Stay at the Apex International Hotel

How Good Is This Modern, Family Hotel in Edinburgh?

Are you considering a stay at the Apex International Hotel in Edinburgh? You will not be alone as it's a stylish and modern hotel in one of the liveliest areas of Edinburgh Old Town, the Grassmarket. It is perfectly located for nightlife and tourist attractions and offers the Yu-Time leisure suite complete with a swimming pool and Technogym. But is it better than other 4-star hotels in the city centre and is it good value for money?

I've read hundreds of reviews from guests who have stayed at the Apex International over the years and the following is a clear and unbiased summary of what these guests really thought of their stay at this hotel.

What's special about the Apex International Hotel?

• Special focus on child-friendly facilities and amenities, and children stay and eat for free.
• Award-winning Heights restaurant offers fabulous views of Edinburgh and high-quality contemporary Scottish food.
• Leisure facilities include a swimming pool, as well as a sauna, solarium and Technogym which are all free for guests to use.
• Location: Located in the vibrant Grassmarket area of the Old Town, it is perfectly located for the bars and clubs of Edinburgh and enjoys stunning views of Edinburgh Castle.

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What do guests really think?

There were many extremely positive reviews which suggest that the majority of the guests are very happy with their stay at the Apex International. However, there were also many criticisms of the hotel.

• Many reviewers felt that the hotel is ideally situated in the lively Grassmarket area. However, as the hotel is located right in the heart of the pub and club area, many guests complained about the high levels of noise.
• A large number of guests felt that the hotel looked tired and dated and that it was in urgent need of refurbishment.
• Guests travelling with children appreciated how the hotel focuses on kids, with many extra 'nice touches' such as welcome backpacks, DVD players in the rooms and family rooms with two double beds.
• Some guests criticized the lack of attention to detail and response to customer complaints.

My Recommendation

Although the Apex International Hotel has some negative reviews, the current refurbishment programme will resolve many of the issues highlighted by reviewers. If you prefer a traditional hotel in quiet surroundings, then I would not recommend this hotel as a first choice.

However, if you are looking for a modern hotel with leisure facilities in the heart of one of the liveliest areas of Edinburgh, then the Apex International would be a good recommendation.

This is also a family-friendly hotel which goes the extra mile to cater for children and I would certainly recommend it to those travelling to Edinburgh with kids.

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Stay at the Apex International Hotel in Edinburgh

Contemporary family-friendly hotel. Located in the lively Grassmarket near the Royal Mile.
Average room price per night: £78-£186 ($122-$292)

What is the Apex International Hotel like?

The Apex International hotel is part of the Apex Group of hotels, and aims to offer modern, comfortable and consistently good accommodation in Edinburgh at a reasonable price. The reviews suggest that they are succeeding on the whole, although there are some areas where it's falling short. However, one aspect most often criticised in the reviews, the maintenance and upkeep of the hotel, is being addressed, and the Apex International is currently undergoing refurbishment.

Apex International Hotel vs Apex City Hotel in Grassmarket

The sister hotel of the Apex International, the Apex City, is located less than a hundred metres away, also in the Grassmarket. The Apex International is larger and offers more facilities but the reviews for the Apex City are consistently better than for the Apex International. However, the Apex International does seem to be a better choice for families travelling with children.

Building and room design

• The Apex International has 171 rooms in total, all non-smoking. Many family rooms have two double beds, which was appreciated by reviewers travelling with children.
• The deluxe rooms have a balcony where guests can enjoy stunning views of the castle. Several guests felt that it was worth paying the extra money to upgrade.
• However, the castle view rooms face the street and many guests complained about being woken up by the outside noise in the early hours of the morning.
• Although some reviewers were very happy with the maintenance and condition of the rooms, there were many who felt that they were in need of refurbishment.
• Many guests reported that the rooms are unbearably hot at night due to the lack of air-conditioning.
• Many guests also reported a lack of attention to detail in the rooms, with missing light-bulbs and broken windows as examples. Many problems were left unfixed even after guests had complained.
• Some guests also felt that the rooms were not cleaned properly, and toilet paper and bathroom toiletries were often not replaced.
• Free Wi-Fi is provided in the rooms, although some reviewers found that it was very unreliable in certain parts of the hotel.

Staff and level of service

• On the whole guests were happy with the level of service and found the staff to be friendly and efficient.
• However some guests felt let down by the lack of action in response to their complaints, or the unfriendly attitude of certain staff.
• A few guests said that they would have expected assistance to carry their luggage up the stairs into the hotel.
• There were several criticisms on the service at breakfast, with comments that it was disorganised and chaotic. Many people also reported problems such as wrong orders and missing crockery.

Food and drink

• The Heights restaurant, which serves modern Scottish dishes, has 2 AA Rosettes, and is located on the rooftop of the Apex International, enjoying incredible views over Edinburgh Castle.
• The Metro is a modern bar and brasserie with a more relaxed atmosphere. The comments from guests who had eaten here were very complimentary on both the quality of food and the level of service.
• Children eat for free in the restaurants, which was appreciated by guests travelling with families.
• Guests had mixed opinions on breakfast however the majority were happy with the quality and choice of good. Guests can either choose a buffet or a freshly cooked breakfast, which was considered on the whole to be of excellent quality.

Location and parking

• The Apex International Hotel is located in the Grassmarket area, which makes it extremely convenient for those who are in Edinburgh to enjoy the nightlife of the city or the attractions of the Old Town. It is within 500 metres of the Royal Mile and Princes Street and a 10-minute walk from Edinburgh Castle.
• Although it is located within a 10-minute walk of Waverley Station, some guests recommended taking a taxi as the area is quite hilly.
• There is a shuttle bus from the airport which is reasonably priced and goes directly to the hotel.
• There is some parking available at the hotel however some guests were unable to use this facility due to the limited capacity. There is an NCP car park nearby, however.

Nice touches

• A complementary rubber Apex bath duck to take away.
• There are many nice touches for children such as a DVD in the room, and a welcome backpack of crayons and colouring book.
• There is also a Nintendo Wii and two computers at reception which are free for guests to use.

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