I have never been to Scotland and am reading as much as I can. However, I'm wondering for a first time trip if we should stay in Old Town or New Town and what are some of your favorite hotels. We would like a nice hotel but can't really do a 5 star. Thanks for any help.
Cinzia

We liked the Parliament House hotel at the base of Calton Hill, within easy walking distance of Waverly Station (we traveled by train), close to the famous Balmoral Hotel, few blocks from Princes Street, the park, art museum, tourist center. Sort of a Country House style, old stone building on a small street. A really old very picturesque cemetery across the street and even a small on up the stairs on the same property. We paid about $160 a few years ago and have checked their website recently for a trip next spring.

I stayed at The Carlton Hotel a few years back. It is located in an excellent location between old city and new city. It's right on Northbridge, right on the Royal Mile about halfway between Holyrood Palace and Edinburgh Castle. Check it out at http://www.paramount-hotels.co.uk/de...otland/carlton. I got a good deal at www.totalstay.com.

Hi, We stayed at the Borough which was fantastic!

Check my website for my review and information.

http://www.mcdougalladventures.com/a...-borough-hotel

The Castle View Guest House in New Town treated us quite well. It's not fancy, but very welcoming. Location can't be beat, but there's a bit of a climb up the stairs. A nice value, overall.

Here is our trip report, for more information...

http://www.onelittleworld.com/scotland_1.html

Cin,

We stayed at the Ibis in Fall of 2003, which is very nice for a budget hotel. It was $100/nt including breakfast. It is located up the big (and I do mean big) hill from the train station, just off the Miracle Mile. Have a good trip.

GregPCM

The issue is not really Old or New Town- Edinburgh's just not that big.

By common consent the Balmoral is the diamond in the tiara these days. The Scotsman gets a great name, and you still can't go wong at the Cally (the Caledonian)

However, if they are too rich for your blood, have a look at the Hollyrood, the Crown plaza and the Apex in the Grassmarket. Any one of those would bemy choice.

Twice we have stayed at Mount Royal on Princes Street, wonderful location with a second floor restaurant overlooking the street and park areas. It was moderately priced and more modern than the older historic hotels. Next door is Jener's(sp), a wonderful department store with the fourth or fifth floor devoted to everything from Scotland.

I stayed at the Caledonian this summer. The location at the corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road was convenient. The airport shuttle stops nearly at its doorstep and it is a short walk to Edinburgh's less frequented railway station Haymarket. If you are a Hilton Honors member you might can get a good deal. We were not able to get a free room, but we got a room, free breakfast and one free supper for 120 pounds a night. The supper alone would have cost 50 pounds. When we checked in they upgraded us to a nice room on the top floor. One note about Edinburgh hotels. If you are not a big city person you may find the rooms to be noisy. Most building do not have central heating and cooling and you adjust the temperature by cracking a window. If you want to avoid noise, ask for a room on a top floor, go in the winter when you don't need to crack a window or stay outside of the city center.

The Malmaison in leith is really lovely and always has deals on. Leith has FANTASTIC atmosphere and great restaurants, wine bars and pubs.
you are minutes away from the heart of town and can travel up to princes st by taxi or bus. public transport in Edinburgh is cheap and reliable.
The Scottish office is now based in Leith and as a result it is a fantastic place to roam around. great little shops, the sea , the Royal yacht brittania*a really interesting tour) and now the huge ocean terminal shopping mall and cinema complex.
i am originally from Edinburgh, had my wedding reception at the Balmoral(then The North British) and as a student worked in many of the hotels and bars around town as a musician or watiress and barmaid.
I have stayed over the years in severaql of the hotels mentioned here on return visits and would honestly heartily recommend The Malmaison.
Go to The Ship or The Shore or The waterfront for dinner , or any of the other grat places down there.
Honestly .. it is fantastic .Have fun. i am sitting here in Houston , Texas feeling very envious , even though we will be going home for Christmas!

I live in Edinburgh and I would be very careful with Leith. The shore, Malmaison and the restaurants there are lovely. It's a great place to visit. But there are still quite a few areas in Leith which are a bit unsavoury, and I would not walk down, day or night.

If you've never been to Edinburgh you want to be in the heart of it. Old or New Town doesn't matter as someone else said it's a small city and easy to get around.

Jury's Inn on Jeffrey Street (old town, just) does some great deals and by all accounts is very nice. The Apex in the Grassmarket is also a good choice.

Watch out for deals on the bigger hotels though, esp. Balmoral, Caledonian, Radisson as these are all in fantastic locations and we've booked some amazing deals for friends over the years.

I must agree w/ violetm. Leith is great for dining, a night out, etc. But it is a long way from the center of town and is not at all convenient, especially for a first time visit to Edinburgh.

You could go there one evening if you want - but don't stay there . . . . .

Cinzia,
on reflection I do agree about Leith. i am so used to be down there with friends, or my husband and knowing the area well , know where to avoid.
mind you, we did not feel at all happy being in the Grassmarket on a couple of occasions at night this year.
jury's is nice and The Balmoral is lovely. The Sheraton on Lothian road has a fantastic award winning Spa if you want some real pampering.
I have eaten there a few times too and the restaurant was super.

We stayed at Jurys Edinburgh Inn in June and found it to be wonderful. The rooms were large and well kept and the location was PERFECT. If you went out the back door by the restaurant and up the steps you ended up smack in the middle of the Royal Mile. You are right near the Waverly Bridge where you can pick up all the tour buses and the mall is right across the steet. Great place to stay at a great price. If pricing is not a concern the Radisson is right on the Royal Mile and might be a good choice.

We stayed at The Lodge in Edinburgh. It's a very small family owned hotel. A very good breakfast is included in the price and the Hotel is next to a bus stop. Very easy to get around. The hotel is beautifully decorated and the owners are extremely nice. Can't say enough! I can't wait to get back to Scotland--I'm in love with the country!

We really need to know your budget - how much do you want to pay per room per night ? £80 ? £180 ?

Also, what time of year are you coming ? August, Christmas/New Year & rugby weekends are much more expensive.

First chance I had to log back on since I posted my request. Thank you, thank you to all for great advice. I'm still quite ignorant of Scotland but reading as much as I can when not at work. We will be in Scotland in January (have no choice), we will be in Fife for 7 days and then only 4 in Edinburgh. We are traveling with another couple and 2, 20 year old boys. We like good hotels but can probably only spend about $250 US a night as we need 3 rooms. I can't wait to see Scotland and welcome any advice you may have. I will go on to the web sites that you listed above.
Cinzia

I stayed at the Scotsman on that budget during the festival this year and it was wonderful - we had a big, very clean and stylish room full of gadgets (plasma screen TV, own coffee machine etc) with lines of Molton Brown products in the bathroom. I don't usually bother with spas, but was really impressed by theirs; again the design is fantastic and the attention to detail is amazing.

I've stayed at the Balmoral on that budget too, and that was more traditional; our room wasn't as impressive (it was fine, and the view was better, but the decor didn't have 'wow factor').

If you like good food I'd highly recommend going to Martin Wishart in Leith for lunch - as good as Gordon Ramsay IMHO and very good value.

Well, where to begin? Scotland is the most beautiful country that I have been to so far. I just loved it!! We were there in June which is probably a little different than January.....You have to see the castle it is awesome. We couldn't go to Holyrood because the Prince was in residence. The Royal Mile will keep you busy for at least 2 days. There is the Whiskey tour up at the top of the Royal Mile by the castle. Mary King's Close, the Toy Museum, and a ton of other historical sites. Then there are the museums that sit on the other side of the Royal Mile, both worth seeing. I have to say that one of my favorite parts of our vacation was the Highland Tour. It took you up through Fort William to Uquart (sp) Castle on Loch Ness, up to Iverness and back down to Edinburgh. The highlands are just GORGEOUS!!! I would love to build a house and live there. While in Edinburgh you should go to the top of the tower on Calton Hill from there there are great views of Edinburgh and some of the country side.

Pagagena, I find it hard to believe you stayed at the Scotsman during the festivals for $250 a night ?? That's currently about £140, isn't it ? The hotel's own website is currently showing "the Scotsman's Great Affordable package (!!) from only £245 per couple per night" or "Weekend leisure rates are available from £195, per room per night." Are you sure it wasn't 250 *pounds* per night ? And the Balmoral's website is showing a lowest rate (Nov-Mar) of £204 per room per night.

Having said that, those are the 2 best hotels in town; so if you can get them on your budget, go for it.

Otherwise I would concur with Sheila & go for the Apex International (the better of the 2 Apex hotels in the Grassmarket). I haven't stayed at the Radisson (formerly the Crowne Plaza) but it is in a great location. I stayed at the Point 3 or 4 years ago & it was great then, but it has had some negative reviews more recently on Tripadvisor so now I'm not sure. The Sheraton rooms are averagely OK; but as another poster says, the spa is fantastic & the location is quite convenient.