Hi,
I stayed there for one night on Saturday 6th April ( £74 GBP for one night dinner, bed and breakfast) as a cheap night to boost my number of stays (HHonors Gold member)
My review;
The hotle is beside Edinburgh airport ( courtesy transport provided ) but it was a nice spring day and it is only a 5minute walk from the terminal and with only a hold all I walked.
Check in was easy but no upgrade or amenity was offered and I was on the ground floor (154)at the far end of the corridor and round acouple of corners. I watched the Grand National then went to the Living Well fitness centre and pool on site.THe fitness room is large with a laorge number of machines and the pool area is very laorge with a lane marker down th middle so people who want to do laps can ( 20m pool). There is also a spa, solarium (extra charge) and sauna. Lockers take £1 coins.
After showering I went to the Cafe D'Havilland for dinner ( included in the rate). The menu sates that for people on the inclusive rate the allowance is £19.
One look at the menu and I realised that the limit was going to be brached by £5-6 but that was ok.
I had a fruit kebab ( very nice), 10oz rump stake with vegeables and fries(£2 extra exch), a creme de menthe ice cream bombe and a cafe latte and with a diet coke came to £26 . The food was good but srervice towards the end was slow( for the desert, coffeeand the bill) and for people coming in at 8pm they were told that the chef had left and that the mussels and t bone steak were not available which i found a bit strange.
After dinner as I walked back to my room I smelt cigarette smoke in the corridor and in my room noticed an ash tray and a cigarete burn in my duvet cover.
I asked at recepption if my room was non smoking and was told that it was smoking. They said that they were not aware of any special requests for a non smoking room but I dug out my Hilton com reservation where it said " Non Smoking confirmed" and Pamela (check in ) said it was odd. To her credit she offered me another room (251) which I accepted and offered to help me with my cases which i declined as I only had one hold all.
Upon reaching 251 i found that it was a diabled "accessible room" with emergency cords by the bath , toilet and bed low bathroom sink red light to alert peoplec of visitors at the door . I found the bathroom sink to be to low when shaving in the morning ( not surprising)together with the toliet paper roll being too low down and when i woke up in the middle of the night I almost puuled the emergency cord ( that would have been interesting
)
I found the TV to be very poor with only the 5 uk terrestrial channels , no CNN,no sports or Sky news ( in fact the fewest channels in any Hilton that i have been to) The tv and telephone did not offer a wake up facility so I phoned reception for a wake up call.
A copy of the bill was not posted under my door in the morning although The moring paper was by my door when i left for breakfast and the buffet was good with ceral, fruit, cold meats, hot brakfast items including smoked salmon fish cakes juices and breads.
After another workout I went to check out only to find that the rate quoted was £108( £34 more than quoted on the email). Again I showed Pamela ( check out) my email confirmation and to her credit adjusted the bill immediately with on questions ( taking a copy of the email). She offered to arrange the lift back to the airport but it was a nice day so I walked to get the Airlink bus back into Edinburgh.
An interesting feature is that the vending machines are operated by swiping your room key card to get drinks ( coke at £1 a can etc) which I found unusual.
The rooms are of the usual Hilton standard with trouser press, iron writing table, a/c and the bathroom was poorly equiped comared with other Hiltons ( only soap, shampoo and shower gel) compared to other Hiltons with relaxing water,lotion and conditioner ( I did not notice a facecloth either).
The rooms and bathroom were clean.
Overall even with the price paid (compared with other Hiltons at the same price, I was disapointed with the level of amenities, no visible recognition for HHonors Gold and the couple of mistakes and I have commented upon this in the comment card.
Overall unless you needed to be at the airport I would probably choose another Hilton. The probem is the Caledonian tends to be expensive and the Grosvenor does not have a health club.
I have learned from now on to confirm the rate and non smoking room at check in and to take your email confrimation with you as it is becoming more like the Amex card ( do not leave home with out it!!
)
Thanks for bearing with me.
Regards
TBS