Holiday Inn Edinburgh City – West

The Holiday Inn Edinburgh City - West evokes the chain hotel vibe, with bustling public spaces. The look is contemporary and uninspiring, except for the funky modern chandelier in the lobby, which breaks the mold. The hotel's meeting rooms and central business-area location draw business travelers as well as tourists (it's on a direct bus line to several major sights). Guests mingle freely while indulging in Scottish and international fare in the restaurant, or sip drinks and watch live sports on the bar's TVs.

The Holiday Inn is in the Craigleith area, across Queensferry Road from Craigleith Retail Park and its many stores, including Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, and Nike Factory Store. The city center attractions to the southeast are a bit of a hike on foot but are easily accessibly by car or bus -- there's a bus stop right in front of the hotel. Travel times are roughly five minutes by car and eight to 10 minutes by bus to Princes Street, 10 minutes by car and 15 to 20 minutes by bus to the Grassmarket and Old Town, and 10 minutes by car and 25 to 30 minutes by bus to Edinburgh Castle. Closer to the hotel are Murrayfield Rugby Stadium at a five-minute drive south, Royal Botanic Garden at a five-minute drive northeast, and the Edinburgh Zoo at a five-minute drive southwest of the hotel. Edinburgh Airport is a 15-minute drive southwest. 

Arranged on eight floors, the Holiday Inn's 101 all non-smoking rooms convey the clean functionality of the Holiday Inn brand. Sparsely decorated, the rooms feature white cotton bedding with red, blue, or tan bed throws, plus red curtains, light-wood headboards and furniture, and largely bare white walls with a few reproduction prints. Rooms are clean with no smells, and the double-glazed windows keep the noise out. Beds are reasonably comfy, with thick mattresses and cotton sheets. All rooms have desks, safes, individual climate control, coffee/tea makers, free Wi-Fi, and satellite TV (not all TVs are flat-screens, though). The free Wi-Fi can be slow, and many guests end up upgrading to a higher speed for a fee. Rooms do not have mini-fridges or minibars. Some rooms have some combination of sofa beds, bathrobes and slippers, scales, and trouser presses. Some rooms have views of the city skyline and Edinburgh Castle. Twin rooms are small, with snug bathrooms with the toilet wedged in between the bathtub and counter. Aside from that, bathrooms are clean and spacious, with good water pressure and  bath products supplied. 

The Holiday Inn offers discount vouchers for a health club that's within a five-minute drive -- it has a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a fitness center. The Holiday Inn serves an ample breakfast buffet (for a fee), which includes a range of hot Scottish items like black pudding and grilled tomatoes, and cold continental items such as baguettes, croissants, cereal, and fresh fruit. The restaurant serves a moderately priced international and Scottish a la carte menu for lunch and dinner, with an emphasis on burgers and steaks. Kids under 13 can eat for free with an accompanying adult, and 24-hour room service is available. The cocktail lounge has a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and is the place to catch live sports on its big-screen TVs. The hotel also has a business center, free parking, conference rooms with catering, and an outdoor children's play area and garden.