OYO Arden Guest House, Craigmillar Castle Edinburgh

Very bad experience with this hotel.

I would suggest that you take this "hotel" off your books. There was no-one there to book in - we had a key safe entry. The telephone numbers given didn't work. The room was dirty. I even checked to see if there were any bed bugs - there weren't! Bits of the fake leather headboard had worn off and had fallen into the bed. The paper was peeling off the walls due to damp, and in the wardrobe there was an "external" foul water pipe which at some time had been leaking and patched up with gaffa tape- stains all around it. The radiator next to the toilet was stained - there was mould in the shower. We were in room 1. We had paid for breakfast, but there was a note saying the dining room and kitchen was closed for maintenance. I had a look in and it was all right - perhaps the owners couldn't be bothered to open it during the Christmas period. So instead there was a bag containing two bottles of water, 2 dried up pastries, a rolled up crepe - dry again and a handful of sweets. The pictures are not what the rooms look like!

price included breakfast, which was not in the dining room. A bag of pastries,sweets and water was left in our room to "enjoy". So breakfast in name only. Room was scruffy, and not very clean, but warm and quiet, but pretty small. Beds OK, and TV OK. Plenty of room to park car.

Location was excellent with good bus connections to Edinburgh. The accommodation was comfortable enough although the TV screen was very small with a poor picture. Wallpaper was peeling from the walls which detracted from the ambience. Also the fsct that there was seldom someone on the property was not good.

My wife and I stayed here for one night only as it was convenient for our needs.

Flee this unsanitary hotel. Here are some photos. We left in the night because the smell of mold was so strong. Mattress stained with blood, dirt on the walls, dust on the mattress, broken lamp, moldy walls, moldy cupboards, damaged and dirty headboards, mold behind the beds. How can we let people rent such unsanitary rooms? I hope someone will check them. It's a shame.

Room was very small but comfortable. The beds were clean but the room could have been a bit cleaner. There was a shade that was not up that was against wall and had cob webs around bottom of it. The staff was very friendly and the morning breakfast itself and the breakfast area was very nice indeed! Over all, decent place to rest your head for night!

It is a very old building, which is very clear when you enter both the hall and the room. Everything seems very stitched together, and (in my room at least) there is a horrible smell from the plumbing which is a mix between stuck humidity and dirty pipes. It was extremely intrusive and uncomfortable. The service is limited and the breakfast is the same. I will not recommend this place - at least steer clear of room 5!