Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel

We had our dog with us, and the staff were so thoughtful and accommodating. They gave us a list of dog-friendly restaurants, which saved us having to do the research ourselves. The double premium room was spacious, nicely designed, had a view of the castle and came with all the usual amenities, even a yoga mat. I also appreciated the look of Baba and the Garden. We didn't manage to eat at either, though both seemed busy. Miguel gave us a lovely welcome, and everyone we met, from housekeeping to the spa staff, was kind and helpful. The location is a clear plus. It's right by a busy high street, but the hotel feels peaceful, perhaps helped by the Charlotte Gardens just en face. We can't think of a single bad thing about our stay, and I'm glad we chose it for my birthday.

The spa was so cold that we went to the sauna just to warm up, then needed a hot shower back in our room. The pool is advertised as heated, but it wasn't even warm, and the spa room itself was cold too. Finding our way there was confusing: the lift apparently wouldn't take us to the spa, only to the other rooms, so we had to walk through the restaurant in our robes. We tried the Edinburgh Kimpton after staying at the one in Glasgow plenty of times. At reception, a man greeted us with “name?” instead of a hello or welcome, and didn't explain why our payment hadn't gone through when we thought we'd paid in advance. The woman beside him took the time to help us. Our room was much smaller than the Glasgow double, but it was only one night, so that was okay. The location is great and I like the cottage style, but there were stains on the carpet and walls. It didn't feel like the five-star hotel we're used to, and we didn't bother raising the stains since we were only there overnight. The location, beautiful style and garden bar were all good, but the greeting, stains and cold spa made £150 for the night feel unjustified. I'd rather spend my money in Glasgow, where the service is better.

We were a family of five, two adults and children aged 6, 9 and 10, staying for four days, and would definitely return. The reception, bar and lounge teams were all exemplary. We had a light lunch in the garden on our first day, and the American waitress was lovely and couldn't do enough for us. A luxurious, elegant place with a touch of Scottish charm, and well suited to a family. The Kimpton backs onto Rose Street and is a five-minute walk from the old town. Our rooms were spacious and clean. I especially liked the coffee machine and well-stocked snack box, and the Dyson hair dryer and yoga mat were nice extras. The spa was excellent too, with dim pool lighting and clean sauna and steam room.

The team were amazing and made my birthday one to remember. We absolutely loved the stunning hotel and its great location. Our room was fabulous, and we'd been given a complimentary upgrade. We'll definitely be back. Thanks for a fantastic break.