Premier Inn comes up trumps again
by TripAdvisor Member janny1
I have never had a bad experience at a Premier Inn and would choose them in preference to most higher class hotels whenever I can. We stayed at the Premier Inn Edinburgh Morrison St for three nights (2 adults and two teenage boys). Room for 4 was spacious clean and comfortable - with a double and 2 single beds. Good shower and bath. Hotel was busy but very quiet at night. Breakfast was very good - £7.50 per adult, up to 2 kids 5-15 eat free per adult - which given the amount my two eat is most definitely a bargain. The hotel is easy walking distance of Haymarket station (5 mins) which we found fine even with luggage. About 10 mins walk to Princes Street. There are some good restaurants in area although they aren't immediately obvious from the hotel - we ate at the Indian Cavalry Club (quite expensive but v good) and La Piazza (a good Italian restaurant) both on Shandwick Place. Because it is close to the station the bus services are very good too - we only used it to go to the zoo (31 or 26 - every few mins) as the rest of Edinburgh is quite compact and easily walkable. Buses are modern, clean and cheap.
Adequate yet avoidable
by TripAdvisor Member SNDP
When you book a PTI, it is what it is and one must go with no illusions. However, one must expect the following with this particular property:
* paper thin walls render all conversation public
* single rooms are minuscule (ask for a double regardless of occupancy - the charge is the same)
* I do not believe you can cool down any of the rooms (central cooling, but you can warm up the room with the thermostat); if you attempt to partially cock open the secured windows, you will let in more sound from the alleyways and parking lot, or main street (Morrison)
* sheets are crisply starched and the bed is rather hard
* the one on Morrison Link is a brisk half hour stroll from city centre and the bus station (however, you can freephone for a prompt cab or even bus it). The half hour seems longer when it pours
* with only one lift working, wait times were extended
It is not all bad
* they are gracious to have a spacious left baggage area to permit you to leave and stroll as early as you get there
* the pouring rain came in through the ceiling and flooded my room when I was touring about. This caused a bit of confusion when I returned to my room as they had no record of me checking in. It was quickly sorted and I was given another room promptly. Luckily, no personal effects were significantly damaged
* you are exactly 135 seconds from Haymarket station if you took the rail from Glasgow
* there are several tiny bistros, greengrocers and even a pool hall about the place
* the staff is young, chatty and most friendly
* the room is clean; the sheets are crisp; there are no odours; you feel fairly safe
Unfortunately, the night before my 0500 departure was peppered with having to deal with an inadvertent fire alarm set off at 0200. In accordance with local law, the entire property was evacuated into the rain but we returned to our rooms before the hour. It could not be definitively confirmed that this was a prank. This could have happened anywhere and it was simply unfortunate.
I would perhaps opt for a property more central to the city if I had to do it all over again.
A Budget Hotel that meets all my requirements, and family friendly too!
by A TripAdvisor Member
A last minute decision saw us heading for Edinburgh, and thankfully whilst almost every other large hotel was fully booked, there was availability at Morrison Street PTI. Staying here is getting to be a habit of mine!
Once again I hit the jackpot with parking and got a space right away in the hotel's car park at the rear of the building in full view of our room. The charge was 6gbp per 24 hours, which I thought was quite reasonable for an Edinburgh hotel, many of which charge a daily rate of between 12 and 18gbp. If you are not lucky enough to get a space at the hotel, there is a large open-air NCP car park in full view of hotel reception. Mid morning seems to be a good time to bag a parking space and we made the most of the day until it was time for check-in. PTI will happily look after and lock your bags away if you get there early, or if you want to stay in town after check-out time, helping you to make the most out of your stay.
The hotel is 400yds from the Haymarket railway station in the west of the city, and just a ten to fifteen minute walk to Princes Street or the popular Grassmarket area. If you are unfamiliar with parts of Edinburgh as we were, a quick enquiry at reception will get you a local map and some helpful directions from the lovely staff. At the end of each day’s activities we jumped in the nearest taxi and headed back to the hotel. It never cost more than 6gbp for the taxi, though the hotel is also on a main bus route, so that’s another option. When going out in the evening we headed to reception where there is a dedicated Taxi phoneline, which even at busy times got us a taxi within five minutes. The area surrounding the hotel is a little down at heel, but you can’t have everything, it is a budget hotel after all.
The hotel itself is fairly modern looking, checking in was simple, the staff were efficient and friendly, and the reception area was spotlessly clean. I always find the Travel Inn beds very comfortable as I like a firm bed, and this visit was no exception. The windows in the room opened, though not fully, there was a decent adjustable thermostat in the room and in addition there was a table fan which we used briefly.
Even though it was fully booked the hotel was very quiet and we were never disturbed by noise from other guests or rooms. We had a leisurely drink in the bar where I know from past experience that food is of a much better standard than you might expect of a budget hotel chain. I would go as far as to say it was very good, especially the fish and chips!
We skipped the breakfasts each morning, though it certainly looked good, and settled for a cup of tea in the room instead. I prefer to stop for elevenses later in the morning after pounding the pavements for an hour or so working up an appetite. This hotel is an excellent choice for those on a budget who want somewhere clean, friendly and not too far from the action. It is also excellent for young families with up to two children under 16yrs, as the rate is per room, rather than per person, and the children can eat free at breakfast when accompanied by the adults.
There is a convenient snack and drink vending machine in the lobby should you get hungry, and also a pizza delivery service within the hotel - handy if you feel too tired to head back out.
The room keycard also activated the lift to the floors, which was a nice touch and will help the single traveller feel secure. The rooms are of a perfectly adequate size, though when the kids beds are made up it is a little more snug. The showers are powerful and the bathtub deep. There is a handy desk and chair if you need to do a little work and wifi access too, though I think it’s chargeable. The hairdryer gave me a pretty good result if I say so myself, though you have to keep your finger on the button the whole time, and there was plenty of soap and shampoo in the bathroom dispensers.
It helps of course if you are a keen walker like me!
Better than I thought it would be.
by TripAdvisor Member Smick
Having booked here for a cousin's wedding, I was not overly concerned with the quality, as long as it was clean. I was expecting something of a Travelodge standard.
When we got here, we were pleasantly surprised. The rooms are in the corporate colours of purple and white but the room was of a decent size, there was a tv with the main UK channels and one or two extra ones including News 24 and Men & Motors.
The bed is a good size and very comfortable and there are two armchairs and a table.
The bathroom was good, shower hot etc.
I suppose what I am trying to get across is that I wasn't disappointed in any way. Exactly what was needed for the weekend.
The airbus 100 from the airport lets passengers off about 200m away.
To take a taxi to Edinburgh Castle from the hotel cost £3.50 with four people in the car. There seems to be an area for taxis to pull up outside the hotel but none of them were willing to pick up there.
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