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Edinburgh has a massive tourist market, and their is accommodation type for every kind of tourist..from 6 star plus, to multi bed dormitory. location is extremely important as is budget, so when I found Alva house offering great value rooms on bed and breakfast and only approx ten minutes bus ride from Waverley station, I took the plunge. There are plenty of buses from Waverley/ Princes street to abbey hill stop. The journey approx ten minutes. It is then a two minute walk to the guest house. Watch out for the bright red door beyond the gate. There are a number of steps up to the door as well as the first floor where the breakfast room is. My room was number one, which is a large comfortable double with flat screen tv,dvd player, sofa etc. the room has a bathroom next door which is for room one use only. Everything was spotless clean and comfortable. Breakfast is continental / help yourself, which was ideal for my busy schedule. Even tho breakfast is available from 8am, I was able to get what I required each time. The owner was always extremely helpful with advice, information etc. There are a number of cafes, takeaways, convenience stores etc within a five minute walk. The takeaways I used late eve ranged from mediocre to ok. Overall I felt Alva house offered good value for money within ease of access to the sights and delights of Edinburgh. At the time of writing this, they were doing final trials of the tramline through to leith, which would make a very easy journey from the airport followed by a max ten minute walk …
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Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ideal for anyone looking for clean basic accommodation and not wanting to pay hotel prices. Good location for a walk or a short bus ride into the city. The owner, Martin, is always ready to give helpful advice on local transport and restaurants.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good honest place providing exactly what is needed for a reasonable price. Excellent helpful host, good communal kitchen, really clean, good comfy bed. Really good location too. A great budget stay in my opinion. Excellent recommendations for local places to eat ands drink were given by Martin the owner when I arrived. Thank you, I’ll be back.
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:An easy walk from bus and train station and to local bars, restaurants etc
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Absolutely great value for money and a really warm welcome to go with it. A little tired around the edges, but for the price paid and location it was fantastic. We had a large room with private bathroom which have us everything we needed. Comfortable bed and nice powerful shower. Would book again without any concerns next time we visit Edinburgh.
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ok let me start with the positives. The rooms are stylish and comfortable and it’s very handy for the centre of Edinburgh . This might be ok for a one or two night stay. However housekeeping is non existent . Martin said he doesn’t go in the rooms while he has guest so you will make your own bed and empty your own bin. Almost all the cereals served at breakfast was out of date ( see photos) . We were on our third night before I had to ask for clean towels and I saw no evidence that the bathroom/ toilet was cleaned at all other than by me. Breakfast is not served until 8 which can be too late depending on your plans for the day , certainly no good if you’re travelling for business .
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Date of stay: May 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I have just enjoyed two nights at Alva House. Our room was large, very comfortable and spotlessly clean. Martin was a very welcoming and friendly host, available as and when we needed him and was a great source of local information. There's a great Vietnamese café just a hundred yards or so away and The Regent pub is just around the corner and is that rare beast - the gay pub with good real ale! We have every intention of returning to Alva House as soon as we can.
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Date of stay: June 2019
Rooms
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Always a pleasure to stay here when on business or pleasure Convenient and easy walk to city centre Comfy rooms with TV Excellent self service continental breakfast included Mix of single & double rooms and an added bonus of free off street parking right outside
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Date of stay: February 2019Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alva House is cosy, comfortable and Martin is a very welcoming, helpful host. My room was very comfortable and quiet and Martin provided a great continental breakfast. Teas, coffee, biscuits are available all day. The guest house is in a very pleasant neighbourhood and is only about ten minutes walk away from the Royal Mile, Princes Street and so many sights and attractions in this gorgeous city.
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Date of stay: October 2018Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Super clean. Ideal for a short stay. I can’t fault the place. Friendly, comfortable, faultless. Great shower. Bed comfortable. Fluffy Towels, complimentary bathroom products. Magazines. I’m running out of things to say
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Date of stay: July 2018Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I Recently stayed there for a week fab location close to everything very clean and tidy Buffet Breakfast Good Martin was brilliant one of the nicest men i have met in my life also very helpful give all the information i needed
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Date of stay: June 2018
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:A Good Room everywhere walking ditsance
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.