Hotel suggestions in Edinburgh

What's your budget? The Scotsman and The Balmoral are two hotels with charm close to Waverley station. They are not the cheapest places to stay though…

The can't miss sites depends on your interests, but Edinburgh castle should probably be on the list. It is also one end of the Royal Mile that might be considered a can't miss. Although it is a bit touristy. In general just walking around Old Town is a nice way to spend some time, but New Town should not be forgotten as well. There are some good shopping at Princes street but it also offers good views of the castle. And personally I think National Museum of Scotland is a can't miss when you're in Edinburgh.

The opposite end of the Royal Mile is Holyrood house. Worth seeing if the queen isn't at home. I second the National Museum. Wish we'd had more time there. Free and tons to see.

We stayed at the Sheraton on Festival Square which was a great location , good food, good service. But the only charm was whatever magic was required to figure out the most confusing room lighting system ever invented.

Just a couple of blocks from the station is Premier Inn. A bargain hotel with great service.

Although I was perfectly happy at the Premier Inn on Princes Street, Sally has asked for a place with charm. Premier Inns are relatively cookie cutter and do not run to charm. They are a very good value, however.

We stayed at A-haven B&B/hotel. https://a-haven.co.uk/ It isn’t downtown, but right on the bus line with a stop right out front. It’s a short walk to Leith which is nice to walk around and close to the Royal yacht Britannia. Other than the Royal Mile area and other places already mentioned, Craigmiller castle and Rosslyn chapel were nice to visit. Both require a bus ride from downtown.

There is a Marriott Courtyard at 1-3 Baxters Place. It is built around an older building, but the interior is all new(2018) and modern. It is a short walk to the train station and all of the sites. The staff are very helpful, good breakfast included with room.

We were delighted with the Ibis Styles overlooking ST. Andrews Square from the west, with a stunning view if you opt for the upgraded rooms with balcony on the top floor. And reasonably priced. Easy access to Old or New Town, and train station. Breakfast may have been the best we have had in several different ibis.

Two places that really stuck with me were the Scottish National Gallery and The Georgian House. The National Gallery is an art museum that is of moderate size, easy to get around but really packs a punch. The Georgian House is a preserved house in New Town that shows how the merchant class lived after “escaping” Old Town. To see how the same folks lived in Old Town, visit Gladstone’s Land. Both the Georgian House and Gladstone’s Land are part of the Scottish National Trust and discounts are reciprocal with some of our US passes. For instance, if I had thought to take my US National Park pass with me, I could have gotten discounted tickets. No worries, as it all goes to a good cause, but might be worth checking on.

We really loved Edinburgh. Enjoy!

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Ramsay's Bed & Breakfast! The host, Norrie, was warm and welcoming; our room was immaculate; breakfast was great and it was within walking distance of everything. Edinburgh Castle was worth the time & we also toured the Royal Yacht Brittania. Strolling the Royal Mile was a bit touristy, but fun.

We've stayed at a hotel named B + B Edinburgh several times and have always been well pleased. It is 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 tram and feet to get just about everywhere we wanted to go.

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions. I can’t wait to check them out. Here’s to hoping we will all be traveling again soon and safely.