Where was your last overseas trip?
Edinburgh, Scotland

Why did you choose to travel there?
At the time, we had been living in London for two years and we still hadn’t seen snow, so on our last Christmas in the UK we decided to go find the snow ourselves! We were assured that Scotland would have a white Christmas so this was our deciding factor to travel to Edinburgh — as luck would have it, that Christmas it snowed in London and not in Edinburgh!

Tell us a little about the itinerary…
We spent five days in Edinburgh, but did a day trip to Inveraray which included lunch at a guesthouse called Glenorchy Lodge in the area Dalmally, overlooking the huge Ben Cruachan Mountain and lovely valleys. All along this drive we stopped at castles (Doune Castle, Kilchurn Castle, Stirling Castle) and lochs (Loch Lomond, Loch Luibnaig) to take photos. Although it was freezing and there was no snow, the ice on everything was amazing to see.

Where did you stay along the way?
We stayed in a lovely quaint guesthouse called West End Apartments in Edinburgh's New Town — the location was perfect, only a 10 minute walk to Princes Street (the main hub) and the walk itself was a beautiful little outing as we crossed Thomas Telford’s Dean Bridge over the Water of Leith with a historic little village in the valley.

Your favourite meal during your time away?
That has to be the traditional Scottish Haggis — although the thought of what we were eating didn’t appeal to us much, it is a 'must do' just to be able to say your tried it! In fact, it has quite a nice nutty texture and savoury flavour.

Haggis is Sheep’s pluck (heart, liver & lungs) minced with onion, oatmeal, suet and spices. In the olden days, it was boiled in the animals’ stomach for about three hours but these days it is prepared in a casing similar to what is used for sausage skin. It was served with 'Neeps and Tatties' which is actually mashed swede, turnip and potatoes.

Did you find any 'hidden secrets' during your travels...?
At Christmas time there is a night market in Princes Street gardens (opposite Princes Street) which was all lit up with Christmas lights creating a wonderful festive atmosphere.

Another spot which was not on all the maps, is St Giles' lucky heart — this is a heart shape in the paving outside St Giles Cathedral and you are meant to spit on it for good luck so we did!

The Last Drop Pub in the centre of the historic old town is also an interesting outing as this pub is located at Grassmarket which is where the wrongful people of Edinburgh were hung. The exact spot where the gallows once stood is marked with a cross in the paving.

Within Edinburgh Castle, we found a cemetery for soldiers dogs, it is a small garden used since the 1800s and is something unusual and most touching.

Your best travel tip for others planning a visit there?
Choose accommodation in walking distance from the main town as getting around by foot is an experience on its own, during the day or the night. The day trip out to the castles and lochs is also highly recommended as you see the countryside of Edinburgh which is a total contrast to the city life. At any moment I was expecting Braveheart’s William Wallace to appear from the rolling valleys!

What's the best way to get around?
The 'Hop on-Hop off' bus is great for getting orientated and there is more than one bus you can chose from — A Majestic Tour, the Edinburgh Tour, the City Tour and the Mac Tour each visiting different areas. Once you have done these, use most of your time exploring the alleyways by foot as you will find little pubs, restaurants and shops off the main streets that have that Scottish ambiance that you are expecting. Small coaches are best for the day trips as they are more intimate and personal for asking questions.

Where's next on your travel 'to-do list'?
Thailand