Willis

Just returned from a wonderful trip to Scotland and wanted to report on the Marriott Dalmahoy Golf and Country Club hotel. It is indeed a wonderful place to stay. Located about 7 miles out of the city center (west) on the A71 and only 3 or so miles from the airport, it is a wonderful place to base yourself for driving about the country side. Access to central Edinburgh is quite easy as there is a bus stop right at the entrance gate to the hotel (the main hotel building sits about 1/2 mile up the drive). Round trip bus fare is 5 pounds for two and the bus comes by every 15 minutes and the travel time to city center is about 20-30 minutes or so. Easy way to get into town and leave the car parked at the hotel. Busses run constantly until 11pm, then less frequently after that. <BR><BR>The hotel consists of an old manor house with a newer addition. Our room was in the newer addition (I think most rooms are) and it was very nice. Not typical Marriott but also much larger than typical European hotels. The hotel also has a full health club and very large indoor pool. For golfers, two courses are part of the property. There are three pubs/cocktail lounges, and two restuarants, one formal and one informal. We ate only in the informal one and the food was quite good. We did choose to skip the rather overpriced 11 pound continental breakfast (14 pounds for full Scottish breakfast).<BR><BR>All in all a great place to stay. It is expensive as one would expect, but we were able to avail ourselves of some special "professional" discounts so it cost us no more that a B&B in town would have cost. Being out in the quite of the countryside was wonderful.

Karl

Well I agree that this is a nice hotel. We spent some time there and you have described it well. I also liked that fact that it was easy to get to by car and was a great base for our driving tours around the area. Only one small complaint is that they did have one ice machine for entire hotel, and it was out of order, but no big deal, I just went to the bar and they were happy to fill up my ice bucket ... and as anyone who has traveled in Europe know just the presence of an ice bucket in the room is a rarity.

uncle sam

We stayed there in 1998 for our 25th. Agree with your comments. With respect to breakfast. We ate at the formal restaurant and the food was outstanding. <BR><BR>A tip: If you go out to the entrance and cross over the highway on the right is a chain restaurant that serves great breakfast at reasonable prices. A great way to save some $$$ while enjoying the Dalmahoy.<BR><BR>BTW, w stayed five noights for free suing Marriott reward ppoints.<BR><BR>US

Willis

Uncle Sam<BR>Sadly, the chain restuarant just across the highway from the entrance does not serve breakfast any more. It is called as I recall Brewer's Fayre (chain is owned by the same company that runs all the Marriotts and Travel Inns in the UK) and is only open for lunch and dinner. We actually ate dinner there one night. It is an interesting concept. You look over the menu, decide what you want, go up to the counter to order, and then the food is brought to your table. Sort of like a fancy pub. Nice decor, the food was pretty good, and reasonable in price. I had read before we left other posts that referred to this as a good place for breakfast but alas no more.

hehe

I stole a beer glass from the bar at this hotel...hee hee