Kick Ass Grassmarket - Adults Only - Hostel

We had a great two-night stay. The staff were really nice, and the hostel runs lots of activities that make it easy to meet people. The castle is super close, and the airport was about a 30-minute bus ride away. The only small drawback was the shower cubicles. There's not much room to put your clothes and toiletries, so using them can be a bit tricky.

The beds were very comfortable, and there were enough plug points. We stayed in a quad room. The shower gel and shampoo were the same product, and you couldn't adjust the angle of the shower heads. There are no lifts, and the stairs were a lot to manage. Towels cost €3 to rent, and the kitchen could have been cleaner. It would've helped to have tables or other places to put things. Good for younger travellers, but not so much for people in their 30s or 40s.

I was nervous before arriving because I’d read comments about stuffy capsules and having to pay for a locker. After a bad experience with claustrophobia a few months earlier, those reviews had me worried. In my dorm, though, the lockers were huge and included, and the room was massive. I got a bottom bunk and had plenty of space to keep to myself, which was just what I wanted. There was no pressure to socialise, and after long days out in Edinburgh I slept better than expected most nights. The air felt only slightly stuffy, though I can imagine that being more of a problem in summer. The toilets were the least impressive part, but they were cleaned regularly and the showers were perfectly decent. The city centre is easy to reach on foot, and the area outside is great too. For what it costs, this was a real bargain. I had a wonderful stay and would recommend it.

We slept well both nights, even in a 12-bed dorm, because everyone was surprisingly quiet. The window view was lovely too, and there are some famous photo spots right beside the building. Getting around was easy. The main attractions are no more than a 20-minute walk away, with the bus and train stations close by. Staff, especially at reception, were so kind and helpful. The place was spotless, and being able to leave our bags in a secure locker and use the restroom before check-in was a big help. Breakfast is simple but tasty, and kept us going for about half a day.