Accommodation in Joppa from AU$251

The Royal Mile has become a zoo, but it's also the spine of Edinburgh (literally), and so a hotel on an extension of the Royal Mile that's both centrally located and not quite so frenetic is a great compromise. The service was very good, the rooms clean, and the cooking facilities and full-size fridge meant we ate out when we wanted to, not because we had to. The included breakfast was about average (please find a better supplier for the consistently stale pain au chocolat!) but filling, and we found everything easily walkable, from the castle to Arthur's Seat (okay, climbable) to the Water of Leith. I'd happily stay here again if we return to Edinburgh.

It was my first time staying at a pod hotel and I must say - that left me with a good impression. At first I had been most concerned about the cleanliness, especially with the toilet, but turns out that was unnecessary - the bathroom, from the showers to the toilets, was clean enough for me. As for the bed, save a single strand of hair I found on my mattress, which I found acceptable as it could be from the cleaning staff, there was nothing to complain about. As most of the guests respect the rule of keeping quiet in the sleeping area, I was able to sleep undisturbed all night. In terms of the security, you have to pass through multiple doors with passcode to get to the dorms where you will get a locker as well, and the city was generally quite safe so I wasn’t worried at all. Another thing worth mentioning is its extremely central location. Located right on the Royal Mile behind the St Giles Cathedral, it is literally the heart of tourism in Edinburgh. I was able to get to the train station, the castle, the new town on foot just under 5 minutes, which is perfect for any itinerary planning. Apart from the usual things you expect from an accommodation, there is also tons of activities you could join, ranging from daily walking tours to all kinds of tasting. Sadly I didn’t have the time to join, but if you are staying for a longer period, you certainly shouldn’t miss out! In conclusion, I was impressed by my experience and will certainly stay again traveling on budget.

Fab hotel in the best area of Edinburgh. One night one for a concert at the castle but would defo go back