You’re so excited about Christmas that you’ve already booked your tickets for Hogmanay. Your train tickets are being delivered tomorrow and you’ve reserved a table at the best restaurant in Edinburgh – just in case they get busy. Unfortunately your favourite hotel is full, but you’ll find somewhere once you get up there, right?

Wrong. Edinburgh is a thriving capital with thousands of tourists visiting every year. Finding accommodation in Edinburgh can be a total nightmare – especially if you’re visiting in our two main tourist seasons: the Festival in August, and Hogmanay in December. So here are the top ‘need-to-knows’ for first time visitors to the city.

Book accommodation in advance! Hotels will go at the click of a finger, and hostels are an unappealing option for families. Serviced apartments abound in Edinburgh and for groups of plus two, offer much more competitive deals than hotels. With cheap rates and in easy walking distance to the main parts of the city, they’re the perfect alternative for families, couple of romantic breaks or a group of friends looking to party.

Edinburgh in winter is cold. The wind whistles down the Royal Mile and across Princes Street at a rate of knots. If you’re not fully prepared it will whip straight through you. Warm clothes – right down to thermal underwear – are a necessity, as are ear muffs and gloves to keep your extremities warm. For the frail at heart, invest in a pair of fur lined boots – and if it all gets too much, retreat back to your warm, luxurious accommodation to de-thaw those toes.

Things get busy towards Christmas. The streets fill with children on holidays, students and tourists, as well as parents anxious to finish their Christmas shopping. This can make roads extremely slippy as snow is turned to ice and can lead to several displays of temper as people overheat. To prevent you being one of those, head to the German Market and refuel with a glass of mulled wine – guaranteed to mellow you out.