We enjoyed our stay at the Sheraton Grand in Kraków so much that we decided to stick with this…read morebrand when staying in Edinburgh. I'm happy to say that it was a great decision. First of all, the location was perfect for us. It's right on Festival Square. Just look at the view that we had from our window on the 7th floor. The castle view is amazing! If you're a fan of concerts, then you'll also be happy that Usher Hall is right across the street from the hotel. The Edinburgh Farmers Market (every Saturday) is just behind the auditorium on Castle Terrace. There are many great restaurants all along Lothian, Fountainbridge, and everywhere in between as you walk up to Grassmarket. The great service started immediately with Ryan. He checked us in and made sure we had everything we needed. He was a great resource throughout our stay. The lobby was always neat as a pin. There's infused water available. The club is also accessed from this 1st floor area. We chose the Castle Suite which was very comfortable and spacious. The lighting and AC controls are modern and easy to figure out. There were plenty of electrical outlets (adaptable), and all were where we needed them to be. The bed was comfy, and house cleaning was great in getting the room ready in a timely matter on each day. I enjoyed the chocolate that was left for us each day at turn down. It was always a different flavor. The shower pressure and bath amenities were also great. We were also happy that our room included club access. It was great to be able to use their coffee machines throughout the day. I especially loved the fresh orange juice machine. Just insert a couple of whole oranges at the top and it produces a full glass of juice. Loved it! You'll also get access to the breakfast buffet at One Square on the 2nd floor. We did try it out on our last full day there. It had a larger variety of buffet items with table service. I especially liked the stuffed croissants. I think the one I had was filled with rhubarb. All the pastries were fresh daily. You can order an egg any way you like it, but you need to ask for it. It doesn't have the same open kitchen concept like the one in Kraków. I thought the breakfast buffet in Kraków was better. Although, I did get to try some unique Scottish items such as haggis and tattie scones. It was still well-done. I would most definitely stay here again. It made quite an impression on us for its comfortable amenities, good value, and location. Marriott Bonvoy members should be very happy here.

Rooms. Beds cozy. I sank into them and slept soundly. 5…read moreStars. Very clean room, classy upscale I love the shower control and the hot water Red nightlight around the beds is a nice touch Their breakfast buffet was pretty good by most standards, but I couldn't find some things like fat-free or low sugar yogurt Their omelette and eggs Benedict were nothing to write home about.

This place was a perfect end to our trip through Europe! So good that I ended up booking a second…read moreday of Escape at One the following day. The spa was not busy/overwhelming at all. A substantial amount of thermal/water amenities, all of which feel very sanitary/maintained. I wish I was able to schedule a massage - however, it is completely understandable I couldn't squeeze in an appointment the day of. I felt completely relaxed after my appointment! My only note is that the aroma mist in the salt room did not seem to work (this may have been user error). Additionally one of the showers in the locker room was not in service. Definitely recommend booking here if you are looking for a relaxing day!

The fact that this spa is roof top just says luxury to me!…read more It puts the spa into Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa, and just off Lothian Road. Mind you they can be quite pricey, but this has all got to do with the image their trying to project, as well as the various treatments they offer. As usual I haven't heard of most of them, but was particularly curious about the rainforest shower. Thankfully, I have a friend who has actually been to the Amazon (they come in REALLY handy!) and basically it's a room with showerheads all over the ceiling, so it seems as though it's raining in the room. Ofcourse if you'd rather just have a facial and a massage, they do that as well. They've got two pools, one of which is thermal, and a gym for those who'd rather "feel the burn" than relax, though I'd rather get in the sauna when there's that alternative.

We are from New Jersey, and I've had plenty of high end massages in my life there. Suffice it to…read moresay, April completely blew everything I knew about deep tissue massages out of the water!!!! I could've cried with the relief she was able to provide. If we ever return to Scotland, this spa will be my very first stop. I can NOT say enough wonderful things about her. If you prefer deep tissue, she's your go to.

As I bounded down the stairs and skipped along to the bus stop I found myself wondering 'Is it…read morewrong to be so excited about a day of relaxation'? (and is it odd to be taking the bus to a 5* hotel :)) Once off the bus I made my way to the Balmoral Hotel at its distinctive and prestigious location at 1 Princes Street. Previously I'd only been as far as the bar but today I sauntered up the steps smiled back at the welcoming, tartan clad doorman and was guided by a friendly concierge towards the Spa - going through the elegant tea room I made a note to self - must come back for afternoon tea to see how it compares to the big hotels in London! The Spa is down in the lower level but as the elevator doors opened, the bright and shiny decor and warm smiles that greeted me made me forget we were underground. The staff were friendly, attentive and professional and had their priorities right: Step 1 - Welcome the guest with a big smile; Step 2 - Offer a glass of water or hot beverage; Step 3 - Fill out the Health Questionnaire before use of facilities and treatments. As a massage therapist myself, I know the importance of the health consultation - it will make sure that my health won't be adversely affected by the use of the equipment or by the massage, and it will help the therapist give me the most beneficial and individual treatment for my needs; I was also checked for medical concerns when I booked, to save disappointment on arrival. Next, I was given a full tour of the spa area before heading to the changing room which was smaller than some of the spa hotels I have visited on my travels but I think this was a positive indication that they must restrict the number of members and/or bookings to provide and exclusive, quiet, calm experience. The area was clean, minimal, elegant and not too opulent (a.k.a. gaudy). I looked around and did a quick checklist; although small everything you could need seemed to be here, hair dryer, moisturiser etc.. So arriving at 12 - what was there to do for the 3 hours before my treatment? LOTS!! I had complete access to the gym with it cardio and weight equipment; I could chill out at the classical Grecian/Roman styled poolside seating area with a complimentary self serve bar for water, tea, coffee; get comfy reading the magazines on the lounge chairs and sofas; l could even order food and have it sent down to eat at one of the poolside tables while still in my robe and slippers. Instead, I decided to make use of the pool, sauna, steam room and hot tub....but wait - where's the hot tub? I had a quick look 'round but nope - no hot tub; and really no space for one either so it was off to the pool which was I told was a cosy 31C!! The sauna/steam rooms were just alongside the pool with a fully tiled alcove of shower heads for a quick rinse between zones - one with the ominous label 'COLD WATER SHOWER' - I'm not that brave so it was a quick warm rinse, a cup of cold water from the conveniently placed water cooler - and into the Sauna. I'm ready for more heat so it's off to the Steam Room. As soon as I open the door it's obvious this is one of the best steam rooms I've been in!! So much steam I could barely see past my nose. The mentholated steam was refreshing, hygienic and cleansing. I curled up into a corner, and just relaxed - deep breaths of the aromatic steam opened my lungs and a mix of sweat and condensation formed from head to toe. I have no idea how long I stayed but eventually I ventured back out for my last few laps in the pool - and then it was time to head back to the changing room and get ready for .... THE MASSAGE!! For the next hour I was totally blissed out. The smell of the oils was amazing and transported me to a tropical paradise. The bed was comfy and I'm pretty sure it was heated. My therapist's technique was flowing and deep, she skilfully used her hands and forearms to compress and stretch my muscles and release the tension. The clicking and creaking coming from my shoulders was a clear sign that the massage was working! A lot of time was spent on my back but there was plenty of time to ensure my legs, feet, hands and arms also received attention and provided more surface oil for the oil to be absorbed. Following the massage, I was given time to myself to get dressed and gently come back to reality. My experience ended with being cocooned in soft blankets on a lounger in the dedicated relaxation suite, sipping lemon water and just being totally in the moment.... All in all a great deal (thanks to an offer with I-on magazine). The lack of a hot tub did take it down a star - only in comparison to other similar hotels. But what they did have was top notch.

Really loud - I don't know how it could possibly be as loud as it is, but it's like unbearable…read moretinnitus. The lighting is also really dim so the whole thing makes you feel like you're going mad. Olympic sized pool is good and knackering (as swimming should be) but every time I've been the changing rooms have always been a little bit manky and badly kept. The diving board is never open and even if it was I'm not 100% sure I'd trust the 100 year old ladder getting to the top board that I've dreamed off since I was a little girl. I'm sure one day my time will come.

The Royal Commonwealth Pool is currently undergoing works and should be open by the Summer of 2011,…read morewhere it will eventually be used to stage the diving competitions for the Commonwealth games in 2014, on Glasgow's behalf. However, it is also going to play an important part in preparing the GB swimming team for the Olympics in London in 2012. The pool did need a bit of renovation any how as it was first made for the Commonwealth games in the 1970s and the decor of the place didn't seem very 21st century, which is essential if live television pictures of a swimming venue are going to be beamed across the world. before the renovation work started, it was great to have a huge official Olympic sized swimming pool so close to the city centre and the 50 metres swims were a good test of your fitness. There was also diving boards, which I was never brave enough to actually try out. The changing rooms were as Alice says in definite need of a bit of TLC, but this will definitely be happening with the renovation work and I look forward to using it when it's done.

A great experience staying here during our 3 night/4 days Scotland vacation. We traveled from…read moreEngland to here via train so we had to take a 40 mins cab from the station to reach here, however, from room to service to staff, everything was above par. The food is good here too and in my opinion not very expensive. But you may feel less quantity depending on what you order. The staff is very courteous and very helpful too. It's a great scenic location with a large private area. The only con about this place is the distance from the main center. It is really far and if your itinerary has more around central Edinburgh then I would not recommend this place especially when they don't have a daily shuttle until the city center (They only provide until the metro station which is too early for noon and early evening returns only).

We had a lovely stay here for the first night of our trip to Scotland on our honeymoon. The staff…read moremembers are all so warm and welcoming and after a delayed flight and very late arrival, we were thrilled to find they had given us a complimentary room upgrade to a suite! We enjoyed their wonderful breakfast; they even had vegetarian sausage and black pudding! The grounds are beautifully maintained and nice to walk around. Highly recommend!

Visited the spa for the Thermal Experience as a Christmas treat for the mother. I got a nice wee…read moredeal from Itison, which gave us 3 glorious hours luxuriating in their sauna, steam room, jacuzzi & hydro pool. The only, very small, letdown was that the Crystal Steam Room was out of order. My mum also booked is for a massage afterwards, as recommended by the staff. From start to finish the experience was wonderful, the staff friendly and professional, and, with the exception of one very loud patron who's volume control was our of order, very relaxing. After our massage we were lead to the Drift Away room, complete with tea, loungers and beds! Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that our tummies were growling we could have stayed there all day! Also or would have been nice to have our complimentary Prosecco there, whilst lounging in our robes, rather than having to get ready and have it in the reception area afterwards.

This used to be my all time favourite spa. Ok so I'm not your usual spa type, I'm neither a hen…read moreparty nor a lady who lunches but after training, tough mudder or a rugby match; the water jets on tired muscles feel amazing. But the last few times I've been have been a little bit of a disappointment to be honest. Sometimes the underwater jets wouldn't work, then it would be the massage jets were off or on one occasion the steam-room wasn't working. There wasn't a single day I was there in a six week period that there wasn't at least one major piece of the Thermal experience which wasn't working. Then there is the small things. The keypad locks on the lockers have never worked right and once I even had to ring reception and ask them to send someone down as it had locked away my clothes and refused to open. Not a very relaxing experience as you stand dripping in your towel. And on my last visit the one and only hair-dryer in the men's dressing room was broken. Minor issues, but for a place which charges £65 for a single days access to the thermal experience you expect everything to be perfect. Our membership also included access to the gym which I wasn't impressed by. The free weights available are minimal with the heaviest dumbbell being only 10kg. There are a few cardio machines and a few weight machines such as a chest press, again with very low maximum weight (40kg). It is incredibly small, but as you're likely to be the only person in there it probably won't matter. The thermal experience used to be superb, and I really hope it sorts out the issues in the future. But for me it simply isn't worth the (reduced) membership fee anymore.

there are a few things a girl needs in her life: to be loved, cherised, treated like a princess,…read moreand of course to be throughly pampered! Pure Spa at Ocean Terminal definitely ticks the box on this last necessity as i was well reminded on my most recent visit today. i've been a regular customer to Pure Spa for at least the last year with some sporadic visits when they initially opened. however, now that they do monthly offers (generally half priced spa treatments, excellent value for money!) i tend to put some money aside to make a visit every 4 weeks for a bit of much needed pampering. i can't express in words how much i love this place! today my treatment involved an infra-red sauna session, a back massage, a facial (taliored to my needs), and an eye treatment to help reduce puffines and dark circles. amazing value at £65 for an on peak appointment and only £55 off peak! the infra-red sauna has become a standard of all their monthly spa offers and it's a nice addition. although sitting and sweating out your toxins is probably one of the least glamouress things ever, it is quite relaxing and a nice way to start off the spa session. i've had the same therapist a few times now and i wish i could remember the girl's name because she is excellent and really listens to what i want from my treatments. i had booked the appointment a few weeks ago when just days after a massage i was already suffering from really sore and tight shoulders. i told this all to my lovely therapist and she really applied the pressure to these areas during the back massage. some people might not like quite so deep pressure, but it was exactly what i needed and my shoulders immediately felt so much better. my facial was next and when asked what i wanted i suggested a really good cleanse to help get rid of the every day toxins my skin is exposed to. i love the elemis range of products they use (i use a facial cleanser and toner daily at home) and the facial with the eye treatment was literally so relaxing i could have fallen asleep during it! while the face mask was drying the therapist did an amazing scalp massage and i just felt like a princess in relaxed bliss. needless to say, i will be back here for sure! i've got a customer loyalty card, so for every £10 i spend i get a stamp and 10 stamps means £10 off my next treatment. an excellent way to entice me to keep going, not like i really need it though! love love love this place, it is perfection for feeling like a pampered princess!!!

Sometimes you just need time out. Sometimes you just need a massage to niggle out these tense,…read moresore muscles. This is where Pure Spa comes in for me. Now situated on the ground level next to Debenhams, it's very handy from the car park and the shops (a'hem a little too handy for the shops in my case!). My massuse was friendly and professional on inital introdution, during the massage and after. I felt a little sore but that was to be expected since I had reallly tight shoulders, but it's definatley less so now. I reccommend Pure spa and I will be back, especially for the 25 mins massage. It's good value and dosen't take too much time out of a busy schedule!