The message began with helpful tidbits like the best time to visit the city (“May-June for mild weather and fewer tourists), pictures of tourist attractions (Edinburgh Castle, Scotch Whisky Experience, Royal Botanic Garden) and top things to do, including a trip to Mirin Leith—a restaurant mentioned by Roberta in the Reel—and Expedia’s “Hidden Gems,” such as the Leith Shore.
It then organizes these recommendations into a three-day itinerary, combining classic sightseeing like walking along the Royal Mile and exploring Princes Street Gardens, to dining on “Upscale Scottish cuisine at The Witchery,” a brilliant restaurant near the Castle, or taste-testing the different stalls at Stockbridge Market.
There are also some Edinburgh hotel suggestions with buttons to book your stay directly through Expedia, alongside some extra details such as the hotel’s star rating, number of Expedia reviews, and price per night (in dollars). Hotel suggestions for Edinburgh included The Balmoral, the Waldorf Astoria, Hotel Indigo, The Scotsman and Fingal.
Compared to the Thailand test, this was a much more serviceable response, with a comprehensive three-day timeline, lots of intriguing advice, plus great hotel recommendations and helpful tips with hidden gems and places to visit, too. There were buttons to request more information about specific interests like “historical sites” and “more foodie spots,” but again users would have to contact the company via Facebook Messenger or head to the Expedia website for further assistance.
This is an exciting development in the world of bookable travel via social media platforms. While there are clearly some kinks to be ironed out (spelling mistakes, surface-level guides, lack of relevance to the referenced Instagram Reel), once these have been dealt with, it could be a truly helpful tool for travelers planning a trip.
This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK.
