How to Turn Your Fascination With the Royals Into an Unforgettable Vacation

How to do it: Visiting the Queen's Edinburgh home is among the easiest and most accessible in her portfolio; it's open year-round, with only hours varying. More details can be seen at Holyrood Palace's site.

If you go: The G&V Hotel, formerly the Hotel Missoni, is where we stayed. It has an unbeatable location on the Royal Mile, and is a colorful refuge in what can be a very gray — but gorgeous — city. Another option, which is even closer to the castle, is the simple Holyrood ApartHotel.