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Cowgate Tourist Hostel



96-112 Cowgate, Edinburgh
Tel (0131) 226 2153
Website www.scotland-hostels.com






BUG review
This hostel is made up of self-contained apartments, each with its own bathroom, kitchen and a small lounge. The outside and corridors look a little run down but inside the apartments are newly renovated and very well maintained.

About BUG's hostel reviews
This hostel was visited by one of BUG's team of hostel inspectors who write independent reviews and assess a star rating based on an objective assessment criteria.

We show up unannounced at hostels to write honest and unbiased hostel reviews. Many of BUG's reviews now feature videos and photo slideshows. BUG never receives payment for listing any establishment and BUG's researchers never accept free accommodation in exchange for favourable reviews.


Price
Dorm bed £12-20
Twin room £40-50

Prices are in British pounds and are inclusive of all taxes.

Credit cards
MasterCard, Visa

Reception open
8am-11pm daily

TV lounge Kitchen Laundry


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Last update: May 15, 2012



Guest reviews for Cowgate Tourist Hostel
Average rating based on 8 Reviews
Maintenance  2.63/5  (2.63)
Cleanliness  2.50/5  (2.50)
Facilities  2.63/5  (2.63)
Atmosphere  2.63/5  (2.63)
 

Compared to other hostels in Edinburgh
Maintenance  3.40/5  (3.40)
Cleanliness  3.40/5  (3.40)
Facilities  3.40/5  (3.40)
Atmosphere  3.37/5  (3.37)


Displaying reviews: 1 - 8
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saoghalbeag  
Australia  
9 reviews  
 
 
If you can find the staff and get your probs sorted it's great!
9 June 2007

Pros: The updated facilities
Cons: Location (next to 3 Sisters Pub), the long term punters

    
saoghalbeag saw things this way
Maintenance   3.00/5  (3)
Cleanliness   2.00/5  (2)
Facilities   3.00/5  (3)
Atmosphere   3.00/5  (3)
(Review ID: 5142)

We ended up here on our 2nd night in Edinburgh after a woeful night at the SYHA Summer Hostel down the road (freezing rooms, showers not working, horrid staff) and over the next 3 years it was where we stayed when in Edinburgh (out of habit, I guess!)

There were 3 of us initially and we ended up with a room to ourselves on a couple of occasions, and as our first stay was during the festival (which we ignorantly did not realise was on!) the staff went out of their way to accommodate us. On another occasion when we needed somewhere to stay for 2 weeks they did us a great deal and changed our room from one of the crappy ones that wasn't done up (mould and pee all through the shower) to one of the newer ones.

On the last occasion I stayed there, I was there a week so they put me in a dorm with long-stay residents, who were all unbelievably rude, smoked constantly (I was pregnant at the time) and the unit, although one of the newer ones, was falling apart. The long-stayers also ate every bit of food I put in the fridge/cupboards so I had to eat out all week!!

I would have to agree with all the earlier comments. I believe there is a lot more the staff could do towards helping people have a more comfortable and enjoyable stay and in every room we were in there were also bits and pieces broken or missing. We did find certain members of staff really helpful (when we could find them) but also experienced being put in dorms full of drunken guys (1 brought home a girl and proceeded to ... ahem! whilst one of the others got excited at the idea and entertained himself on his own at 8AM IN THE MORNING WHEN WE WERE ALL AWAKE!)

More of a 'group stay party hostel' than a chilled out place!
 
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
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JMNielsen  
Amsterdam, Netherlands  
 
 
Worst hostel ever
2 September 2004

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

    
JMNielsen saw things this way
Maintenance   1.00/5  (1)
Cleanliness   1.00/5  (1)
Facilities   1.00/5  (1)
Atmosphere   1.00/5  (1)
(Review ID: 4777)

This is the worst hostel I've ever stayed in :Opposite is a pub that doesn't close until 3.30 at night. We didn't get the dorm we booked for, but ended up with 3 drunken guys trying to smoke pot and stealing one of my shoes in a dorm. There was no-one we could ask for help, because there simply is no staff after 11 at night. When returning at night my clothes, towel and bedlinen were all gone. Including my deposit and 3 times calling from abroad, leaving a note, leaving my phonenumber twice, leaving my credit card number, no one tried to contact me nor did we get anything back. Another guest complaint about someone peeing in his room. As a girl you could end up in a dorm with 5 drunken guys and no one to ask for help easily here.

When entering the bathroom a terrible noise starts which with a bit of bad luck is next to your dorm and will keep you from sleeping for about 30min. On entering the corridor that leads to the apartment you think you're in some awfully smelling basement, however once entering the dorm part it's all clean, shower was a bit broken (but even though you had to keep it in your hand it was nice), heating was on in our dorm and we couldn't put it off (it was mid august) and finally the matrasses have some iron in them that you can feel extremely well . Some more pluspoints (of the very few): some rooms have double glass, which makes the pub outside less loud and it is very centrally located.
 
2 of 9 people found this review helpful
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shine  
Newcastle, UK  
 
 
not so cozy
10 August 2004

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

    
shine saw things this way
Maintenance   2.00/5  (2)
Cleanliness   2.00/5  (2)
Facilities   2.00/5  (2)
Atmosphere   2.00/5  (2)
(Review ID: 4778)

We stayed in the hostel and discovered that there were not many facility in kitchen, such as pan, bowl, plate; and even the door of toilet and shower could not be locked. Moreover, the temperature of water is not stable that we could hardly have a shower. During the night, the pub opposite made lot of noise til midnight. Although the rooms are nice, the other common places have made us feeling unpleasant.
 
1 of 7 people found this review helpful
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hostelwise  
New York  
 
 
Noisy & grubby part of town ... there are better place
10 August 2004

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

    
hostelwise saw things this way
Maintenance   2.00/5  (2)
Cleanliness   2.00/5  (2)
Facilities   2.00/5  (2)
Atmosphere   2.00/5  (2)
(Review ID: 4779)

Apartment style with side entrance.

Depressing location unless you are in to late night drinking ... sketchy place. Needs more input from staff to reasure me.

There are better hostels.
 
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
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Jasmin  
Bern, Switzerland  
 
 
unpleasant
24 July 2004

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

    
Jasmin saw things this way
Maintenance   2.00/5  (2)
Cleanliness   2.00/5  (2)
Facilities   2.00/5  (2)
Atmosphere   2.00/5  (2)
(Review ID: 4780)

Well, the apartment I stayed in was located in the basement!! Nevertheless there was a window in my room, but what a view, I saw the wall of another building. Sometimes it was really hard to guess, wether the sun was shining or not!!! The kitchen and bathroom were very clean. But there was no lounge respectively, there was a sofa in the kitchen and a TV. The hostel is very central, although the neighbourhood didn't seem very secure late at night. But the probably worst thing was, that close beside the building, there was a construction site, which made such a noise!!!!! One morning we've even been awoken by a false fire alarm! If you have a choice, stay in another hostel!!!
 
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous  
California  
 
 
Great place to stay!
10 October 2003

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

    
Anonymous saw things this way
Maintenance   4.00/5  (4)
Cleanliness   4.00/5  (4)
Facilities   4.00/5  (4)
Atmosphere   4.00/5  (4)
(Review ID: 4781)

The apartment I stayed in was totally renovated, really clean and nice, definitely the best hostel I've stayed in. The beds were comfy and the location was great (right near Grassmarket). Friendly and extremely helpful staff. Only downside was that the Three Sisters Pub is right across the street and their outdoor terrace is really loud until quite late...so you just have to go out and experience the great Edinburgh nightlife (when in Rome...) or bring earplugs. Ask for a room on the other side of the building.
 
6 of 12 people found this review helpful
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musicdisciple  
 
 
nice layout and newly renovated
1 April 2003

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

    
musicdisciple saw things this way
Maintenance   4.00/5  (4)
Cleanliness   4.00/5  (4)
Facilities   4.00/5  (4)
Atmosphere   4.00/5  (4)
(Review ID: 4782)

I love the layout. The hostel is divided into small apartments so there's about 5 bedrooms to each kitchen, plus some bathrooms on each floor. It gives it a comfortable feel. It's across the street from a bar so if you're in the front part of the building it's bloody loud at night, otherwise it's really nice.
 
8 of 14 people found this review helpful
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Ryan  
U.S.A.  
 
 
Sketchy
26 November 2002

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

    
Ryan saw things this way
Maintenance   3.00/5  (3)
Cleanliness   3.00/5  (3)
Facilities   3.00/5  (3)
Atmosphere   3.00/5  (3)
(Review ID: 4783)

Stayed there the first night I arrived in Edinburgh. The people in front of me in line had all of their music gear stolen and were pretty mad. The bathrooms were dirty and barely functional... the beds were okay though, and it is pretty close to some good pubs/clubs.
 
9 of 16 people found this review helpful
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