dodgeflyer

Going to Edinburgh (first visit since leaving university in 06) for a wedding in June and need to find a hotel.

There are relatively few reviews of hotels in Edinburgh so not sure if there're anyone who's stayed recently.

Currently between the Balmoral and the Caledonian. Other options are the Sheraton, the Glasshouse and Missoni. Erring towards the Balmoral as I stayed there whilst I lived there, but the Caledonian I believe is the most recently refurbished one. I don't think the Balmoral has had anything done to it in 10 years+. Another positive is that the Caledonian is about £100 cheaper per night than the Balmoral for comparable rooms.

Anyone able to provide some guidance? This would be for four nights.

Think the Scotsman is out as I cannot see it having stood the test of time too well. My partner prefers hotels, so anything boutique-y is not an option.

Thanks!

gegarrenton

Not much high end in Edinburgh. I haven't seen the Caledonian inside since refurb, but I stayed at the Balmoral last October. It was pretty fresh in the rooms and the bar areas. The whiskey bar is only a couple years old IIRC. Been doing work since Rocco bought it back (don't remember the date).

uggboy

There's another luxury option in Edinburgh:

http://theatholl.com/

RichardInSF

I stayed at the Balmoral in 2012 during the Fringe and was not at all impressed. I wouldn't go back. Location is great for the Fringe, however, and maybe for other places as well once the endless tram construction is done.

OverThereTooMuch

AND breakfast is included ^

Looks like you'd need to be a fairly well off atholl to stay here.

5mSvGlow

I've been to both, and the Balmoral is a clear winner. The deluxe rooms are gorgeous, with fantastic views. Lovely public areas, and very good service. Nice pool too. Wow location.

The Prestonfield is meant to be nice too, although a bit out of town.

dodgeflyer

A bit more than I'd care to spend for Edinburgh + partner wants a hotel but thank you. Also found the Witchery has rooms from another thread but fully booked.

This makes me worried but confused vs.:

I am willing to accept the Balmoral is better than the Caledonian, but if the Balmoral is not great, I am left in doubt! Had considered Prestonfield but not close to the wedding venues + too far out of the city + had one too many "things" there are as a student.

Overall I am partial to Newtown so will need to make a decision between the two.

gegarrenton

I thought the Balmoral was absolutely fine. It's pretty fitting to Edinburgh, where super high end would probably seem out of place.

The main thing I think that needs work is the common areas and such, which are a little worn. Rooms are fine.

Raffles

Missoni is being deflagged in June

5mSvGlow

We have generally paid about £185/night for the Balmoral, with an £85 credit and free breakfast care of Amex FHR, and have scored an upgrade to a corner deluxe room 3 times out of 3. This deal is very hard to beat. It may be that the entry level internal view rooms would leave you with a different impression. I too would swither at paying £100 more for Balmoral over Caledonian - i'd likely choose the latter in that situation, especially if I was off to a wedding.

offerendum

My Problem is, tha bathrooms at the Balmore have tub/shower combos. Am I right, that only the Royal Suite has a walk-in shower?

limelight

Edinburgh's a problem, for real luxury. Both the Balmoral and the Caledonian have more bad rooms than good ones - and you may have to be persistent.

The Caledonian has some shockers, based on a visit a few weeks ago: a genuinely terrible junior suite with no natural light whatsoever and an air-duct view was quickly refused. We ended up in the Caledonian Suite, which is very charming indeed - though the bathroom is outdated and cheaply put together. Service in the Galvin restaurant is good, as is the food offering. Service in the hotel, at all levels from front-desk to GM, is 3* to 4* at best, occasionally farcical, and in no way aiming for luxury. I think service at the Balmoral may be better. We might try there next time - or adjust our expectations, and look at other upper-end Edinburgh properties; other than grand old buildings, I'm not convinced much separates the Balmoral and Caledonian from other 4*s in the city.

5mSvGlow

Thats probably right, yes. There may be accessible rooms too. This is a relative downside in a very old building.

RichardInSF

I was paying GBP350+ for the Balmoral during the Fringe for a deluxe room, and got a hugely gloomy interior room overlooking the windows of other rooms. It was filled with chintz and low wattage light CFL light bulbs. The housecleaning staff made every effort to save money when they entered the room -- pulling the little card out of the holder, removing it, turning off all lights separately by their switches in addition, minimizing the number of towels, etc. I complained several times to management and was told it would never happen again and of course, it did the very next time I had turndown or room cleaning.

Public rooms were very gloomy and the tea room was often full with no priority given to hotel guests, or at least to me.

At GBP180, maybe. At 350, even during a special (but long) event, never again.

gegarrenton

That does sound rather bad Richard. I think last time I was there it was around 250 pounds, and we got upgraded to a suite overlooking the castle. And none of the room cleaning shenanigans you describe.

I disagree about the common areas though, I didn't find them very gloomy. Hallways and elevators were threadbare, but the whisky bar and main bar were both very nice, as was the restaurant (only had breakfast there tough).