89 The Merchants by The House of Danu

The host communicated well and even provided ear plugs, which came in handy because Flat 2 faces the street and you can hear pedestrians and trams going by. The apartment itself was nice. We would have preferred larger towels, but that's personal preference. There's a great pub on the corner and a lovely cafe opposite. The tram is nearby and takes about 15 minutes to reach central Edinburgh. Free parking at Leith Links park is around a 10-minute walk away. It worked well for us.

The apartment was spacious and in a great location, but the stay was disappointing, especially given it was the most expensive place we booked in two weeks. It didn't feel as luxurious as advertised, and I hope management takes things more seriously. We weren't told until the day before arrival that Apartment 6 was on the third floor with no lift, or that parking wasn't available within 0.5 miles. There was no refund by then. Luckily we aren't elderly or have mobility challenges. Most of the apartment was clean, but one drinking glass had hair in it and the table was dirty. The toilet seat was broken, and the stairwell we had to use smelled strongly of sewage. The website photo showed a different stairwell. There were no TV instructions, though it didn't matter much because there was no TV licence and the internet couldn't support Netflix or similar. Instructions for the water heater would have helped too, since there was no hot water at 0830.

The location made getting around easy, with a tram stop a two-minute walk away and a 10-minute ride into Edinburgh Centre. There were loads of cafes, bars and supermarkets within walking distance. We stayed three nights in the St Magdalene one-bedroom apartment and would happily come back. It was beautiful, clean and well decorated, with the most comfortable bed. It had everything we needed, from clean towels and kitchen and bathroom amenities to a TV and good WiFi. Dogs can stay at no extra cost, which was a bonus for us. The owner communicated clearly, and check-in and check-out were easy. We'd highly recommend these apartments to anyone visiting Edinburgh.

Parking around the corner was easy to find over the weekend. Flat 2 St Magdalene is a spacious, cosy place with really comfortable furniture and all the modern conveniences you'd want. It has a unique feel, with historical features carefully maintained. We had a lovely weekend and would definitely recommend it.