Edinburgh First at the University Hotel

I have just returned from a three night stay at this hotel and am pretty happy. First off, this is budget accommodation, so don't expect anything fancy. The main purpose for these rooms is as lodgings for university students, and so they are basic. You get a bed, a desk, a wardrobe, a chair. The rooms are not big but there is enough room to serve their purpose - how much time do you spend in your room when on holiday anyway? The bed was not the most comfortable I have ever slept in but it was fine and would not put me off from going... more

For a convenient location, clean and neat rooms, University First provides a reasonable place to stay. The staff at the front desk are excellent, friendly and helpful. Most of Edinburgh is within walking distance,but the bus service from out the front is first class and there are plenty of good food and drink outlets very close by.

I stayed at the university several years ago and had memories of it being quite a nice place to stay. So, when I was planning my recent trip to Edinburgh, I didn't even look at any other places to stay. The residence halls have changed quite a bit since my last visit... either that, or there is a HUGE difference in the buildings, as I was in a different building this time. The good: The staff at check-in was efficient. It took less than 3 minutes to complete check-in. I was given a map of the university and of the city.... more

I just spent a weekend in Edinburgh and stayed one night at Edinburgh First over the weekend. As far as budget accommodation goes, this is quite good. Edinburgh First is the commercial arm of the University of Edinburgh who hire out the university dormitories during the holidays when the students are away. I have stayed in a number of budget accommodation / hostel in the past and overall I have to say that this is one of the better ones. There is room for improvement however. Good points - very clean and modern facilities -... more

Stayed for two nights only (thankfully!). The staff couldn't find our booking, the room was absolutely tiny and extremely overpriced. If you can find a B&B I would highly recommend it as this place is not worth the money. The only plus was the breakfast - choice and quality. Shame the room didn't match!

I can confirm what's been stated here before....the facility is clean, the staff is very friendly and helpful, and the breakfasts are really good. I was looking for a good value so I could save my money for expensive greens fees in Scotland. Since I was traveling alone, I got a single room and chose the rooms WITHOUT bathrooms to save even more. (The bathrooms are down the hall, anyway.) The result? My room cost a mere $30 (about 15 pounds) per night for six nights. Now the thing to keep in mind is this: We're talking about a university... more

My husband and I just got back from 3 nights at the University of Edinburgh and we had a great time! The rooms were kept very clean and very nice! The room we had was twin beds (it cost more for a double room) with an en suite bathroom and a terrace. The room came with coffee and tea and lots of towels and a bath mat. The beds were very comfortable and there was extra sheets in the room in case you got cold. The front staff were excellent and helped us with all of our questions on directions and taxi's and bus routes and what to do... more

I stayed here the week of the Open Championship at St. Andrews, when room rates across the area at normal hotels were too absurd for me to consider. So, I stayed here and if you accept it for what it is, it's actually quite good. What it is, of course, is the University of Edinburgh dorms cleaned up and given daily maid service. The staff was very polite and helpful. I wanted to play some golf when I got in and they were able to help me find a place nearby. I was on the tee an hour after I checked in. The amenities are few. My room had... more

First of all, before you make a booking here be aware its pretty much non-refundable. I booked through late rooms for two weeks stay, and had I known that three weeks cancellation notice are required once your booking begins, I would have made my initial booking in two parts rather than all at once, because you only need 24 hours notice to cancel the booking before you arrive, but once you get there its a different matter.... I ended up paying £90 a night because I had to cut short my stay. I havent stayed in a single guest house that has... more

My husband and I had a difficult time finding rooms in Edinburgh, so we decided to stay at the University as part of the Edinburgh First program. We were put up in Masson House on campus. The rooms were VERY affordable, and well-managed. Even though they're pretty average dorm rooms, there are ensuite bathrooms (the showers have no stalls...just curtains, but how many dorm rooms do you know of that have bathrooms at all?) Breakfast was included in the price of the room, and was great! A full, hot, buffet-style breakfast is hard to... more