Straven (Stra'Ven Guest House)

Member Name: cougarfan45

Product:	Stra'Ven Guest House
Date:	03/03/06 (265 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very affordable, extremely friendly and helpful owners.

Disadvantages: None that I can think of.

My wife and I stayed here for a few days two years ago and we loved it. Scots in general are very, very nice and the owners here are no exception. The neighborhood is quiet and residential, not far from an "interesting" beach. It's not the most scenic area we visited but it was safe and quiet. We did most of our dining out in the city and can't verify the restaurant situation in the immediate area. There are a few pubs down the boardwalk, very smoky even when nearly deserted. I understand that smoking is now prohibited in all of Scotland's pubs, thank God. Europeans smoke more than the rest of the Earth put together. Anyway, the breakfast here is generous and tasty. Comfortable room and bath, nothing exceptional...you won't spend that much time there anyway. The house is 2 minutes from the bus stop to town, about a 20 minute ride. Buy a return ticket (round-trip) or a day pass. You save some serious money by staying in a suburb of Edinburgh. Transportation is not an issue...if we didn't get lost, nobody will. Scots are friendly, helpful people and the country is beautiful. It is a little expensive because of the exchange rate but worth it. We plan to go back in '07 for a month and might try to get to St Kilda for a day or two. Just a note, when we first arrived here, I left my camera case in the cab. Later that evening, while we were gone, the cab driver returned it to Straven's owners, on his own time and expense. When you figure the distance he probably drove and the extra gas (Scotland has, I hear, the highest gas prices in Europe), this was awfully nice of him but quite typical of Scots. We never met anyone rude there, they seem to actually like Americans! I think this suburb is called Joppa or something like that.

Summary: Would stay here again, no doubt....a great value.