Hotel is standard, clean enough and rooms are fine, although cramped. Reception could be improved on as service was basic and robotic. Breakfast reasonable athough you wont get the usual buffet if hotel is quiet as when that happens breakfast is made to order. Had room service which was good and filing, bar is busy although relaxing, onsite pool and car rental, i got rates of about £50 bnb so alot cheaper than budget hotels, just negotiate with hotel for better rate, will stay again as good value for money.

We stayed at the Thistle for one night last weekend. We have stayed there several times before and have always been pleased apart from the fire alarm going off in the middle of the night.

We were allocated one of the newly refurbished rooms on the 1st floor. The room was very 'fresh' with a nice smell of new carpets and decoration. A plasma tv hung from the wall and had a reasonable selection of channels. The room itself wasn't huge but was made to look even smaller by the gigantic bed which was covered in pillows. Navigating around the three sides of the bed was tricky especially if my wife was drying her hair or putting on make-up. I often had to climb over the bed to get where I wanted.

The dressing table had a neat lift up mirror which revealed a superb hairdryer which my wife described as the best she had ever used. The bathroom wasn't huge but was functional and clean. It had a bath and overhead shower and a good selection of toiletries.

Having enjoyed some lovely meals at the hotel previously I was slightly disappointed with dinner. We were the third table in at 7.15 and had to wait 40 minutes for our starters. We were in no hurry so it wasn't really a problem. I ordered the Cullen Skink which was lovley but the small portion left me gagging for more. I then had a sirlion steak with shallots and tomato and waited in vain for the vegetables that obviously were not part of the deal. The steak was supposed to be 8oz but couldn't have been more than 5oz at most. However, my wife thoroughly enjoyed her lamb. The foreign staff were very pleasant and attentive though.

The pool was out of bounds that evening due to a heating problem but the other facilities in the healh club were operational. The pool was open again in the morning and we enjoyed the full range of facilities before breakfast. I was ravenous by then and enjoyed an excellent breakfast despite the plates and bacon being cold, but when do you ever get warm bacon in a hotel!

The car park was full but the hotel never seemed to be overtly busy. Hotel parking in central Inverness is a problem which is why we often go to the Thistle.

We enjoyed our stay and would definately go back. The staff were excellent but I was slighlty dismaid when reception wanted to put a £30 refundable surcharge on my bill on arrival for any 'extras' we might incurr. This was obviously designed to encourage you eat and drink in the hotel which we intended to do anyway.

Overall 'Not Bad'

I stayed at the Inverness Thistle earlier this month for a week long stay as part of a large group of people.
On arrival we were pleased with the public areas of the hotel and the efficiency of reception staff. Credit cards were pre-authorised with a certain amount and unfortunately this wasn't explained proplerly to some visitors to the country who thought they were being charged over £200 over the actual cost. This was soon sorted out.

The hotel is services by only two lifts which at premium times is just not enough. The stairwell to the first floor is currently out of use due to the first floor undergoing a £600,000 refurbishment. The workmen are contracted to begin work at 9am daily but 3 days out of our stay I had to complain to management who immediately went up the stairs to read the riot act as they were started at anything between 0745 and 0830. We were on the 4th floor so I can't imagine how those on the first floor felt.

At times the hotel seemed understaffed for the number of residents - at out final meal there was only 5 staff members to feed 130 of us in one sitting. I timed that it took 40 minutes to get all the main courses out (chicken chasseur - if I wanted chicken, 3 roast tatties, and 3 pieces of burnt carrot with gravy I would have gone to a chippy). This is obviously not down to the staff but is clearly a management issue.

The staff were excellent at the hotel, especially David. He remembered out speciality coffee order from the first day and every morning and evening that he worked when he saw us enter the room he knew exactly what to bring to the table without asking. Only one staff member appeared to have an anger management issue and I disagree with the way that the manager held a meeting with him - in the middle of the hotel lounge where there were a number of guests awaiting their transport.

Our room in the main was fine - a little on the small side for 2 of us having 7 days worth of clothing and equipment but this cannot be helped. What could be helped was the peeling wallpaper and mouldy patched under the curtain pelmets. I am sure that after the 1st floor refurb then subsequent floors will be done also - just when that will occur I don't know. Every room I was in during my stay seemed to have the wallpaper problem. Bed was very comfy and nice toiletries in the rooms tho.

Many of our group liked to have a drink in our rooms and with the managers permission after the bar shut at 0130 hours we were told to feel free to take our own drinks into the bar area so as not to disturb other guests which I thought was fair. It certainly made up for the expensive prices at the bar.

I had a bit of an accident while I was there and the staff were soon on hand with a first aid box and an accident report form so that I was well looked after. The HUGE bags of ice certainly helped my injury and two weeks later it has now gone.

All in all we had a pleasant stay and I look forward to returning next year where you never know, I may get one of the new rooms!!!

Excellent swimming pool, all to ourselves, well equiped gym, good quality breakfast, polite smiley efficient staff. Small clean well appointed room. Overlooking the road, but no noise from traffic. Expensive bar, but aren't they always!

Nothing to complain about, we always stay in 4-5 star hotels and always try to get last minute deals. This hotel ticked all the boxes, I guess some other reviewers don't have to stay in chain hotels for business purposes to often and maybe don't realise the existence of nasty overpriced hotels that are all too often the option available.