I am joining my partner for a few days in Edinburgh this November. We are looking for a nice - 3 starish - hotel that is not to far from sights. A walk or short bus is OK. We do not like chain hotels, we prefer something with a local feel and charm to it. We really do not want to pay more than 250US per night. Suggestions?? Thanks

Is that £125 for one or two people.

I have spent a number of nights in Edinburgh in the last two years. I have stayed at the Marriott, Kenneth McKenzie Suites, Ibis in Hunter Square,Salisbury Green(2), Coldstream Lodge and 10 Hill Place. My favourite is 10 Hill Place although it does not have local charm- more of a boutiquey place. It is within your budget and walking distance to all that matters- alright maybe not Murrayfield!
I am returning before the end of the year to both the Marriott and the Ibis.

for two

The only places I think would have 'local charm' would be B&Bs. You could get a large or boutique-style 4* hotel for your budget but even the nicer non-chain ones don't have anything local about them.

For that budget I'd suggest either a (non large chain) 4* hotel like the Apex International (right in the Old Town), a smaller boutique hotel like the Bonham (in the West End just on the fringe of the city centre) or one of the posh B&Bs in the New Town (the central Georgian part) like the ones on Abercromby Place & Northumberland Street. (The rack rates for the first two are probably > £125 but if you phone they'll probably have deals.) If you can say you'd prefer one of those styles over the other, we can make further recommendations in the same style.

This is all assumimg you actually want to pay $250 / £125 - if you want cheaper there are other options, like the Ibis another poster suggestions. (Ibis is one of the brands of the huge French chain Accor, fairly basic but quite adequate.) The Edinburgh Ibis is very central.