Edinburgh has a wide range of accommodations to choose from, depending on your tastes and your budget. Princes Street is home to two very grand hotels, the Balmoral and the Caledonian. The converted Georgian townhouses in the quieter streets of New Town have a class and elegance all their own. The Townhouse Group runs four luxury hotels in the New Town. They are all housed in charming townhouses.
There are a handful of fashionable boutique hotels in the center around George Street.
Bed-and-breakfasts can range from inexpensive and cheerful to stylishly impressive. There are choices all over the city, but particularly dense areas include Haymarket, Newington, Leith Links and Bruntsfield. Self-catering apartments are also available and can be inexpensive alternatives for families.
It's wise to make reservations if you're planning to visit during summer, and reservations are essential during the Edinburgh Festival, when hotels are fully booked well in advance. Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) is another time when visitors flock to Edinburgh, which makes finding a hotel room somewhat difficult. Travelers in off-peak seasons may stumble onto a bargain: Hotels are more than willing to supply a room at well below the published price during slow times.
