particularly when the heather is in bloom all around. The hotel is a Victorian-era building, and you can definitely feel its history from the ivy-covered living quarters. Perfect to enjoy after a long drive to get here, the…

Review: The Caledonian Edinburgh (2023)

Review: The Caledonian Edinburgh (2023)

From London, it takes four and a half hours by Azuma train to arrive in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. As if coming out of nowhere, the sound of bagpipes seems to constantly drift through the hustle and bustle of the city, stirring feels of travel and discovery! I’ve been to Edinburgh many times, but it’s a city so full of charm that I always want to visit again. This time, I stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh again (Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh, the Caledonian was rebranded to The Caledonian Edinburgh, Curio Collection by Hilton in 2024). During my stay, I spent most of my time at the hotel’s ‘Peacock Alley’….