Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh

Reception staff were kind, and the location was excellent. The room was nice, though fitting two suitcases in was a bit difficult. It would've helped to have somewhere behind the main door to hang a coat. Our lotion dispenser was empty when we arrived, and after we asked for it to be filled, we noticed the next morning that the body soap and shampoo dispensers were empty too. It's easy to see from the side when they're empty, and there was hair on the shower dispensers as well. I think housekeeping could've done a better job. Still, it was an okay stay.

The team were the highlight, so welcoming and friendly, and the hotel had a relaxed, sumptuous feel with quality fixtures and fittings. We loved the location and the very comfortable terrace. Our deluxe twin room had plenty of space, very comfortable beds, a big bathroom, and a stunning view of Carlton Hill. We also appreciated the lovely mugs and espresso cups, great coffee machine, generous tea and coffee sachets, and gorgeous toiletries. It would've earned five stars from us if there'd been room service and a more powerful shower.

We're really enjoying our stay and would happily recommend the hotel. It's beautiful and well located, less than two minutes from the tram straight to the airport, with restaurants, pubs and shopping centres nearby. The staff are genuinely friendly across reception, the bar and housekeeping. Our room is spacious and very clean, and they followed all my specific requests. Housekeeping comes daily, and the bedding is so comfortable that we've been sleeping really well. We tried the bar every night and had lunch in the restaurant. The salt and pepper squid was amazing, as was the sticky toffee pudding. The vegan sandwiches I had on the second day were delicious too.

At this price I expected more. There was no parking, and the instructions for getting the advertised 40% car park discount arrived too late to use. Apparently they give you a code and you have to request the discount while reserving a space on the shopping centre parking site, but they hadn't shared the code in advance. Some colleagues were also waiting for their rooms to be ready. When we got our keys, they just gave us the room number and sent us on our way. There was no proactive guidance, and although breakfast was included, nobody mentioned the hours. There's plenty of room for improvement.