It seems like a distant memory but a few weeks ago we were very fortunate to be invited along to The Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian to try out their new champagne afternoon tea and to ensure we had a great evening we were also invited to stay over. I could not have been more excited! A couple of days before I turned the dreaded 3-0 I packed my bags, took the afternoon off work and made sure everyone in the office knew where I was heading. Mr E unfortunately had to miss out on the afternoon tea due to work commitments but he was able to meet up with me later.
I’ve passed The Caley many times on the way to work and have always wanted to stay over. I would sit on the bus and see guests checking in and hoped that would be me. The building is very grand and impressive. From the moment you step into the hotel, there are friendly faces greeting you. The lovely gentleman on the front door to the very helpful reception staff. The check in process was seamless and within minutes I was on my way up in the lift to the 4th floor. I could not wait to find out what our room was like and also what view we would have! The walk to the room was longer than expected and you could definitely see how it used to be a train station.
When I finally got to our room for the night, I was not disappointed. First things first I had to just check out the view and boy was I not disappointed.
Over looking Edinburgh Castle and along Princes Street Gardens the view was perfect. Once I’d snapped a few pictures it was time to check out my surroundings.
A quick sit down on the bed to test it out first, initially I thought it was a little bit hard but when getting into it that night it was cosy. The nice heavy quilt and downy pillows your head just sank into were fab. I could get used to this. Next stop was checking out the tea making facilities. This is an essential item on our check list when staying somewhere. I was pleased to find lots of supplies and a nice little Nespresso machine. Mr E is a big fan so he was delighted with this little addition. I also quickly spotted lovely little welcome gifts in our room. Being a whisky fan, Mr E made quick of these whilst I was enjoying afternoon tea and I had the handmade chocolates.
The bathroom facilities were also good. A nice fluffy dressing gown and slippers each meant I could relax for a wee while before getting ready to head down. The bathroom was big and had everything we needed. The only downside for me was the shower over the bath. I prefer them to be separate but the shower was more than powerful, just had to be careful when stepping in and out not to slip. There were lovely toiletries provided and plenty of towels.
The room was so comfy and having to leave it was hard. After afternoon tea we ventured out for a little bit but both of us couldn’t wait to get back and make the most of our room. Laying up in bed, watching rubbish tele and in our plush surroundings was a lovely treat. Both of us slept well and commented in the morning how we didn’t hear any noise. Mr E thought the noise from outside was a little louder than expected but I think that was just a very loud bunch of folk passing that happened to waken him. The room was also the perfect temperature thanks to the air-conditioning. Again we woke up to a brilliant sunrise.
With check-out not to noon, I went down with Mr E to have some breakfast before he went to work and then I headed back to enjoy the last couple of hours in the room. Breakfast was a delight. The service was great, making sure we knew where everything was and checking when our coffee cups were empty if we wanted any more. The choice on offer at breakfast was great. Lots to choose between a cooked breakfast, cereals, healthier salmon and cheese options, fresh fruit juice and lots of pastries. Both of us when we are away always check out the cooked options. I was honestly delighted to see streaky bacon on offer. It is a great debate in our house as Mr E isn’t a big fan but I love it. With both streaky and back bacon on offer both of us were very happy. The quality of the ingredients in our cooked breakfast was great. The black pudding well cooked and spicy. The sausages had a great flavour and very meaty.
We couldn’t fault breakfast. It was fresh and very tasty, it took a lot of restraint to not dash back up for seconds. Mr E went as far as to say he thought it was one of the best breakfasts we’ve had at a hotel. With check out fast approaching I had to check out. Again check out was a delight. Making sure to check I had a lovely stay and if I needed any onward transport.
Overall we had a fantastic stay at the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian. The staff are fantastic, full of smiles and very happy to help. The building inside and out is absolutely stunning. Our room was great and the view only made it better. We definitely can’t wait to come back and stay. I just need to think of how to get Mr E to agree to it.
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