This place is a great spot if it fits the bill, and this of course depends on what you are looking for.
Groups of 6 and more…yes….2 friends or 2 couples who want to enjoy the city AND some top quality time in the apartment…maybe not.
My friend and I were looking for a centrally located place, higher standard, with two double beds and two full baths, which would also accommodate my two small, very well behaved dogs. Thank you Blair for the latter!
Check In was easy. Shirin was there to meet us in person and show us around, which was really nice, in particular as we were a bit late since everybody wanted to drive over the new Queensferry Crossing bridge that weekend ;-)
To be fair, this was my first trip ever to Edinburgh, so I don’t know how other places compare to this listing, but overall Blair’s place was a little disappointing and we felt that the term “luxury” was stretched here, as well as “recently” renovated. I do understand it’s hard to keep the place tiptop in shape when people are moving in and out constantly, but from the descriptions and photos we expected a bit more.
Yes, this place is spacious, it has four rooms, but…there is only one real double bed, in the master bedroom, the other one is a converted sofa bed, it’s very low to the ground and has a very soft mattress.
Both the dinner/pool room and the second bedroom had a total of five single beds squeezed in, with no bedding, which gave the rooms a crowded, cramped and unwelcome feeling. So we ended up using the living room the most, even our meals.
We could tell a larger group had just left in the morning. Welcome drinks consisted of 8 cans of Irn Bru, one toilet seat was broken and heating was turned off…
Superficially the place appeared clean, baths were fine, but upon closer look the kitchen was not, there is no window and the air hood works not too well, so there is quite some grease and sticky surfaces everywhere, also in the cupboards. I like to do some cooking while traveling with airbnb, so I ended up cleaning the kitchen and utensils quite a bit. For the substantial cleaning fee Blair is charging I found the kitchen to be barely acceptable.
Anything written about the location is spot on, super close to all. We walked everywhere after we parked my car for 2 days at the Riego Street Prince Exchange Car Park, only five minutes away and 15 pounds for 24 hours, which I actually found very reasonable.
Dinner at Shebeen almost right next door was amazing, the mixed grill dish very yummy. Byron burgers were really good too.
Communication with Shirin was awesome, she responded within minutes.
Overall: Honestly, I don’t think I would stay here again, and rather explore another listing closer to the castle.