The Edinburgh Marriott is also an easy trip to the city. 1 GBP will take you one way or you could option for the nice and easy 4 miles stroll as well.

Can anyone confirm that Dalmahoy hotel and country club does not have exec lounge and therefore offers breakfast coupons?
If there are 2 guests on the reservation, would they provide 2 breakfast coupons?
AX

Stayed at the Dalmahoy a few months back on points. Free breakfast for myself and my wife (and my in-laws for whom I reserved a different room).

We stayed in one of the lake-side rooms. The windows opened onto the lake and we enjoyed the ducks immensely.

Food was amazing, rooms were pretty great, location is fantastic if you're looking to feel "away from everything" while still being quite close to Edinburgh proper.

I stayed at the Edinburgh Marriott for 4 nights on a recent business trip. It's located a few miles from city center, 5 minutes from EDI airport, and convenient to highways. There's free parking and easy access to local buses. Rooms are large with relatively modern furnishings, though the bed in my room was far too soft.

Breakfast choices in the executive lounge were eggs, sausage, and toast. Evening hors d'oeuvres were scanty. The lounge appeared to be unsupervised most of the time. In addition to food sometimes running out there were often a large number of dirty, uncleared tables.

The hotel has 2 restaurants: a bar/pub and a more formal restaurant. Food at both was adequate if just slightly overpriced. Service was generally friendly.

I would considering staying here again if business took me back to the area. This hotel's location split the difference between my customer in a suburban office park and my desire to do a bit of sightseeing downtown. Downtown was 15-20 minutes away by bus for a fare of 1.20 each way. If I were returning purely for leisure I would either stay at the Marriott Dalmahoy for the novelty or with a different brand located downtown.

I've stayed at the Edinburgh Marriott for about the past 6 months also on business (as the hotel is right next to a large business park where my client is based) and fully agree with your assessment. The hotel is regularly sold out with coach parties which is their main source of revenue along with business travellers which pushes their rates much higher than they should otherwise be for the quality of hotel. The staff are also so-so (a few good members) - I think the best part is actually the head chef who does a new specials menu every 2 weeks with ~3mains and ~3starters that are a nice variety to be available on room service. This is especially useful as there are only 3 resturants within walking distance of the hotel (about 0.5miles) - an Indian, Italian and Chinese. There are fast food joints nearby (McDonalds in the same place as the restaurants) and then a few places in the nearby (5 minutes / 0.2 miles) shopping centre including Burger King, a Subway imitation and a large Marks & Spencers with a good food selection (Plus another cheaper supermarket called Morrisons), there is a TESCO next to the restaurants too.

During my time in Edinburgh I have also stopped at the Marriott Dalmahoy occasionally - it is a lovely hotel, much better than the Edinburgh Marriott and very generous with extra welcome presents as a plat (I've had a variety of discount whisky tasting, chocolate covered fruit, welcome beer and a free cheese platter, most of the time at least 2 of these on each arrival), however it is miles from anywhere so unless you are golfing it will probably cost you another �20 each way in taxi fares to the city centre. Public transport is just about an option, but the buses are very infrequent (once an hour I believe, I never tried) and the bus stop is already half a mile from the hotel lobby (as the hotel has extensive grounds and an attractive golf course). I believe they also do free breakfast for plats/golds too just to eat in the hotel restaurant, no vouchers (not certain as my corporate rate may have included breakfast to confuse the issue for me).

I have also spent quite a few nights at the two Hiltons getting my free night certificates. Both are in very good city locations and are much better for a traveller who wants to be in the city centre. The Hilton Caledonian is a very nice hotel and clearly 5*, the Hilton Grosvenor isn't as nice but much cheaper and right next to Haymarket for good train/bus links.

Has anyone stayed at the Edinburgh Marriott more recently and can confirm this? I'm looking to stay overnight close(er) to the airport as I'll have an early morning departure from EDI.

Check the property's website. It should tell you in the hotel facts section or transportation section, if you don't hear from someone on FT.

Cheers.

As of a couple of months ago, they don't do a shuttle. It's about �10 in a taxi.

It isn't a hotel I'd willingly use. Very ordinary indeed.

Have a three week stay in Edinburgh coming up. Have a choice of staying at the Edinburgh Marriott (have silver with Marriott) or the Sheraton Hotel and Spa (no status).

I'll be commuting to Linlithgow via train daily.

Any thoughts on the location of the Edinburgh Marriott? Is it worth giving up three weeks of points for a better location?

Getting to Linlithgow from the Edinburgh Marriott will be a bit of a pain as its quite a walk to the station (google map it, perhaps 20 minutes), the Sheraton is a nicer hotel and it is probably slightly closer to the railway station.

I've lived in the Edinburgh Marriott for ~2years and would probably choose the Sheraton if you're silver as;
1 - You're in the city centre so will be able to properly enjoy Edinburgh and have more to do in the evening
2 - Commuting will be easier as there are more trains to Haymarket (probably just closer than Waverly) than there are from Edinburgh Park / South Gyle
3 - Related to (1), more choice of food in nearby restaurants (There are 3 near the Marriott, the only benefit to the Marriott is a Morrisons/Marks & Spencers on your walk home from the station which may be more your style)
4 - The Sheraton is a nicer hotel

In short - stay at the Marriott if you really like Marriott points and are happy eating room service, plus commuting by taxi. For anything else choose a city centre hotel.

(Room only rates at the Marriott are ~�95/night atm, the Sheraton is nearer �115 which is a fair reflection of the value I'd place on the two)

(Feel free to PM for more in detail... as you can tell after 2 years of living in hotels in Edinburgh I have something of a view on the area... Personally I stay mostly at the Marriott as its near my client's office, but spend occasional nights at the Hiltons in town for a change/to retain Hilton diamond/to have better food)

Have you considered the Residence Inn Edinburgh that just opened? It has gotten outstanding reviews and is a great city center location (about a 8 minute walk from Waverly if you need to take the train). Seems like the best of all worlds (I'm spending a few nights there this summer).

I did, but for some reason it wasn't on our approved hotel list - guessing the company hasn't negotiated rates with this specific property yet.

I think I will switch to the Sheraton. This stay would have bumped me up to Marriott gold, but this will be my first time in Edinburgh (and Scotland for that matter), and I'd much rather be in a place where I can see a chunk of the city rather than an expressway.

Thanks for your input.

Good call. Out of curiosity, can you only stay is specific approved hotels or are you required to stay under a certain specific amount?

Sheraton wins on all fronts from my perspective:-

Location - City centre with all manner of restaurants within walking distance. 15 minute walk to railway station vs. stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing within walking distance.

Quality of Hotel - Big, modern, smart, vs old tired and a bit run down.

Have you thought about asking SPG for a challenge - you might get some status on the back of 3 weeks

Non-traditional??? At the Marriott in Inverness, sheep are provided to guests upon request...