Hilton HHonors - Caledonian Hilton Edinburgh hotel Trip Reports and Reviews

Just some observations:

* No HHonors Gold Upgrade
* 1/2 bottle of wine in room instead of free continental breakfast
* 2 light bulbs blown
* No air conditioning and window in bathroom didn't open
* Wrong room service order - no apology, no credit
* Cooked breakfast is £29.99 - about US$50
(can anyone beat this on price?)
* Single bed - and I mean single bed
* No sofa or comfortable chair in room
* Newspapers are chargeable
* 11AM CHECKOUT! No extensions!

I'll not be back again!

I quite liked my stay here--upgraded on an award stay (as a silver no less) to a room with a fantastic view of the castle. Service was good and accommodating. The cooked breakfast price, though, was outrageous!! I know someone else on this board got upgraded to a suite also on a stay, so you must have just hit on a bad day. If you are interested, you can do a search (on Caledonian or Edinburgh) and read more about it.

I would definitely stay here again.

[This message has been edited by TravelWeary (edited 06-18-2001).]

I'll dig out yesterdays Mail on Sunday, there was a Hilton promotion for some scottish hotels, stick with me http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by Markie:
Just some observations:

* No HHonors Gold Upgrade
* 1/2 bottle of wine in room instead of free continental breakfast
* 2 light bulbs blown
* No air conditioning and window in bathroom didn't open
* Wrong room service order - no apology, no credit
* Cooked breakfast is £29.99 - about US$50
(can anyone beat this on price?)
* Single bed - and I mean single bed
* No sofa or comfortable chair in room
* Newspapers are chargeable
* 11AM CHECKOUT! No extensions!

I'll not be back again!</font>


Unfortunately, if you CAREFULLY read the HHonors rules, they are well within their rights with respect to items 1 and 2 that you have listed. Further, when they write single, they mean single. They are not obligated to upgrade you if there is no space.

I do not know if the Caledonin hotel is air conditioned for some older Hiltons( London Green Park) are not. IF they were supposed to be, then, that as well as some of the other items that you have cited cry out for an adjsutment.

However, I would have thought that being a UK resident, that you would have known that single rooms and non-air conditiioned hotels are common in Europe, especially at older hotels. Moreover, there IS a reason, why a SINGLE room COSTS LESS than a DOUBLE. One should not expect to receive an upgrade when one books a room, but of course, that would be nice.

It seems to me that your expectations were way, way ahead of the potential realities of your stay, and perhaps you inadverdantly or deliberately communicated your displeasure to the hotel staff, which prompted the type of service you received?

Fianlly, at older hotels that do not specifically list A/C, you must always inquire if there is any or whether it is limited to just meeting rooms and/or suites.

[This message has been edited by DOC 2 BE (edited 06-18-2001).]

Just a humorous note. When I read the title of this thread I though, gee $50 for a room with breakfast and more in Edinburgh sounds like a great deal!

I think I've spent too much time reading that priceline message board!

If you don't count those Sunday brunch gorge-yourself buffets, I've never come close to US$50 for breakfast. And I hope I never do!

Charles

Well, it doesn't quite compare, but the breakfast buffet at the Niagara Falls Hilton was about $30US. Having stayed at the Niagara Falls property and having stayed at the Caledonian, beleive me, the rip off is in Niagara Falls, not in Edinburgh.

The "Cally" is a magnificent old fashioned hotel opposite the castle. I'm sure some of their rooms must leave soemthing to be desired, but that true anywhere. The last time I was there it was on a inexpensive BA hotel package, price was about $150 US for a double room with full breakast. AND they upgraded us to a nicer room. And that was before I had any status with Hilton and probaly before the Caledonian was a Hilton.

DOC 2 BE

In fact in Europe single room usually have a single supplment which pretty much equates to the double rate. The room rate for the stay was £135 - $225.

I only told the person on the way out of the hotel that I wasn't happy.

My expectations - well it would be nice, just once in a while if hotels could get some basic things right - the room service meal, the upgrade (the hotel was far from full and as my amenity was in my room when I arrived, the upgrade is clearly NOT based on the 'Best Room at Check-in' mantra) - the light bulbs (does the maid even look?)

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by Markie:
DOC 2 BE

In fact in Europe single room usually have a single supplment which pretty much equates to the double rate. The room rate for the stay was £135 - $225.

I only told the person on the way out of the hotel that I wasn't happy.

My expectations - well it would be nice, just once in a while if hotels could get some basic things right - the room service meal, the upgrade (the hotel was far from full and as my amenity was in my room when I arrived, the upgrade is clearly NOT based on the 'Best Room at Check-in' mantra) - the light bulbs (does the maid even look?)</font>

Markie --

I certainly sympathize and am in agreement with you concerning the general state of affairs that you seemed to have encountered at the hotel while there. However, if you are disatissfied, you MUST communicate your unhappiness at check-in, or most certainly while you are there, and not before you leave, as only prior to your departure do you have any ability to effect any sort of change. Further, there is a subtle yet signifcant difference in the T & C re the room upgrade and amenity that is to be offered at US Hiltons vs. non-US Hiltons. I am not the first to note that in the US, a room upgrade is "guaranteed" (at least on paper) whenever possible and so is some sort of breakfast, since either access to the lounge or breakfast is specifically noted to be given to the HHonors Gold or Diamond guest. Unfortunately, while exec. upgrades are likewise guaranteed on paper, breakfast is not assured at non-US Hiltons for some other special amenity may be substituted and given to the HHonors guest.

Moreover, even if the hotel did not appear to be full to you, the executive level may have been booked solid.

See Below for Hilton T & C:


"Upgraded Accommodations/Amenities: HHonors Gold VIP members are offered upgraded accommodations or amenities at HHonors hotels. The type of upgraded accommodation or amenity varies by type of hotel, as follows:


At US Hilton Hotels, and at Conrad and Doubletree hotels with Towers or Executive Levels, Gold VIPs will be provided with a guest room on the Towers or Executive Level floor, whenever possible. In cases when Towers or Executive Level accommodations have been fully booked, Gold VIP members will be offered the use of the Towers or Executive Level lounge, including complimentary continental breakfast each morning. At hotels without a Towers or Executive Level, Gold VIPs will receive complimentary continental breakfast each day of the stay. And in hotels at which a complimentary breakfast is a benefit for all guests, Gold VIPs will be offered a special amenity as an expression of our appreciation.


At Hilton hotels outside the U.S. with Executive Floors, Gold VIPs will be provided with a guest room on the Executive Floor, whenever possible. In cases when there are no Executive Floors or where Executive Floor accommodations have been fully booked, Gold VIP members will be offered a complimentary continental breakfast each morning or an alternative special amenity."

This is not to say that any of us can ever have any concrete knowledge whether or not the hotel is leveling with us when they say they cannot upgrade you. I would have tried calling the UK toll free # to see if they, indeed, had shown sold out rooms for the executive floor, and I would have demurred the hotel's offer of the wine by saying that I am a teetolar, or am allergic to the sulfites that may have been present in the wine, and then insisted on the breakfast.

As to the room and the room service's shortcomings, I would have immediately contacted mangmn't and demanded some explanation and compensation as they are supposedly a first class hotel. I would have noted that their screw up was all the more reason why breakfast was to be provided as a complementary amenity as they seem unable to provide you with what you had ordered by was of room service!

I thank you for the warning, as I will be on my guard when staying there. As to your indication that a supplement is applied to those travelling alone, I have not found that to be the case, and when it is, it is clearly stated when first reserving the room. In that circumstance, an alternate hotel perhaps may have been the better choice.

[This message has been edited by DOC 2 BE (edited 06-19-2001).]

DOC 2 BE - thanks for the comments. Indeed, perhaps I should have been more vocal in my complaints. There are days, and some people will not believe this, when I don't feel like complaining.

I have written to the GM and will post when I get a reply. I did indeed tell the hotel about the room service problem, and indeed all the other problems, on check-out. They weren't overly concerned!

I have, as you suggested, changed my future bookings to the Grosvenor Hilton and Sheraton with the hope that the experience will be better.

Markie:

Certainly understand about not haveing the energy to complain. My wife is a tough as nails attorney who actually pracices, unlike me who left the law to pursue other interests, and she has no desire to argue over such matters when she does that day in and day out. It is left to me to do this, which is fine, as I don't have to do it much anymore, and since it is somewhat different from my usual doings, it is actually an intellectual challenge. But, for someone who is on the road travelling, etc., I can only guess how wearisome it is, not only to argue about what is appropriate, but merely to be inconvenienced by such things.

I hope that your stays at these other hotels are more in line with the definition of an innkeeper's duty to his/her guests.

I look forward to your report on these properties, and if you are ever there in December, can you tell me how wild Edingburgh gets during Hogmanny? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

You can say that Edinburgh get VERY wild at New Year - lots of people walking round with cans of beer under their arms so they don't have to queue at the pubs!

If you enjoy loud, good natured, drunked parties - it's pretty special!

Hi,

Date of stay : Friday 27th February
1 night
Room 144
Rate Booked £120( Double deluxe)
I arrived at the hotel about 11pm after a few drinks at work as one of my managers was leaving after 35years service.

No queue at check in and I was told that I had been put into a Junior suite.
I took up the lift up to the 1st floor ( more accurately the second flooras there is a Mezzanine/Entresol level) and opened the door.
The room was excellent and large with a entrance hall with a dressing table and cupboard with bathrobes, the bedroom with a large bed and a partially separate sitting room with a tv and sofa. There was a partial wall between the bedroom/sitting room.
The bathroom was off to the side and was very large with Molton Brown toiletires. The room faced towards the corner of Princes Street and Lothian road. The bathroom had a window to the world so I lowered the curtain to protect the world from my physique http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif
The room had proper chandiliers and the wall paper had fleur de lys. The room was practically immaculate.

There was also a note from the General Manager ( personnally addressed and signed) ,a plate of red grpes and a half bottle of red wine .

The breakfast buffet in Chisolms the next morning was very good ( £15 for the full breakfast-included in my rate)

I went to the Living well fitness centre for a quick workout. My floor had direct lift access to it( otherwise you have to head via the ground floor) and as I walked along some of the full suites were being cleaned and a quick glance as I walked by seemed to suggest the bathrooms were large.

The fitness room is large and well equipped and there is a pool also ( smaller than other Hiltons's in the UK ie EDI airport) but fine with a spa and an adjacent childrens pool.

Checkout was done before 11am and was done quickly.

The public areas are all extremely nice and well maintained.

Overall an excellent hotel in an ideal location ( some rooms would face the castle) and recommeded if you come north of the border http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Regards

TBS


[This message has been edited by The _Banking_Scot (edited Feb 29, 2004).]

Stayed there, got upgraded to a suite with the castle view. This property is one of my favorites. Loved it!!!!

Got the same treatment. Red wine, fruit plate, a personalized letter from the manager. I was impressed as a Gold.

I stayed there at the end of January for 2 nights and was put into a suite (not asked for), with the parlor room up 3 stairs from the bedroom. Perhaps the suite assignment was due to ajamieson leaving a goody bag for me, which they brought me as I was checking in. (Thanks, again, Alistair.) The bed was incredibly comfy. I never ate in the restaurant, but room service food was delivered hot and quickly. I especially liked the haggis balls in whiskey sauce.

There was a wedding party arriving at the hotel just as I stepped out of my taxi. A piper was piping them into the hotel, but in my mind I made believe it was for me. Great welcome once I got to the front desk, too. Took the little Nessie on the tub for my great neice. I would definitely stay here again and hope to oneday.

[This message has been edited by Nanook (edited Feb 29, 2004).]

Thanks everyone for the information. Ms. rtpflyer and I are looking forward to our 6 night stay there in early April (using up our GLON award before it expires), and this just heightens our anticipation.

Have to agree with all the above comments on the Cally. It is a beautiful hotel with a good location and a great view.

I stayed there a year ago when I brought my mum on a trip of Europe where we practically stayed only in Hiltons if available, and this was my mum's favourite. She loved the staff and the hotel's atmosphere. Plus the restaurant had good food and the Molton Brown toiletries were good.

Ask for a nice castle view room and you will wake up to a great view in the morning and also have a nice view just before you turn in.

Enjoy!!! and have a great trip!


------------------
Travelling makes the world smaller and friendlier.

So I just had my first stay as a Diamond, at the Calley in Edinburgh. Didn't really think much about the Diamond thing as I was checking in but it occurred to me later that night that I should have been shown some recongition, offered some upgrade/perk etc.

I asked the guy at the counter whether, as a Diamond, I should have been given something extra. He said no. I asked him to check whether that was really right. He made a call, mumbled an apology, and half an hour later four cookies in a plastic bag were sent to my room.

Is this really what i've given all my business to Hilton for over the past year? Four chocolate chip cookies that I almost had to beg for?

I thought it was about Hilton recognising their most frequent guests and giving them something back. Have to say i felt thoroughly disappointed by the whole thing and think I may now just get my Starwood account comped and shift my business to them.

Stayed there twice as Diamond and been thoroughly disappointed with the hotel. From recent threads, I thought they had improved but obviously not. Both times had poor service and dubious upgrades.

HH status upgrades in the Uk are a joke (as are most UK Hiltons).

They hardly even show respect to the Royals over there, so why would one even think that Diamond status means anything?

M8

HH status upgrades in the Uk are a joke (as are most UK Hiltons).
Some hiltons in the UK are ok, but the cally is not one of them. I always stay at the sheraton Grand just around the corner from the cally. I am just an SPG gold, but have always recieved an upgrade. I never got any recognition as an HH gold at the cally.
Sharp contrast to london. I now always use the Hilton Metropole. I was there last week. Golds are always given access to the executive lounge, and can even check in at the lounge. Free breakfast in the lounge, which was Continental but very good. I have also always got an upgraded room. So you can get some recognition in the UK if you know where to go.

I'd agree with obs.

Cally (and for that matter Edinburgh Hilton Grosvenor which is a dump) don't offer Diamond recognition. However other UK Hiltons such as Metropole & Kensington in london & Glasgow do offer something.

Although not in th UK, both Dublin Hiltons (city & airport) are good as well.

Stayed there as gold a couple years ago with my family. Was upgraded to a beautiful suite overlooking the castle, with full breakfast for all four of us. A thoroughly enjoyable stay.

He made a call, mumbled an apology, and half an hour later four cookies in a plastic bag were sent to my room.


You did tip the cookie-bearer generously, I hope! ;-)

We stayed there on a Reward stay last April, with Gold status. Our room was huge (had 2 entrances) and a king-size bed, with steps leading down from the desk area to the sleeping area. We got a complimentary bottle of wine and some Scottish fudge as a welcome gift. I don't know if they've gone downhill that fast or the OP just hit them on a bad day.

We stayed there last summer and were underwhelmed. Although it is in an excellent location, I thought the property was just 'OK'.

No acknowledgement as to status. Also, we were put in a western facing (away from the castle) room that got very hot in the afternoon/evening. It took two days of trying to get a room that stayed cool. So much for Diamond status.

They installed A/C in some of the rooms last fall. I would make sure that I got a room with A/C if I were to stay there in the warmer months.

Apparently, no A/C in European Hilton properties is not uncommon. Can you say? "Hello Marriott".

Hi,

I have stayed at the Caley a few times and have been upgraded often ( to different types of rooms). The rooms have come with a bottle of wine and fruit or fudge. Breakfast has been free.

One of the rooms was warm but with the fan it made it bearable.

The breakfast is very good and the Living Well fitness center is good.

Regards

TBS

Apparently, no A/C in European Hilton properties is not uncommon. Can you say? "Hello Marriott".

There's a Marriott in Edinburgh but nowhere near as conveniently located. It's on a bus line and the bus service is good, but a walk into town would have been a long trip.

We usually travel in October and April, so never notice the lack of AC.

Hi,

I have stayed at the Caley a few times and have been upgraded often ( to different types of rooms). The rooms have come with a bottle of wine and fruit or fudge. Breakfast has been free.

I stayed last weekend for three days and received a bottle of wine and fudge on my first night and third night. Breakfast was included in the rate and I had castle view room that was one of the largest non suite rooms I have ever received.

The bad thing is that castle view rooms seem to get alot of street noise.

The bad thing is that castle view rooms seem to get alot of street noise

Word. I had a great corner room once on the top level with a castle view and the street noise late at night was pretty bad. If I recall there is a club across the way. I remember hearing people out there well into the wee hours of the night.

They installed A/C in some of the rooms last fall. I would make sure that I got a room with A/C if I were to stay there in the warmer months.


Warmer months in Edinburgh are few and far between, you should pay more attention to getting a room with good heating :)

Word. I had a great corner room once on the top level with a castle view and the street noise late at night was pretty bad. If I recall there is a club across the way. I remember hearing people out there well into the wee hours of the night.

After a lot of hassle I also got a great castle view on 3rd floor.

I also had drunk screaming people across the road for about an hour constantly around 3am.
Its a long time since I have had that in any city in the world.
are they all drunks up there? :(

Probably, but who cares - Edinburgh is a wonderful city! ^ :-:

Until I figured out how the heater worked, I thought I might freeze to death.

After a lot of hassle I also got a great castle view on 3rd floor.

I also had drunk screaming people across the road for about an hour constantly around 3am.
Its a long time since I have had that in any city in the world.
are they all drunks up there? :(

No, there are few in Kilkenny, Ireland. Room was 3 floors above local pub. Had to use my Bose to cut the noise. Not at a Hilton but the hotel compensated me for lost sleep since they owned the pub.

After a lot of hassle I also got a great castle view on 3rd floor.

I also had drunk screaming people across the road for about an hour constantly around 3am.
Its a long time since I have had that in any city in the world.
are they all drunks up there? :(

No but unfortunately the hotel is located on Lothian Road which is one of the main "Entertainment" areas in the city, and the corner where the property sits is the main route to Rose St which consists mostly of pubs, this accounts for the rowdy passing traffic

Stayed there last night on points. Wasn't sure what to expect, but got a very nice upgraded room with castle view, chocolates, fruit and wine in the room and free breakfast for me and Mrs thegoderic.

If this stadard is applied consistently, I would strongly recommend.

Just bumping this one up to see if anyone has been there over the summer. Either way, I will be going in about a month and will report back.

Few weeks ago paid a lot of money - 160GBP for one night, room only. No recognition at all, tried to check in at 2pm and told to come back later, given a truly tiny attic room that was hot,hot,hot with no view (tiny window anyway, view was the *rse end of the building) and staff that looked down their noses at you...

Nice building in a good locsation that could easily be deemed worth it with the right room and the right staff and the right weather (ok I'll cut some slack on that one) - too many if's for my reccommendation though...

Put a form in the "how did we do" box, probably got torn up, no response.

This place is a mixed bag. Stayed on a reward stay as a gold. Was "upgraded" to a suite facing the back of the hotel and the dumpster. Room had no air conditioning but we couldn't open the windows because of the loud nightclub outside our room. I had to break out the rotating fan from the closet at a 5-star Hilton!! They did not offer me breakfast, but when I went to ask, they did say I was entitled to full buffett, which is very extravagant and nice.

TV was tiny with no reception. Someone pulled a fire alarm at 2AM on our first night there, so that wasn't fun.

Location is great for getting out, but it is a LONG (10-15 minutes) walk from Waverly station (especially if it is raining, like it frequently does here).

No newspaper delivery. Posted similar feedback as this on TripAdvisor if anyone is interested.

This place is a mixed bag. Stayed on a reward stay as a gold. Was "upgraded" to a suite facing the back of the hotel and the dumpster. Room had no air conditioning but we couldn't open the windows because of the loud nightclub outside our room. I had to break out the rotating fan from the closet at a 5-star Hilton!! They did not offer me breakfast, but when I went to ask, they did say I was entitled to full buffett, which is very extravagant and nice.

Looks like it still hasn't improved much. Last time I was there, on a hot summer evening, we couldn't open the sash type windows as they were dirty and painted up. Had to get 2 portable fans for the "upgraded" room and it was still like sleeping in a sauna. :td:

I have never stayed at the Caldedonian, but just returned from 3 day stay at the Edinburgh Grosvenor Square and could not have been treated nicer. As a Gold we were upgraded to a jr. suite, had a bottle of wine, cookies, apples and bottled water delivered to the room and given continental breakfast every morning. During our stay we were awaken by the fire alarm at midnight. We received a nice letter from the GM apologizing and and a letter when we arrived home again apologizing.I think I will pass on the Caldedonian and give my business to the Grosvenor.

Well as a new Diamond haven't stayed here but it seems its hit or miss with any elite recognition.

I have never stayed at the Caldedonian, but just returned from 3 day stay at the Edinburgh Grosvenor Square and could not have been treated nicer. As a Gold we were upgraded to a jr. suite, had a bottle of wine, cookies, apples and bottled water delivered to the room and given continental breakfast every morning. During our stay we were awaken by the fire alarm at midnight. We received a nice letter from the GM apologizing and and a letter when we arrived home again apologizing.I think I will pass on the Caldedonian and give my business to the Grosvenor.

After three poor to bad experiences with the Caledonian, I always stay at the Grosvenor, although I think it is ceasing to be a Hilton at some point.

I had an award stay there last summer. As a gold, I was treated quite well. Upgraded to a room overlooking the castle, small bottle of wine with fruit and chocolates waiting in the room. Didn't get breakfast as I had to leave by 6AM. It seemed like a really nice hotel esp with all the renovations they were doing.
Sad to hear they are not consistent with their treatment.

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but had to share my experiences.

Stayed here recently on an award stay. Arrived at 10:00 a.m., room ready by 10:30. As a gold, given an upgraded deluxe room, overlooking the courtyard, on the 4th floor. While no castle view, it was quiet - couldn't hear the drunk, rowdy crowds that are typical on Lothian Road during the weekends, according to staff. Small bottle of wine, 4 apples and water. Complimentary full buffet breakfast buffet - a list is maintained in the restaurant of those entitled to the free spread. AC/Heater system was state of the art with digital temp and fan adjustment. Heated towel rack, 2 phones, wired pay internet access from room.

Attitude and service from staff - front desk, restaurant personnel, housekeeping and bell desk was inpeccable. Only downside was the water pressure in the shower - a bit weak.

Airlink bus stops are 5 minutes from the hotel on Princes Street. Somerfield (sp?) supermarket is behind Airlink bus stop - good for cold drinks, snacks, etc. The City Sightseeing Tour bus stop is on Lothian Road, across the street from the hotel. Waverley Stn is a brisk 10-15 minute walk along Princes Street. For jogging, Princes Garden which is situated across the street from the Calley, between Princes Street and the Castle, is wonderful. The Old City is hilly - be prepared. A visit to Stirling Castle from Waverley is a must - 6.80GBP for the cheap day return.

They hardly even show respect to the Royals over there, so why would one even think that Diamond status means anything?

M8

Agree that Diamond status should be respected, but if you lived in this Country and saw the way some of these Royals behave, you also would show them little respect :p

Hi folks.

Just wondered what you think is the definition of a suite?

I booked a "Single Caledonian Suite" for last Saturday night. On check in i was told i had booked a "room in a Suite" and it was just a bedroom and no added lounge area!!

It seems they are selling the Presidential or "Caledonian Suite" seperately if no one has booked it as a oner. The Presidential consists of a seperate corridor with 2 rooms going off at either side. These rooms are sold as Suites even though they are only standard rooms. Needless to say i was pretty pissed off at check in.

So what is the definition of a suite? I know my expectation was a bedroom with a separate lounge not a room that just happened to be able to be sold along with others as a presidential suite!!!

And what compensation should i expect for my disappointment?

I know the Front desk staff were taking it up with IT so that it's more clear on the website!

cheers

alan

And what compensation should i expect for my disappointment?



Ah, yet another expectation of compensation for a traveler who hasn't done the barest of research. If the hotel did, in fact, put you in the room you booked, why would you expect compensation? The definition of "suite" varies widely as most travelers know, and the fact that you didn't research the property before you booked isn't the hotel's fault.

Hi folks.

Just wondered what you think is the definition of a suite?

I booked a "Single Caledonian Suite" for last Saturday night. On check in i was told i had booked a "room in a Suite" and it was just a bedroom and no added lounge area!!

And what compensation should i expect for my disappointment?

alan

Alan,

You seem to have been given half a suite, so I would expect half the suite rate refunded. I was refunded half the room rate at the Caledonian when there was no hot water in the room. I expect a suite to be much larger than a standard room with either a separate living room or be called a junior suite where the bedroom and lounge area are all combined. From what you say, they shouldn't have used the word "suite" in the room rate.

Thanks for the feedback.

The fact that i did not "research" the hotel is irrelevant. The room was wrongly described and even the check in staff acknowledged this. In fact i stay at the hotel pretty regular and i am in for meals at least once every 2 weeks!!
This was the first time i had came across this particular room description in all my bookings. I have stayed in most of the different levels from base rooms, Deluxe ,Junior Suites and even a suite bigger than my house!!!

The word Compensation was maybe a bit harsh but in view of all my previous trade at the hotel even the manager making contact with me and apologising would have been welcomed.

cheers

alan

I recently booked a stay at the Caledonian, when I entered a promotional code into the booking page it gave me a few booking options I hadn't seen previously. One of them sounded like what you have described, I think it said 'Single Caledonian Suite' and was the same rate as the other standard rooms. Clicking on the rate the pop-up said it was only valid when booking all the other rooms together. I was tempted to go with it on a flexible rate and see what happened but decided against it.

Thanks for the feedback.

The fact that i did not "research" the hotel is irrelevant. The room was wrongly described and even the check in staff acknowledged this. In fact i stay at the hotel pretty regular and i am in for meals at least once every 2 weeks!!
This was the first time i had came across this particular room description in all my bookings. I have stayed in most of the different levels from base rooms, Deluxe ,Junior Suites and even a suite bigger than my house!!!

The word Compensation was maybe a bit harsh but in view of all my previous trade at the hotel even the manager making contact with me and apologising would have been welcomed.

cheers

alan

Alan, am staying there next week on a paid stay. As a diamond what can I expect from an upgrade point of view:confused: I know there is no Exec lounge and breakfast is included anyway in the tarriff. Could you advise on any requests from the Hhonours status ie Castle view ect?

Cheers

If you get breakfast included this is one place where the lack of a lounge is probably a plus. The breakfast when I was there was awesome, caviar, salmon, even champagne for bucks fizz.
Definately make a point of asking for a decent room, as a gold I got a crappy attic room, tiny, no tv reception, hot as hell and noisy with a great view of the *rse end of the building. Not impressed for 160 pounds.
Really enjoyed Edinburgh though, one of my fave places.

Yeah, the Cally is a spotty property (esp for the price). If you get a castle view, chances are you're also right over a major bus stop where people come and yell and sing after closing time. Not good if you're jetlagged and really need the sleep.

The good there is great (breakfast, high tea, etc), the bar is fine (lots of single malts) and the location is perfect.

It's still better than the other Hilton Grosvenor, but for a really fine stay try the (non-Hilton) Scotsman. I took my wife there and now the Cally just doesn't measure up.

I'm staying here next week, booked a regular el cheapo room and logged on to print off my confirmation yesterday and found the room type had changed to 'Double Junior Suite' :)^

Hilton.com is still taking reservations and 'My Way' preferences are set in favour of HH points. I'll let you know when I return if it was a bus stop view room or one over the back of the hotel ;)

Some time last year I phoned HH reservations and got the glasgow office. I said I wanted the Caley for one night and the agent gave me some options - I always ask for the cheapest rate and he said the cheapest was something like you mention. it was something along the line of a double room caladonian suite. He said there was a comment that it could not be booked at that rate but was confussed. I was awear of the caledonian suite sign over the door on the 2nd floor from previous visits and wanted to slice of the action. I asked him if I booked the room, would the hotel upgrade me to the rest of the suite with me being a diamond? - he called the hotel - he said that the reservation manager said yes but was checking with the duty manager. A few minutes later - after getting excited, he came back and said the DM has said no. I was then so confused and put out by the bad attitude that I decided to stay at the Sheraton instead where I always get a suite as a plat.

Selling a room as a suite when it is simply a room is false advertising. If you look at other room catogries as comparisons, you have a clear case. A suite is either a large room with a lounge area or a suite of rooms including a lounge room. This is universaly the correct discription and they know it. The hotel should retract any mention of the word suite for the room in question and appologise for the confusion in the first place.

One other point is that the hotels Executive Studeos or Executive Suites as they are somethins refered to are only large rooms and not worth the big bucks. The hotels Full Suites or Hilton Suites are certainly not worth £700 a night. They are quite spacous but have little furniture and imagination and at the end of the day - This is Edinburgh - not London, Paris or Rome and the hotel is not an Internationaly recognised 5 star - only a 5 star by the Scotish Tourist Board - who cannot be trusted!

Hotel is one of the better ones in Edinburgh though and usually a good hotel experience on the plus side.

Got a reply from the GM yesterday.

Usual humble apologies and looking forward to my next visit to his hotel!!

cheers

alan

Stayed a couple of nights ago and had a rather pleasant stay, as mentioned in the previous post were upgraded to a Double Junior Suite with a slightly odd arrangement. This was Room 250 and had a rather nice, although not especially roomy bedroom and bathroom area. It was connected to a separate living room which was actually room 252 which acted as the living area. A few seats, a sofa, TV and coffee maker. There was no bathroom or bed in Room 252 so I'm not quite sure why it was had a room number on the door...Had a bottle of red wine, box of chocolates and some tangerines (I think) waiting for us in the room. Not bad for HH Gold ^

Either way the staff seemed switched on, room was nice and comfortable and the breakfast was plentiful and varied...Didn't see any caviar though (post #7)

Stayed here recently. Upgraded to Executive Suite as Diamond. Nice room with great views but fairly small and noisy as busy streets below. Got usual perks - wine, water, chocolates and fruit but no breakfast voucher. At least the rooms have AC which is often missing in older UK hotels. Ate in the Chisholms which was quite. Fairly boring and expensive menu - wine very expensive. Food and service only average

Anybody have any recent knowledge of the Caledonian? I have booked a single night (saturday) reward for next month, standard room of course... I have slipped to HH.Silver so not expecting anything... I telephoned the Hotel to enquire about paid upgrades and was informed that a refurbished superior room would be £60.00, a traditional castle view room £80.00 extra for the night. It is also my birthday...Paid Upgrades worth it in your opinion? Or are we better going out and spending the cash on a great meal and drink, collapsing in to bed with ear plugs in before moving on to the Hotel du Vin the next day??!!

Anybody have any recent knowledge of the Caledonian? I have booked a single night (saturday) reward for next month, standard room of course... I have slipped to HH.Silver so not expecting anything... I telephoned the Hotel to enquire about paid upgrades and was informed that a refurbished superior room would be £60.00, a traditional castle view room £80.00 extra for the night. It is also my birthday...Paid Upgrades worth it in your opinion? Or are we better going out and spending the cash on a great meal and drink, collapsing in to bed with ear plugs in before moving on to the Hotel du Vin the next day??!!

I was there about a year ago, so not all that recent. We were originally booked into a single room on an award stay. I called ahead and let them know that there would be two of us and asked them to put us in at least a double. They told me that the singles were quite small and that they'd try to upgrade us. They were in the midst of renovating, so many rooms were unavailable. We did get upgraded to a decent sized room w/ queen bed and view of the Castle. Not sure I'd pay extra for the Castle view, though, as it comes with a very noisy street below--especially when the bars close up. I think I'd go with a non-view quieter room or just hope for the best when I got there.

I've 100% upgrade success to castle view rooms (plus a few suites) and can't say I've ever noticed the noise from the street below.

I wouldn't pay for an upgrade though and spend the money somewhere else.

Witchery at the Castle is a great place to splash out on a special meal. (You can also stay there, although the prices are not cheap). Another possibility is the Plumed Horse in Leith which offers fantastic food. Valvona and Crolla (upstairs restaurant) near Harvey Nicks is a bit cheaper but still pretty good.

A meal in any of those woule be how I'd spend money instead of an upgrade.

I just returned from a 5-night stay at the Caledonian. I was upgraded to a Junior Suite (the check-in desk's term for the room) which appears to be called an Executive Studio on the Hilton websites. Regardless, it was a wonderful room, with a spacious seating area (living room) and a separate bedroom with a queen size bed, and a very large bathroom with both a glass shower stall and a tub with shower. The view of the castle was great. Even though this meant we were facing the busy Lothian Road, the noise from the street was minimal, and I would recommend this room to any but the lightest sleepers.

The hallway has a faint musty odour to it that I take as part of the charm of staying in a very old building, but some may find bothersome. The room was fine, and very much up-to-date interms of the furnishings. It had separate climate controls for the living room and the bedroom. Chocolate truffles and a half bottle of wine were waiting for us upon arrival:). Two bottles of water were provided, and upon asking, were replenished each day (apparently an oversight on the first day).

We were offered a selection of daily newspapers (I chose the Scotsman) and the restaurant also offered the Independent at breakfast time. Breakfast was included (no executive lounge) and was decent, with a good selection of hot and cold dishes. I still haven't acquired a taste for a full English breakfast, but one could order hot items from the kitchen if the buffet wasn't appealing. Coffee was the weakest point of breakfast, so I would run up Lothian Road to a Caffe Nero that served great espresso/capuccino/latte.

The lobby is somewhat spartan for a 5 star hotel. However, the concierges are knowledgeable and friendly and the warmth of the staff makes up for the lobby appearance.There is limited parking at the rear of the hotel, but it is reasonable for the centre of a major city (GBP 9.50 per day). The in-room internet was GBP 15.00 for 24 hours. I did not check for free wireless. There was a nice pool and exercise facility on the ground floor, and a small spa.

There are a number of nearby restaurants worth trying:

Atrium (http://www.atriumrestaurant.co.uk/) is a Michelin Bib Gourmand Scottish restaurant (Bib Gourmands are given to exceptional restaurants with a 3-course dinner for less than GBP 28.00) that served an excellent meal. We had the Spring Offer, which was a set menu with 3 courses for GBP 20.00 - a fantastic value!

La Piazza (http://www.lapiazzauk.com/) is an Italian restaurant with some real charm. I can't say enough about the smoked salmon tortelloni - delicious.

For inexpensive seafood, in a very informal (almost cafeteria-like) setting, try the Mussel Inn (http://www.mussel-inn.com/). Warning - our clothes carried the smell of seafood for a whole day after eating there. The mussels were so good that we ordered a second pot after demolishing the first one.

For slightly more expensive but still reasonably-priced seafood, I can recommend Fishers (http://www.fishersbistros.co.uk/uni/main.html). There is one nearby (Fishers in the City), but I went to the older one in Leith which has more character (Fishers Bistro). My wife had a seabass that was the best fish she has ever had - wonderful meal.

Other nearby restaurants I have tried in the past and can recommend are Time 4 Thai (http://www.time4thai.co.uk/) and Valvona & Crolla Vincaffe (http://www.valvonacrolla.co.uk/html/vincaffe.html) (also recommended in an earlier post).

Just completed a two night stay as a Diamond. Was given an 'upgrade' to a castle view room which was quite small, not very comfortable bed, chipped furniture. Bed was small--maybe a UK double or possibly queen. There is no good light to put on makeup even though the bathroom otherwise is OK.

I think this place is resting on its former laurels. Staff has a few competent experienced folks heavily complemented by those whose English isn't very good and who seem to be learning the ropes.

There was no letter from the GM or chocolates, wine, etc. Only a plate with three green apples was placed in the room along with the water.

We had two glorious meals--The Kitchin and Restaurant Martin Wishart. In both cases we were able to get in due to last minute cancellations. Both of these are in Lieth and are fabulous as well as pricey.

The entire Princes street and other areas are torn up preparing for a controversial tram line that will not be finished for 4-5 years. This construction does take away from some of the enjoyment of the city, sorry to say.

Bit of a disappointment. Stayed there as Gold 3 years ago and got a huge room (2 entrances, bidet in bath, bed big enough for 5 people) and a bottle of wine and supply of the local fudge waiting for us.

This time, also Gold status- room so small I had to squeeze through an 8-inch space between a table and the corner of the bed to get out to the bathroom (or else climb over my husband). Welcome gift 2 bottles of water- one sparkling, one still. Lovely castle view but since that was an "upgrade", no free breakfast. Room was quiet enough for us even with the window cracked open for fresh air. We were in 410. When I made the reservation I noted we'd be coming in on a transatlantic flight and "early check-in appreciated". We showed up bedraggled at 9:30 AM and they told us that since check-out time was noon, they'd have Housekeeping do our room after the previous occupant checked out. Went sightseeing, bought whisky, came back at 1 PM even more bedraggled and the previous occupant supposedly had just left the room. We got into the room at 1:40 PM. I realize that early check-in is not an entitlement, but I've had some hotels accommodate us as a courtesy after a TATL. You'd think they'd be scrambling to be nice to the people who are still traveling, but I guess not.

In-room Internet GBP 15/day. Does anyone actually pay this? Thanks, boss, for my Blackberry. Comfortable room, nice location (the awful construction is hardly their fault), but they could do better.

Stayed at the hotel a month ago. I really loved this property and the rooms. However, Diamond recognition is hit and miss. Last year we got upgraded to a Suite (originally paid for Deluxe Plus room) and got fruits and wine in the room upon arrival. Breakfast was included in the rate.
This time no upgrade was given (paid for Deluxe Plus room with brekafast) and no amenities in the room upon arrival. When I enquired the next morning whether we could have water they asked (surprisingly) whether there was no "VIP set-up" (as they called it) in the room. I said there was nothing. They promised to send something straight away. However, nothing showed up until I called again in the evening.
Still, a very nice property and people.