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The Balmoral Hotel vs Haystack Hostel

Both are in Edinburgh, 100 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Hotel★★★★★Old Town

The Balmoral Hotel

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

Hostel★★★★The Mound

Haystack Hostel

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

The short answer

Pick The Balmoral Hotel

It leads in 4 of 7 categories. 100 m apart.

Choose The Balmoral Hotel if you want

  • the more consistently praised stay
  • a spa and wellness
  • breakfast included
  • a big hotel with more facilities

Choose Haystack Hostel if you want

  • a smaller, quieter hotel

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

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

All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

The Balmoral HotelHaystack Hostel
Score by category
Guest rating 9.4 +0.6 8.8
Location 9.7 9.6
Facilities 8.3 +4.1 4.2
Families 1.0 +1.0 0.0
Spa & wellness 8.5 +8.5 0.0
Beach access 0.0 0.0
Public transport 10.0 10.0
Ratings & reviews
StayVersus score 9.3 +0.5 8.8
Guest rating 9.4 +0.6 8.8
Number of reviews 192 +57 135
Google rating 4.0/5 4.2/5 +0.2
Google reviews 476 +195 281
Rank in Edinburgh top 1% +25% top 26%
Location
Location score 9.7 9.6
Distance to the centre 450 m 470 m
To public transport 70 m 140 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 188 34
Floors 6 1
Newest building or renovation 2015 +4y 2011
Listed amenities 20 +8 12
Policies
Check-in from 15:00 14:00 −1h
Check-out until 12:00 +2h 10:00
Amenities
Free Wi-Fi ✓ ✓
Parking ✓ ✓
Concierge ✓ ✓
Laundry ✓ ✓
Luggage storage ✓ ✓
Free breakfast ✓ –
Bar ✓ ✓
24-hour room service ✓ –
Swimming pool ✓ –
Spa ✓ –
Sauna ✓ –
Steam room ✓ –
Gym ✓ –
Wheelchair accessible ✓ –
Air conditioning ✓ –
Minibar ✓ –
In-room safe ✓ ✓
Airport transfer – ✓
Shuttle – ✓
Kitchen – ✓
Which hotel suits you
Families with children ✓ –
Couples ✓ –
Beach holidays ✓ ✓
Sightseeing on foot ✓ ✓
Business trips ✓ ✓
Spa & relaxation ✓ –

Swap sides

Price for your dates

The Balmoral Hotel

    See on Agoda See on Expedia See on Hotels.com

    Haystack Hostel

      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

      The Balmoral Hotel or Haystack Hostel: common questions

      Which is better, The Balmoral Hotel or Haystack Hostel?

      The Balmoral Hotel leads in 4 of 7 categories, including guest rating, facilities, families.

      Which is cheaper, The Balmoral Hotel or Haystack Hostel?

      Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side.

      How far apart are The Balmoral Hotel and Haystack Hostel?

      The two hotels are 100 m apart in a straight line.

      More match-ups

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      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