Euro Hostel Edinburgh Halls

There's not much to praise here. It’s a basic hostel, but the quality felt below what I usually get. Things function, though the building and street are both very noisy, and the thin walls and windows let every sound through. It wasn’t dirty, but it could have been cleaner, and a lot of it feels dated and cheaply done. The kitchen equipment was in rough shape, especially the frying pans, and there were only four glasses and plates for 8-12 people. Towels aren't provided. The breakfast bag is pretty basic: milk, a cereal bar, sugary cereal, a small juice, a muffin, and a piece of fruit. You have to collect it from reception, which for some rooms means going to reception in a different building.

The rooms were tiny, dirty, and uncomfortable, and the whole place was noisy at night. The doors and hallway floor creaked constantly, so getting decent sleep was out of the question. There are shared bathrooms for four double rooms, with no soap or toilet paper, and the toilet and shower are together, so nobody else can use the toilet while someone showers. It’s not accessible either, and you could end up climbing five floors to reach your room. I know it’s a hostel, but at £17.5 per person per night I expected more than a prison cell. :/

Just after a clean place with fresh sheets to sleep, somewhere central and affordable? This fits. The staff are helpful and it’s clean, though there aren’t any extras or frills.

Reception staff were really nice, helpful, and open to questions. I liked the idea of having single rooms within an apartment, and the price felt fair for what you get. But when the bars and clubs start playing music, it gets loud, the windows don't keep all the sound out, and you can hear the people next door too. I was disappointed there was no free Wi-Fi, since that's usually standard in hostels.