Hello everyone,
Today I’m sharing with you the accommodations I booked for my trip to Scotland.
The Haymarket Hotel (Edinburgh) – September 19 to 21
Our first accommodation in Scotland was this hotel in the Haymarket area, where we spent two nights before picking up the rental car and continuing the route. The location is practical — you can walk to the city center and the main areas of interest in Edinburgh — plus it’s quiet and without noise. However, the experience was very negative.
From the moment we arrived, the hotel gave a bad impression. The reception smelled bad, the floor tiles were broken, there was a lack of cleanliness, and not a single sofa or chair to sit on. Also, since we arrived early, we used the common bathroom: it was in terrible condition, with carpet (something incomprehensible for a bathroom), dirty and outdated.
The room was located in a basement, accessed by creaking wooden stairs. The decoration was strange, with an unpleasant psychedelic air. The ceiling had damp stains, the mattress was sunken and old, the pillows and sheets were poor quality, and the parquet floor was scratched and broken.
It had a small outdoor terrace, but it was so dirty it was impossible to use.
The bathroom was spacious but outdated, with a careless finish, a shower full of mold, and only one soap as the sole “amenity.” On top of that, something unforgivable: during the two nights we stayed, they didn’t clean the room or the bathroom at all.
Breakfast was included in the rate, but it was another huge disappointment. There were no vegan options or alternatives for people with allergies or dietary restrictions. The only thing available was the classic English breakfast, eggs, and cow’s milk for the cereal.
When we asked for a plant-based option, they reluctantly gave us a barista drink, but that was all. In practice, the only thing we could eat were some cereals with that milk and a couple of bananas. A very serious shortcoming in a hotel that receives international travelers.
To top it off, the room heating didn’t work. In September it’s already quite cold in Scotland, and heating was necessary. The bathroom heating only worked one night, for a few hours, and by the time we woke up it was already off.
The good
- Convenient location, within walking distance to the center.
- Quiet area without noise.
- Spacious bathroom (though poorly maintained).
The bad
- Reception in poor condition, with nowhere to sit.
- General feeling of uncleanliness.
- Wi-Fi never worked.
- Gloomy basement room with dampness, sunken mattress, and old furniture.
- Dirty, unusable outdoor terrace.
- Outdated bathroom, with mold and no amenities.
- No cleaning during the stay.
- Breakfast with no vegan options or allergy alternatives.
- Heating not working properly.
Glamness Pods – A Unique Experience in Converted Shipping Containers (Inverness) – September 21 to 22
We chose this accommodation in Inverness because it was conveniently located as a stopover before heading to the Isle of Skye. We were only going to stay one night, and although the idea of sleeping in a converted shipping container sounded original, the experience was quite disappointing.
We arrived at night with 1 °C outside. Upon entering the container, we discovered that the heaters were off, so it was practically as cold inside as outside. We tried to turn them on, but they didn’t work. We called customer service, and they promised to send someone with an electric heater.
When the guy arrived, the heaters had just started to work weakly, but even then, it took almost two hours to minimally heat the space. The extra heater didn’t help much either: it took more than an hour to give off some warmth. Unacceptable that an accommodation in such a cold climate doesn’t think to turn on the heating before guests arrive.
The container was very small. We knew this when booking, but in practice it was even more uncomfortable, because with luggage inside there was hardly any room to walk. For one person with a backpack it might be okay, but for two people with suitcases it becomes impractical.
The mattress was sunken and soft, the pillows also of poor quality. The bathroom was uncomfortable: shower with curtain and a tiny sink, which splashed everywhere when the water pressure was slightly higher.
As for cleanliness, it was fairly acceptable, much better than the Edinburgh hotel, but nothing remarkable.
Each container includes a small basic kitchen, although poorly equipped. For preparing a quick dinner and a simple breakfast it was enough, but it’s not a space designed for comfortable cooking.
The accommodation advertised Wi-Fi, but it never worked. There was also no breakfast included or any extras to compensate for the deficiencies.
The most shocking thing was finding a house rules sign that, at the end, threatened a £50 fine if you didn’t recycle properly, even warning that guests were monitored by security cameras to check. They don’t even bother to turn on the heating before your arrival, but they do worry about fining you if you don’t recycle, and on top of it, they want you to clean everything before leaving.
The good
- Original glamping concept.
- Mini kitchen sufficient for a dinner and a simple breakfast.
The bad
- Heaters not turned on before arrival (unacceptable in 1 °C weather).
- Container took almost two hours to warm up.
- Extremely small and uncomfortable room if you have luggage.
- Mattress and pillows very soft.
- Shower with curtain and ridiculously small sink.
- Poorly equipped kitchen.
- Wi-Fi never worked.
- Excessive, unwelcoming rules (fines for not recycling and cleaning obligation before leaving).
Holiday Home Flo Anndra by Interhome (Kilmaluag, Isle of Skye) – September 22 to 25
Booking accommodation on the Isle of Skye was an odyssey: everything was full, and the only thing available was this house in Kilmaluag, at the far north, as far as possible from everything. Around €300 per night, an exorbitant price, so we thought it would be a place with high standards. Unfortunately, it wasn’t.
Although the owners lived barely a kilometer away, they didn’t have the courtesy to welcome us in person. The key was hidden under a flowerpot, which from the start seemed unprofessional for such an expensive place.
Inside, the house looked reasonably clean, except for the carpets, which were disgusting, and we removed them. The wood stove was already prepared, which was a practical detail, and the bathroom heating was on, keeping a pleasant temperature upon arrival.
The house was outdated, poorly built, and had separate hot and cold water taps instead of a mixer tap. The shower had a curtain, which is always uncomfortable, and basic details were missing, such as a bathmat for stepping out of the shower.
The kitchen was moderately equipped and had a washing machine, but no dryer. Incomprehensible in such a cold, humid place like Skye: doing laundry there means clothes never dry, making it useless.
The mattress was soft and sunken, the pillows and sheets were of poor quality, and the room had carpet with an unpleasant dusty smell.
Most shocking was the lack of Wi-Fi. In 2025, and paying €300 a night, it’s absurd for a property to not have this basic service.
When we wrote via Booking to point out some issues, the owner replied that we should contact the “keykeeper” managing the house instead of him, showing a detached attitude toward guests.
The good
- Wood stove already prepared.
- Bathroom heating on upon arrival (pleasant temperature).
- Kitchen sufficient for basics.
The bad
- Exorbitant price for the quality offered.
- Dirty carpets and dusty smell in the room.
- Poor quality mattress, pillows, and sheets.
- Shower with curtain and no bathmat.
- Washing machine with no dryer (impractical in cold, damp climate).
- Outdated house with shoddy construction.
- No Wi-Fi.
- Detached owners, no direct contact.
Innisfree Guest House (Fort William) – September 25 to 27
After several mediocre experiences, this was without a doubt the only good accommodation of the trip. We had it booked for two nights and from the moment we arrived, we knew it would be different.
We arrived at noon, even though check-in was at 4:00 p.m. We rang the doorbell, and the owner personally greeted us with great kindness: she said the room was ready and we could settle in right away.
At a time when most accommodations rely on automatic check-ins, finding a real person to welcome you, smile at you, and take the trouble to chat feels like a true luxury. That human touch made a difference from the start.
The house conveyed warmth, care, and hospitality: from the entrance to the room, everything was impeccably clean and well-maintained.
The room was lovely, tastefully decorated, and very cozy, with a small table and two chairs for eating or working comfortably. It had carpet, but unlike all the other places, here it was clean, without dust or damp smells.
The mattress was still soft (which seems to be a constant in Scotland), but the sheets, pillows, and towels were of excellent quality: white, spotless, and new.
The bathroom was spotless, with complete amenities: shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and hand soap. They also provided daily cleaning, with the option of towel changes if desired. A service we didn’t have in any other accommodation on the trip.
A charming touch was the complimentary snacks in the room: chocolates, cookies, rolls, sliced bread, instant porridge, yogurts, drinks, and bananas. Most weren’t vegan, but the gesture was still highly appreciated.
The windows were open when we arrived, which ensured fresh ventilation in the room, another very important detail in tourist accommodations.
The heating worked perfectly. The TV worked too, and surprisingly, this was the only place in the whole trip where the Wi-Fi worked.
As for soundproofing, the walls were thin, and everything could be heard. However, thanks to the respect and silence of the guests, the “quiet hours” sign from 10:00 p.m. onwards, and the absolute calm of the area (no traffic or outside noise), the stay was peaceful.
When we checked out, the owner greeted us again and genuinely cared about how our stay had been.
The area was very quiet and noiseless. In addition, the location was excellent as a base to visit Fort William and its surroundings.
The good
- Personal and friendly attention from the owner (early check-in and close treatment).
- Impeccable cleanliness throughout the house.
- Tastefully decorated, very cozy room.
- Clean carpet without odors.
- Excellent quality bed linen, pillows, and towels.
- Daily cleaning with option of towel change.
- Courtesy details in the room (snacks, drinks, fruits).
- Proper ventilation (windows open upon arrival).
- Efficient heating, TV, and Wi-Fi working.
- Very quiet area, great location to visit Fort William and surroundings.
The bad
- Non-existent soundproofing (although compensated by guest silence and respect).
- Snacks not vegan-friendly.
Fraser Suites Glasgow – September 27 to 29
This was the last accommodation of our trip to Scotland, two nights in Glasgow. We chose it because it offered a kitchen and looked modern and comfortable in the photos. There was another option further from the center but without a kitchen, so we finally went with this one. Unfortunately, the experience was disastrous.
Arriving in Glasgow on a Saturday night was a total shock: streets full of drunk people, vomit on the sidewalks, and even a bleeding man after being beaten. That chaotic atmosphere already made us regret choosing this city as the last stop.
Although it was listed as floor 1, it looked like a basement, with high windows stuck to the ceiling that barely let in natural light. The smell was disgusting, of dirty carpet mixed with accumulated dust. The walls were stained, and the skirting boards had a thick layer of dust.
The bathroom, though more modern than other places on the trip, also had poor finishes and dirt.
The kitchen and living room, accessed via internal stairs, were in deplorable condition: dirty kitchen with greasy walls, equally dirty and unusable sofa, and an overall constant feeling of neglect and disgust.
The Wi-Fi didn’t work, and the TV was obsolete, without streaming apps. To top it off, the street noise was unbearable: shouting, music, broken bottles, and cars. Even with earplugs it was impossible to rest. Inside the building there was no peace either, as every time someone walked upstairs, the floor creaked nonstop.
After complaining, the next day they moved us to another room on the third floor. The “feeling” was different: still dirty carpet and dust smell, but a bit cleaner than the previous one. At least the sofa seemed usable, and the TV had Netflix.
That partial improvement left us with the impression that the hotel first gives out the bad rooms, and only if the guest complains, they agree to change you to a better one. Even so, the level was still mediocre and far below what you’d expect for this type of aparthotel.
The good
- Central location (although very noisy).
- Relatively modern bathroom.
The bad
- Room unhealthy and depressing.
- Dirty carpet and walls, dusty smell.
- Kitchen and living room in terrible condition.
- Wi-Fi not working.
- Extreme noise from street and building.
Here I leave the links to my YouTube channel:
My trip to Scotland: