With the Commonwealth Games just around the corner in 2014 and the city never more popular with city breakers, it is no surprise that a swathe of new accommodations have recently opened in Glasgow. Grasshoppers is one of the more unusual of them, claiming to offer luxury on an affordable budget bang in the centre of the city.
Central Location
The location is ideal. The hotel sits right in the heart of the action on the edge of Central Station with myriad shops, cafes, restaurants and bars dotted all around. Arriving was a bit unusual in that there is no real reception as such and after buzzing we had too wait a wee while to get let in the main door and then make our own way up the lift.
There is no doubting that Grasshoppers cuts a number of corners like this (note too the lack of a restaurant or bar), but equally there is no doubting that it offers superb value for money at a fraction of what the city’s leading hotels charge.
Smooth Minimalist Tone
The smooth minimalist tone sees it sit firmly at the boutique end of the hotel spectrum, but it is neither cold nor clinical. Those slick floors may be Caledonian oak, but the unfussy, stylish feel is unmistakably Scandinavian. Housed within a building that dates back to 1905 the high ceilings and ornate cornices are a nice touch too that is all very Glasgow in a city renowned for its grand architecture.
Grasshoppers is pleasantly small scale too with only 30 bedrooms. We loved that they had king size handmade divan beds with Egyptian cotton sheets, duck feather and down duvets. The ash laminate furniture is also designed and made for Grasshoppers, with Pedrali lighting and chairs too. Shower rooms feature Grohe power showers and are bedecked with Arran Aromatics toiletries. Each bedroom has a Samsung 32″ television boasting a HD SKY Box that comes complete with SKY Sports and SKY Movies. Also available are discounted day passes for the nearby LA Fitness gym and swimming pool. Wifi is free too.
Affordable Parking
Another handy feature is that the hotel has car parking close by that does not cost a fortune, while some Glasgow hotels just leave you to get on with it and find a metered space or an expensive private car park.
This is just one of the features that make this such an enjoyable place to stay. We would not quite go as far as saying that they offer luxury on a budget, but Grasshoppers does manage to turn on the style and offer great value accommodation right in the heart of Scotland’s thriving largest city.
Grasshoppers, 87 Union Street, Glasgow, G1 3TA. Tel: (0)141-2222666. www.grasshoppersglasgow.com
InsiderScotland Rating [effortless-gm address=”[effortless-gm address=”87 Union Street, Glasgow, G1 3TA”]
For Families 6/10
For a Romantic Break 7/10
For Food 5/10
For Business People 7/10
InsiderScotland Rating 7/10