Albany Hotel

A big thank you to the staff at Albany Hotel Edinburgh who were working on 21st and 22nd. They were so kind and understanding while a series of unfortunate things happened during our stay. The room was lovely and the hotel felt warm and inviting, with a classy touch. You could hear people talking in the hallway, but it was a 10/10 experience overall. Definitely a place to stay in the city. Hopefully I'll be back soon. - Jenni

My young son became ill two days before our trip, so I emailed right away to explain and ask about a refund or even partial credit. I'd paid nearly £800 for five nights at Albany Hotel in Edinburgh, booking directly instead of through Booking.com because I thought the hotel might benefit from avoiding platform fees and give better service. The answer was simply “non-refundable.” There was no empathy, flexibility, or goodwill gesture. My parents persuaded me to go in the hope he'd recover, but his sickness got worse. We had to leave after two nights for his wellbeing. When I told reception, they shrugged and said “okay,” with no concern, offer of help, or mention of a possible partial refund. For a hotel charging premium prices, I expected basic humanity and understanding. Illness can't be helped, and the lack of compassion or effort to assist was shocking. I wouldn't recommend the hotel to anyone expecting decent service or flexibility. Edinburgh has many lovely places to stay, but Albany Hotel sadly isn't one of them.

We were there in December for our anniversary. The staff were very friendly, and our room was fantastic, spotless, and nicely warm. It's easy to walk to the city centre from here, with lots of local restaurants within a five minute walk.

The building is ornate, with detailed moulding, sweeping stairs, and ironwork. It feels like several original dwellings joined together, with hallways that form a maze. The rooms are spacious, beautifully furnished, and clean. Our bathroom had a huge tub, a generous shower, and polished chrome fixtures that made me feel like royalty. Heavy blackout curtains were useful in the bright summer nights and mornings in Scotland. Staff were courteous and helpful. It's easy to get downtown, with a five minute walk to the tram for the city or airport. There's short-term street parking for unloading. I didn't find a lift, though there are only three floors.