Our Swift guide to Taylor tourism

And because there is literally (as Zen G would say) nobody bigger in the world right now, and for the weekend that’s in it with the circus coming to my adopted home city of Edinburgh, we give you our Swift guide to Taylor tourism.

Taylor has graced us by choosing our little city to kick off her Eras Tour in Britain.

And because it is as we are constantly reminded Taylor’s world and she lets us live in it we obviously set aside only the best hotel in Edinburgh for her.

That being the Caledonian Hotel at the top of Princes Street, with unrivalled views of Edinburgh Castle, and easy motorcade access to her concerts at Murrayfield in the West End.

Now, of course, it might be a Cruel Summer (yes, I looked it up) for those who are wanting to see The Great Lady in concert.

With the cheapest tickets, probably to see just a speck of her (but then, hey, worth it!) are £86.90.

While Edinburgh hotels are charging anything up to triple the price of their normal stay in Auld Reekie while Taylor is in town.

Caledonian means everything to me

There is, of course, no room at the inn at the Caledonian for this weekend, but if you come back next weekend…

You can book a two-bedroom suite with a view for £2,836.

A single-night stay in Edinburgh across the weekend is said to cost on average £597.

With researchers Buzz Bingo telling us that the dearest place to stay are £923 per night.

We’re reliably informed too of the rewards on offer for Airbnb owners.

With the average Taylor tariff £769.47, a 223% spike.

With the weekend before the Eras Tour, Airbnb rates are on average £237.88 a night, and £191.47 the weekend after.

None of which would make wholesome Taylor even blink or make a dent in her £1.3bn wealth.

Tour de force

Now the 34-year-old whose schtick is female empowerment, retribution lyrics for teens despite her 34 years.

And all through the prism of her very own form of modern country, pop and indie folk, or bland, as we’d prefer to tag it has been in Europe a whole month.

Making her way through France, Sweden, Portugal and Spain with her entourage.

And fear not, she will be making her way to a town near you soon.

With Liverpool’s Anfield stadium her next port of call after Edinburgh.

Followed by Cardiff, London and then Dublin.

Before making her merry way around Europe.

And then bringing it all to a thunderous climax with two more dates in London, at Wembley Stadium.

A Swift buck

Not that the countries who welcome her with open arms are complaining.

With the UK economy set to benefit by some £997 million from tourism and overnight stayers.

Because as we all know it’s not just the getting there and the staying but also the hospitality with bars and restaurants hiking the prices.

And of course you need new clobber for the night.

With fans expected to shell out around £56 although even that seems low.

Travel is likely to add up to another £111, while meals before the concert could be around £59, again a conservative estimate.

While you also need to show everybody for ever that you’re a Swiftie and you were there.

And that means merch, with Swift official merchandise expected to cost around £79 per fan.

All a long way from the less than £50 tickets you get with my old Wicklow neighbour Hozier.

She Penns a hit record

It’s easy to forget, of course, that the Girl from West Reading, Pennsylvania (and she has her own museum, online of course, at only 34) is first and foremost a musician.

And she certainly can belt out a good song which I can testify too after listening to the same tune, though called something else at every turn.

On every radio station, and in every shop and mall in the city and town around Edinburgh.

Remember it is her world and she’s only allowing us to live in it…. so Shake It Off, any negative vibes.

So get used to it, she’s here to stay so get on board with our Swift guide to Taylor tourism.