Edinburgh Capital Hotel

Stayed here for 3 nights mid October 2005 booking through a discount house. The hotel has been upgraded in the reception and dining area since we stayed there previously. On our earlier visists it was a Moat House property - now Best Western. Breakfast was OK with hot buffet - most things hot except eggs and beans. People wanting a decent cold buffet particulalrly fruit would have been disappointed at the selection. Biggest problem we had was with our room - it had a most unpleasant smell. We should have asked to be moved but didn't and regretted that later. On second last night discovered a bed bug in our bed - disgusting. Thought this was a one off but worse was to come. When we got home another one fell off some clothing we were unpacking. These things are full of blood and absolutely disgusting. Have written to hotel suggesting room is put out of use and fumigated before letting anyone else use it. Yet to get a reply. Also great problems with creaking flooring in the room and adjacent rooms and corridor. Other areas might be OK but if you check in and are offered Room 205 or an adjacent room ask to be moved unless they decide to fumigate it. Despite having stayed here several times before I can't imagine we will be going back!

Stayed at this hotel for one night in july 2004, and was glad it was just the one night! in reception the setees looked worn and dated, not the best first impression. Our room was very dated, definately needed modernising. Didnt have a very good sleep in this hotel, the walls are paper thin could hear next doors tv late at night. With the creaky floorboards we could hear every movement of the guest upstairs from us! the room was relatively clean, although there was a rather large dead moth lying on the ground next to our bed which looked like it had been there for a little while! We left the hotel quite early without breakfast. Although there were negative points regarding this hotel, the staff were very friendly, informative and polite.

GREAT VIEW FROM THE HOTEL I spent 2 nights and 3 days at this lovely hotel. I personally found the receptionist Ms. Cassandra very helpful as she provided me with the most updated information on everything about Sterling Castle, Edinburgh City, & Invernes. The parking facilities are brilliant but I would still recommend you to reserve yourself a parking spot before coming. The room was in perfect shape and smelt fresh too even though it being a smoking room The gym and swimming pool staff and area was good. They are a very clean hotel which is very successful in keeping standards for a 3 star. The restaurant was well organised and the breakfast was one not to miss. Extremely filling and appertising. The hotel was about a 10 minute ride from the city centre. If you need anymore info about my experience with them then please feel free to contact me on ----- . I enjoyed my stay and am very sure you will do so too.

Went for a romantic weekend with my husband. Rooms were nice and clean, bed was comfy and room temerature was really nice. Nice pool and sauna on site but no jacuzzi (as advertised). Only complaint would be that the hotel is a bit far outside the city centre - £12 taxi fare. The good thing is that the bus stop is just outside it and costs £1 to get in and out of the city. £2 after midnight and the buses run right throught the night. The bus you need is number 26 which comes about every 15 minutes or so.

We spent 2 weeks in the UK, and for our Edinburgh leg, chose this hotel. Our first night was fabulous. Our room was waiting when we arrived, clean and the view couldn't be better (we could see the Fourth on Firth bridge from our windows). The bathroom was large, and there was plenty of closet & drawer space. The hotel guide clearly spelled out telephone charges even. We settled in. It was the 2nd night we encountered trouble, and it was isolated to the food staff. Initially, we had been out all day on a tour of Stirling castle, returning about 8pm. We thought we'd stop by the hotel to try the Haggis (and we do recommend it believe it or not). But we walked in to find there were 3 staff waiters, a restaurant only 1/3rd full, and were told we were required to have Reservations (?? no one told us this, and really, when a restaurant is 1/3rd full at 8pm, I have to suspect it is not due to popularity, but too few staff). We were told to go to the bar, which had a take away line a mile long (not to mention I thought it inconvenience to expect the bar customers to be crowded by us). They were in no hurry (conversing casually way beyond the norm, and no one acknowledged us) and after 30 mins, decided to order room service. That was no better. No one answered the phone, and my husband finally gave his order to the front desk. We got our food over an hour later (it's almost 10pm now) and there was no soup spoon for my tomato soup, and no ketchup for the chips (french fries) and they did not include our ordered beverages. No comdiments for the burger either. We called and no one came after 30 mins, and my husband was very sweet to go down to the bar to get our missing items. No one ever came by either, and no one called to check on us. When they gave him condiments, they still did not include ketchup, which I discovered the next morning was very much available (don't confuse the local "brown sauce", which is like our Heinz 57 sauce with Ketchup - they have and are used to giving both). Other notes: the shower curtain was very short and water literally filled the floor of the bathroom unless you took a sitting bath (which was comical since they had signs in the bathroom asking you to conserve towels). Also check your phone call log. Any attempt to make a phone call will incur a charge. We made 3 failed attempts to call a US number and were never connected. We had charges for all 3. The great thing is if you point it out to the consciencious front desk staff, they will kindly credit your bill without any fuss. But I have encountered this in many hotels overseas, so I was not surprised at this really. The floors are creaky as others have suggested, and we are heavy sleepers, so it was no problem for us (but hopefully it was no problems from our neighbors below!). We truely enjoyed trying the local in town food, and so we would return there, just keeping in mind we probably don't want to order room service, and to be danged sure we make a reservation before we leave out each day if we do eat there :-)

Based on a four-night stay, 12-15 Jul 2004: the hotel looks nice, is very clean, and the staff is very friendly. Other plusses include a convenient west side location close to major thoroughfares, plentiful free parking and very reasonable rates. Within a half-mile is a nice supermarket, some eat-in restaurants and a real nice takeaway. Some definite problems though, especially if you get stuck in the Rooms 80-85 wing (ours was Room 82): paper-thin walls allow normal-volume conversations from adjacent guestrooms to come blasting through; the wooden floors, in spite of carpeting, creak badly so you're apt to hear fellow guests coming and going at all hours. If you're a heavy sleeper, you'll do fine; if not... Also, very odd shower setup in the tub--the faucet's inability to properly mix cold & hot water will make your shower experience quite interesting.

I had a very nice stay at this hotel. Room was clean and service was wonderful. I was with a tour group and was very nervous about my trip. Food in restaurant was very nice and hotel sevice was excellent. Would and hope to stay there again!! Thanks! Please email me if you have any questions about this hotel-SaraM1976 @aol.com