Scotlands Gifford House - not up to RS standards

It sounds like Rick Steves' accommodation in the UK falling into that trap of the cosy B&B that existed 40 years ago, but are often a bit crap these days. It must be tough to make a profit against competition from Premier Inn these days and I think it shows in places like the one described.

Replenishments were not provided, and staff was nowhere to be seen. The latter was more of a safety concern to me and perhaps our other travelers reading this post would feel the same way.

Any B&B where it isn't worth their while to offer guests a cooked breakfast in the morning doesn't seem to be doing very well.

Agree with you. As RS is such a trusted source for many things "travel", accommodations, at the very least, should really be reviewed more frequently. I will approach my next booking with more caution instead of relying on a guidebook. Just was a disappointing experience.

I have also had the experience that RS recommended lodgings were not up to the quality described in the guide books. I think this has been especially true of the more family run places. Years go by, and younger members of the family are running the businesses, or outside employees, and the described warmth/ quality was not my experience.
I always look at the booking.com reviews now, and have found these reviews to be very accurate. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks all for sharing your comments.

I felt the BNB was a bit dated and too far from the center of town with limited dining establishments nearby. Bus was convenient though to get to town. Area was not quaint but rather felt a bit rundown.

It looks like Gifford House is in the RS Dalkeith Rd area described in the guidebook, which he admits is a bit out of the center, but offers a number of B&Bs which are a good value - you save by riding the frequent bus into the center of Edinburgh. We had a very pleasant stay at a B&B in that area which apparently has closed. The neighborhood is composed of large, older houses, a number of which have been converted to lodgings. It's very close to the base of Arthur's Seat.

While there are few dining options immediately out the door, a short walk down to S Clerk St opens up a number of possibilities - we had our best meal in Edinburgh there in an upscale restaurant populated by locals - unfortunately it appears to have closed as well. My impression was that the area was actually an upscale suburb, given the dining choices available.

I like that part of Edinburgh as a location too. I'd probably be quite happy to stay there if I wanted a neighbourhood to enjoy out of the centre of town. Possibly not at the place described by the OP though.

Perhaps my expectations are higher coming from a RS guidebook. As a first-time visitor to Edinburgh, Gifford House and the neighborhood was a disappointment.

It's just a fairly regular neighbourhood where fairly regular / reasonably well off people live. It's a shame you were disappointed. I'd bet I'd have no trouble finding somewhere decent to eat around there within walking distance. I liked it around nearby Marchmont when I was younger. There used to be a lot of student flats around there and some closes were quite run down. I think it has gentrified into more "young professionals" these days.

I think it's indicative of what I was saying that the one Mark mentioned has closed. It's expensive for folks to keep these big houses as B&Bs, and they're probably worth quite a bit in real estate. I think margins sound tight if they can't afford to have someone cook breakfast for a handful of guests in the morning; sounds like somewhere that's cut to the bone to stay open to me.

These sort of places don't make sense in British cities anymore. There might be other contributors who know good B&Bs in northern English villages or rural Scotland, but they've been priced out the market by chains in the cities.

Everyone has a different interpretation of what they think are RS standards...seems like his suggestions used to include quirky, small family type accommodations; (except for calling themselves a BnB and only including one B.)

There are all sorts of accommodations we've experienced on his tours. We've had corporate hotel towers and one really, really bad family run hotel. Some very nice hotels and some middle of the road. We've had no complaints on 3 RS tours, except for the one really bad one which is now off the tour itinerary.

https://www.ricksteves.com/forms/guidebook-feedback-form

To help others, be sure to submit feedback about the place

And for future choices, be sure to look over the info here-- https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/guidebook-updates

Seconding Joe32F's suggestion to submit feedback directly to the RS office on the specific version of the guidebook you used. As it takes many months to finalize and publish a guidebook, it can be quite a long time after their staff has visited a property (and they do check each one). They should know things have changed, and if it changes their recommendations they will provide updates on the other link Joe32F provided.

Agree with you. As RS is such a trusted source for many things
"travel", accommodations, at the very least, should really be reviewed
more frequently. I will approach my next booking with more caution
instead of relying on a guidebook. Just was a disappointing
experience.

I personally always double check any recommendation (RS, friend, family, or other source) with at least one other source (often booking.com as only people who have booked/stayed at a property can leave a review) before I settle on a choice. It's always disappointing to have expectations fall short, but it happens.

I'm surprised you expected breakfast as they stopped doing that in March 2024 (reference their Facebook page).
So no booking method you used should have offered you anything but room only.
However such a recent change is unlikely to have made it to Rick's guidebooks, given the research and printing lead times.

But yes the big chain hotels have a lot to answer for, and what can be predatory pricing and an appeal to some that people know exactly what they are getting - predictable corporate blandness.

Twenty plus years ago, I relied heavily on RS guidebooks for accommodation and restaurant recommendations. But no longer do I bother to even look, there are too many online sites where you can figure it out.

I haven't bought an RS guidebook in years. They can't possibly stay current in the. books, that info can get stale and out of date after a year or two.

OP: what was the published date of the guidebook you used? I looked on Amazon for various RS Scotland guidebooks, and the most recent publishing dates were in 2024, one preceding the date Gifford House stopped serving breakfast. Even the other 2 books published a few months later in 2024 could have missed such a change, and it is likely that if you looked at a guidebook from several years ago, the entry for this hotel may have been unchanged for years...

Thank you all for helping me see a different prospective of the area. Had we been ABLE to ask for recommendations, I'm sure we would have not wondered into the less desirable/less quaint area. You see, when I book a BNB, I look forward to the many facets associated with one - a sitting area for guests to comingle and share their experiences, home baked goods and tea/coffee/flavored waters in the parlor in the afternoon, a book of sights/restaurant menus, a sitting area outdoors and a Happy Hour (although some BNB's do not do this). None of this was part of our experience. Come to the US, spend some time on Cape Cod, Florida or drive down the Pacific coastline and you'll really enjoy the BNB experience. At least, that has been our experience.

I find guidebooks were/sometimes are a really good source of travel information. Facebook and the internet are filled with fake posts (good and bad) as we all know...so who to believe? I like RS's forum as you all have shared your opinions which carry more weight in my opinion. I'm hoping you agree with me as you have actually taken the time to respond to my initial post and that is most appreciated/welcomed.

Ah, now I think that may be part of the problem. There is a significant cultural difference in what are often called B and B's.
I'm familiar with the US version. I have a friend who is at a wedding at a pretty nice resort hotel on the San Juan islands this weekend. The hotel is not at all cheap yet is well less than what she pays at a regular bolthole B and B on the Oregon Coast, albeit that is an exquisite place with exactly that kind of very special service you describe. The breakfast there is a 2 hour affair - 8 courses from memory.

And I've seen similar B and B's on the Olympic peninsula, in Minnesota, the dry side of WA state and elsewhere. Very often more expensive than local hotels.

And there's the rub, can I justify the cost difference just for the amazing experience or the unique building? I'm not sure.

Although the definition is becoming blurred in the UK, as many B and B's go upmarket to compete, here they were traditionally a cheaper alternative to a hotel, often maybe a bit more basic. Small family run affairs. I wouldn't expect 24 hour attention in a B and B. In fact here the word guesthouse often marks the difference between an old style B and B and a modern upmarket one.
But I wouldn't personally expect to pay more here for a B and B/guesthouse than for a reasonable quality hotel.
Sadly post Covid many places like the Gifford have abandoned breakfast service, or switched to a light 'Continental' version.

I agree that B&Bs here are traditionally fairly basic lodging. To find higher quality places with a B&B size and ethos I’d look at books like Alastair Sawday’s ‘Special Places to Stay’ or words like ‘luxury’ ‘boutique’ etc in the description. Then check reviews carefully. I could tell by the photos that Gifford House wouldn’t be very nice. The decor is very old which just shows a lack of investment and care.

Something I do before booking lodging is look it up on Google Street View and "go for a walk" around the neighborhood, confirming the location of transit stops, cafes/supermarkets/restaurants nearby, and the general look of the neighborhood. I am staying not too far from Gifford House in August, near the Royal Commonwealth Pool, at an Air BnB. I want to walk/hike in Holyrood Park in the mornings, so I used Street View to "walk" to the park and around the neighborhood. I also confirmed that there are multiple bus stops within a few minutes' walk of where I'm staying. I am satisfied that the neighborhood will suit me. No matter how nice a lodging or how many amenities, if it's in a sketchy neighborhood, I would look elsewhere.

Something I do before booking lodging is look it up on Google Street View and "go for a walk" around the neighborhood, confirming the location of transit stops, cafes/supermarkets/restaurants nearby, and the general look of the neighborhood.

Excellent point, and I do it, too.

Thanks for the advice. I will look at street view going forward. I am guilty of romanticizing my travel as I look so forward to sharing experiences, culture, etc with fellow travelers .... Just maybe, had there been a social aspect within the stay, the shortcomings I noted wouldn't have bothered me as much. That being said, this will not stop me from booking other BNB's! There's just too many fine ones awaiting ....

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy-reviews/lecco-hotels

The second post here is interesting- another unhappy traveller regarding RS accommodations in Lake Como.

Read the review on RS's Italy trip...that just shouldn't happen. RS has enough local guides/contacts that they should have been able to scout out a better location, hotel, etc. I took a RS tour of Germany. Really no complaints and our guide, Michael Dempsey, was so knowledgeable regarding Germany's historical past. It really added to the trip. But RS's small tour size is too large for my liking (24-28ish people). I prefer max 18...it does make a difference. Smaller bus (whick I preder) offers places large big buses can't go. Also, RS makes it clear that you will be lugging your own luggage, over cobblestones, stairs, etc. Glad we heeded his advice and packed only a carry-on for 17 days. You CAN do it - just takes planning and imagination!

Very frustrating to be sure! While it is now calling itself a hotel or guesthouse (depending on what section of their website you're looking at), they still have their B&B award prominently featured on their webpage. A B&B without breakfast isn't a B&B.

I vowed never to use Rick Steves' guidebook hotel and B&B recommendations after a trip to Ireland in 2018. I don't know how the hotels and B&Bs made it into his book originally, but it was clear no one from Rick Steves had stayed in them or inspected them in many, many years.

As for the hotels on his tours, it's a mixed bag. After three Rick Steves' tours, poor quality hotels were a main reason why I tried a different tour company this year (OAT - which I loved). While I know some people don't care about their hotels while traveling, I do.

For my DIY travels, I start researching with Google Maps and then check Booking.com and TripAdvisor, but I always book directly with the hotel.

You see, when I book a BNB, I look forward to the many facets associated with one - a sitting area for guests to comingle and share their experiences, home baked goods and tea/coffee/flavored waters in the parlor in the afternoon, a book of sights/restaurant menus, a sitting area outdoors and a Happy Hour (although some BNB's do not do this). None of this was part of our experience.

Absolutely none of those are associated with B&Bs in the UK. There is a vast gulf in expectation here. A British B&B is usually a relatively low-cost basic hotel where you get a room and a breakfast. If you’re lucky it’ll be one of the B&Bs with friendly hosts and a good breakfast, but increasingly places are turning into Bs: I’ve stayed in several where there’s no hosts on site, a doorcode to access the room, and a fridge and kettle in the room to get your own breakfast. Literally that.

What you’re describing would - in the UK - be called a boutique hotel.

It’s like ordering chips in the UK and wondering why they’re not the same thing as American chips.

It is how these BNB's are presented by RS's PBS show. They nearly all show friendly hosts, acceptable accommodations, quaint surroundings and decent food or things that made these BNB's "special." I traveled in Ireland where the host and I would power-walk early in the morning, before breakfast. While that was unexpected, it's exactly what I'm talking about ... sometimes you hit it lucky and sometimes the experience is, well, lacking.

I've been getting a lot of emails from OAT ... will definitely check them out for future travel and take our advice. Thank you for sharing.

You're looking for somewhere like this:
Moorlands B&B, Helensburgh, Scotland
https://www.booking.com/Share-4nOOKvL

It is a bit off the typical tour route but it's doable if you plan your route.
They don't have their own website but they are on Booking.com.

Full disclosure, I haven't stayed here, I booked but had to cancel due to some schedule changes. I guess I'm paying it forward, so to speak.

We were wanting to be in the area because it was very convenient for Hill House (which was great, btw)

It is how these BNB's are presented by RS's PBS show.

Most of the RS episodes in regular rotation on cable TV were taped pre-pandemic, many 10 - 20+ years ago. So beware, like checking the publishing date of the guidebooks you peruse.

FWIW here's an article by RS staffer Cameron Hewitt on the demise of the "classic" B&B:
https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2023/07/bb-endangered

Interesting article. Thanks for posting.

Premier Inn is the new B&B, for better or worse. I don't think Cameron really mentions this current generation of really cutthroat competition in towns and cities between budget chain hotels. It's a relatively recent development I think. That has gone a long way to put the nail in the coffin of traditional B&Bs in towns.

There was a period maybe a decade or so ago that a lot of B&Bs were given over to housing homeless people. I don't know how many are still around doing that. Certainly when you go to somewhere like Blackpool, many of the old traditional B&Bs that have remained open are now housing for those one step from homelessness. I'd probably stay at Premier Inn or such if I went to Blackpool these days, rather than chance my luck with an old style B&B.

It's a real shame to hear BNB's are not what they once were. I did check out the 1st BNB Camerson mentions ...538gbp ($737) a night and that doesn't include taxes (summer prices). That's just a bit rich but I'm sure you get what you pay for. RS is not a big promoter of AIRBNB and has stated he wants to continue to support the smaller establishments/hotels. But his organization needs to be on top of these things, especially when they know it is a growing problem. i have had pretty good success in the states with booking an AIRBNB. For a couple of nights' stay, though, it's not worth it if you don't know the area.

FWIW here's an article by RS staffer Cameron Hewitt on the demise of the "classic" B&B:
https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2023/07/bb-endangered

I wish I read this article before booking! So disheartening....

The place mentioned above at Helensburgh looks interesting, not a bad price, quite well situated for the West Hugs by car or train. Opinions will differ, but I quite like Helensburgh.
The only place I've stayed at there is the former Aggie Weston's, which was quite an interesting establishment.