Intercontinental Edinburgh the George

The location is great, the lobby is beautiful, and the service was solid, but the rooms let the hotel down badly. Mine was small, dark, and drab, with uncomfortable furniture, cheap gray carpet, and dated decor that reminded me of a Holiday Inn I stayed in back in 1998. People in the halls woke me several times, and the updated bathroom was too cramped to be practical, with nowhere for toiletries. Don't be taken in by the lobby. This doesn't feel like a luxury hotel, and branding this dated property as one hurts the Intercontinental name.

Breakfast was included, had a huge selection, and was delicious. The hotel was beautiful, service was great, and the location made it easy to explore Edinburgh on foot. We chose a basic room because we knew we'd spend little time in it, and it was clean and just what we needed. Coffee, tea, fresh water, and snacks were regularly replenished, and the beds were turned back each night. They even remembered my husband's birthday and sent desserts to the room, which was thoughtful. We also ordered room service twice. The food wasn't as good: our toasties arrived very cold, and the onion one seemed almost frozen or refrigerated. That was disappointing when we were tired and hungry. The chicken tikka and chili were okay. It was late and the menu was limited, so we should have planned better. The late-night food seemed like microwave-style convenience meals, so I'd try something off that menu instead. If you're out pub hopping, it may be better to pick up something tasty on the way back. We noticed food places and shops closed earlier than expected. I enjoyed the stay and would recommend the hotel.

The hotel is handy for getting around, with plenty of good places to eat nearby and Edinburgh Castle about a 10-minute walk away. We got in early after our flight, and the staff were able to let us into the hotel, which was really helpful. Breakfast is included and was excellent. Definitely try the full Scottish breakfast. A wonderful place to stay, highly recommend.

Breakfast could get hectic, but Tully, Yaseen and Niki kept checking that we had what we needed and served us with a smile every time. Their customer service stayed at five-star level even when they were rushed, and they made us feel special. A huge thank you to all three for making our stay and breakfasts so happy and memorable. Intercontinental Edinburgh is lucky to have them, and their effort really is appreciated.