EN

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

Guest rating
8.8 Excellent
Location score
9.6
Score by category
0 of 7
Check rates

Hotel★★★★★Old Town

The Balmoral Hotel

Guest rating
9.4 Exceptional
Location score
9.7
Score by category
4 of 7
Check rates

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. 1Offers an airport transfer
  2. 2Earlier check-in (14:00 vs 15:00)−1h
  3. 3A smaller, more intimate hotel (34 vs 188 rooms)−154

Why is The Balmoral Hotel better than Haystack Hostel?

  1. 1Higher guest rating (9.4 vs 8.8)+0.6
  2. 2Has a spa
  3. 3Has a swimming pool
  4. 4Includes free breakfast
  5. 5Higher star rating (5★ vs 4★)+1★
  6. 6Newer or more recently renovated (2015 vs 2011)+4y
  7. 78 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 HostelThe 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

Price for your dates

Haystack Hostel

    See on Agoda See on Expedia See on Hotels.com

    The Balmoral Hotel

      See on Agoda See on Expedia See on Hotels.com

      Prices come from booking partners and can change. The final price is shown before you book.

      Location

      100 m apart

      OpenStreetMap

      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

      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