Stay at the Radisson Blu Hotel
How Good Is This Contemporary Luxury Hotel in Edinburgh?
Are you considering a stay at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Edinburgh? The Radisson Blu is a tempting choice as it's a contemporary and stylish hotel with parking right in the city centre. Boasting a leisure club with swimming pool, sauna and gym, as well as a wide range of spa treatments, this hotel is perfectly located to explore the attractions of Edinburgh. But is this a better option than other 4-star hotels in Edinburgh and will it live up to your expectations?
I've read hundreds of reviews from guests who have stayed at the Radisson Blu 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 Radisson Blu Hotel?
- The guest rooms are spacious and contemporary, with all the facilities necessary for a comfortable stay.
- Unusually for such a centrally located hotel, the Radisson Blue offers reasonably-priced on-site parking.
- There is a leisure club with a pool, well-equipped gym and saunas and the hotel offers a wide selection of beauty and aromatherapy treatments.
- Location: The hotel is situated right on the Royal Mile, perfect for exploring central Edinburgh.
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What do guests really think?
The majority of guests would return to the Radisson Blu and/or recommend it to others; however there were also some guests who were not so happy with their stay.
- Many felt that its central location was the hotels greatest asset as it is so close to the shops, restaurants and sights of Edinburgh.
- They liked the fact that parking was available at a relatively reasonable price.
- Some thought that the Radisson Blu felt more like a business hotel than one suitable for leisure guests.
- Whilst many thought that the leisure facilities were an added bonus in a city centre hotel, many thought that the 10m pool was too small.
- Several reviewers also said that the pool and sauna area were dirty, badly-maintained and badly needed updating.
My Recommendation
The majority of guests would return to the hotel or recommend it to others. There are some issues of cleanliness and maintenance which would make me hesitate to give it an outright recommendation, but the Radisson Blu could be a very good choice for those wanting to stay in the heart of the city centre, especially those who like cool, contemporary hotels.
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In Depth Review of the Radisson Blu Hotel in Edinburgh
Cool, Contemporary hotel. Located on the Royal Mile, in the Old Town.
Average room price per night: £79-£206 ($124-$324)
What is the Radisson Blu Hotel like?
It is an imposing and elegant turreted sandstone building right on the Royal Mile, part of the Radisson Blu chain of hotels, which reflects the contemporary and clean design of the Scandinavian style. Although the exterior of the building looks extremely old it was in fact built as recently as 1990 and the facilities are extremely modern. It is believed that the most recent refurbishment was in 2004 when the hotel was bought by Radisson Blu.
Building and room design
- There are 238 guest rooms, decorated in a fresh and contemporary style, with dark wood furniture.
- The business class rooms also include a Nespresso coffee machine and complimentary breakfast, some with views of Arthur's Seat and the Royal Mile.
- Most guests said that their room was modern, spacious and comfortable, with good facilities, although several did think that the rooms were now in need of updating.
- Many guests said that the rooms were too dark with not enough lighting.
- Several reviewers appreciated the fact that there is free Wi-Fi.
- Some said that the common areas were too clinical with little atmosphere.
- Several guests reported poor cleaning in the guest rooms, with many examples of items left in the rooms by previous guests or dirty grout in the bathrooms.
- There were also several reports of stained sheets, valances and carpets and dirty sheets or towels.
- Some of the doubles are two single beds pushed together which some guests were not happy with.
- A few guests agreed that some of the guest rooms at the front of the hotel were extremely noisy, although they are double or triple glazed.
Staff and level of service
- The majority of guests agreed that the staff were friendly, professional and very willing to help.
- Several guests complained that check-in was very slow and that the receptionists were not very efficient.
- A few guests, though, did mention that the hotel had made every effort to check them in before the official time.
Food and drink
- There is a restaurant which serves breakfast and dinner, although there were not sufficient reviews to be able to form an opinion on the quality of food and level of service.
- There is also a tapas style informal eating place, Itchycoo Park, and many guests loved the innovative tapas menu, although some found it too expensive.
- Many guests said that the breakfast was extremely expensive when there were better and much cheaper alternatives right in the vicinity of the hotel.
- Those who did take breakfast, though, said that it was good quality with a wide choice, although some complained that the service was very disorganised.
- There is also a bar at the hotel which many guests said was extremely cold, with no atmosphere.
Location and parking
- The Radisson Blu is located on the Royal Mile so it is very convenient for the shops, restaurants and attractions of central Edinburgh.
- Waverley Stations is just a 5-minute walk away.
- There is on-site parking which costs approximately half that of an NCP car park and which many guests felt was a great advantage of the hotel.
- Guests are not guaranteed a space as it is limited however there do not seem to be any problems with guests being turned away.
Nice touches
- Free of charge Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.
- There are two computers in reception which are free for guests to use.
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