Cairn Hotel

The Cairn was in a handy spot, reasonably close to Old Town, near the airport tram stop and close to where the hop-on hop-off bus starts. The staff were all friendly, and we enjoyed our stay. We spent our first three nights in Scotland here. We arrived at 8:30, well before the 3 o’clock check-in, and they kindly held our bags while we went exploring. The room was small but arranged well, with a great cabinet and shelves for storage. It had an iron and ironing board, a hair dryer and, best of all, a fan. The room got stuffy, but opening the window and using the fan cooled it down comfortably. Breakfast was offered each morning. It was more than a basic continental spread, with eggs, mushrooms, sausage, ham, cheese, toast, cereals and several other choices.

For the price, we had a really good stay in February. My partner and I found the room comfortable, with a private bathroom, kitchenette and wardrobe, all useful basics for a reasonable price. The location is very central, a short walk from St. James Quarter and New Town. Old Town takes longer to reach on foot, but it’s still manageable. We were satisfied with breakfast, even though the selection wasn’t large. Customer service was good, and it was a big help that we could leave our luggage at reception for a small fee before check-in and after check-out. There were a couple of minor issues, like slightly uneven tiles and odd marks on the wall, but overall the room was absolutely fine. It’s not luxury, but a good budget option within easy walking distance of the city centre.

I ended up going back to the conference hotel, explained what had happened at The Cairn, and they found me a great room for half the price, plus drink vouchers because I was so shaken. The whole thing had been a waste of time and money. I’d booked a double room weeks ahead, but after my conference the front desk said I’d been “upgraded.” They took me out of the rundown hotel and down the street to a shabby townhouse, saying I’d have the whole place to myself. The front door was rickety, the building felt creepy, and I was alone with no front desk or security. As a woman travelling by myself, I felt unsafe. When I said so, I was told the hotel was overbooked and that I’d have to accept what I got. I insisted I was scared to stay there, and the staff member stormed off before sending someone else to “deal with me.” That person eventually brought me back to a gross room inside the hotel by the bar. They said people are usually really happy to be “upgraded” to an entire building. I was yelled at and made to feel ungrateful. The Cairn looks nothing like the pictures, either.

The room was a good size and had a bath, shower, 24-inch TV, iron and board, hairdryer, fan, and tea and coffee. The bed was large, though the mattress was very hard for my taste. The view wasn’t great, but that was fine. The old building was fun to navigate, almost a maze, and it took an extra minute to find room 107 downstairs to the left. We booked through Booking.com for a short city break with my partner, mainly for the location, price, and parking. We found a roadside space just down from the hotel. At check-in I was told I could leave the car there, but had to move it across the road by 08:00, pay the parking charge, and would only get four hours. Since it was late, I left sorting it until morning. Reception then explained there was limited private parking for £20 a day, though anything bigger than a hatchback would be hard to manoeuvre in the tight car park. The hotel felt simple and welcoming, and I’d recommend it.