Why it’s good for business
The Apex International is a short walk from both the Edinburgh International
Conference Centre and the Exchange financial district, in which Scottish
Widows, Standard Life and the Clydesdale Bank have their offices. A service
called Flow is
targeted at the frequent visitor. Membership is free and you get dedicated
fast track check-in and priority treatment for late check-out requests and
room preferences.
The group is growing fast too. In December, the company announced the
acquisition of new business-friendly sites at Waterloo Place in Edinburgh
and Copthall Avenue close to the Bank of England in London. It currently has
three hotels in Edinburgh, one in Dundee and one in London.
The room
The Apex look is Noughties contemporary – vast Scandinavian-influenced wooden
bedheads against plain white walls, contemporary art on the walls, snuggle
quality white linens and throw cushions in vibrant purple.
The wooden floored entrance hall makes it feel a little clinical, especially
given the hotel’s former life as a university block. But the plum carpet in
the bed area softens the effect. Little can soften the sound coming through
the walls.
What really makes the rooms special are the views. Executive and superior
rooms overlooking the Grassmarket have full-on views of Edinburgh Castle –
get one of these if you can.
The first thing you notice on entering the bathroom is the rubber duck perched
atop your carefully folded tools. You can keep duckie on your departure. The
Scottish made Tub toiletries are of excellent quality.
A place to meet
The Apex International is a good place for a modest conference of a couple of
days. The largest room can take a couple of hundred people, theatre style.
It has five smaller meeting rooms that benefit from natural daylight and
able to take between 20 and 70 people. All meeting rooms have wireless
internet access. There are further meeting rooms at the Apex City just next
door for larger events. During the day, the airy and light Metro Bar is the
perfect place to have a quiet chat with a business colleague.
Technology credentials
Wireless internet access costs £6.50 for 60 minutes’ access in any 24 hour
period (150MB download limit), £12 for 24 hours’ access (400MB limit), £15
for 24 hours’ access (no download limits). The purpose-built desks have a
concealed bank of power sockets, useful if you are running a laptop and
charging your PDA at the same time. Widescreen televisions and CD/DVD
players in every room.
Very comfortable stay and a very good room standard. Friendly staff. Couple this with it location to the castle, it shouts great value for money.
Although I have to agree with Harry on the tight fisted approach to Wifi.
Duggie, London, United Kingdom
2 things that will make sure u never bother to return:
1 a tight fisted hotel / today wifi is like coffee, it's offered unlimited; and
2. being disturbed by your neighbour, when it happens you simply check out and find a place u can get your sleep and security when u need it ....
harry , London/NY ... ,