Discussion
Zed 44 said:
I just arrived back from Scotland today in the family car and all I can say is thank god I did not take mine. The journey up was appalling, crowded roads, potholes, the usual.
As for hotels, well I decided not to go up to the Highlands as I'd been twice before and only found two that were good, the Balmacara, as mentioned and the Strathcarron hotel. The rest ranged from dangerous to mediocre, including being dirty and over-priced.
As for my recent experience, I stayed in Edinburgh as I was visiting a friend. I had originally intended to bring my car so a hotel with secure parking was a must. In the end, I was obliged to book two nights as part of their terms. I had to pay the first night in advance on a debit card. When we arrived, their was no one to greet us but text instructions had been sent. We didn't see the owner until the following morning. The parking was not that secure. The room was small, the bathroom was miniscule with a tiny sink which over flowed when face washing, the taps didn't work properly and there were two things broken in the shower plus the window took two of us to lift open. The cost for the pleasure of all this was £60 per night NOT including breakfast. Typical? I don't know. But I have never had such consistently bad experiences on the Continent. If you pay 35 Euros a night, you know what you're going to get and that the breakfast costs a further 8 Euros or so.
I understand that quite good deals are to be had on Scotrail. Definitely something to consider if there is a next time.
Which hotel was this?As for hotels, well I decided not to go up to the Highlands as I'd been twice before and only found two that were good, the Balmacara, as mentioned and the Strathcarron hotel. The rest ranged from dangerous to mediocre, including being dirty and over-priced.
As for my recent experience, I stayed in Edinburgh as I was visiting a friend. I had originally intended to bring my car so a hotel with secure parking was a must. In the end, I was obliged to book two nights as part of their terms. I had to pay the first night in advance on a debit card. When we arrived, their was no one to greet us but text instructions had been sent. We didn't see the owner until the following morning. The parking was not that secure. The room was small, the bathroom was miniscule with a tiny sink which over flowed when face washing, the taps didn't work properly and there were two things broken in the shower plus the window took two of us to lift open. The cost for the pleasure of all this was £60 per night NOT including breakfast. Typical? I don't know. But I have never had such consistently bad experiences on the Continent. If you pay 35 Euros a night, you know what you're going to get and that the breakfast costs a further 8 Euros or so.
I understand that quite good deals are to be had on Scotrail. Definitely something to consider if there is a next time.
cat220 said:
Zed 44 said:
s2kjock said:
£60 is very cheap for Edinburgh. There's a shortage of hotel accommodation in the city.
What was this hotel called?
Maybe, but you can do a lot better on the Continent for the same money. That's why I'm doing 4 trips there this summer.What was this hotel called?
Not only that, overall, it's cheaper for me to go there via. Eurotunnel for a 7-10 day trip than it is to go to Scotland and the roads are a million times better, imho.
Very friendly, great service and a very good price, plus usually plenty places/pubs to dine out/have a beer if that's what you want in the evenings.
Most of the small 1 or 2 room B&B's even have websites now, so easy to find them.
Zed 44 said:
I just arrived back from Scotland today in the family car and all I can say is thank god I did not take mine. The journey up was appalling, crowded roads, potholes, the usual.
As for hotels, well I decided not to go up to the Highlands as I'd been twice before and only found two that were good, the Balmacara, as mentioned and the Strathcarron hotel. The rest ranged from dangerous to mediocre, including being dirty and over-priced.
As for my recent experience, I stayed in Edinburgh as I was visiting a friend. I had originally intended to bring my car so a hotel with secure parking was a must. In the end, I was obliged to book two nights as part of their terms. I had to pay the first night in advance on a debit card. When we arrived, their was no one to greet us but text instructions had been sent. We didn't see the owner until the following morning. The parking was not that secure. The room was small, the bathroom was miniscule with a tiny sink which over flowed when face washing, the taps didn't work properly and there were two things broken in the shower plus the window took two of us to lift open. The cost for the pleasure of all this was £60 per night NOT including breakfast. Typical? I don't know. But I have never had such consistently bad experiences on the Continent. If you pay 35 Euros a night, you know what you're going to get and that the breakfast costs a further 8 Euros or so.
I understand that quite good deals are to be had on Scotrail. Definitely something to consider if there is a next time.
Odd how experiences vary so much. I've stayed at both of the named hotels before, and will not be returning to either. There are far better options available, such as B&Bs, of which there is a pretty huge choice in the Highlands.As for hotels, well I decided not to go up to the Highlands as I'd been twice before and only found two that were good, the Balmacara, as mentioned and the Strathcarron hotel. The rest ranged from dangerous to mediocre, including being dirty and over-priced.
As for my recent experience, I stayed in Edinburgh as I was visiting a friend. I had originally intended to bring my car so a hotel with secure parking was a must. In the end, I was obliged to book two nights as part of their terms. I had to pay the first night in advance on a debit card. When we arrived, their was no one to greet us but text instructions had been sent. We didn't see the owner until the following morning. The parking was not that secure. The room was small, the bathroom was miniscule with a tiny sink which over flowed when face washing, the taps didn't work properly and there were two things broken in the shower plus the window took two of us to lift open. The cost for the pleasure of all this was £60 per night NOT including breakfast. Typical? I don't know. But I have never had such consistently bad experiences on the Continent. If you pay 35 Euros a night, you know what you're going to get and that the breakfast costs a further 8 Euros or so.
I understand that quite good deals are to be had on Scotrail. Definitely something to consider if there is a next time.
If you're restricted to £60/night your best bet would be a Premier Inn, although the car parking is not secure.
Maybe you should do a little more research before your next trip, it does pay off.
ianrb said:
Odd how experiences vary so much. I've stayed at both of the named hotels before, and will not be returning to either. There are far better options available, such as B&Bs, of which there is a pretty huge choice in the Highlands.
If you're restricted to £60/night your best bet would be a Premier Inn, although the car parking is not secure.
Maybe you should do a little more research before your next trip, it does pay off.
Normally when my mate and I travel, we prefer accomodation with a bar and restaurant so we can get something to eat and have a drink without having to drive somewhere. So, that rules out B&Bs no matter how good or cheap they are.If you're restricted to £60/night your best bet would be a Premier Inn, although the car parking is not secure.
Maybe you should do a little more research before your next trip, it does pay off.
When I thought about doing a partial Highlands tour, I checked this Premiere Inn out. Presumably you didn't mean it.
http://booking.com/f73d4eb87469f73f
Incidentally, in Ft. William, of all the hotels, only 12 have parking of some type and of those, ranging in price from £21 to £465, half are over £100 per night.
As for Edinburgh, on Booking.com, there are 16 properties with some type of parking in the £71-100 range. Many of the private parking arrangements are paved front gardens. I spent ages researching on Google streetmaps and even phoning a short list to find out.
Meanwhile, over in France, you could book into any one of 81 hotels in Paris this weekend with some type of parking for less than £100. Not that you would include Paris in a driving itinerary.
Zed 44 said:
When I thought about doing a partial Highlands tour, I checked this Premiere Inn out. Presumably you didn't mean it.
http://booking.com/f73d4eb87469f73f
That is a very busy Premier Inn, and Fort William is a busy place with tourists all year, due to the wide range of outdoor activities there. http://booking.com/f73d4eb87469f73f
But, your 'booking' site isn't as good as the chain direct. e.g I can book a room direct for £35, but the booking site are charging £71 for the same time. (a few months in advance)
What hotel in Edinburgh was it?
Anyone ever used this place as a base for a holiday in Scotland?
Looks pretty good!
http://www.thehighlandclub.co.uk/holiday-rental/
Looks pretty good!
http://www.thehighlandclub.co.uk/holiday-rental/
ant leigh said:
I prefer private B&B once I am up in the more remote parts of the highlands.
Very friendly, great service and a very good price, plus usually plenty places/pubs to dine out/have a beer if that's what you want in the evenings.
Most of the small 1 or 2 room B&B's even have websites now, so easy to find them.
We do too, found some brilliant places & never any really bad ones.Very friendly, great service and a very good price, plus usually plenty places/pubs to dine out/have a beer if that's what you want in the evenings.
Most of the small 1 or 2 room B&B's even have websites now, so easy to find them.
http://www.thehighlandclub.co.uk/holiday-rental/
I imagine, like a few other members, that this is my old school. Never been there since it was converted but there is a cracking restaurant at the boat house in the grounds.
I imagine, like a few other members, that this is my old school. Never been there since it was converted but there is a cracking restaurant at the boat house in the grounds.
Hooli said:
ant leigh said:
I prefer private B&B once I am up in the more remote parts of the highlands.
Very friendly, great service and a very good price, plus usually plenty places/pubs to dine out/have a beer if that's what you want in the evenings.
Most of the small 1 or 2 room B&B's even have websites now, so easy to find them.
We do too, found some brilliant places & never any really bad ones.Very friendly, great service and a very good price, plus usually plenty places/pubs to dine out/have a beer if that's what you want in the evenings.
Most of the small 1 or 2 room B&B's even have websites now, so easy to find them.
Lochaber said:
http://www.thehighlandclub.co.uk/holiday-rental/
I imagine, like a few other members, that this is my old school. Never been there since it was converted but there is a cracking restaurant at the boat house in the grounds.
Ditto, although I have had a wander around since it was converted. Looks nicer now.I imagine, like a few other members, that this is my old school. Never been there since it was converted but there is a cracking restaurant at the boat house in the grounds.
Zed 44 said:
I just arrived back from Scotland today in the family car and all I can say is thank god I did not take mine. The journey up was appalling, crowded roads, potholes, the usual.
As for hotels, well I decided not to go up to the Highlands as I'd been twice before and only found two that were good, the Balmacara, as mentioned and the Strathcarron hotel. The rest ranged from dangerous to mediocre, including being dirty and over-priced.
As for my recent experience, I stayed in Edinburgh as I was visiting a friend. I had originally intended to bring my car so a hotel with secure parking was a must. In the end, I was obliged to book two nights as part of their terms. I had to pay the first night in advance on a debit card. When we arrived, their was no one to greet us but text instructions had been sent. We didn't see the owner until the following morning. The parking was not that secure. The room was small, the bathroom was miniscule with a tiny sink which over flowed when face washing, the taps didn't work properly and there were two things broken in the shower plus the window took two of us to lift open. The cost for the pleasure of all this was £60 per night NOT including breakfast. Typical? I don't know. But I have never had such consistently bad experiences on the Continent. If you pay 35 Euros a night, you know what you're going to get and that the breakfast costs a further 8 Euros or so.
I understand that quite good deals are to be had on Scotrail. Definitely something to consider if there is a next time.
You seem to have an ability to identify the worst - or you are hypercritical. The highland hotels I have stayed in for 30 odd years are full of character ; sometimes brilliant and other times room for improvement but still fun. The roads are sublime and have far less damage than just about anywhere else I travel in the UK . BTW- what was 'dangerous' ? Ebola in the tea making equipment ? We should be told As for hotels, well I decided not to go up to the Highlands as I'd been twice before and only found two that were good, the Balmacara, as mentioned and the Strathcarron hotel. The rest ranged from dangerous to mediocre, including being dirty and over-priced.
As for my recent experience, I stayed in Edinburgh as I was visiting a friend. I had originally intended to bring my car so a hotel with secure parking was a must. In the end, I was obliged to book two nights as part of their terms. I had to pay the first night in advance on a debit card. When we arrived, their was no one to greet us but text instructions had been sent. We didn't see the owner until the following morning. The parking was not that secure. The room was small, the bathroom was miniscule with a tiny sink which over flowed when face washing, the taps didn't work properly and there were two things broken in the shower plus the window took two of us to lift open. The cost for the pleasure of all this was £60 per night NOT including breakfast. Typical? I don't know. But I have never had such consistently bad experiences on the Continent. If you pay 35 Euros a night, you know what you're going to get and that the breakfast costs a further 8 Euros or so.
I understand that quite good deals are to be had on Scotrail. Definitely something to consider if there is a next time.
Zed 44 said:
Normally when my mate and I travel, we prefer accomodation with a bar and restaurant so we can get something to eat and have a drink without having to drive somewhere. So, that rules out B&Bs no matter how good or cheap they are.
When I thought about doing a partial Highlands tour, I checked this Premiere Inn out. Presumably you didn't mean it.
http://booking.com/f73d4eb87469f73f
Incidentally, in Ft. William, of all the hotels, only 12 have parking of some type and of those, ranging in price from £21 to £465, half are over £100 per night.
As for Edinburgh, on Booking.com, there are 16 properties with some type of parking in the £71-100 range. Many of the private parking arrangements are paved front gardens. I spent ages researching on Google streetmaps and even phoning a short list to find out.
Meanwhile, over in France, you could book into any one of 81 hotels in Paris this weekend with some type of parking for less than £100. Not that you would include Paris in a driving itinerary.
Hmm. If I was going to go to a remote part of Europe, I think I would know what to expect, and certainly wouldn't expect to find facilities to compare with one of the world's great capitals.When I thought about doing a partial Highlands tour, I checked this Premiere Inn out. Presumably you didn't mean it.
http://booking.com/f73d4eb87469f73f
Incidentally, in Ft. William, of all the hotels, only 12 have parking of some type and of those, ranging in price from £21 to £465, half are over £100 per night.
As for Edinburgh, on Booking.com, there are 16 properties with some type of parking in the £71-100 range. Many of the private parking arrangements are paved front gardens. I spent ages researching on Google streetmaps and even phoning a short list to find out.
Meanwhile, over in France, you could book into any one of 81 hotels in Paris this weekend with some type of parking for less than £100. Not that you would include Paris in a driving itinerary.
I love the continent too, I love driving in that large remote area in central/eastern France, and I also dearly love the Highlands. I'll continue to return to these areas as often as I can.
I would say that a bit of thought and research makes a massive difference. I've traveled to and from the Highlands on a number of occasions (from the Midlands) without too much hassle. I'm not too interested in wonderful hotels as that's not what I go for, but I have stayed in perfectly acceptable ones. If we're touring we'll often head for a town and call in the tourist information centre, tell them what we want and we've always got that. I think we prefer higher class B&B's, but just stipulate you want to be near food and drink and that's what you'll get.
I don't think it's ever occurred to me to ask for secure parking when in remote areas, I take the view that we've left the higher crime-rate area behind. We did recently have to leave a group of cars in a car park while we stayed a few days on an island, one of our number was in a mint Mk1 Lotus Cortina, he asked at the ferry terminal and next thing he was parked in someones gated front drive.
TBH, in the highlands, being off the road is about all that matters with parking. You've got a much higher chance of having your car skelped by a passing HGV than being nicked, even if you left the keys in it. Car crime is pretty much non-existent.
If you were going to Edinburgh (same as if I was going to London), you'd be better off either taking the train/flying or, if you need a car, staying at one of the business type hotels towards the edge of the city & getting a bus/tram/train in to the city centre. You definitely don't need to confine yourself to hotels with full-service restaurants, anything that's in a village should have somewhere within walking distance for food & a pint, probably a larger hotel with a public restaurant/bar in some of the smaller places.
If you were going to Edinburgh (same as if I was going to London), you'd be better off either taking the train/flying or, if you need a car, staying at one of the business type hotels towards the edge of the city & getting a bus/tram/train in to the city centre. You definitely don't need to confine yourself to hotels with full-service restaurants, anything that's in a village should have somewhere within walking distance for food & a pint, probably a larger hotel with a public restaurant/bar in some of the smaller places.
Lochaber said:
jock mcsporran said:
Ditto, although I have had a wander around since it was converted. Looks nicer now.
I imagine it looks A LOT BETTER than when we were there. And a lot warmer too. I take it you were a year or two below me in school ?Zed 44 said:
As for hotels, well I decided not to go up to the Highlands as I'd been twice before and only found two that were good, the Balmacara, as mentioned and the Strathcarron hotel. The rest ranged from dangerous to mediocre, including being dirty and over-priced.
We obviously have very different notions of what makes a good hotel! (I know the Strathcarron well). Perhaps it's just down to how much you are willing to spend? You are right, of course, there are loads of cheap crap hotels in the Highlands, but even though I live up here I regularly visit a bunch of great ones - Michelin star & 3 AA rosette etc. Indeed my local (The Torridon) was recently voted by The Times as the 13th best hotel in the world. I'm typing this sitting in a Michel / Albert Roux owned hotel in Lochinver (check it out) >>> http://inverlodge.com
Couple of months ago I was in a middle order/priced hotel in Islington. Its room was a third the size and almost twice as expensive. This was the view from my room in London.
...and the good thing about this time of year in the Highlands is you often get free upgrades
(excuse crap pic... tis a snap)
My point is, there are some truly great hotels in the Highlands, but you do need to pay a bit more for them. Today, for my wife and I and two dogs, £150.
ETA that's B&B. Fine Dining costs extra.
Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 14th May 18:17
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