Review: Checking into Waterloo Place, Edinburgh
What is it that really helps you to get a good night’s sleep? There are so many studies on this subject, but the studies all seem to say something different. What works for one person may not work for another, but the guys at Apex Hotels are pretty confident that they’ve found a winning formula. This October I travelled to Edinburgh with my boyfriend Scott to take part in Apex Hotel’s #HitSnooze campaign. It was my job to test out their formula for a great nights’ sleep, so we checked in to the stylish Apex Waterloo Place for a hotel lock-in of epic proportions. This post is also a giveaway, so be sure to leave a comment on this post to WIN a 1-night stay for 2 including breakfast at the Apex Hotel of your choice.
Our #HitSnooze HQ
After a full day of exploring Edinburgh, it was time to spend our first night in the city at Apex Waterloo Place. Earlier that day we checked into the hotel and got a first glimpse of our beautiful Duplex Suite. With a dining area, study, lounge area and top floor bedroom, it felt so much more homely than your average hotel room. The king size bed was luxurious, plush and dressed in the softest linen. I am so picky when it comes to hotel beds but this one ticked all my boxes. If I was going to get a good night’s sleep anywhere, it had to be here.
The Sleep Kit
Waiting for us in the room was a beautiful sleep kit with little extras to help get a good night’s sleep. This was a one-off kit they had put together just for me, which made me realise the level of attention that goes on at Apex Waterloo Place. The kit included some luxurious miniature toiletries an adjustable eye mask and some soothing chamomile tea (caffeine free and perfect to sip before bedtime). The kit also came with a list of top tips to a great night’s sleep by Lisa Artis at The Sleep Council. The surprise sleep kit was so thoughtful and it really added to the sleep-focused experience.
An Evening Spa Session
On my first night in a new city I usually can’t wait to get out and hit a local restaurant and some bars. It felt strange to be staying in the hotel all night, but not having to get ready and decide where to go definitely helped me to relax. My evening began with a swim in the hotel pool, followed by a back, neck and shoulder hot stone massage at PURE Spa & Beauty.
Usually after a massage you need to pick yourself up and continue with your day, but having this treatment in the evening allowed me to stay in my hazy state of relaxation. Apex Waterloo Place is one of the few luxury hotels in Edinburgh that is home to a spa, complete with indoor pool, steam room, sauna and treatment rooms.
A Light Supper at Elliot’s
As it was a ‘lock-in’, we ordered from the fixed-price menu at Elliot’s (Apex Waterloo Place’s signature restaurant). I opted for Serrano wrapped Hake, which was light but incredibly tasty. The waiters were both friendly and professional and really set the bar in terms of service at Apex Waterloo Place.
Switching off Technology
I wanted to share my experience on social media, so I had been taking photos, tweeting and posting Instagram stories throughout the whole day. It’s part of my job, but I knew that being wired to my technology wouldn’t help when it came to drifting off to sleep. Scott and I followed the tips in my sleep kit and made a conscious decision to ‘switch off all technology 1 hour before bed’. With phones away and the TV off, we shared a bubble bath in the huge freestanding tub. It was bliss!
The Morning After
I woke up at around 9am, which definitely felt like a bit of a lie-in for me. We snoozed until about 9.30am to make the most of the gorgeous king size bed. It felt lazy but so nice at the same time! We started our second day with a hearty Eggs Benedict breakfast and wonderfully friendly service at Elliot’s.
The Verdict
I slept through the whole night without any disturbance and definitely think the sleep I got was deep, quality sleep. I definitely think that the ‘lock-in’ ritual had contributing factors that helped me to sleep well, including the evening massage, the bubble bath, the technology cut-off and the king size bed. The whole experience at Apex Waterloo Place was an indulgent treat, but still included small changes that I can maintain at home.
The Giveaway
This blog post also marks the opening of my giveaway with Apex Hotels, which is available exclusively to my readers! I’m giving away a 1-night stay for 2 including breakfast at an Apex Hotel of your choice! (there are hotels in London, Bath, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee!). To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post answering this question;
Which Apex Hotel would you love to win a 1-night stay in and why?
To help you decide, you can browse the full hotel collection at ApexHotels.co.uk
Click here for full T&Cs
Thanks for reading and good luck! I can’t wait to read your answers. Jess x
Disclaimer: This post and giveaway has been created in collaboration with Apex Hotels. All images, words and opinions are my own.
roslia santamaria
Thanks for sharing this amazing post.