Travelodge Edinburgh Haymarket

The room was warm and the bed was comfortable, but the bathroom had a smell, and the place felt like it needed a deep clean. The dining room was cramped, and breakfast was just adequate for what it cost. We ate in on the last night because of the weather. Parts of the dining room were really grubby, and the meal was barely passable. I couldn't finish mine: the bread seemed stale, the supposed side salad was a slice of tomato with dried lettuce, and the coleslaw was old, dried-out cabbage. I ordered sticky toffee pudding with custard, which arrived extremely cold, straight from the fridge. I didn't feel comfortable complaining because the staff didn't seem very approachable.

At £122 for two nights around Christmas, booked through holiday pirates, this was an amazing price for Edinburgh. It may be worth checking that site, especially given what some other guests have paid. We were in room 2. The room had loads of floor space, with a double bed tucked into a corner, though the bed felt cramped and squeaked. You could hear the lift and people in the corridor, which wasn't quiet. The hotel is made up of converted Victorian houses, so it has some oddities. The shower pressure was a bit weak, and there was no hairdryer in the room. Staff greeted us, but there wasn't a cot ready for our baby. They didn't seem to have sheets either, so we were given towels to put under the crib mattress. The front entrance is just stairs and isn't accessible, unless there's another way in at the back. I had to carry the pram up and down each time. Haymarket station, the tram and the bus stop are close. Princes Street is about a 15-20 minute walk.

Breakfast was really good, and the staff were friendly. Our room was a decent size, clean, and had comfy beds. The place could use an interior refresh, though. There were lots of stained carpets and scuffed walls and floors.

The rooms are spacious and very tall, with large windows. I've only stayed on the first and second floors, so I can't comment on the basement rooms. The bar and dining area is small, about the size of one room, which probably fits the building's old Victorian layout. I've stayed three times and never had a problem. The floorboards can squeak, and the building looks a bit old-fashioned, but it seems to be a renovated row of three or four Victorian houses.