Edinburgh hotel options

Hannah, what dates are you looking at for your Edinburgh stay?

NancyG we'll be there for 4-5 nights (still deciding!) October, 2024!

I have been to Parliament House twice and would return again. We had one room above a small cemetery , and one on the top floor with a view of the city. I don't remember the rooms being small, but I don't expect large rooms in Europe. As I remember, the various rooms can be really different. Not sure if there's elevator access to all rooms. Staff were great. I really like the location on Carlton Hill. Have a great trip!

I’ve stayed at Premier Inn York Place. We had a lovely view room out over the bay and liked the location. I don’t think they guarantee a view room, but if you get one it is nice.

I've stayed at the Hotel Indigo on York Place a couple of times but that was six and seven years ago.

No issues with the hotel except the wifi was slow. I'm sure it's been fixed by now.

One nice thing is they restock the refrigerator with water, drinks and snacks daily. Or at least they did before the pandemic.

Having the tram practically outside the door was helpful.

If you plan to walk to the hotel from the train station, be aware it is uphill--as is the Premier Inn since it's across the street from the Indigo.

By the time you travel, the new Resident Edinburgh--sister hotel to the Resident Kensington--should be open.

We stayed at the Ibis Hotel St. Andrews Square this past June, and we really enjoyed our stay there. Our room was small but clean and the bed was very comfortable. We like the atmosphere of the lobby/bar/ and breakfast area. Buffet breakfast is included. The location is very, very convenient. We walked everywhere: to all the restaurants we dined at, all the sightseeing including the Royal Mile, the Castle, The National Museum of Scotland, and the Botanic Gardens. Staff were very pleasant and helpful. I definitely recommend this hotel. Hope this helps!

We stayed at Premier Inn Edinburgh City Centre Royal Mile hotel and enjoyed it. It’s a block off the Royal Mile,

We stayed at the Premier Inn York Place last month. Our only issue was with the tub in the bathroom of our PremierPlus room. The tub wall was uncomfortably high, and the tub was dangerously slick. We had to ask for a rubber mat at the front desk.

When we checked into the Portsmouth Premier Inn, we were downgraded to a regular room with "just" a shower - we didn't miss the extra amenities of the Plus room at all. Both beds were very comfortable.

The breakfast was surprisingly good. They never ran out of anything, and the scrambled eggs were always warm enough. The bar was decent. We had burgers in the restaurant one night when we were exhausted and hungry, which I think improved the taste. But finding food in this neighborhood is not a problem.

We chose the York Place location because of its proximity to the Edinburgh bus station - barely a 5 minute walk. This was extremely convenient for us since we were taking 3 Rabbie's tours and that is their meet up point.

We usually stay at more expensive hotels, but both of our Premier Inns had decent A/C, reliable plumbing, hot water, and clean rooms and common areas - which you don't always find at the hotels with traditional charm and higher rates.

We stayed at the Premier Inn York Place last month. Our only issue was with the tub in the bathroom of our PremierPlus room. The tub wall was uncomfortably high, and the tub was dangerously slick. We had to ask for a rubber mat at the front desk.

I found that same situation all over Scotland. I actually loved the high tubs because I love taking baths, and high tubs mean more hot water. And you do get really hot water in Scotland!

As you know, I stayed at the Premier Inn York Place and really enjoyed it. I would never call it "charming", but the rooms were clean and roomy. The beds are very comfortable and they always have extra pillows. And I loved staying in New Town--the area is wonderful with that residential feel you are looking for. The rooms also usually have extra USB-C ports that you can use for devices, which is handy. And as Estimated Prophet noted, you sometimes forsake conveniences and reasonable prices for 'charming' hotels.

I will admit that I was intrigued by the Ibis on St. Andrews Square and would probably try it out on my next trip. I met someone there for lunch and loved the lobby! It had a very artistic flair. Can't speak for the rooms, but the location on the square was wonderful. It was a bit closer to the Royal Mile and train station than the PI on York Place, but by only a minute or so walk.

Hannah, all your candidates are very well located for sightseeing and access to public transportation. I agree with Mardee that the Ibis Styles might have a very slight edge, sitting on St. Andrew Square with the tram stop and the bus station (for day trips) right there and Waverley train station right down the street, but these spots are within a radius of a few blocks for all the places you mentioned.

I stayed at the Apex Waterloo Place, which is around the corner from Parliament House and has similar rates. I loved that location about three blocks from St. Andrew Square. Like all the hotels on your list, it's in the New Town but super close to the Old Town as well--North Bridge is right on the corner across the street. Also like the others, the decor is modern, not cozy or quaint, but both of the rooms I stayed in were perfectly comfortable. And yes, there was a deep "soaking tub," but also a separate stall shower, so I never had to negotiate that tub. Note: If you add the Apex to your list of contenders, I would suggest going with a Superior or Deluxe room--based on reviews I've read, the "City" rooms seem to be those that are below street level and lack views and natural light.

Our discussions about Parliament House Hotel got me to poke around for more history of the area of the street that it's on-- Calton Hill is quite the fascinating place--and then I discovered a truly incredibly wonderful sounding place called The Rock House...I think I need a return to stay there in the Photographer's Studio unit ASAP! Built in the 1750s, once the home of a famous photographer named David Octavius Hill and just across from the PHH, it's certainly worth reading the history part on the website and the pictures explain what I was seeing from my room at PHH that is now shrouded with mature trees.

https://rockhouse-edinburgh.com/accommodations/photographers-studio/

Wow! Thanks for the link, Christa. Now that's what I call charming!! :)

Talking of photography in this area, the original camera obscura started out life on Calton Hill. It later moved to Castlehill, where it is today. Camera Obscura & World of Illusions on Castlehill, by the castle, is a visitor attraction. Very different to how I remember it almost 40 years ago when I went to see the camera obscura with my dad.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera_Obscura,_Edinburgh
https://www.camera-obscura.co.uk/

Okay so I've ruled out Market Street but might need to add Resident Edinburgh so stay tuned because I have an abundance of great options here lol.

Christa! holy smokes that room!!!!

We stayed at Premier Inn on Princes Street and were very happy there. Great location for sightseeing - easy to walk everywhere. The tram line is on Princes Street and buses as well. Super quiet. Helpful and efficient staff. After that, we stayed at B&Bs throughout Scotland and finished up at a Premier Inn in Glasgow (the one in Edinburgh was much preferable).

I like the Premier Inn and Ibis hotels a lot. Have stayed with them in various cities. I'm staying at the Ibis, Hunter Square in Edinburgh over New Years -- looking forward to it!

I was very happy with my stay at PI York Place - large, clean room, quiet - no sounds from adjacent rooms that I experienced in another hotel that was in an old building. I thought the wifi was fine and large selection of TV channels.
One half of the bed was much better so that's the side I slept on.
Don't expect to find toiletries- only liquid hand soap and body wash in wall mounted dispensers. And yes the tub is very high and you need to step up into it and be prepared for the big step down onto the bathroom floor.

We liked the Motel One on Princes Street which is across the street from the Balmoral and convenient to Waverley Station. We got a room with a view.