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Edinburgh apartment choice, please advise

Edinburgh apartment choice, please advise

Old Nov 25th, 2015, 12:39 PM
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Edinburgh apartment choice, please advise

Hi
I would appreciate some expert advice on these apartments. They are two bedroom, and are ordered by price. As we are travelling with our adult daughters, we’d like to be close to restaurants and bars, so we/them can take some time “away” from each other, (it will be the last four nights of a 15 night trip)and feel safe coming back.

Close, as well, of course, to all the touristy things, as it’s their first time, and our first time back in about a hundred years.

There are no mobility issues, and we’re all reasonably fit for walking up and down the hill.

We will be leaving Edinburgh for a 10:00 am flight on a weekday morning, so ease of transport to the airport would be a bonus, otherwise we can always cab it.

http://www.greatbase.co.uk/craigwell-townhouse/ 438.34
http://www.greatbase.co.uk/high-riggs/ 487.50
http://www.greatbase.co.uk/albany-lane/ 507.50
http://www.greatbase.co.uk/cambridge-street/ 512.01
http://www.pillowstops.co.uk/selfcat...tedinburgh.cfm 544
http://www.pillowstops.co.uk/selfcat...edinburgh3.cfm 544

I hope at least a couple of them prove to be worthy of consideration, otherwise, back to the drawing board!

Please feel free to comment on anything and everything, including areas I should have but didn't concentrate on, in case I've missed the boat completely on these options.

Thanks to all who take the time to have a look and advise.
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Old Nov 25th, 2015, 01:41 PM
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I'd take the Cambridge Street one.balance between location and price. I wouldn't take the first two.
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Old Nov 25th, 2015, 02:04 PM
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I like them all. Book marking these. The first one is a bit far away from where I like to go. the one on albany lane is not a bad area. I have stayed on Dublin St before and good area. I love the last two best though.
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Old Nov 25th, 2015, 04:19 PM
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Yup, those three are the ones I was most keen on.

The price differential among them is negligible, it translates into about $60 of my dollars. On the other hand, if everything else is equal, that £30 might as well be in my pocket

How then to choose among them? Any words of wisdom, or practical, logistical opinions?

Sheila, what's your opinion of the last two? (I bookmarked one of your very detailed replies to Songdoc's thread, wow, amazing information, thank you!)
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Old Nov 25th, 2015, 08:42 PM
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The two on the Royal Mile are AMAZINGLY well located. However I find no mention a lift/elevator and there most likely isn'y one. One is on the 3rd (4th) floor and the other I don't think it says.

So . . . if you can manage a 4th floor walk up . . .

Otherwise - Cambridge Street which is a nice location and is only one flight up.
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Old Nov 26th, 2015, 06:03 AM
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The last one is the much larger one, but yes, is four flights up with no lift.

The other one is actually £520, a bit smaller on the second floor, no lift.

I'll talk it over with the family, but I think both look quite good.
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Old Nov 26th, 2015, 06:43 AM
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I actually like the mews cottage on Albany St. Lane the best. I have friends that live very close by, and can attest that it's dead easy to get anywhere by walking or via bus on Broughton St. just to the east of the property. Broughton St. also has a ton of nice cafes and pubs, including the Barony Bar, one of my faves.

It will also be VERY much quieter than any of the Old Town spots, which can be quite rambunctious at night. Plus it's a ground floor +1 unit and even has a garage if you wanted to get a car for a day or two and go off exploring some of the glorious countryside near Edinburgh.
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Old Nov 26th, 2015, 08:25 AM
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We have rented from Greatbase with great satisfaction.

I noticed the 4th floor walkup, the "compact" apartment near the Grassmatket, and the "townhouse" spread over three floors.

I'm too old!
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Old Nov 26th, 2015, 08:26 AM
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We have rented from Greatbase with great satisfaction.

I noticed the 4th floor walkup, the "compact" apartment near the Grassmatket, and the "townhouse" spread over three floors.

I'm too old!
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Old Nov 26th, 2015, 08:52 AM
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Ackislander, thanks, I heard about Greatbase from you! Katie is very quick to respond, I think she'd be easy to deal with. I'd prefer to follow recommendations from Fodorites.

I quite like the Cambridge apartment, but I also like the Lawnmarket.
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Old Nov 26th, 2015, 11:45 AM
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Although there are attractions in being on the Mile, it can also be very noisy, and, frankly, the Mile can be quite...tatty? I think the Cambridge street location is great- well paced for Princes Street, spitting distance to the New Town, and 10 minutes walk from the Castle. What's not to like?
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Old Nov 26th, 2015, 02:07 PM
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Although there are attractions in being on the Mile, it can also be very noisy, and, frankly, the Mile can be quite...tatty? I think the Cambridge street location is great...

I thought so too, but if noise is an issue, have a look out the bedroom window - http://www.greatbase.co.uk/wp-conten...t/dsc_2683.jpg

If there's anything going on at the Traverse or the Usher Hall when the OP is there, it could be pretty busy.

(Old person memory - an Alan Stivell concert that spilled out into Cambridge Street after the Usher Hall people cut off the power to the state following the 4th encore. Screaming fans and bagpipes at midnight.)
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Old Nov 26th, 2015, 02:09 PM
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...cut off power to the stage that is.
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Old Nov 26th, 2015, 02:57 PM
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I'm not terribly concerned about the noise. We were right by Boul Mich in Paris last year and Rue Massena this past October in Nice. I have earplugs!

Question about the Cambridge apt and the Lawnmarket and High Street, are they safe? We'll be tucked up at a reasonable time, but I'm wondering for my two daughters, who may (will) wish to stay out later. If they come home in the early hours, I'd rather not be concerned because we are in a dodgy area.
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Old Nov 26th, 2015, 03:37 PM
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I have to agree with Sheila the Cambridge street area is well located. This area is pretty safe too, so i wouldn't worry about it.
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Old Nov 26th, 2015, 06:03 PM
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I've stayed a couple of times at Fraser Suites just a couple of doors off the High Street part of Royal Mile (s just around the corner from one of the pillowstop flats) and across from St Giles and noise was not an issue at all.

For a short visit I'd personally enjoy being right there across from the Kirk and just down from the castle.

Cambridge street is fine but it is quite a climb up to the castle
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Old Nov 27th, 2015, 12:45 PM
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I'm now considering three nights in town, rather than four, and the mention of Fraser Suites got me thinking about that kind of accommodation.

Any opinions on St. Giles Apartments, 2 bedrooms, one on Old Tolbooth Wynd, and on Old Fishmarket. Price is £375, non refundable on Booking.com.
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Old Nov 27th, 2015, 01:17 PM
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Ok, never mind, just noticed there's no wifi....
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Old Nov 27th, 2015, 01:34 PM
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I would find the two on the Royal Mile too noisy. I've stayed very near the High Riggs apartment; there are a couple girlie shows there, but it never feels unsafe. On the other hand, our adult children are sons. The Cambridge Street location is excellent.
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Old Nov 27th, 2015, 04:50 PM
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In October, we stayed at a great flat on W. Nicolson Street. We picked it because of its proximity to our son's flat near the University (he's a student there - no I'm not staying in a student flat). We stayed in a smaller unit, for three people, but they do have a two-bedroom flat, in the same building I assume, that sleeps four people. I don't know that I would call the place "luxury," but it was quite nice, clean, and the wifi worked very well after an initial call to the booking office.

In addition to being close to our son, it was next door to a very nice, Usher's; it's not the typical student rowdy club, but more for grad student types. We went there every evening. Despite the closeness of the pub, the street was not noisy, and was safe, clean, and right off Nicolson St. And conveniently located to lots of other stuff.

I would agree about the climb up the hill from Cambridge St., though that's a good area to visit too.
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