Last month was a hugely exciting time for The Gentleman Select. I embarked on a little adventure to Scotland’s capital Edinburgh and in the process, also added a new and exciting section to the website for the first time. Travel. I must admit when I first got news of the opportunity to stay within the globally renowned Radisson hotel chain, specifically the Radisson Blu in the centre of Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, I leaped at it.
As I mentioned, given the hotel is situated right in the heart of Edinburgh’s old town, this is an ideal place to be for any tourists, weekend visitors and business travellers looking to base themselves at the cities cobbled core. You are literally a stones throw from the bustling shopping area of Princes Street and depending on the time of year, at the doorstep of colourful Fringe festival activities.
The first thing I noticed was the incredible facade of this building, wonderfully created to blend in with the historic surroundings. On entering the Radisson hotel foyer you are greeted by a modern layout with punchy colours of purple and sharp blacks. I found the check in process very swift and efficient with the lady behind the counter very helpful in giving us a good overview of the key necessities we needed to know of, where breakfast was, the all important bar and also the lifts for going up to our room. We were located on the 4th floor, in which our room was only a short walk down the funky corridor, well lit by the abundance of windows showing off the picturesque Edinburgh scenery. I loved this little feature and one which will greet you no matter what floor you are staying on.
Once I entered the room, I was instantly impressed by its welcoming, sleek, modern interior. Cool greys and whites with zig zag patterns and a flash of colour really give the room great character. The wall behind the bed itself was covered in a brilliant black and white graphic of the National Portrait Gallery with a clean metallic silver headboard and bedside lamps sitting below that. Similar to that of the corridor, something I was instantly drawn to was the incredible view from the window of Arthur’s Seat and down towards Leith. With the colourful wintery sunset it was stunning.
Dotted around was also some lovely furniture which complemented the rest of the room very well. Such items as the cosy armchair in the corner added a homely touch whilst the minimalist white chair brought in a modern feel.
Whilst I was loving my time in the room, I was also excited to visit some other key areas of the hotel. One in particular which I couldn’t wait to see was the award-winning Sleeping Beauty salon collection, housed within the hotels luxurious Melrose Spa & Health Club, one which I had heard and read many fantastic things about. I descended to the lower levels of the hotel, a superb subterranean setting and from the moment I arrived, the staff were very informative in explaining the details of my booked treatment and also superb at getting me relaxed and ready to begin.
Specifically I went to try the newly launched BIOTEC Super charged facial for Men. This 1 hour delight will rejuvenate stressed and fatigued skin, something which works exceptionally well during these grey winter months by adding a much needed boost and some energy to your face. Priced at £70 it incorporates a whole host of high tech procedures which I loved. Firstly, my face was given a triple hit of galvanic current, followed then by an ultra sonic peeling procedure and steam which are both completely painless and actually very relaxing. The main aim here is to deliver a really powerful exfoliation and deep cleanse of the skin which is ace at clearing out all those blocked pores. By this point I was feeling extremely relaxed and at times, I did actually dose off.
Next up my therapist Stephanie incorporated Samphire and Kalpariane elements which brings with it strong anti-wrinkle and hydration properties, ideal for tackling the cold winds outside which dry your skin out. The whole procedure was then finished off with a blast of very refreshing oxygen leaving my face fresh and revitalised. Once I actually decided to get up from the bed due to being so comfy, I really noticed the glowing difference in my skin when I looked in the mirror. In my opinion the spa is well worth visiting during your stay at the Radisson Blu Edinburgh, whether it is a facial you go for or an unwinding massage, I’am certain there will be something to your liking.
Following my BIOTEC facial which left me very chilled out, I slept incredibly well in the generously sized, super cosy bed. Suitably recharged, there was one more port of call the next morning. Breakfast. When you arrive in the breakfast area you are warmly greeted by both the staff and this huge mural of Edinburgh on the wall complete with map, famous landmarks and wandering tourists, a very cool piece to sit and look at as you eat. The food itself was also very tasty with a large selection to both order and self serve. I went for the eggs benedict with toast and decided to squeeze some fresh orange juice myself, a little touch which I loved and was absolutely perfect for first thing in the morning. Once breakfast was complete I made my way back to the room to pack and conclude my visit by heading to check out.
For me the Radisson Blu Edinburgh is a truly stand out hotel. It has a beautiful mixture of modern and historic features which both keep in trend with current times and also blends in perfectly with its old city surroundings. Throughout my stay I found the staff helpful and engaging, with the room extremely comfortable, well equipped and great looking too. The BIOTEC facial by the Sleeping Beauty salon within the Melrose Spa & Health Club was incredible, invigorating and something I would throughly recommend checking out. My advise is most certainly add the Radisson Blu Edinburgh as a hotel stay on your next visit to Scotland’s capital.
