Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh - City West

The worst part for me was the bed. I’ve never had such bad back pain from one, and both the mattress and pillow were poor. For the last two days I gave up and slept on the floor, which was actually more comfortable. Cleaning never came to the room once in the week, even though I put the sign on the door. I saw a cleaner in the corridor once and thought she’d come in, but she didn’t. Breakfast was limited, greasy, and had few options. The hotel isn’t in the city centre, so you’ll need to take a bus or walk for a little over an hour to get there.

There’s no phone in the room to call reception, and the heating was only average, with no radiator. Room size was average too, a family of four can fit, but it’s a medium fit. Rooms and beds were good, and there’s a lift and a lobby. Parking is plentiful but costs £10 a day with the Stay discount card. Breakfast is basic, with no good option for families. I wouldn’t recommend it for a family of five. Breakfast runs from 6 to 9:30 am, there’s a drinks station open 24/7, supermarkets nearby, and getting into the city is easy.

The view from our sixth-floor room was amazing, and the staff were excellent. The rooms had everything we needed, and breakfast was nice too. Bus 43 stops right outside and runs fairly regularly into Edinburgh city centre, taking about 15 minutes. There’s also a small play park at the side. It’s good for little ones to get some fresh air for half an hour or so, though there isn’t much to it.

We had a really nice stay, and the staff were friendly. The hotel was neat and clean, and when we ordered food at the bar they checked about allergies with the kitchen to make sure the dishes didn’t contain the allergens. I did feel sorry for the staff when some guests left their tables very dirty, especially as the team put in so much effort. At breakfast, people also left a lot of food on their plates, which was probably thrown away. It didn’t sit well with me. Great hotel and staff overall, and I’d recommend it.