Choosing accommodation in Edinburgh can be a daunting task.
Edlets.com would like to give you a few insider tips to help you choose the right Edinburgh apartment or room for you.
Book early - The best and lower priced accommodation gets booked up early, if you decide to book late you may get a last minute bargain but it's risky.
Book with an agent in Edinburgh - It's a good idea to book with a company that has a local office, if something goes wrong during your stay it's good to have someone who will pick up the phone.
Phone first - Call an owner or the company before you book as it will show you what would happen should you need to call them during your stay.
Advance payment - It's normal to pay for your accommodation in Edinburgh in advance.
Lifts - Most Edinburgh apartments don't have lifts as many are old and were not built with lifts.
Check what's included - Most apartments in Edinburgh will come with towels and bed linen but it's worth checking. Not all apartments will provide soap, shampoo etc so check first as you may need to bring your own. Some apartments will have welcome pack's, wine or milk in the fridge, salt and pepper and coffee and tea. Read descriptions carefully and ask questions.
Parking - Parking in Edinburgh can be hard to find and expensive, the centre is mainly period buildings without space for parking, a lot of residents parking spaces and expensive meters, the traffic wardens are also very good at their jobs so we would advise leaving the car behind if you can. If you need to bring the car then you will find most of the new build apartments will have parking, they are usually in the east and west end. You can also leave your car on a free street at the end of the controlled zone or use the park and ride.
Read reviews - Do a company search on trustpilot before booking your accommodation, you will find reviews on companies and it can be very revealing, trustpilots reviews are from verified customers.
Air-conditioning - Accommodation in Edinburgh does not usually have air-conditioning as it's not usually hot enough to need it.
The area - Areas like the Edinburgh Old town is close to most of the tourist attractions and full of character but can be noisy and the rooms are often small, the Edinburgh New town is also close to the attractions and beautiful and the rooms often have high ceilings and tend to be larger, it's worth finding out the pro's and cons of each area. Read our Edinburgh area guide for more info.
Check what's nearby - Use streetview to check out the local area, being above a noisy pub might not suit all!
Deposits - Check if you need to pay a damages deposit as in most cases you will, this is usually due in advance so make sure you have the funds available before you book.
Negotiate - It's always worth negotiating, we notice that many guests that use the edlets messaging system who ask for a discount will get a discount, it's worth a try!
Decide on a budget - If you know your budget before you search it's easier to find the right accommodation and if you are looking for group accommodation knowing your budget beforehand will save a lot of time.
Check price is all inclusive - Many websites will display the price without including their booking fee, this can be frustrating as it takes time to find the right apartment only to find that when you go to book a large fee has been added on top!
Beware of scammers - Call first, scammers don't usually answer the phone. Don't always trust large companies, unfortunately many guests have been scammed through VRBO, airbnb, tripadvisor and gumtree. Use a local company with an office in Edinburgh and a good reputation on trustpilot, check they have a company registration number or VAT number in the UK.
