Choosing the Apex International Hotel in Edinburgh to be our base of operations during a recent trip to Scotland proved to be an excellent decision. The hotel is ideally located in an area called Grassmarket. It is within easy walking distance to many of the city’s main attractions and there are a number of very good restaurants and traditional pubs immediately across the road from the hotel’s entrance.
The hotel is less than a ten minute walk to the Royal Mile which is the name given to a succession of streets forming the main artery of the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh and runs between the Edinburgh Castle and the Holyrood Palace. The buildings that line the Royal Mile are old charming structures jam-packed with souvenir and Scottish clan tartan shops, restaurants, pubs and various other fascinating shops.
The building that comprises the Apex International Hotel is much more contemporary in style than the majority of buildings in the Grassmarket neighborhood. Grassmarket is an historic square in the Old Town section of the city located just below the Edinburgh Castle. The exterior of the hotel lacks the old world charm of the surrounding neighborhood but the rooms and the amenities more than make up for this minor shortcoming.
The hotel is less than a ten minute walk to the Royal Mile which is the name given to a succession of streets forming the main artery of the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh and runs between the Edinburgh Castle and the Holyrood Palace. The buildings that line the Royal Mile are old charming structures jam-packed with souvenir and Scottish clan tartan shops, restaurants, pubs and various other fascinating shops.
The building that comprises the Apex International Hotel is much more contemporary in style than the majority of buildings in the Grassmarket neighborhood. Grassmarket is an historic square in the Old Town section of the city located just below the Edinburgh Castle. The exterior of the hotel lacks the old world charm of the surrounding neighborhood but the rooms and the amenities more than make up for this minor shortcoming.
We stayed in a deluxe double room with a king bed. The reason that we selected this category of room is that the hotel advertised these rooms as being their largest and having a fantastic view of the castle and we were not disappointed. Not only did we have an incredible view of the castle but we also had a balcony. However seeing that it was November, and cold, we did not venture out onto the balcony except to take some phenomenal pictures of the castle and the Grassmarket square.
The room was well maintained and very clean and the bed was a true king bed with an exceptionally comfortable mattress. It also had a soaking tub and a separate shower. The one thing that the room was deficient in was the lack of storage space but this was not to the point of being a distraction.
The room was well maintained and very clean and the bed was a true king bed with an exceptionally comfortable mattress. It also had a soaking tub and a separate shower. The one thing that the room was deficient in was the lack of storage space but this was not to the point of being a distraction.
The room package that we purchased included a daily full breakfast. You have the option of ordering from the menu which includes omelets, a full Scottish breaking comprised of an egg, cooked to your specifications, ham, sausage, haggis, baked beans, potato scone, grilled tomato, toast and a selection of juices, milk, etc. or you may visit the buffet bar.
Even though the breakfast at the hotel was very good I would recommend that you be more flexible and check out some other options consisting of restaurants and pubs in the area that also serve some very good food for breakfast. However, having breakfast at the hotel offers a bonus not offered at most other restaurants which is a stunning view of the Edinburgh Castle.
One awkward aspect of the hotel is that there are a number of stairs that are encountered between the hotel entrance and the registration desk and lobby area. In the event that you are hauling luggage at the time of check-in or check-out this can be cumbersome. On the positive side there is a taxi stand less than 200 feet from the hotel’s entrance which is really convenient.
Our overall experience with the hotel was very gratifying and I highly recommend it.
Our overall experience with the hotel was very gratifying and I highly recommend it.
