WHERE TO STAY IN EDINBURGH - Edinburgh and Glasgow - page 68

6 The Chester Residence One option between a fully self-catered rental home

and a hotel room is to rent one of the city's “serviced apartments”; those at the Ches-
ter Residence rate five stars according to the tourist board. Each luxury flat (save the
studio-size “patio apartment”) has a kitchen, separate sitting room, and full bath-
room. The “garden apartment” includes a private walled garden. You can cook for
yourself but the suites are serviced daily.
9 Rothesay Place, Edinburgh EH3 7SL. & 0131/226-2075. Fax [phone]. www.chester-residence.
com. 19 units. £165-£499 per apartment, including continental breakfast. MC, V. Parking on street. Bus:
13. In apartment: TV/DVD, Internet, CD, MP3 dock, Wi-Fi.
The Edinburgh Residence Part of the Townhouse Group, this is a fine lux-
ury hotel, and sibling to The Bonham, The Howard, and Channings. Grand stair-
cases and classic wood paneling greet guests and the suites are traditional but with
all modern conveniences. All units are spacious: The smallest suite is 40 sq. m (430
sq. ft.).
7 Rothesay Terrace, Edinburgh EH3 7RY. & 0131/226-3380. Fax [phone]. www.theedinburgh
residence.com. 29 units. £125-£400 suite, including breakfast. AE, MC, V. Free parking. Bus: 13. Amenities:
Bar; Internet; room service. In room: TV/DVD, hair dryer, minibar.
Sheraton Grand Hotel The modern exterior of the Sheraton Grand belies the
elegant, even a bit old-fashioned, interior—think soaring public rooms and rich carpet-
ing. With a good location and state-of-the-art spa and leisure facilities (including a
rooftop indoor/outdoor pool), this hotel pretty much has it all. The castle-view rooms
on the top floors are the best (and most expensive). The main restaurant, with views
of Festival Square, presents well-prepared meals and a lavish Sunday buffet, while an
annex houses the fine-dining Italian Santini restaurant (p. 77) below the spa.
1 Festival Sq., Edinburgh EH3 9SR. & 800/325-3535 in the U.S. and Canada, or 0131/229-9131. Fax
0131/228-4510. www.sheratonedinburgh.co.uk. 260 units. £180-£360 double with breakfast. AE, DC,
MC, V. Parking nearby. Bus: 10, 22, or 30. Amenities: 3 restaurants; 2 bars; babysitting; concierge; exer-
cise room; indoor and outdoor pools; massage; spa; sauna; room service. In room: A/C, TV/DVD, hair
dryer, Internet, minibar.
Expensive
Mercure Point Hotel The Point has been listed among the 50 premier hotel
designs in the world. The guestrooms are equally attractive. Standard ones may feel
a bit small, but the premium units are spacious. Many units have views of the castle,
but those at the rear do not. If you like stainless steel and brushed chrome instead
of Scottish tartan and antiques, this might be the place for you.
34 Bread St., Edinburgh EH3 9AF. & 0131/221-5555. Fax [phone]. www.accorhotels.com. 139
units. From £105 double with breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Parking on street. Bus: 2 or 28. Amenities:
Restaurant; bar; limited room service. In room: TV, hair dryer, Wi-Fi.

SOUTHSIDE
Expensive
Prestonfield Prestonfield, rising in baroque Jacobean splendor amid 5.3 hect-
ares (13 acres) of gardens, pastures, and woodlands below Arthur's Seat, has enter-
tained such luminaries as Sean Connery and Minnie Driver. All guests should
appreciate the traditional atmosphere and 1680s' architecture, as well as the peacocks