Location
The Balmoral, The Balmoral Hotel, 1 Princes Street, Edinburgh (0131 556 2414, www. roccoforte hotels. com) is at the heart of Edinburgh, only 90 seconds from Waverley. The exterior of the building has become the background to most postcards of Edinburgh and the Dee Suite, where I stayed, has views of the castle and Princes Street Gardens. 4/5
Comfort and service
A by-word for stylishness, The Balmoral has managed to maintain a image of friendly, Scottish hospitality for more than 100 years. It has just had a GBP7million refit and The Dee Suite has a plush living area, dining area, two bathrooms, enormous bed and flat screen TVs. It even has a Bath Butler service for enjoying chocolate-dipped strawberries while relaxing in aromatherapy oils. 4/5
Food
In the Bollinger Bar at Palm Court restaurant I enjoyed three tiers of cakes, brownies, and biscuits swished down with a cool, tall glass of champagne. Food, whether in the bar or the Michelin-star restaurant, is never disappointing. 5/5
Things to do
Shopaholics have Princes Street to enjoy, the castle is a short saunter away and everything Edinburgh is within a few minutes' walk. There's the Camera Obscura and Mary King's Close and of course during the Festival there's no comparison. 4/5
Paying for it all
Here's the rub. The Dee Suite will set you back GBP920, bedrooms are from GBP270. It compares with other luxury hotels but it's not cheap. 2/5
Total
19/25 Worth a weekender (but maybe not the Dee Suite).
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