Southside Apartments by Destination Edinburgh

We had a wonderful stay in Edinburgh and really enjoyed this apartment. It’s cozy, nicely decorated, and equipped with everything you might need for a comfortable stay. The location is excellent — close to everything yet quiet and relaxing. Definitely recommended!

They gave detailed enough instructions before I arrived. Response was always quick and friendly whenever we needed anything. Apartment is a bit old but spacious and clean. Kitchen is well-equipped. Bus stops are one or two blocks away. Only complaint is that there was two adjacent apartments (7th and 11th Newington Rd) and we were a little confused because it was dark when we were there and didn't know which was ours. And wi-fi connection was not so good.

My stay at Apartment Number (1) 11 Newington Road (EH9 1QR), which is a part of Southside Apartment by Destination Edinburgh, was an incredibly disappointing experience. I feel compelled to share my ordeal to assist future guests in making informed decisions about their stay. To start with, it's important to note that Southside Apartment by Destination Edinburgh isn't a single unit but rather a collection of apartments. This fact, which I only discovered upon arrival, might explain the seemingly high review score of 8.8 based on 562 reviews, as it could be a collective rating for various apartments managed under the same umbrella. My troubles began with locating the apartment, despite having the property's address from property management on Google Maps. The directions led me to the wrong side of the road, causing needless frustration from the get-go. The apartment was in the basement, involving a descent of more than ten steps, which could be challenging for elderly individuals. What's worse, the apartment had a pervasive and unsettling smell of mice, coupled with virtually non-existent mobile coverage within its confines. This meant missing calls frequently, forcing me to step outside for any form of communication. My discomfort escalated to an unbearable level on the second night of my stay when I encountered a mouse in the bedroom. This was a shocking and distressing experience. To my dismay, I encountered the same mouse or another one in the living room and kitchen shortly afterward. This left me unable to sleep and compelled me to leave the apartment in the early hours of the morning. I promptly reported these issues to Anna from the *********** helpline, in the hope that the management team would offer some solutions, like setting traps to catch the mice or relocating me to a safer place. Regrettably, I have not received any communication from them to date. While I appreciate the initial positive aspect of their customer service in allowing me to check in early, their lack of follow-up or apology for these unprecedented and distressing experiences has left a lasting negative impression. Given the issues I faced during my stay, I strongly advise against booking this accommodation until proper pest control measures are taken. Additionally, it is indeed essential for the property to be transparent about the fact that each review pertains to a specific property and not a collective rating for all properties under their management. Moreover, about the fact that the reservation is for a basement apartment clearly, as this can significantly impact the guest experience.