Edinburgh is one of the world's great cities, but you don't have to stay there to see it.
The Scottish Borders is just an hour away by road and rail, with scenery every bit as inspiring as the Highlands (albeit slightly lower and much nearer).
It's cheaper too, because there are no plans to introduce a tourist tax in the Borders. That makes sense: Edinburgh struggles to deal with the volume of tourists, while the Borders is keen to encourage more visitors to venture further than the Scottish capital.
Why not get the best of both worlds? Visit Edinburgh, stay in the Scottish Borders.