I stayed at the Edinburgh West End Travelodge for 2 nights, 22 – 24 June 2009. I paid £9 per room per night for a family room, booked 5 months in advance during a £9 Sale. Travelodge bought this former four star hotel a couple of years ago and have carried out a massive refurbishment, turning the function rooms into bedrooms. There is a cafe/bar which serves breakfast and evening meals.

Edinburgh West End Travelodge is located at Belford Bridge, close to the Dean Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art. The hotel is right on the Water of Leith Walkway so you can be on the tranquil footpath within a minute of leaving the hotel reception. It takes around 10 minutes to walk to Haymarket rail station or Princes Street. The hotel has a free (at the moment) car park but I heard they are going to start charging. It can be hard to find a parking space when the hotel is busy.  Update 8 December 2010: Parking is now charged at £3 for 24 hours.

I stayed in Room 522, featured in the video. I loved this room as it had views over the Water of Leith and Dean Bridge, yet was far enough away from the road so that traffic didn’t disturb me. My room still had the 4 star fittings, much grander than the usual Travelodge minimalist approach. Many other rooms have been redone in the usual Travelodge style.

I’d rate the Edinburgh West End Travelodge very highly, mainly due to its location and low price, if you can find a room at the £29, £19 Saver rate. You have to be realistic, you’ll only get the cheap rate if you book in advance, avoiding weekends and peak season. However it’s always worth checking out the price at the Edinburgh West End Travelodge for your stay in Edinburgh and doing a search on the HotelsCombined metasearch for your dates to compare rates available at similar hotels in Edinburgh.