Hilton Edinburgh Caledonian

The Caledonian is a beautiful hotel, centrally located on Princes Street. Quite a few of the rooms have a beautiful view of the Edinburgh Castle. The castle is breath taking both day and night.

It was hard to disagree with any of the above reviews, negative and positive. The location can't be beat. The old-time grandeur of a first-class railway hotel is a delight. I booked a room with two double beds, and was given a splendid large room -- and the mattresses were just fine.

On the other hand, for a five-star hotel, to have a steam-table breakfast was disgusting. And, checking in on a rainy night, laden with baggage, the doorman was not at his post. I think he understands why I refused to let him take my bags to my room -- he deserved to be fired, not tipped. I complained about these to the management, and they wrote a polite letter of apology. Future visitors will have to say whether things have improved since October, when I visited there.

All in all, I'd be happy to stay there again, if they had a cooked-to-order breakfast next time.

I think I'm becoming more fussy. I stay in hotels too often these days and perhaps my expectations are too high. That's a pretty sad thing to say about a 5* hotel though.

Firstly, location, you couldn't get better. That's the one the management can't interfere with I guess! You're right in the heart of Princes Street which, as anyone with Edinburgh knowledge will know, means you're pretty much in the heart of the city.

And that's pretty much where it ended on the good points.

I checked in at 14:00 to be told that my room wasn't ready yet. This seemed a bit strange because I'd been checking availability all week with our in-house Travel Agent and it had loads of room (I assume they obviously have rooms for people who got a deal and rooms for people who are being fleeced). Anyway, after asking if there was any chance of getting a better rate I was told that the rate I had was "excellent for this hotel" - I don't have a problem paying for a good hotel, I do though when I know they're going to fob me off with a bad room...!

Check-in took the best part of 15 minutes with a foreign receptionist (who kept cocking up and the supervisor had to keep correcting her mistakes - this is acceptable at a 3* hotel, not a 5* one!)

Went up to the room, it was a twin. I'd booked a double for single occupancy. Back on the phone, was told to meet the concierge on another floor and they'd give me another room ("though it will be a lot smaller than the one you're in") - met the concierge, kid of about 14/16 who said "I've got to give you this" and then stood waiting for a tip - I find this presumptious tipping attitude abhorrent. I tip for good service...)

Get into the room - 105 (say no) - really high ceiling, combined with windows at the very top of it - no view apart from the roof of the other part of the hotel (the nice part seemingly). No air-con, room unbearably hot, can't reach the windows to open them... nice touch.

Bathroom great, really nice, obviously recently refurbed and no complaints there.

Internet TV needed batteries. Phoned reception and, like the milk guy before, nothing ever appeared. (The check-out via TV system didn't work either).

I was going to eat with some friends in the restaurant but I decided to venture out of the hotel (mainly because I didn't feel ready to put my shirt and tie back on for dinner!) - had a great night enjoying Edinburgh's famed hospitality. Got back to the hotel at 01:30 - ordered some sandwiches and cake (post-drink binge!). Finally arrived, after two chaser phone calls at 02:30. The sandwiches were awful (£9.50 I think for white bread with one slice of turkey and one slice of ham with some fancy mozzarella shavings piled on top; cake (chocolate fudge - picture looked superb. Sadly, picture obviously wasn't of the same cake as I ordered... really dry like it had been out for a week). Was so annoyed when the guy dropping off the tray hung around for a tip too after apologising and saying he was sorry but they were short-staffed - that's not what a 5* hotel should be suffering).

Sleep OK, bed creaky and mattress like a ball of cotton wool though.

Breakfast. Well, I didn't think it was bad at the time (but then after that chocolate fudge cake it wouldn't have taken much...); but one family complained, justifiably, that in a 5* hotel (sorry to keep on about that) the breakfasts should be freshly cooked, not self-service from heated barrels. The scrambled eggs were made of rubber, you had to make your own toast (I've never stayed in a hotel before where you have to make your own toast!) and the coffee slow to be served.

Check out was OK, but I said that I'd get my own cab as I had visions of another tip for that service...

This place is pretentious and they are really, really resting on their laurels (no, not Stan q.v.). My other trips to Edinburgh I've always stayed at the Marriott by the airport - I thought this time I'd stay in the centre to save on taxis; I wish I'd not bothered....

The Caledonian Hilton is one of the nicest hotels I've stayed in.

Despite being a Hilton hotel (which can tend to be a bit same-y) it had character. The service was excellent, and the restaurant was lovely; great food and ambience. It's in an excellent location, right across from the main shopping street, and within minutes of the grassmarket area, where there are some great pubs. Apparently, Laurel and Hardy were regulars there in their day! I'd recommend staying there if you're planning a trip to Edinburgh.

I'm surprised to see negative reviews. My husband, daughter (then 2)

and myself spent a week at the Caledonian. It was during the winter

holiday season. The hotel was decorated with trees and trimmings. The

main stairway and bannister were picture perfect.

Our room was phenonminal. We travel often, and were impressed. Our room overlooked Edinburgh Castle. It was huge with 12 foot ceilings and 2 queen poster beds. Plus a round dining table, vanity dresser, and desk. The bathroom was equally roomy with towel warmers and all the amenities of a quality hotel.



The pool is not huge, but it was lovely and well kept. The staff was

wonderful, and room service was timely and delicious. The pub

downstairs and the brunch are great also. Would I choose this hotel

again? YOU BET!

SIDE NOTE: Edinburgh at Xmas time is wonderful. Cold! But wonderful

with lots of things to do and see. The put up an Ice skating rink on

Princes Street.

My wife and I took a short break to Edinburgh from Newcastle hoping for a relaxing time away unfortunately, when we returned to our hotel, the Caledonian Hilton, Edinburgh, after a night out we were confronted with the absolutely worst bed we have ever slept in at a hotel of any star rating or price. It was obviously old, lumpy, the springs could be felt digging into your back, and it sank towards the middle. To the Hotel's credit, the clerk at the front desk assured us that if we had complained the evening before they would have switchedd the mattress (they are supposedly in the process of doing this throughout the hotel). But as a HiltonHHonors member, I would have imaginedd that we would have been given a room with a decent bed right off, since we weren't, we imagined that all the beds must be awful. All that said, the Hotel is grand and beautiful, not to mention perfectly located within easy walking distance to both the New and Old Town, as well as to the Station. The pool/spa is also quite nice. We would even return if we could be certain to get a bed equal to the Hotel and the cost of lodging.

Be careful before you spend a lot of money on a five-star hotel at Edinburgh Festival time. On my first night I ran out of milk for my coffee. Rang Housekeeping - nobody there, got put through to front desk. Rang three times from 7pm to 10pm requesting milk. In the end I gave up and got some from the supermarket. In the 2003 August heatwave, there was no air conditioning - the window had to stay open, which with Military Tatoo rehearsals across the road, made for some sleepless, noisy nights. I checked into this because it was a Hilton (service!) and because of the pool - but even that was tiny: three swimmers made it seem crowded. Please do your research before booking Edinburgh Caledonian Hilton!

This is probably one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in. First, the location is perfect, you are right on Princes St with all of the shops and only a 15 minute walk up to Edinburgh Castle. The Caledonian Hilton is elegant, rooms are huge and so are the bathrooms. The service from when you walk in the door until you depart is impeccable. The restaurant is very fancy and expensive but also elegant. There are 2 pubs attached that are a fun change. I highly recommend this hotel and would not stay elsewhere in Edinburgh.

We had a great stay in Edinburgh, Scotland. The accommodations where great and the ambiance was wonderful. Wonderful staff that went out of their way to do everything they could to make our stay as comfortable and charming as possible.

We stayed for a couple of nights the room was large and airy, service was great and the haggis for breakfast a must! I will be returning for more afternoon tea :) ...