Where to Stay in Edinburgh: Haggis Hostel

During my time in Edinburgh, I stayed at a hostel with THE BEST HOSTEL SHOWERS I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. They were brand-new, they had so many different levels of pressure and temperature, and they were spotless.  I felt like I was in a hotel, and a nice one — not just a hostel — and I stayed in that shower far longer than I should have.

The home of this majestic shower? The brand-new Hag gis Hostel in Edinburgh.

I was invited to stay here by Al and Chris, the owners of the hostel, and I’m so glad I took them up on their offer. This hostel is truly a special place, and not just because they invited me to stay there. In fact, it was one of my best hosteling experiences ever.

When you stay in as many hostels as I have, you get used to just having a bed on which to crash. So when you get something extra special, you notice it — and Haggis Hostel is full of these extras.

Beds with comfy mattresses, fluffy pillows, and thick comforters.

After a day of running all over the city, it’s a huge comfort to come back to beds like these.

A huge, immaculate kitchen with tons of space to cook.

And best of all, there is access to ingredients like olive oil and salt, so you don’t have to buy every item at the store.

International outlets next to each bed.

So you can charge your phone, no converter needed, while sleeping next to it (or on top of it!) — a much safer option than leaving it out all night.

Free tea and coffee — and HUGE teacups the size of your head.

Since I started spending so much time in the UK, I’ve developed quite the tea addiction.  The remedy: big cups, so you don’t have to go back as often!

Again, THE BEST SHOWERS EVER.

Oh God, I loved those showers.

Beyond that, Haggis Hostel has everything that a quality hostel should have:

Free wifi — and computers with free internet access.

24-hour reception — so someone will always be around to help you.

Laundry — not free, but there are both washers and dryers.

Good-sized lockers and key access to rooms — adding to the security.

To round things out, Haggis Hostel is located right by Waverley Station — a fantastic location. In some cities, like Rome and Salzburg, being right by the train station is a bad thing — but in Edinburgh, it’s a VERY good thing.  (The bus station is around the corner, too.)

But for me, the highlight was getting to know owners Al and Chris, as well as Al’s lovely mum. These guys care so much about providing their guests with a great experience and consistently go above and beyond, even driving us around town at one point.

And so much exciting stuff is planned for the future.  In the coming months, Haggis Hostel will be partnering with restaurants to provide their guests with cheap meal deals.  Chris is actually a chef by trade, and he’ll be cooking a lot more.

I will tell you this much: next time in Edinburgh — and there absolutely will be a next time — I will be staying here again. When you go, tell them Adventurous Kate sent you.  They’ll be glad to hear it.

I received a complimentary stay at Haggis Hostel .  All opinions, as always, are my own.