Budget accommodations for Edinburgh and Glasgow

Try Premier Inn.

Holiday Inn express is another budget option and comes with free breakfast. You pay extra for breakfast at Premier Inns.

I agree with both of the posts above that Premier Inns and Holiday Inn Express hotels are good options. They're always very clean, very comfortable, and very reasonably priced.

I stayed at the Premier Inn York Place when I was in Edinburgh and really liked the location and the hotel. As Skyegirl pointed out, however, Premier Inn does not offer a free breakfast although they do have one available that is very good. You can opt for the continental breakfast that's cheaper or the full cooked breakfast.

The Holiday Inn Express does have a free breakfast. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Glasgow by the airport and really liked my stay there as well. The breakfast was good, the staff was friendly, and the hotel itself was very pleasant. I know that they also have Holiday Inns close to the city centers in both locations so I would check the pricing on all of those.

One last thing; I don't know about Holiday Inn Express hotels, but I can tell you that with Premier Inn, the earlier you book, the cheaper your rate will be. Just something to keep in mind.

Look at the Motel One chain. We stayed there in Glasgow and there's one in Edinburgh as well.

For Glasgow, I recommend Glasgow Youth Hostel: https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/hostels/glasgow/

It is not just for young people! Anyone can stay there (and it's even dog friendly- we stayed with our dog). The rooms are basic but have everything you need and you're right by the Kelvingrove.

For Edinburgh, it gets very expensive in August as the festival starts. If you're able to I would stay in Edinburgh first and Glasgow second. Altho now accommodation for the festival is so scarce some people wind up staying in Glasgow so things will be booking up there as well.

I compared the Motel One in Glasgow (Oswald St) with many other hotels in that city and found it to be the most affordable. We went in September of last year. It was very clean and very convenient. Superb front desk staff.
In Edinburgh we found the Premier Inn York Place to be the least expensive. You’ll find Glasgow to be considerably cheaper than Edinburgh. If you really wanted to save, you could stay in Glasgow the duration and take the train to and from Edinburgh to sightsee. Fastest train is about 45 min.

Hope this helps!

Don't want to make an obnoxious post...

IggyStooge, don't ever feel bad about posting here and asking for budget accommodations; it is not obnoxious, believe me. I do it all the time. I hate spending a lot of money for a room, although sometimes I like to splurge. That said, there's nothing wrong with asking for recommendations for inexpensive places to stay. 😊

^ what she said 100x :)

I’m not great at any type of art w the exception of diving into the art of stretching a budget. Especially if it allows me to travel longer or more. Lol You get mad respect from me if I can follow any of your ideas for saving money!

For Edinburgh the usual answers are Glasgow and Dundee- 45 minutes and 1 hour away respectively, and both with cheap 24/7 fast bus services.

But you are right, Glasgow is astoundingly expensive, and I can't see that there is any special event on. But then I looked at the Isle of Islay today in March- and my usual hotel has tripled it's rates- nothing special happening and the rates aren't dynamic- just tripled them.

Perth Central Travelodge (a no frills budget chain)- one hour from Glasgow by train- is £423 for those 6 nights. It's a central position, if the 'wrong' (east) side of the river.

Looking at the prices I'm seeing for Glasgow for those dates I'd be staying in Gourock for literally 1/3 of the price, and commuting in- 45 minutes, twice an hour on the train. I know the hotel in Gourock and would be very happy.

Tongue firmly in cheek, but it's seriously an option to me, if not to most people. Carlisle is 70 minutes away by twice hourly train (102 miles), about £20 return (probably cheaper than from Perth). Two good quality hotels there right by the station for about £500 to £600 for the 6 nights. The Ibis (5 minutes walk from the station) is £437 for the 6 nights. Yes I live in Cumbria but at those prices (which are actually high for Carlisle) I couldn't possibly justify staying in either Scottish city. I also have a lovely high quality B and B bolthole in Carlisle City Centre- for those 6 nights their basic room is £250 or an en suite one £55 a night.
I can be in Glasgow by 0820, and last train back around 2000. Edinburgh first train arrives before 1000.

Glasgow is hosting the Commonwealth Games July 23-August 2, so hotel prices may be high then.

Check put Travelodge chain. Otherwise, hostels, or stay outside the main cities.

Thanks so much to all of you for your suggestions. It's rough out there in accommodation land! Cheapest room at the the Holiday Inn Glasgow is $317, Premier is $365 and Motel 1 is over $400. I'm thinking Scotland is not going to be for me this year. I will post in the general forum about where best to spend six nights during my time. Appreciate you all very much, RS members are the best!

Iggy, I responded in your other post about the Premier Inn Edinburgh Leith Waterfront.

I didn't find anything in Glasgow for a comparable rate. But, you could easily do a day trip between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

If you're looking for a second location to combine with Edinburgh you should consider Dundee. You'll easily find rooms under $150/night. There's both bus and train service between Edinburgh and Dundee.

In Dundee you'll find several museums including The McManus, Dundee Contemporary Arts and V & A Dundee.

Holy cow Iggy, that’s crazy!! I went back and looked in my email and I paid $170/ nt for a standard room at the Motel One Glasgow in early September 2025. Granted it wasn’t a prime event time, but still that’s a huge difference. I am sorry you are finding these prices to be an obstacle; I would, too!

Yikes, it sounds like the Commonwealth Games and probably the start of the Fringe have pushed rates to extreme highs, even at the most reasonably priced options.

I too would be looking for a different destination.given what you are up against.

I went back and looked in my email and I paid $170/ nt for a standard
room at the Motel One Glasgow in early September 2025.

Out of curiosity I checked too, this was June 2022 so inflation will factor, but back then it was £84/night.

Iggy, I agree that you should probably look elsewhere, but just keep in mind that the time of year that you are choosing to go there is an anomaly, in that both Glasgow and Edinburgh are hosting events that are really jacking up their hotel prices. Is it possible for you to change your dates? I just checked, and there are dates in September where the cost is only $161 (dollars, not pounds) a night for the Motel One in Glasgow (I looked at Sept. 23-28).

Another option would be to move out of the city into a smaller location, such as Aberdeen or even in the Borders.

Keep in mind that most people recommend booking lodgings in Scotland way ahead of time. If you do decide to go elsewhere and save Scotland for another trip, just keep that in mind. I was there in May of 2023, and I started booking my lodging in August the year before.

Ibis at Springfield Quay, just across the river, is £247 per night.

Just realised you're in US Dollars though. $329.17.

Expensive.

If you're open to AirBnB, I'd maybe be looking at Shawlands, Strathbungo, Pollokshaws etc. Southside of Glasgow. Pollokshaws Road and Victoria Road. Govanhill is a bit rough, but may be cheap if you find an honest host.

The west end may still be quite expensive. Partick has good links to the centre of town though but may hold some AirBnB hosts. Same goes for Yorkhill. Hillhead, Woodlands, Park Circus, Kelvinbridge, Kelvinside, Finnieston, Hyndland and Botanics are areas to look for in your west end search.