We are two American couples--one in their 50's and one in their 30's trying to get the "best bang for the buck" on a 5-day end-of-Scotland stay in Edinburgh. The 4 we are considering are The Sheraton Grand, The Bonham, The Roxburghe and the Holyrood. We'e gotten the best price for the Roxburghe, but have read some "unkind" comments on that and the Holyrood. Sheila: What do you think?

The Sheraton is a big modern hotel witha very good Spa, well located half way between the top of the Old Town and the West End (New Town); the Bonham I know nothing about but it has a good restaurant; I haven't been in the Roxburgh for ages- well located but it WAS very old fashioned- meant to have had a makeover I think. I like the Holyrood. I like its location at the bottom of the Mile; and the rooms are OK for a modern hotel and it's got valet parking and it's 2 minutes from the Park

PS. Bet that helped!

Thanks, Sheila.

One more thing--I read on some other board that there was a little "rough" area around the Holyrood that you had to walk through. Is that true? Also, we were concerned that that wasn't listed in the Michelin Guide....

There's a slightly dodgy area off to the other side of the Mile, but it's nothing to be concerned about.

Not sure what you mean isn't in the Michelin, but the hotel's quite new.

Given the choice of the 4 I'd take them in this order :-

1) Bonham
2) Sheraton
3) Roxburghe
4) Holyrood

The Bonham is a very groovy boutique hotel, in the west end & a short walk from Prince's Street & lots of bus routes.

The Sheraton is a Sheraton, rooms v. standard & could be anywhere, but it too is very central & good for walking to lots of places or getting buses. As sheila says, its spa is fantastic.

As Sheila also says, the Roxburghe is old fashioned but is supposed to have been revamped (not sure if they've finished ?). Its big plus to me is being very central.

My objection to the Holyrood is that it's not that convenient for walking anywhere except the Palace & the Parliament, and not good for buses : maybe it is just me being exceptionally lazy, but I wouldn't want to stay anywhere where I have to walk uphill to get almost anywhere else !

BTW Sheila, we tried to go to the Alba d'Oro Saturday lunchtime but its not open then !! We will manage it one of these days...

I hate to throw an extra hotel into the mix, but consider the Scotsman! It's wonderful and, at least when we visited last summer, was in the same price bracket as the Sheraton Grand or the Bonham.

Thanks to all. Unfortunately, The Scotsman was pricier....