Great Places to Stay
- Scottish Apartment.com, Edinburgh
The Alternative to Edinburgh Hotels
When visiting Edinburgh for leisure, pleasure or business, why not rent a self catering apartment? Just as you might rent a villa in Crete or the Algarve, opt out of formal hotel living and enjoy a casual home-from-home experience: eat in, dine out, chill out in your own private city pied a terre. It makes such economic sense especially if you wish to stay for a week or two.
Scottish Apartment.com is an innovative travel company providing an eclectic, exciting choice of luxury, standard and budget graded serviced flats around Edinburgh, from historic Old Town properties near the Castle to contemporary 5 star Penthouses at Newhaven Harbour with sea views over the Firth of Forth. The Apartments guest list covers couples, groups of friends, families and corporate travellers for short and long term visits, with studios and spacious apartments to accommodate one to six guests. Every apartment is individually designed and furnished so make sure you ask about location and facilities to suit you and your fellow guests.
The Apartment Experience
I experienced a fabulous stay in a rather elegant 3 bedroom apartment near Charlotte Square at the West End. I could have stayed for a week, I felt so at home.Within a classic Georgian setting, the furnishings are smart and contemporary - brown leather sofas, glass coffee table, lamps, artwork, coal effect fire, Cable TV/DVD, a lavish kitchen/dining room well equipped with all utensils, saucepans and wine glasses you would need for a dinner party (including dishwasher). Towels, linen, bathroom toiletries, iron, hair dryer are all provided. The master bedroom had a king size sleigh bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers, one bedroom has an ensuite shower-room and there's a large family sized bathroom too.
A complimentary extra when staying at the Charlotte Square apartments is a day pass to One Spa at the Sheraton Grand nearby, renowned as one of the best Urban Spa/ Leisure clubs in Europe and featuring an outdoor thallasotherapy pool. This was a fabulous afternoon of exercise and pampering. And there was another special treat to follow. ….
Dining In
Not wanting to bother buying food and cooking ourselves, the concierge had arranged for Amber Bowe, a professional personal chef to come to the apartment that evening to prepare an intimate dinner a deux! This was the celebrity life. We relaxed in the lounge sipping a glass or two of wine, while she prepared and then served a fabulous three course feast, featuring a thick creamy Butternut squash and coconut soup, garlic bread, Oriental-style spicy Salmon with mussels and clams, and Whisky & hazelnut chocolate pot. Amber offers a choice of menus - she can prepare food in advance and leave you to dine in privacy - and particularly enjoys creating canapés for a cocktail party or corporate event.
A standard (poor quality) breakfast pack (cereal, long life milk, tea, coffee) is supplied but I would advise you to go grocery shopping when you arrive to stock up on milk, bread, eggs, cheese etc, or pre-order a gourmet breakfast featuring fruit juice, smoothies, eggs, bacon, croissants, even smoked salmon and champagne if desired.
Personal Service
Scottish Apartment.com is managed and run by a young, international team who will assist you create your personal, tailor-made package for your stay in Edinburgh. Just like a 5 star hotel, their concierge service will book airport transfers, taxis, restaurant reservations, theatre tickets or place a bottle of champagne in the fridge. During your stay you can arrange grocery deliveries, laundry, Wi-Fi internet and business services. Whatever your reason for visiting Edinburgh, plan your own Romantic or Pampering package, Hen and Stag weekend, golf and sports activities, gym pass, whisky tasting and Festival events- a complete itinerary can be organised before you arrive.The company motto is "What do you want? If you can dream it, we can do!"
More Information
For more information or to make a reservation see the Scottish Apartment.com Web site or e-mail upgrade@scottishapartment.com.Vivien Devlin, British Guild of Travel Writers
May 2008
Return to the Index of Great Places to Stay in Scotland.
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
