a&o Edinburgh City - Hostel

The reception team made me feel at home as soon as I arrived. They were professional, lovely, and ready to help, and the bar staff were just as welcoming and friendly. The bar had a great atmosphere, too. Everything was in good shape, clean and comfortable, and the location made it easy to get around and explore. I had an amazing stay and would happily recommend this hostel to anyone wanting a comfortable, enjoyable visit. Five stars from me.

The bar is spacious, with an outdoor seating area, though I didn’t eat or drink there. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the place was very clean and right in the town centre. Check-in took a little while because of the registration process. Fresh linen is provided, but you have to make your own bed, which I wasn’t keen on since I do that at home.

For a low-budget hostel, this was perfect. We had a private family room, and the staff were really friendly. Everything is within walking distance, and the bar downstairs is lively, a nice spot for a drink and to meet people. We didn’t book breakfast, but from what I saw there was plenty of choice. The rooms were clean.

The food was basic but good, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. My room was clean, though small. There was nowhere to hang a coat or clothes, which seemed odd. I was fine keeping my things in my bag, but with two full-length mirrors, it would’ve made more sense to have hooks on one side. I was travelling alone and, as an older disabled person, needed to rest before dealing with business the next day. I wanted to unwind with a comedy or film, not spend the evening in the bar or lie awake staring at the walls and watching the clock. The TV in my room said it couldn’t connect to any channel, so I called the main booking line and asked them to contact reception. The nice young man who’d helped me to my room came by eventually and said the hostel was having an internet problem with the TVs. We were standing in the dining and bar area beside two big screens that were working, so I couldn’t understand the explanation. When I mentioned the TV again as I was leaving, someone suggested it might be good to switch off on holiday. That didn’t help, especially when I’d come to rest and needed to be near where I had to go the next day. If the policy is that TVs aren’t necessary, why install them? The noise from the outdoor dining area and the dining room and bar was loud and lasted for hours. It was actually nice to hear people enjoying themselves, even while I was in pain and couldn’t distract myself with mindless TV. The place has a lively feel and I’d say it suits younger people, families, or groups of teenagers, but not older guests who’ve outgrown dropping their clothes and coats on the floor. I won’t forget the irony of that young man standing beside the two massive blaring TVs while telling me the hostel TVs weren’t working because of a faulty internet connection.