---
title: "The Guards Hotel vs The Hostel: which hotel is better?"
description: "Too close to call. Neither hotel has a clear edge on the facts we have. Your priorities decide. The Guards Hotel or The Hostel in Edinburgh? Compare guest…"
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-guards-hotel-edinburgh-vs-the-hostel-edinburgh/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-10-14
---

# The Guards Hotel vs The Hostel

Both are in Edinburgh, 20 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Guesthouse · ★★★ · West End
## [The Guards Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-guards-hotel-edinburgh/)

- **Guest rating:** 7.5 ·  Good

- **Location score:** 9.1

- **Score by category:** 0 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2200159/agoda/?lang=en)

Hostel · ★★ · West End
## [The Hostel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/the-hostel-edinburgh/)

- **Guest rating:** 7.4 ·  Good

- **Location score:** 9.0

- **Score by category:** 0 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2201719/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Too close to call

Neither hotel has a clear edge on the facts we have. Your priorities decide. 20 m apart.

### Choose The Guards Hotel if you want

-   the more consistently praised stay

### Why is The Guards Hotel better than The Hostel?

1.  Higher star rating (3★ vs 2★) (+1★)

### Why is The Hostel better than The Guards Hotel?

1.  More guest reviews (170 vs 66), so the rating is more reliable (×2.6)
2.  Earlier check-in (13:00 vs 14:00) (−1h)
3.  Later check-out (11:00 vs 10:00) (+1h)

## All compared facts

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

 

|  | The Guards Hotel | The Hostel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 7.5 | 7.4 |
| Location | 9.1 | 9.0 |
| Beach access | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Public transport | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 7.8  (+0.2) | 7.6 |
| Guest rating | 7.5  (+0.1) | 7.4 |
| Number of reviews | 66 | 170  (+104) |
| Google rating | 3.1/5 | – |
| Google reviews | 235 | – |
| Rank in Edinburgh | top 91%  (+4%) | top 95% |
| Location |
| Location score | 9.1 | 9.0 |
| Distance to West End centre | 290 m | 300 m |
| To public transport | 160 m | 140 m |
| To the airport | 9.7 km | 9.7 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 144 | 142 |
| Sights within 1 km | 20  (+4) | 16 |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | ★★★  (+1★) | ★★ |
| Rooms | 10 | 10 |
| Floors | – | 3 |
| Newest building or renovation | – | 2014 |
| Listed amenities | 7 | 8 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 14:00 | 13:00  (−1h) |
| Check-out until | 10:00 | 11:00  (+1h) |
| Amenities |
| Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
| Parking | ✓ | – |
| Bar | ✓ | – |
| Pets allowed | ✓ | – |
| Smoke-free | ✓ | ✓ |
| Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ |
| Blackout curtains | ✓ | ✓ |
| Laundry | – | ✓ |
| Luggage storage | – | ✓ |
| Breakfast | – | ✓ |
| Kitchen | – | ✓ |
| 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-hostel-edinburgh-vs-the-guards-hotel-edinburgh/)

## Location

20 m apart

## The Guards Hotel or The Hostel: common questions

### Which is cheaper, The Guards Hotel or The Hostel?

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

### How far apart are The Guards Hotel and The Hostel?

The two hotels are 20 m apart in a straight line.

## More match-ups

-   [The Guards Hotel vs voco Edinburgh - Haymarket By IHG](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/the-guards-hotel-edinburgh-vs-voco-edinburgh-haymarket-by-ihg-edinburgh/)
-   [The Guards Hotel vs Eliza House](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/eliza-house-edinburgh-vs-the-guards-hotel-edinburgh/)
-   [The Guards Hotel vs Ritz Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/ritz-hotel-edinburgh-vs-the-guards-hotel-edinburgh/)
-   [The Hostel vs Eliza House](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/eliza-house-edinburgh-vs-the-hostel-edinburgh/)
-   [The Hostel vs Ritz Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/ritz-hotel-edinburgh-vs-the-hostel-edinburgh/)
-   [The Hostel vs Garner Edinburgh Haymarket](https://stayversus.com/en/compare/garner-edinburgh-haymarket-edinburgh-vs-the-hostel-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/the-guards-hotel-edinburgh-vs-the-hostel-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/