Alan's apartment is located in a really nice neighborhood which is very convenient to the Haymarket Station. We were at an event at the international conference center and it was an easy 15 minute walk there and not too much further to the base of the castle and the grass market. There is a nice grocery store nearby and bus stops everywhere. Troy is a great little restaurant and we definitely recommend Shebeen - a South African restaurant right up the street. The apartment itself is clean and cozy and feels like a home away from home. We never met Alan, but he is very responsive by email and even mailed the keys to us in the US before our trip. We definitely recommend this interesting and comfortable location in Edinburgh.