We had the pleasure of staying with Gerald for four nights in February of 2008 and highly recommend his comfortable, well-situated inn to anyone with the good fortune of traveling through Edinburgh in the future.

Geraldsplace is an interesting B&B tucked into the New Town section of Edinburgh. The value is great, and Gerald really does go out of his way to provide a welcoming environment and an abundance of information (sometimes, this was a bit overwhelming!). However, his expertise is great for folks who are seeking direction in how to spend their time, especially if interested in the arts and opera.

Our room was very comfortable. There really is a wide selection of teas and coffees, and you really are given a welcome gift. Plus, there is a variety of toiletries and a hair dryer available, which decreases what you need to pack in your luggage. On the down side, we would have liked a good ole' plain bar of soap, rather than the lilacy shower gel. We probably could have gotten one, but didn't want to complain when all else was fine.

Gerald does go out of his way to feed his guests plenty of breakfast items. I highly suggest being open with any requests you may have, in order to better explore a variety of hot foods. There is an ample array of fruits and oats available as cold items.

We did have the same problem that the other reviewer noted, which was that our first night was very cold. Be sure to tell Gerald not to turn off the central heat, as this was what happened when we were there. It was not a problem after we mentioned something, although the hot water in the shower also mysteriously cut out during our first night there.

People considering staying at Geraldsplace should be fairly fit, or enjoy walking. It is not a long walk into town (5 minutes to the bars and shops in New Town, ten minutes to Old Town), but it is all uphill. This can make a traveler's legs weary very quickly! The upside to the location is that Geraldsplace is on a very safe, clean street and just across from public gardens. There are no problems with nighttime noise.

Overall, I would recommend Geraldsplace for families or older couples. Younger singles/couples may find it more convenient to be closer to the nightlife.

We have just returned from a 2-night stay at Gerald's place, and it was absolutely brilliant. Gerald is an extremely warm and welcoming host, with excellent knowledge on the city and a great sense of humour. Our room with en suite bathroom was large, cosy and impeccably clean, with a huge amount of attention to detail, including tourist maps and books, a fridge, loads of different coffees and teas, even shampoos for every hair colour possible! In addition, Gerald has books and DVDs to borrow and even a laptop. One would almost be tempted to stay in one's room with so much to offer on-site. However, Gerald's enthusiasm and knowledge of Edinburgh makes you want to go out and explore the city straight away. The location of Gerald's place is great too; it is in a very quiet and charming Georgian street whilst the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh is only a few minutes walk away. Gerald offers excellent advice on nice walks, restaurants, trips etc. And the breakfast (organic, varied and huge) will easily support you to well after lunch time. If we were to go back to Edinburgh, we would definitely go back to Gerald's place.

If you are going to stay in Edinburgh then stay at Gerald's Place. I have stayed in various hotels and B&B's all over the world and never have I experienced such a warm and caring welcome.

Gerald looks after you from the moment you arrive. He gives you all the information on places to see and things to do (including a few tips on how to save time and money whilst you are in the city), and he shows you to the most comfortable room (with the most comfortable beds) you could wish for.

During your stay Gerald is always on hand should you require him. He can arrange tickets for local shows and trips, or he can just be a friendly ear to talk to about your experiences so far.

By the time you leave you will not want to go. When we left their were hugs goodbye as if we were long time friends and a feeling of sorrow that we were leaving such a fantastic environment.

When we think of our trip to Edinburgh, we will always associate it with Gerald and it will always bring a smile to our faces.