Happy New Year, points collectors! There's some exciting news to kick off 2025: Virgin Hotels Edinburgh has officially joined Virgin Red, giving members a new way to redeem their Virgin Points for a stay in Scotland's capital.
This is a solid addition to the Virgin Red platform, particularly if you've been stockpiling Virgin Points and fancy a weekend escape that doesn't involve flying. Let's break down what's on offer.
The Key Details
Here's what you need to know about the new redemption option:
Redemption rate: From 60,000 Virgin Points per night (off-peak, Chamber room)
Earning rate: 7 Virgin Points per £1 spent when booking direct
Room type: Points redemptions are available on Chamber rooms, subject to availability
Requirements: You'll need linked The Know and Virgin Red accounts to book
The 60,000 points figure represents the lowest off-peak rate – expect to pay more during peak periods or for upgraded room categories.
Is 60,000 Points Good Value?
This is where it gets interesting. Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is a genuine five-star property, and cash rates can easily exceed £200-300 per night depending on when you're visiting. If you're redeeming 60,000 points for a £250 room, you're getting around 0.4p per point – which is actually pretty decent for Virgin Points.
For context, many Virgin Red redemptions hover around 0.3-0.5p per point, so this falls within the reasonable range. That said, Virgin Atlantic flights typically offer better value if you're sitting on a large points balance, especially for Premium or Upper Class redemptions.
My take: This is a solid option if you're looking for a points-funded staycation rather than saving everything for flights. Not every redemption needs to be "optimal" – sometimes treating yourself to a nice hotel without spending cash is reward enough.
About Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
The hotel is housed within the iconic India Buildings, a stunning piece of Edinburgh architecture. It recently won Condé Nast Johansens' Best New Hotel for Excellence 2026 – which tells you something about the quality on offer.
The property blends gothic arches and rich wood panelling with Virgin's signature contemporary style. Location-wise, you're stepping out directly into Edinburgh's Old Town, putting you within walking distance of the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and plenty of excellent restaurants and bars.
If you've stayed at any other Virgin Hotels property, you'll know they tend to deliver a more boutique, design-forward experience compared to the big chain standards. The Edinburgh location appears to follow that formula.
Other Virgin Hotels Available on Virgin Red
Edinburgh joins a growing collection of Virgin Hotels now bookable through Virgin Red:
Virgin Hotels London (Shoreditch)
Virgin Hotels New York
Virgin Hotels Dallas
Virgin Hotels Nashville
Virgin Hotels New Orleans
If you're planning a trip to the US and have Virgin Points to burn, the American properties could be worth considering as part of a larger itinerary – especially if you're already flying Virgin Atlantic.
Earning Points on the Way There
Here's a nice touch: you can book train travel to Edinburgh through Virgin Trains Ticketing and earn additional Virgin Points on your journey. This means you could potentially earn points on both legs of the trip – getting there and staying there.
For those of us who collect Virgin Points through credit cards like the Virgin Atlantic credit cards, this creates a nice little ecosystem where your everyday spending can fund a weekend away in Edinburgh.
How to Book
To redeem Virgin Points for a stay at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh:
Make sure you have a Virgin Red account (download the app if you haven't already)
Link your Virgin Red account to The Know (Virgin Hotels' loyalty programme)
Search for Virgin Hotels Edinburgh on the Virgin Red platform
Select your dates and redeem your points
Remember that points redemptions are subject to availability, so if you're planning a trip during festival season or other peak times, book early.
Final Thoughts
This is a welcome addition to the Virgin Red platform. Edinburgh is one of the UK's best cities for a short break – particularly if you time it around the Fringe Festival, Hogmanay, or the Christmas markets – and having a points-bookable five-star option makes it more accessible for those of us sitting on Virgin Points balances.
Is it the best possible use of 60,000 Virgin Points? Probably not, if you're purely optimising for value. But travel rewards aren't always about squeezing every last penny – sometimes they're about making experiences happen that you might otherwise put off.
If you've got Virgin Points and fancy a weekend in Scotland, this is now a legitimate option. And that's worth celebrating.
Have you stayed at any Virgin Hotels properties? I'd love to hear your experiences – drop me a reply or reach out on Instagram.
Happy collecting,
Jack