"As my wife and I continued our honeymoon through Scotland—transitioning from the perfection of Melville Castle to the Highlands—we checked into the Inverness Palace Hotel. My breakdown: 5 stars Location, 5 Service, 3 Room. Since the room is the main purpose of a stay, my overall rating is a 3.
The positives are undeniable. Looking out over the River Ness provides a stunning 5-star backdrop. Service was commendable; staff were welcoming and when we requested a micro-fridge, it was brought up immediately.
However, room comforts fell short. The bed was hard and pillows thin. The shower has a frustrating quirk: turning the knob unavoidably blasts you with sitting cold water due to the showerhead's angle. Soap and shampoo were provided, but we had to request conditioner (happily provided, but odd not to include by default). Unwinding was tough since the TV lacked internet or most common streaming apps or ability to download them.
The general hot tub was disappointing, running a forced 10-minutes-on/10-minutes-off cleaning cycle. (The separate spa, however, is great!). Also, beware the lift—the door closed so hard on my shoulder it felt like I got tackled!
Our exit was clunky: despite arranging a late checkout, our keys deactivated early. We faced pushback on our departure time, though we suspect a simple language barrier rather than rudeness.
Great location and staff, but room comforts hold it back. Ironically, the best AirBnB I've ever stayed at is RIGHT behind them!
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