Hard Times? Not at Edinburgh Apartment Agency Dickins

Edinburgh, United Kingdom, February 27, 2009 --(PR.com)-- In January 2009, Dickins reported a 150% increase in bookings resulting in a 60% increase in turnover compared with same month in 2008. Page views on their website www.dickins.co.uk saw a massive 268% rise in January this year when compared to January 2008.

These statistics are phenomenal but are a clear reflection of the recent surge in demand for short term letting and holiday lets in the UK.

Although the property sales market may be stagnant, short term letting is certainly not dead in the water.

Offering flexibility in these uncertain times is striking a welcome cord with people who are unable to commit to a long term lease or buyers waiting to make a move, Dickins (www.dickins.co.uk) provide great quality self catering apartments in central Edinburgh locations. With lease lengths from just three nights up to 6 months with the possibility to extend on a weekly basis, the apartments are all fully furnished with linen and towels provided and most apartments also have broadband, so customers just need to bring their suitcase.

Rents start at just £275/week or £825/4 weeks for a small one bedroom apartment and are fully inclusive of utility bills, so the savings over hotels bills are clear to see and if four weeks are booked, customers only pay for three, giving them a massive 25% discount.

Whilst people are used to using self catering apartments abroad and in rural cottage locations, they now recognize that they can now find the same benefits by booking a city centre self catering apartment. Not only do apartments offer huge cost savings when compared to hotels, they also give far more space and privacy. You don’t need to pay for a cup of tea or to wash your clothes and can enjoy the freedom of being able to come and go and eat when it suits you. Parents of children don’t need to be concerned about a child’s crying waking up a guest in the next door room and they can enjoy big cost savings because they can cook meals in the apartment, rather than having to eat out at expensive restaurants.

Dickins busiest time of year is during the Edinburgh Festival in the summer and this year they are finding that many Edinburgh residents are taking advantage of the opportunity to raise some much needed cash by letting their home out to visiting theatre groups and festival lovers.

Family gatherings are also popular as apartments provides a perfect private, relaxed and homely atmosphere for a get together, Dickins have looked after many families gathering together from all over the world to celebrate a wedding in the past year.

‘We’ve been really encouraged with the number of bookings we’ve taken since the start of 2009, especially as the world seems to be in such an economic mess at the moment. Self catering apartments offer people real cost savings and a degree of flexibility which is hard to find elsewhere. They’re also the best way to feel a part of the life of a city and at Dickins, we’re committed to finding customers their own Edinburgh home from home’ says owner of Dickins, Louise Dickins.

Demand for self catering accommodation in the UK is now on the increase as more overseas visitors can now afford to holiday in the UK due to the weakening pound, www.expedia.com reported an 80% increase in French tourists booking trips to the UK in January which is no shock considering the UK is now 20% cheaper for those in the Eurozone and 35% cheaper for Americans compared to this time last year (Times Online, 30 January 2009).

But its not only overseas tourism that’s on the increase, due to the current economic climate and the weakening pound, British holidaymakers are being encouraged to holiday at home this year as travel costs are considerably lower and your pound will stretch further than what it would in the likes of Italy and Spain. Scotland in particular is inviting anyone with an affinity or love of Scotland to join in their festivities as they host Homecoming Scotland 2009, celebrating the 250th Anniversary of Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Poet, with events taking place throughout Scotland until November 2009.

There really has never been a better time to book a self catering apartment and Edinburgh Apartment Agency Dickins have a fantastic selection of ‘home from home’ apartments to offer, so if you would like more information on booking a self catering apartment in Edinburgh for a holiday, short term let or corporate let or simply for a city weekend break, please call Dickins on 0131 558 1108 or email them at enquiries@dickins.co.uk where one of their helpful team will be able to discuss a variety of options that best suits your needs. You can also check out their website at www.dickins.co.uk.

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