When Traversing Scotland, Accor Hotels Is the Name to Remember

(Note: Affiliate links are associated with the Hotel Scoop website, not the author of the review.)

Scotland is world famous for its beautiful natural scenery – and rightly so. But in addition to the countryside’s verdant moors and picturesque lakes, the nation’s cities as well brim with tourist and cultural attractions. And while there is much to be said for rural resorts –  and even castles that have been transformed into palatial hotels – it is in the urban centers where the traveler can find excellent accommodations at affordable prices – especially if you keep Accor in mind.

Accor, the largest hospitality company in Europe, has hotels in each and every major Scottish city, with an emphasis on the conglomerate’s midscale and economy categories. This article will, in fact, focus mainly on the Novotel brand, which invariably delivers exceptional value. 

For this reason, Novotel is one of my favorite overall brands worldwide, as it comprises solid four-star properties – often with some five-star touches, like bathrobes and slippers – while consistently coming in at affordable midscale prices. 

The gateway city to Scotland is Edinburgh, yet interestingly enough, its international airport serves both the nation’s capital and the country’s second most important city, Glasgow. Our first stay, therefore, was at the Novotel Glasgow Centre, in the heart of downtown, and just steps away from the bustling main drag, Sauchiehall Street. Even the city’s hop-on, hop-off, double-decker tourist bus has a stop conveniently close to the property.

Convenience, Comfort, Service, and Amenities

Apart from location, the two most important qualifications for a noteworthy hotel are clean and comfortable guest rooms, along with friendly and professional service. Fortunately, we encountered all these favorable attributes at both the Novotel properties in which we stayed in Scotland, from the aforementioned hotel in Glasgow to our concluding sojourn at the Novotel Edinburgh Centre, conveniently situated just a few short blocks from the famed Grassmarket, a restaurant-jammed square at the foot of Edinburgh Castle.

These two hotels, just about 50 miles from each other, are remarkably similar, despite being in two cities whose tourist attractions are so vastly different. The recently gentrified former industrial powerhouse, Glasgow, is renowned for its museums and 20th-century architecture, while picturesque Edinburgh is famous for its majestic historic landmarks bearing the hallmarks of royalty. 

Not surprisingly, the two Novotels have many features in common: both are non-smoking, pet-friendly properties with business centers and accessibility for guests with mobility challenges. Another notable and interesting feature characterizing each hotel is the multi-lingual reception staff, capable of communicating easily with visitors from all corners of the globe.  

The two properties are also roughly the same size: seven floors each, with similar numbers of guest units. Edinburgh’s total of 180 rooms may just edge out Glasgow’s 141, but both hotels offer units in sufficiently different configurations and sizes to suit all visitors’ preferences.

So what’s different? The latter hotel has more family rooms and connecting rooms, plus a dedicated play area for toddlers, making it ideal for families traveling with small children.

The Novotel Edinburgh Centre, on the other hand, has a swimming pool cum Jacuzzi, which its Glasgow counterpart does not. Both hotels have fitness rooms outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment, as well as saunas, while Glasgow has a hammam (Turkish bath) instead of the whirlpool bath. 

Superb Accommodations

The similarity between the hotels extends also to the interiors of the guest rooms, although the units in Novotel Edinburgh Centre appear slightly classier, thanks to recent refurbishment. (Concomitantly, this enhancement is reflected in a slightly higher price tag.)

At the same time, the units in both hotels boast every amenity that one expects in a four-star establishment: comfortable queen-sized beds, user-friendly climate control, large flat screen television with multi-channel and multi-lingual programming, laptop-sized electronic safe for valuables, iron and ironing board, and refreshment corner with complimentary mineral water, mini-refrigerator, and electric kettle for making coffee and tea. Free WiFi extends to all guest rooms, as well as public spaces. 

Bathrooms are fastidiously clean, with spacious shower stalls equipped with dual showerheads – one overhead rain shower and one hand-held – and pampering proprietary Rituals cosmetics toiletries dispensed from ecologically friendly containers. Hair dryers, bathrobes, and slippers complement the thirsty bath towels. 

Drinking and Dining

Both Novotels have restaurants and bars, again with slight differences. The upgrades in Edinburgh included a larger restaurant and bar area – The Tap Kitchen and Bar – but both establishments have full bars stocked with the spirits for which Scotland is famed: whiskey and gin. Refreshing local beers and alcoholic ciders are also on tap, and eligible to be redeemed as one of the benefits of membership in the All Accor loyalty programme. 

Not to be outdone, the Novotel Glasgow Centre has a prominent pool table adjacent to the bar, a playful touch not equalled by its sister in the neighboring city. A lobby snack and beverage machine is also only to be found in the Glasgow property.

Both hotels offer buffet breakfasts, with hot and cold dishes and unlimited refills of coffee from machines serving up the freshly brewed beverage. There is an extra charge for breakfast, discounted as an additional perk of membership in the chain’s loyalty programme. 

Accor in the Rest of Scotland  

As noted, Accor maintains properties throughout the northern United Kingdom, including the cities of Inverness, Perth, and Aberdeen, which all have Mercure hotels. In the latter city, nonetheless, we ended up staying at ibis Aberdeen Centre – Quayside, whose location in a trendy alley teeming with nightlife is hard to beat.  

While Mercure is a Novotel partner in the midscale category of Accor hotels, ibis is the leading brand in the hospitality company’s economy category. In point of fact, ibis is actually a family of three distinct sub-brands: the classic ibis, the design-focused and themed ibis Styles; and the truly budget, no-frills ibis budget.

The ibis Aberdeen Centre – Quayside is situated in the heart of this underrated city, whose mixture of modern architecture and Victorian opulence makes it an interesting stopover along the circuit of major Scottish urban centers. And despite the hotel’s classification in the less prestigious rung of brands labeled “economy,” we found the establishment not only to be comfortable – thanks to the clever interior design that makes maximal use of the compactness of the guest rooms – but the reception desk staff of this particular property were the most outgoing, genial and helpful crew you could ever hope to encounter. 

If you go

To sum up, Scotland is a gorgeous destination, made even more welcoming when staying at the Accor properties that abound. And one can enjoy a visit even more when choosing to explore with the help of several companies that specialize in revealing the country’s gastronomic delights, architectural splendor, natural beauty and complicated history. 

One adventure that combines gourmet dining with relaxing sightseeing is a Caledonian Canal cruise with European Waterways (the largest barging company in Europe), while touring on land is a lot easier and more fun when done with an expert local guide from Walking Tours in the UK, which operates in every city you are likely to visit.

And since culinary discovery is such an integral part of traveling, get to know the best traditional foods – and drink – Scotland has to offer with The Glasgow Food and Drink Tour. Their friendly guides will unravel the secrets behind the mysterious haggis, the exotic Scotch egg, and then wash it all down with a most unexpected finale: whiskey and beer pairing. 

Rates for a double room at Novotel Glasgow Centre start at approximately $85.00 per night in low season, and can rise considerably higher in high season and during holiday weeks. As mentioned, rates at Novotel Edinburgh Centre run about 20% more. Rates at ibis Aberdeen Centre – Quayside start at approximately $70.00 per night in low season, and also rise in high season and on holidays. Members of the All Accor loyalty programme are entitled to discounted rates, as well as additional perks. 

• Check rates for the Novotel Glasgow Centre online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda.com, or Hotels.com.
• Check rates for the Novotel Edinburgh Centre online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda.com, or Hotels.com.
• Check rates for the ibis Aberdeen Centre – Quayside online at Expedia, Booking.com, Agoda.com, or Hotels.com.

Text and photos by Buzzy Gordon, who was a guest of the hotels for purposes of review. Additional photo courtesy of Novotel Edinburgh Centre. As always, the opinions expressed are his own.