Edinburgh Hotel - Pick one!

Edinburgh has gotten very expensive when it comes to hotels.

For real budget options look at Travelodge. Centrally located is going to cost.

Rabbies tours out of Edinburgh leave from the Edinburgh coach station. (Bus Terminal.)

In general, I really like Motel One hotels.
But when we were in Edinburgh last year, I decided to stay at the Premier Inn York Place.
Mainly because we wanted a twin bed room for our teenage kids, but also because of a discount promotion.
It is very well located for the tram to the airport and to Leith, close to the bus station and ideal for a walk to Calton Hill for sunrise.
However, the Old Town and Royal Mile are a 15 to 20 minute walk away.
Overall, we had a pleasant stay. It was clean, the staff were friendly (no late checkout possible but luggage storage available) and there were no problems with noise, except when a Spanish tour group invaded the breakfast room.

I have stayed a few times at the Hub Hotel Royal Mile and it was fine for me but might get a bit tight for eight nights.

I also like the Premier Inn Royal Mile
I have a friend who likes the Premier Inn near St Andrews Square.

Lots of people here have stayed at the Motel One and really speak highly of it.

I stayed at the Motel One Princes Street location this past Sept. It was great. Better than I expected. They were just finishing up with a remodel. So, everything was nice and new.

The location is within easy walking of the Rabbie’s departure point—the bus station as mentioned by Frank.

Let me know if you have any Rabbie’s questions. I have taken many tours with them. They are fabulous!!! A great option for those, like myself, who do not like to drive.

I stayed at Parliament House for a few nights last July. I was in a top floor room and the elevator was out of order. I kind of thought this was a permanent status with the elevator as there was a printed sign. The desk staff member who checked me in carried my suitcase up without me asking...I could have done it as I pack light but he picked it up and took off. In retrospect I don't even think the elevator went that high as I don't remember the carriage framework on that floor. The room was giant, as was the bathroom and had a great towel heater. It was warm enough I had the window open at night and could hear noise from people at the bus stop across the street. Staff was very nice and the one day I ate breakfast it was very good. Location was good.

I also had stayed at the Ibis Saint Andrew Square a couple weeks earlier when I first got to Scotland. I really, really liked that location and hotel. The room was very small but staff was excellent and breakfast buffet was amazing (and this from a non-breakfast eater). There are a number of restaurants on the square. I would stay here again in a heartbeat even with the small room size.

Another vote for Motel One Princes

I really loved my stay at the Parliament House--beautiful old buildings, my double room was spacious, comfortable and very nicely decorated and quiet as well. Very cozy lobby and excellent staff. I had a view of the Rock House across the road, a historic 1750s building where the photographer David Hill lived and worked in the 1840s--I found that fascinating, and Calton Hill is right there behind it...could even see the ocean at a distance from my room. Their website does mention that due to the historic nature of their buildings that not all rooms are accessible by lift...I was in the main building and had elevator service to the 3rd floor. You want to approach the hotel from Waterloo Place, the other direction is a very steep hill. Speaking of Waterloo Place...right at the corner is the fabulous Howies restaurant, so good I ate there twice. I walked easily to the Royal Mile, Holyroodhouse and Waverly is about 5 minutes away, also a 10 minute walk to the bus station where I took a Rabbie's day trip.

I 100% agree with Christa's suggestion to approach Parliament House Hotel from Waterloo Place. You kind of hook back to the left but it's level and not uphill like the other approach.

Thank you all for your responses. I’ve allotted 8 nights + in Scotland, landing in Edinburgh for my start. I’d like to spend at least 4 days in Edinburgh and the remainder in other areas, day trips to Glasgow and easy areas by bus or train. Rabbies for further areas, either day or multi day.

Carrie – if you don’t mind, I’ll PM you regarding Rabbies.

Pam – I appreciate your input and always enjoy reading your feedback on posts.
The ibis Styles Edinburgh Centre St Andrew Square - $3,939.56 for 8 nights. A tad bit more than I would like to spend on a room. The hotel does look nice. Of course if I could snag a deal I would.

@kahawken - IF you decide to book the Ibis Styles, make sure you do it on the Accor Hotels app. I somehow got onto a hotel booking site instead of the regular Accor/Ibis website on my laptop. I only realized it when I was charged for the full stay immediately and I knew I had not booked a pre-paid room. They also charged a 399BGP fee. I emailed the hotel and they said the charge was from my "travel agent" which of course alerted me to being on the wrong site. I was able to cancel that booking and be fully refunded THEN booked directly on the Ibis app on my phone so no getting shunted off to a 3rd party site. I am careful when I book but this made me slow down even more!

I had back up bookings at the Premier Inn York Place as a back up but cancelled when the booking looked OK on the Accor app. The price was more reasonable than the Ibis but I liked the Ibis location better for myself (old, hahaha, solo female traveler).

Whatever you do, be sure to walk thru St Andrew Square and see Paddington Bear sitting on his bench eating a marmalade sandwich!

Yikes! That's double what we paid for a boutique hotel in New Town in September 2023.

What are your dates? Have you looked at Premier Inn (not the Hub)? What they lack in charm they make up in clean and comfortable, especially the premier rooms.

The ibis Styles Edinburgh Centre St Andrew Square - $3939.56 for 8
nights. A tad bit more than I would like to spend on a room.

Prices have really increased in Edinburgh. And Sept. is a very popular and expensive time to go as I found out last year.

I just looked back at my charges for June 2025. My rate was 3 x GBP 382.50 per night.

Yes, hotel prices have gone up since my visits in 2023 and 2024. As Carrie noted, September seems to be a month of particularly high demand and correspondingly high prices. Do you have any flexibility in your schedule? It looks like early October is somewhat more affordable, and the weather and daylight hours not all that different from the latter half of September.

If you are locked into September, I have another suggestion: Consider splitting your time between Edinburgh and Glasgow. You said that you plan to spend only half your days in Edinburgh itself and spend the rest taking day trips and commuting to Glasgow, so I think this seems like a reasonable proposal. Glasgow’s hotel rates are significantly lower than Edinburgh’s, and Rabbie’s offers tours departing from there as well.

On my 2024 trip, my sister and I spent 4 days and nights in Glasgow and then 5 days and nights in Edinburgh. We took one day trip from each location (with Rabbie’s from Glasgow and with Discover Scotland from Edinburgh). We had a wonderful time in both cities and on both day trips!

Carrie - yes from what I understand prices have increased quite a bit. I thought it was just me at first until I read quite a few posts.

Pam – I had read your previous post about using the app vs. other site. Sure enough I had looked through the other site (sneaky how they divert you). I have the membership and went into their actual website and a bit lower rate: $3,335.87 = $417 per night. I'll definitely be seeing Paddington Bear (love that little bear). Solo female traveler and old (er) myself. Thankful for being able to Keep on Travelin.

Jean – 9/26 – 10/4/26 (8 nights).

Edinburgh City Centre (Princes Street) Premier Plus - £2,306.70 (£288.33 per night) Premier Plus room with a castle view

Edinburgh City Centre (Royal Mile) – Premier Plus room with city view - £2,112.55 (£264.06 per night)

With all that said, it looks like the Premier Princes Street (Premier Plus castle view) might make the cut. I'm assuming it's a notch better than Royal Mile (?). I sure do appreciate all you weighing in on hotel.

Nancy G.
I am locked into September as I’ll be coming from The Best of Eastern France Tour.
I like your thinking about splitting time, although I try and steer away from changing hotels the best I can (time wasted). I need to nail myself down and look at the Rabbies tours, as I’d consider doing multi day trips (less time in Edinburgh) and even extending trip if that would be a good option. Trying to see as much of Scotland as I can (without renting car).

Oh, that combo of Eastern France and Scotland is going to be wonderful! 2 quite different yet very interesting cultures!

And oh my gosh on the website! I’m not sure how they divert you but they do! I’m glad it was so much less on the Accor site even if it’s out of budget.

BTW, I had a lovely afternoon tea at the Ivy on St Andrew Square. Actually it was so good I went twice! You can go see Paddington Bear and then have tea!

Pam, I jumped from end of tour in Aix-en-Provence, France and then eyeing Scotland due to a nudge from a friend. I loved Ireland and always wanted to go to Scotland and never thought I would, so here’s my chance. Thank you on tea recommendation. Afternoon tea and Paddington Bear, that’s a win win in my opinion. I do seek out historic and classic pubs so that’s on my radar.

Did you rule out the Motel One Princes Street that you asked about in your original post? I like that location better than the Premier Inn Princes Street hotel. And the Motel One is more convenient for walking to the bus station if you take any Rabbie’s tours.

Carrie - No I didn't rule out Motel One Princes Street, just going through all my options. Thank you for information and definitely taking Rabbie's tours.

Looking outside the Old Town gets you less expensive options. There's a Sheraton Four Points Flex in the West End at less than $200/nt. And there are plenty of buses to the center (and less than a mile to walk).

If you don’t need a big central hotel with reception, and all the extras, look for small Bed & Breakfast type places.
Edinburgh has a great bus system to get around, so if you stay further out in areas like Bruntsfield, Morningside, Dalry, Newington or Leith, you’re only 20 minutes into the historical centre.
You may also meet more Scots people, and be more “local” and immersed.
Check here to start:

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/accommodation/search-results?prodtypes=acco&loc=Scotland&locplace=&locprox=0&avail=off