The hotel has a fairly plain and simple lobby, with a corporate feel to it. There's a large wooden reception desk, some modern leather armchairs, a bank of pay phones, computer stations, and free newspapers. Tourist maps and information leaflets are available, as are souvenir gifts from Edinburgh Zoo. It’s a very busy and popular hotel with both tourists and business travelers, and the common areas are often occupied by corporate guests working on their laptops. The restaurants and bars all have a modern, but generic, look to them with mass-produced contemporary furniture and dark neutral tones throughout. During very busy times, such as the summer holidays, and the Edinburgh Festival, the indoor pool area can get very crowded. 

Situated west of Edinburgh’s city center, the Holiday Inn is on a busy road surrounded by residential properties and attached to Edinburgh Zoo, with which it shares an entrance. There are no shops or bars within the immediate area, but it’s easy to get around as the bus stop is right outside. The hotel also has a free car park. It’s around 10 minutes by bus into the city center, and the same to Edinburgh Airport. The famous Edinburgh Castle is around 12 minutes away by car. Murrayfield Stadium is a five-minutes drive from the hotel, and Edinburgh International Conference Centre is an eight-minute drive. The Zoo is just a minutes' walk.

Rooms are available in Standard, Executive, and Family categories. The rooms are mostly spacious and bright, with contemporary minimalist-style furnishings. Expect to see chic shades of gray offset with a bright blue or teal. Wall art is also stylish and a bit trendy, including images of gingko leaves, black-and-white vintage photos, and design-conscious prints. However, this style does not carry through all rooms and some are far more outdated and shabby -- guests should check ahead regarding their room. Beds have white duvets and offer a choice of firm or soft pillows. Most of the rooms have good views, either of the zoo or the stunning Pentland Hills. Each has air-conditioning, 24-hour room service, electric kettles for coffee or tea, and flat-screen TVs. Executive Rooms also include free water, chocolates, and bathrobes. The Family Rooms are larger and have a sofa bed or space for an additional single bed. Bathrooms are plain and simple with a shower/tub combo and gray-and-white patterned tile walls. Some previous guests have found their rooms noisy -- some from corridor and neighboring room noise, some from cars outside, and there's also the unusual consequence of being located right next to the zoo. Those staying on the zoo side of the hotel may be woken by very loud noises from the monkey enclosure! 

There are two restaurants within the hotel. Traders serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a British and international menu, including a wide range of pasta dishes and some up-market burgers. On the weekends it has a carvery. The breakfast buffet includes a wide range of hot and cold food, including sausages, bacon, hash browns, black pudding, cereal, fruit, yogurt, pastries, and pancakes. It's only included in certain room rates. Sampans Restaurant serves pan-Asian cuisine and is open six days a week for dinner. Both restaurants offer a separate children's menu. Light meals and hot drinks are also available at the cafe, and there’s a bar with a selection of beers, wines, and spirits. Live sports are shown on the big screen. The hotel has an indoor swimming pool with a sauna, hot tub, and a fitness center attached; the latter has cardio and resistance equipment. For business guests, there are 14 meeting rooms. The hotel provides free car parking, and though there is free Wi-Fi, higher speeds are subject to charges.