The Hostelz.com Review
Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel is centrally located and within easy reach of all transit options to and from Edinburgh. Staff are friendly and helpful.
The Location
The hostel is located just off the Royal Mile on Cockburn Street, and is a five-minute walk from Waverley train station. Most of the tourist sights of Edinburgh are within walking distance, as are an array of restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs, and shops.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Dorm rooms have as many as ten beds (bunk beds) but are reasonably large and do not feel cramped. There are lockers available in the dorms. Private rooms are also an option (on the top floor). Rooms can be quite cold when the outside temperature drops, but warm blankets are provided. Bathrooms are communal (one for men, one for women) and are spotlessly clean. There is, however, nowhere to leave your stuff while showering (save one paltry hook just outside the shower stall, and there is nowhere private to towel off or get dressed after showering. Access to the hostel and rooms is by key card so very secure (just don’t lose your card or you’ll lose your deposit). Reception is twenty-four hours.
Common Spaces
The kitchen is well supplied and there is ample storage space for your food. There are two other common rooms, one with the TV, computers (with internet access), seating area and tables to eat. The other functions as a game/party room, with pool table and bar stools. There is no Wi-Fi provided by the hostel (but it can sometimes be accessed from the signal of the cafe downstairs). Books can be exchanged. Because of its central location and its many long-term residents (here on temporary working holiday visas), it tends to be a sociable, party hostel.
Summary
The hostel’s location is ideal for travelers or anyone on a working holiday in Edinburgh, within easy reach of all entertainment options and tourist sights. The hostel is not accessible for anyone with mobility issues, as there is no elevator, and all dorm rooms and common areas are located on upper levels via a large central staircase.
The Location
The hostel is located just off the Royal Mile on Cockburn Street, and is a five-minute walk from Waverley train station. Most of the tourist sights of Edinburgh are within walking distance, as are an array of restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs, and shops.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Dorm rooms have as many as ten beds (bunk beds) but are reasonably large and do not feel cramped. There are lockers available in the dorms. Private rooms are also an option (on the top floor). Rooms can be quite cold when the outside temperature drops, but warm blankets are provided. Bathrooms are communal (one for men, one for women) and are spotlessly clean. There is, however, nowhere to leave your stuff while showering (save one paltry hook just outside the shower stall, and there is nowhere private to towel off or get dressed after showering. Access to the hostel and rooms is by key card so very secure (just don’t lose your card or you’ll lose your deposit). Reception is twenty-four hours.
Common Spaces
The kitchen is well supplied and there is ample storage space for your food. There are two other common rooms, one with the TV, computers (with internet access), seating area and tables to eat. The other functions as a game/party room, with pool table and bar stools. There is no Wi-Fi provided by the hostel (but it can sometimes be accessed from the signal of the cafe downstairs). Books can be exchanged. Because of its central location and its many long-term residents (here on temporary working holiday visas), it tends to be a sociable, party hostel.
Summary
The hostel’s location is ideal for travelers or anyone on a working holiday in Edinburgh, within easy reach of all entertainment options and tourist sights. The hostel is not accessible for anyone with mobility issues, as there is no elevator, and all dorm rooms and common areas are located on upper levels via a large central staircase.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
December 2010
Their Description
Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel Details
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Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Is it worth the compromise of that little piece of luxury? This place can't be faulted for its location; however be fully aware that if you require a good nights sleep then maybe it's not for you. Great place to stay if you use it as 'just a bed to sleep in i will be out all day and most the night!' but be prepared for a barely lukewarm morning shower, a creaky bunk bed, the odd drunken song & cheer coming from the giant echoing stairway for an early awakening. Be sure to pack your ear plugs! — Anonymous , London, England (2012-02-06) Mostly good Stayed at EBH for five weeks and it has its pros and cons. Biggish kitchen with lots of fridge space. No can opener. Comfortable mattresses and very thick curtains on big windows. No ladders for top bunks and bedbugs in first bed i had. Good water pressure in showers. Hot water runs out mid-morning way too often. Fantastic atmosphere in common rooms. The stairs are a bastard but you get used to them. And the special deal for breakfast at the Southern Cafe is pretty sweet even if you do have to pay for your coffee separately. Overall, a good hostel and good value for the money. — Penny , NZ (2007-06-24) Outragous price! £42 for a twin room just one night! Couldn't believe it when i saw the room, tiny dark and dingy! like a ferry cabin and bunks were noisy and shaky. female bathroom ok but men's was rough, no mirror and tiles coming off the wall.
staff were indifferent too! wish i'd complained but we were only there for one night and couldnt be bothered to make a fuss. — Jess , UK (2007-05-21) Don't go there! We were well chuffed when we arrived, as the room was lovely. It was at the back of the building on a quiet square, with a wonderful view, and it had a cute little kitchen and a cute little bathroom, which we only had to share with one other couple. Sounds nice, doesn't it? Well, that soon came to an end. There was no hot water. The lock to the main building was loose, and actually broke the key (my partner, who tried to open the door, can't even open a jar of pickles, so it was obviously metal fatigue because so many other people had problems with the lock). So we got locked out of our flat for most of the day. No kitchen, so we had to buy lunch. And worse, my partner's walking stick was in there, which meant her disabled foot got so sore we couldn't walk anywhere the next day. They'd fixed the lock by the late afternoon. They didn't even try to fix the hot water (judging by the look on the receptionist's face it was to "punish" us for breaking the key). That night, the neighbours held a noisy party until 6 a.m. So, what do you think, we'd get a nice free breakfast for all the inconvenience caused, yes? Wrong! They charged us for the broken key. And for all the copies they had to make of the new key for the rest of the entire building. They didn't give us our deposit back either. It was not our fault that their building had a faulty lock. Their customer services are beyond disgraceful. Never again. With what they charged us, we could have gone across the road, which is something we'll definitely do next time. — Starling , Dutch (2007-05-21) Edinburgh Backpackers Hostel is the best. I stayed for approximately eighteen months on and off over a two-year period. The rooms are immaculate, staff great and a great place to meet people to go out with or travel with. There is a great kitchen for cooking or the cafe if you can't be bothered. I happened to meet my husband while I was living in the hostel. Now we live in Reno, Nevada, have three kids and are living a good life! — ANNIE LACE -----NOW AS ANNIE PAYLOR (2006-05-27) A great location because it is at the start of the "old town" in Edinburgh. There were a lot of teenagers wearing black everyday outside the hostel...at least 15 and sometimes 60 of them! They very much keep to themselves, so there is no hassle with them. But I just find it strange they are always there. It's a very large hostel, which makes socializing optional...good for loners and loud mouths. Not much of a party scene at the hostel, but who wants to party in their own place when there are friendly pubs on your street? — I stayed for 6 weeks.... (2005-08-30) Decent place — location was great, rooms were clean enough. The restaurant next door has great breakfast, and the people were friendly.
What I didn't like was that there were people shouting, singing, and laughing very, very loudly on the street outside all night, and I could hear every word from my bed.
Also, it's 5 stories tall with no elevator. Not bad, but frustrating with heavy bags and when it's late at night.
My biggest problem was that on the floor I was staying on there were no washrooms for women, only for men. The ladies room was a floor up or down. Very annoying in the middle of that night, that's for sure. But all in all, a decent place. — M (2005-06-12) It was under repairs when I was there, but it wasn't bad. The beds were decent, the location is fine, and the kitchen and lounge are good. A better price than some other hostels. — Anonymous (2005-03-23) I originally chose Edinburgh Backpackers because (at the time, in 1998) I could work for my board. I ended up living in the staff dorm for eight months, working night reception on the weekends, and going to a regular office job during the week. Many of the staff were doing the same, and we deliberately worked to create a strong community in the place. Guests would often tell us it was like visiting an international retreat center. EBH is one of the great travel memories of my life. — Cass (2004-12-06) You can't beat the price for a week's stay — £50 for Monday-Sunday. And this place is fairly well equipped. People were wicked and the beds were quality. The location is to die for. Enjoy, I did!!! — Dan (2004-12-05) We stayed at this hostel during the Edinburgh Festival in August 2004 and we were very glad to find a room on such short notice. We called them in the afternoon and we were told to stop by. The hostel is very big (three floors, I think) but the rooms are cozy and brightly colored. We stayed in a room for six people. The only disadvantage about the hostel was the bathrooms. There were a lot of showers, but the bathrooms were rather smallish. The staff was very helpful, and we got free towels. All in all, it was certainly a good experience, but personally I prefer to stay at smaller hostels because that makes interaction easier with the other guests. — Anonymous (2004-11-16) While the location was great, I can't recommend this hostel. The staff were downright creepy. The bathrooms are very dirty. There are much better places to stay. — Anonymous (2004-04-24) I lived and worked in this hostel for two months. This was one of my best hostel experiences. The staff is friendly and great, and it tends to draw all types of travelers. Plus you can't beat the location. — Ian (2004-03-25)