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Cowgate Tourist Hostel Reviews

96 Cowgate, Edinburgh, Scotland

Reviews & Ratings Explained

The following reviews were submitted by customers who booked in the last 6 months.

The reviews and ratings in the rating box are based on all-time feedback and are the opinions of the customers who submitted them and do not express the opinions of Hostelworld.com. This way, you get an up to the minute opinion of just how good a hostel really is. Read our review guidelines »

Reviews of Cowgate Tourist Hostel

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56%

The flat was on the whole OK although the kitchen was a mess. Generally quite grubby and the staff weren't particularly great.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 04 Feb 2012
  • Anonymous
  • England
  • Male 25-30
  • (2 reviews)


40%

This hostel is absolutely disgusting beyond belief! I will be reporting them to health and safety

  • Novice Nomad
  • 03 Feb 2012
  • Anonymous
  • Scotland
  • Female 25-30
  • (1 review)


90%

We enjoyd staying in the cowgate hostel quite a lot! Our room was beautiful compared to other hostels and the staff was really kind and helpful!

  • Novice Nomad
  • 03 Jan 2012
  • Anonymous
  • Austria
  • Mixed Group 18-24
  • (1 review)


73%

I really liked it to stay in your hostel the only thing i didn´t like was that the bath and bedrooms were not really clean.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 02 Jan 2012
  • Anonymous
  • Germany
  • Female 18-24
  • (1 review)


73%

Quite noisy due to the location on Cowgate but still pleasant, as near to pubs, clubs, etc.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 27 Dec 2011
  • Anonymous
  • France
  • Female 18-24
  • (2 reviews)


83%

No lockers for Valuables in bed rooms

  • Novice Nomad
  • 17 Dec 2011
  • Anonymous
  • Germany
  • Male 18-24
  • (2 reviews)


56%

No one was at Reception at the time specified when we wanted to check out so I still have their key and they still have my deposit. I contacted them on the emergency phone number but got no response. Am not happy.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 09 Dec 2011
  • Anonymous
  • Scotland
  • Female 31-40
  • (1 review)


80%

No lights in the bathroom during the second day, so I hqd a shower in darkness. The room and shower were very clean but the shower wasn't very usefull (all the time the floor was wet and there isn't central heating so very very cold) The bads were very confortable!! The street is very noisy but the hostel is a very good location. Good things to have a kitchen but somebody stole me a yogurt!!

  • Novice Nomad
  • 02 Dec 2011
  • Anonymous
  • France
  • Female 18-24
  • (1 review)


40%

Character: it lacked charm and elegance. Security: Security was excellent if you overlook the mightnight rape attempt by intoxicated horny pervs and the minor fact that my phone, along with some petty cash was stolen during the afformentioned mightnight rape attempt. I was, and am currently LIVID. Location: challengingly hilly. My calves hurt. My doctor says to avoid hills from now on. Expect a doctors bill. Staff: I would. Fun: Was had by all. Cleanliness. There are no words.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 28 Nov 2011
  • Anonymous
  • Ireland
  • Couple 25-30
  • (1 review)

Owner Comment (Show)
the cowgate is one of the safest places to be at night becaues it is so busy at night every knows edinburgh is very hilly in the city center we have no knowledge of any rape and any money taken i have no idea what this costumer is talking about flats are cleaned every day.

60%

The location in great, the prices are cheap. On Saturday the hostel was really busy so the room, the kitchen and the bathroom were really dirty. On Sunday they cleaned everything and it was pleasent. There is a pub just in front with live music, so dont stay in this hostel if you want to sleep early. There are no lockers, neither breakfast. The Internet and computers are free for guests, there is also free tea and coffee.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 26 Nov 2011
  • Anonymous
  • Italy
  • Female 18-24
  • (6 reviews)


20%

Everything is this hostel is terrible. I left a deposit for keys of £10 and the reception haven't told me what time the reception would open every day. In this case, the most of the hostel has 24hours reception, so I left the hostel at6am and for my surprise the reception was closed, so I lost my deposit. It was the worst experience I've ever had.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 22 Nov 2011
  • Anonymous
  • Brazil
  • Male 25-30
  • (5 reviews)

Owner Comment (Show)
every guest is told that reception closes at 11pm and if they want to cheak out early to let reception know and we will return their deposit some guests do forget this and take the key with them so the deposit is used to get new keys cut.

66%

Its a cheap hostel with good location to the partyscene and to the maincenter. it is a bit dirty thou, little bit to mouldy. but besides that its a great place! real blankets and pilows, good kitchen and great location!


46%

the only good thing abut this place is the location and the boy from reception that was very nice and helpfull in order to solve my accomodation problem.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 16 Nov 2011
  • Anonymous
  • Argentina
  • Female 31-40
  • (6 reviews)


73%

Different flats/room and this time, the shower and the Toilette were not really good, but, the room, kitchen and linning (?) were ok.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 15 Nov 2011
  • Anonymous
  • Germany
  • Male 25-30
  • (4 reviews)


86%

Very nice hostel ! Cheap and in the city center. Good choice !

  • Novice Nomad
  • 26 Oct 2011
  • Anonymous
  • France
  • Male 18-24
  • (2 reviews)


53%

Bathrooms very dirty and too many people per shower

  • Novice Nomad
  • 22 Oct 2011
  • Anonymous
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Female 18-24
  • (3 reviews)


43%

The location is probably the best thing about this hostel. The place is not that clean, and the paint certainly can't cover fungus in the rooms, bathroom and corridor.... Our room was facing the road and we couldn't open the window, so the air at night was horrible! Really, even for this price you can find something better. It's the worst hostel I've stayed in so far... won't be back.


30%

Very dirty, Extremly bad and dirty toilet, Locking system ?? what is that,

  • Novice Nomad
  • 16 Oct 2011
  • Anonymous
  • Sweden
  • Male 41+
  • (1 review)


60%

Our six-bed-dorm was ok. The "fully equipped ikea-style kitchen" was not fully equipped. There were only 5 mugs for 10 people... But the showers were the most disturbing and disgusting I have ever seen. Somebody has to clean there in times and it is not useful that there are only two showers and two toilets for ten people! Moreover I have to say, that the doorknobs are very loose and need fixing.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 09 Oct 2011
  • Anonymous
  • Germany
  • Male 18-24
  • (1 review)


76%

I missed a proper kitchen with some seats. Just a niche with a table and 2 seats would have been great.

  • Novice Nomad
  • 07 Oct 2011
  • Anonymous
  • Germany
  • Couple 18-24
  • (4 reviews)


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(79 results)

We now classify our reviewers based on how well travelled they are.

  • Novice Nomad: 1-10 Reviews Added
  • Avid Traveller: 10-20 Reviews Added
  • Globetrotter : 20+ Reviews Added
View all Edinburgh Hostels
  • 67%

  • Overall Rating
  • From 187 ratings
  • 63%Character
  • 65%Security
  • 87%Location
  • 72%Staff
  • 63%Fun
  • 55%Cleanliness

Latest Review

  • 04 Feb 2012 (56%)
  • The flat was on the whole OK although the kitchen was a mess. Generally quite grubby and the staff weren't particularly great.
  • Read more...
  • Anonymous

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