"This was a special treat for my mum’s 80th birthday, because of the time of year and of other events on at the same time (fringe, Bon Jovi) so we paid £800 room for two nights to attend the nearby tattoo.
The location is good (it’s what you pay for here) right on the Royal Mile and Old Town, with plenty of buses and a Sainsbury’s just outside. However, the street outside was unkempt, dirty and full of rubbish. It looks nothing like the professional exterior photos
The staff were welcoming and friendly, but the public areas of the hotel were old, scruffy, dirty and in desperate need of refurbishment. Just like the rooms…..
The rooms were tiny and our first room had 3 , with panel curtains which didn’t reach and no convenient plug sockets. There was an extension lead, but it still didn’t reach the bedside.
The bathroom was a strange self-contained cabin-like space with a step-up entrance (tripped up more than once - quite dangerous actually) and no bathmat (you can ask for one but why not provide in the first place?) which caused leaks everywhere. The first room we had there was a stench of cigarette smoke from people smoking next door. Not pleasant
Breakfast was like a school canteen, low quality and not enjoyable. Long queue for coffee and generally like a bun fight.
We had rooms 533 (at the back) and 524 (on the front) , both are only 1 level up from the street.
On the first night, we managed to only get to sleep an around 5am the next day (24hrs after we left home) Unfortunately, we were RIGHT ABOVE a nightclub called Mash House and the noise was off the scale. The rooms in the back of the hotel would all suffer from this problem, as they were situated around a courtyard and the noise bounced off.
There’s another club nearby and the street next door - Blair St- also has some - totally surrounded.
I physically went to reception at 2am in my pyjamas (not able to reach them any other way) to be told that the noise ‘would stop soon’ and that I could use earplugs…..I’m Not stupid- They clearly know all about the issue.
The next morning, I asked to see the manager who arranged for us to move rooms to the front of the hotel , to room 524. However, despite this being a nicer room more nightclub noise could still be heard. We received a partial refund of the first night’s stay but only because I argued for it.
Seriously, Ibis, get your acoustics right. You’re offering a place for people to sleep!!!!!!
The price point of £800 for two nights was a TOTAL RIP OFF Yes, it’s a busy time and it’s the fringe festival, but seriously. We chose this hotel purely for convenience for the tattoo, as my elderly mum can’t walk too far. I should have paid more attention to the reviews. I guess the hotel hides all bad reviews
Also, a note on Edinburgh in general: it’s incredibly busy and massively overcrowded in August. So if you’re travelling with older people, or a pushchair bear this in mind. It’s not pleasant.
I would not recommend anyone stay here and I won’t be staying in another Ibis based on my experience here"
