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This week the brochure for the 2009 edition of the Edinburgh International Festival of Arts is published (www.eif.co.uk). Renting a luxury apartment in this wonderful European capital city is a splendid option for a cool and cultural holiday in August.

We came across Edinburgh Flats (www.edinburghflats.co.uk) by chance on the Internet last year, and cannot give the company a higher recommendation. Seven nights in one of their truly five-star apartments will set you back around the cost of a suite in an Edinburgh hotel for one night.

Magnificent apartments

The only difference is that the accommodation will be better. Edinburgh is a city blest with some of the finest Georgian architecture and these houses have divided into beautiful flats with high ceilings, fireplaces and many original features.

We stayed in the Hannover Street apartment and enjoyed being right in the heart of the festival, literally minutes away from many venues, while having a huge drawing room at our disposal like something straight out of a BBC drama series.

Except that Edinburgh Flats have installed a 50-inch plasma screen, Bose sound system as well as the period furniture. The small shower-room is also comfortably minimalist and the kitchen fully equipped for serious entertaining, just in case Mr. Darcy came to dinner.

What the Dickens?

That is not such a ludicrous suggestion. We met the famous Dickensian actor Simon Callow in the bar of one theatre during the festival last year.

Celebrity spotting is part of the excitement of the festival. Was that the former Bond girl Britt Eckland? Actually, yes it was!

However, the nicest part of Edinburgh Flats is the reliability of the service and the personal touch, especially important if you are making your first trip from the Gulf to the Scottish capital. The apartments are immaculately kept and your reception is warm and helpful.

Self-catering might appear daunting to visitors used to five-star hotels but in the centre of Edinburgh the range of excellent restaurants and high-class food shopping means that you are unlikely to go hungry. On the contrary it is impossible not to find the whole experience hugely enjoyable.