Hostels and cheap hotels in Edinburgh are a dime a dozen...they won't cost you much more than that either!

I am always pleasantly taken aback by the sheer number and range of hostels and cheap hotels in Edinburgh.

 

p I say this because I have been to some reasonably big and popular towns where I could choose between either the Funky Lumpy Monkey backpackers' or the Ragin' Rhino With A Rash hostel to get my head down for the night.

The term 'sheer number' is self-explanatory but when I say 'range' I am referring to how greatly accommodation style varies in Edinburgh.

You could fall asleep next door to Edinburgh Castle (not on the street) at the Castle Rock Hostel in Johnston Terrace.

Or you could count sheep in a Georgian town house at the Art House hostel in Gilmore Place.

If you're feeling particularly royal, you couldn't do much better than staying directly on or just off the Royal Mile. You will find plenty of impressive hostels in that part of town.

If you're used to the student lifestyle you could stay at Pollock Halls, the University of Edinburgh halls of residence. Situated on Holyrood Park Road, it's the perfect launchpad for an assault on Arthur's Seat, a stroll up the Royal Mile or a browse around the Scottish Parliament.

Gees, you could even stay in a hip 19th century converted church at the Belford Hostel at the West End! You wouldn't even have to leave the house on a Sunday morning...

In Edinburgh it is possible to find a bed for the night at a hostel for around £8. Yet with such a broad range of budget accommodation in Edinburgh, price shouldn't be your only consideration.

You're coming here for a memorable experience so choose your accommodation accordingly! Whether you're into modern and clean-cut, wild and funky or old and quite possibly haunted, Edinburgh has it all.

The huge number of hostels in Edinburgh indicates how popular the city is with students, seasoned travellers young and old and fun-seeking folk on short breaks.

The majority of Edinburgh's hostels are situated in the old town near the High Street and the Castle. There are obvious reasons for this. Most travellers want to be at the heat of the action and close to the top tourist attractions. Considering the prices in that part of town are surprisingly reasonable, who can blame them.

Another reason why many people choose to hit the sack in these hostels is their proximity to areas like the Grassmarket and the Cowgate where there are many traditional pubs, bars and nightclubs and people party the night away.

At the West End there are five hostels. The New Town area of Edinburgh is an attractive option for those who would like to stay in an 18th century town house in a relatively exclusive part of town for a reasonable price.

Pretty little yachts in the pretty little village of Cramond

The other key advantage of the West End is the easy access to the shops of Princes Street, the cool, classy bars of the West End and George Street and of course the endless stream of buses whisking you off to every corner of the city.

When it comes to cheap hotels in Edinburgh, we have a few well-known companies who have a number of hotels dotted around the city. This could be a great option if you are able to share a room with someone or if you are looking for something a little bit more luxurious without breaking the bank.

Travelodge has five hotels in Edinburgh at Edinburgh Central, Edinburgh Central Rose Street, Shandwick Place, Learmonth and Edinburgh West End.

Travelodge specialises in offering high quality budget accommodation in central locations. So if you're looking for a relatively elegant room for a reasonable price in a central location, you can't really go wrong with Travelodge.

Room rates start at between £59 and £70 depending on which hotel you choose to stay at. Remember, that is the room rate, so if you are with a friend or two, it might be a financially feasible option.

Travelodge has five hotels in Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Ibis hotel, like Travelodge, offers high quality budget accommodation even if their prices tend to be around £20 per room per night higher. They have one hotel in Edinburgh just off the Royal Mile (High Street) at Hunter Square which is just about as central as you can get.

If you are happy to be based on the outskirts of the city, Premier Inn have four hotels in the Edinburgh area. Their hotels are located in Musselburgh, South Queensferry, Newcraighall and Leith. Despite their slightly awkward location, Premier Inn hotels are very reasonably priced. Room rates start at between £40 and £50 per night per room.

As you can see, if you're hanging by a shoestring, on a tight budget or simply keen to spend your nights in Edinburgh in a dwelling full of character, you are not short of options. With so many impressive hostels and cheap hotels in Edinburgh, you don't have to sacrifice quality or a great location to stick to your budget!