--- title: "Haystack Hostel vs The Balmoral Hotel: which hotel is better?" description: "Pick The Balmoral Hotel. It leads in 4 of 7 categories. Haystack Hostel or The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms…" url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/haystack-hostel-edinburgh-vs-the-balmoral-hotel-edinburgh/ language: en source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com) retrieved: 2026-10-12 --- # Haystack Hostel vs The Balmoral Hotel Both are in Edinburgh, 100 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger. Hostel · ★★★★ · The Mound ## [Haystack Hostel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/haystack-hostel-edinburgh/) - **Guest rating:** 8.8 · Excellent - **Location score:** 9.6 - **Score by category:** 0 of 7 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1508294/agoda/?lang=en) Hotel · ★★★★★ · Old Town ## [The Balmoral Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-balmoral-hotel-edinburgh/) - **Guest rating:** 9.4 · Exceptional - **Location score:** 9.7 - **Score by category:** 4 of 7 [Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2189570/agoda/?lang=en) The short answer ## Pick The Balmoral Hotel It leads in 4 of 7 categories. 100 m apart. ### Choose Haystack Hostel if you want - a smaller, quieter hotel ### Choose The Balmoral Hotel if you want - the more consistently praised stay - a spa and wellness - breakfast included - a big hotel with more facilities ### Why is Haystack Hostel better than The Balmoral Hotel? 1. Offers an airport transfer 2. Earlier check-in (14:00 vs 15:00) (−1h) 3. A smaller, more intimate hotel (34 vs 188 rooms) (−154) ### Why is The Balmoral Hotel better than Haystack Hostel? 1. Higher guest rating (9.4 vs 8.8) (+0.6) 2. Has a spa 3. Has a swimming pool 4. Includes free breakfast 5. Higher star rating (5★ vs 4★) (+1★) 6. Newer or more recently renovated (2015 vs 2011) (+4y) 7. 8 more listed amenities (20 vs 12) (+8) ## All compared facts Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel. | | Haystack Hostel | The Balmoral Hotel | | --- | --- | --- | | Score by category | | Guest rating | 8.8 | 9.4 (+0.6) | | Location | 9.6 | 9.7 | | Facilities | 4.2 | 8.3 (+4.1) | | Families | 0.0 | 1.0 (+1.0) | | Spa & wellness | 0.0 | 8.5 (+8.5) | | Beach access | 0.0 | 0.0 | | Public transport | 10.0 | 10.0 | | Ratings & reviews | | StayVersus score | 8.8 | 9.3 (+0.5) | | Guest rating | 8.8 | 9.4 (+0.6) | | Number of reviews | 135 | 192 (+57) | | Google rating | 4.2/5 (+0.2) | 4.0/5 | | Google reviews | 281 | 476 (+195) | | Rank in Edinburgh | top 26% | top 1% (+25%) | | Location | | Location score | 9.6 | 9.7 | | Distance to the centre | 470 m | 450 m | | To public transport | 140 m | 70 m | | To the airport | 11 km | 11 km | | Restaurants within 500 m | 150 | 150 | | Sights within 1 km | 40 | 40 | | Rooms & building | | Star rating | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ (+1★) | | Rooms | 34 | 188 | | Floors | 1 | 6 | | Newest building or renovation | 2011 | 2015 (+4y) | | Listed amenities | 12 | 20 (+8) | | Policies | | Check-in from | 14:00 (−1h) | 15:00 | | Check-out until | 10:00 | 12:00 (+2h) | | Amenities | | Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ | | Parking | ✓ | ✓ | | Airport transfer | ✓ | – | | Shuttle | ✓ | – | | Concierge | ✓ | ✓ | | Laundry | ✓ | ✓ | | Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ | | Bar | ✓ | ✓ | | Kitchen | ✓ | – | | In-room safe | ✓ | ✓ | | Free breakfast | – | ✓ | | 24-hour room service | – | ✓ | | Swimming pool | – | ✓ | | Spa | – | ✓ | | Sauna | – | ✓ | | Steam room | – | ✓ | | Gym | – | ✓ | | Wheelchair accessible | – | ✓ | | Air conditioning | – | ✓ | | Minibar | – | ✓ | | Which hotel suits you | | Families with children | – | ✓ | | Couples | – | ✓ | | Beach holidays | ✓ | ✓ | | Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | ✓ | | Business trips | ✓ | ✓ | | Spa & relaxation | – | ✓ | [Swap sides](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-balmoral-hotel-edinburgh-vs-haystack-hostel-edinburgh/) ## Location 100 m apart ## Haystack Hostel or The Balmoral Hotel: common questions ### Which is better, Haystack Hostel or The Balmoral Hotel? The Balmoral Hotel leads in 4 of 7 categories, including guest rating, facilities, families. ### Which is cheaper, Haystack Hostel or The Balmoral Hotel? Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side. ### How far apart are Haystack Hostel and The Balmoral Hotel? The two hotels are 100 m apart in a straight line. ## More match-ups - [Haystack Hostel vs The Edinburgh Grand, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Edinburgh](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/haystack-hostel-edinburgh-vs-the-edinburgh-grand-a-luxury-collection-hotel-edinburgh-edinburgh/) - [Haystack Hostel vs Hotel Indigo Edinburgh - Princes Street By IHG](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/haystack-hostel-edinburgh-vs-hotel-indigo-edinburgh-princes-street-by-ihg-edinburgh/) - [Haystack Hostel vs Motel One Edinburgh-Princes](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/haystack-hostel-edinburgh-vs-motel-one-edinburgh-princes-edinburgh/) - [Haystack Hostel vs Destiny Scotland - St Andrew Square Apartments](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/destiny-scotland-st-andrew-square-apartments-edinburgh-vs-haystack-hostel-edinburgh/) - [The Balmoral Hotel vs Hotel Indigo Edinburgh - Princes Street By IHG](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/hotel-indigo-edinburgh-princes-street-by-ihg-edinburgh-vs-the-balmoral-hotel-edinburgh/) - [The Balmoral Hotel vs Destiny Scotland - St Andrew Square Apartments](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/destiny-scotland-st-andrew-square-apartments-edinburgh-vs-the-balmoral-hotel-edinburgh/) - [The Balmoral Hotel vs The Edinburgh Grand, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Edinburgh](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-balmoral-hotel-edinburgh-vs-the-edinburgh-grand-a-luxury-collection-hotel-edinburgh-edinburgh/) ## Compare now Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/) --- Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/haystack-hostel-edinburgh-vs-the-balmoral-hotel-edinburgh/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/