Palmerston Suites

My family suite, Room 5 on the ground floor, was very shoddy. The bed and bathroom were comfortable, clean, and well stocked, and the room itself was quiet, with no street or guest noise. The area felt safe and was a short walk from Hayward station for the Tram or ScotRail. But the finish was poor: sloppy paint and caulking, unpainted spackle repairs, and a kitchen sink faucet that wasn't even fastened down. When I left my luggage before check-in, I had to leave it in the hallway, with no closed room or claim tags. The desk wasn't staffed 24 hours, which I hadn't noticed before getting back around 22:00. That was on me for not reading closely; I left a message at the number on the door, though the voicemail didn't name the hotel, and they called back within a few minutes and helped me sort it out. My plans changed a couple of times, so I had to rebook close to the reservation. Maybe booking earlier would get a better room at a cheap enough price, but I don't understand the four-star listing and high reviews for this room. If I return to Edinburgh, I'd look for a chain hotel nearer the city centre.

I was skeptical after reading the reviews once I'd booked, and expected poor quality. Then I checked in and saw the Junior suite: it was spacious, with two sofas, a bed, TV, kitchen, and bathroom. The heating worked, the windows opened, and the fan worked well, so I had a really good stay. It's also in a great location, an eight minute walk from Haymarket train and tram stations. Nam, a very nice Vietnamese restaurant, is close by too, as mentioned in earlier reviews.

The location is really good for central Edinburgh, but the stay was disappointing. On the first morning there was only cold water. Thankfully it was hot the second morning, though the shower seal didn't work properly and flooded the bathroom, while the light flickered on and off. The kitchen cupboards looked badly damaged, and the iron was badly burnt from previous guests. I ended up going to my 9am meeting unwashed and in an unironed suit.

I had everything I needed for a comfortable stay: the room was spotless, cosy, and quiet, and the staff were friendly and attentive. The hotel is right in the heart of Edinburgh, so it was easy to explore the city. I'd happily come back and recommend it.