We will finally be taking the trip we had planned in2020, but due to Covid had to cancel. We’ll be taking the train from York to Edinburgh and will spend 4 or 5 nights in Edinburgh. It seems a couple of guidebook recommendations for lodging are closed. Thought I’d ask for suggestions from the forum. There are 2 of us, we’d like to be fairly close to sightseeing but not right in the middle of partying crowds. We’re very active 60 ish, don’t need the fanciest accommodations but do like to be comfortable. Don’t mind tram or short bus rides, just don’t want long trips, especially late in the evening. Thank you all in advance!
Posted by
SE Pennsylvania
2685 posts
Partying crowds?
When is your trip, and what would you like to spend, in £?
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8913 posts
Premier Inn York Place. Some rooms also have good view over the harbor,
Posted by
Chicago
3180 posts
I have the fraser suites booked for may.
Edited to add: I am starting to get a little concerned about some of the more recent reviews for this hotel. I just checked reviews again on Booking.com and they seem to be trending lower since I first started checking.
I’ve also had my eye on the Market Street Hotel and just emailed to see if they are flexible on price. They are currently offering a 20% discount on 4 or more nights and I wasn’t seeing this reflected when I checked prices.
Posted by
Colorado Springs
113 posts
We were just there in late May, taking our trip that was postponed from 2020 as well! We stayed at the Premier Inn Princes Street. Nothing fancy, but perfectly comfortable for the two of us. It's a chain, so it's not old and quaint, but the beds are really comfortable (which can't always be said for the places with more charm!)
It's in New Town, which has some great 18th century architecture, great restaurants and shops. It's located on the tram line, with several buses (including the Citylink 100 airport bus) and taxi service, but no private car traffic. It's directly across from the castle, across the Princes Street Gardens. The castle is about a 15 minute walk (uphill for a good chunk of it). We cheated and took a taxi to the top of the Royal Mile (it was only about $7), so we could save our energy for the rest of the day. We ended up doing that a few times - walking until we were too tired to go any further, then taking a taxi, because we were just too lazy to walk to a bus stop!
We did a lot of walking nearby in New Town (Dean Village and the Water of Leith walkway are beautiful!) Rose Street, on the next block, has tons of restaurants, so there were plenty of options.
No matter what, you'll have an amazing visit!
Posted by
West Coast
438 posts
If you want an apartment style (with kitchenette and frig), try the Linton Collection. Most require a walk up one flight of stairs from the third floor but a couple are right on the third. It’s on North Bridge so near the Royal Mile but wasn’t loud and the price was good (when I went anyway). Even though the Royal Mile is tourist central, it was the perfect place to be as an actual tourist, especially for the first visit. Not hard to get to New Town or other areas either. There was construction on North Bridge (noise wasn’t an issue) which would make it a little inconvenient for cabs, but they could drop off/pick up on the RM.
Posted by
San Diego, California
5648 posts
I've stayed at Parliament House Hotel on Calton Hill twice, pre- COVID.
Really liked the location, atmosphere, the staff, breakfast, and the rooms. One room was above a small cemetery. The other room was on the top floor, and we had a view away from the town.
The location Is walking distance to all the sites, but away enough to be very quiet.
I would definitely return.
My daughter likes to stay on George Street, where there's lots of shopping and restaurants . Both locations are great!
Safe travels!
Posted by
Singapore
590 posts
Carrie - we stayed at Fraser Suites in January and were very happy. The rooms are quiet, well designed and spacious, and we had great rooftop views towards the Scott Monument. The location is fantastic for Edinburgh Waverly station (short walk up the steps) and easily walkable for everything from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Hollyroodhouse. I really couldn't fault it.
Incidentally, you might get a few more responses if you post in the Scotland forum rather than the England forum.
Posted by
OP
Coeur d'Alene, Id
100 posts
LIZinPA, sorry I didn’t add our dates. We will be in Edinburgh at the very end of April. We want to stay somewhere that is somewhat quiet, not near loud, popular bars. And I’m more interested in the location and comfort of the B&B or hotel rather than price. We do travel quite a bit and don’t need fancy brand name hotels, as we’re not usually there but to sleep at night. I love the suggestions so far, and I will look into all of them…thank you!
Posted by
OP
Coeur d'Alene, Id
100 posts
Simon…Thank you😁.I was looking at York and Edinburgh this morning and wasn’t paying attention!!!
Posted by
Chicago
3180 posts
Pat, thanks for the suggestion. I’ll be sure to take a look at the Parliament House Hotel .
Simon, thanks for sharing your experience at the Fraser Suites. The location and size of the rooms seem perfect. I’m just a little concerned about some recent reviews on lack of cleanliness. Could be due to staff shortages.
Terry, just a note if you were looking at the Market Street hotel. I contacted them about prices and they informed me the current listed prices after the end of March should be lowering in the next month or so. I guess it’s a little too early yet for those prices to be set.
Posted by
Scottsdale, AZ, United States
149 posts
We will be in Edinburgh in mid August and will stay at the Parliament House Hotel. Then will back to Edinburgh with RS tour the following week and we will stay at the Wilde Aparthotels By Staycity Grassmarket. I must say it looks very nice and is near the Castle. If either of these have some issues, I will get back on this thread upon our return and advise.
Posted by
53 posts
Not a hotel recommendation, but I do recommend starting your first day with a personal guided tour. See my post from 2019. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/finally-saw-edinburgh-the-right-way-i-hired-a-guide
Bob
Posted by
Tampa, FL
632 posts
On the RS Best of Scotland tour in 2018, my tour hotel was The Place at 36 York Place. I liked it very much and would stay again. The service was good, they had a nice breakfast. It’s right at the end of the tram line. I don’t recall it being in a loud area. Booking.com rates it at 8.3.
Posted by
Atlanta
5235 posts
Despite the name, there is a hotel named B + B Edinburgh where we've stayed several times and we've always been pleased. It's within walking distance of the tram line (let me know if you need details) and we did not find the location to have any drawbacks at all. We were able to use the tram and shoe leather to get everywhere we wanted to go.