Stayed for one night on Monday 16th June. Check in was OK, although they had no trace of my booking. Very pleasant and helpful receptionist. Bedroom (210) was disappointing - most uncomfortable mattress I have had in a hotel. Heating did not work - faulty thermostat. No shaver socket in room or light above washand basin. Continuous noise from fan outside window during night. Positive point - excellent flat screen TV.
Breakfast service - buffet style - was not good. No indication as to what juices were on offer. No low fat alternative to butter. Had to ask for coffee. On leaving dining-room, supervisor was more interested in talking to colleague than asking if everything had been OK. No croissants or breakfast rolls available.
Apparently hotel had just been given 4 stars by AA - will be surprised if VisitScotland give it 4 stars - more like reasonable 3 star hotel.

Girlfriend and I (25 and 26) arrived with high hopes. I had read that the hotel had 4 stars and had recently been refurbished.

Check in was fine and efficient. The room (Room 203) was on the second floor at the front with a view of the castle and River Ness, but I could find no evidence of renovations. The mastic in the bathroom had mould on it and the bathroom suite was stright out of the 80s. The walls were beige or off-white and a lamp that was wabbly and leaning.

The lighting was basic: laying on the bed a 1970s lampshade covered one single bulb and artex celing made it feel as if we were in a 2 star.

Incidental jazz mood music from the reception and corridors flooded in through the air ventilation (I had to ask for it to be switched off) and untill 11:30pm, bass music from somewhere irritated us. I asked what the noise was at reception, only to be told that it comes from the club next door. All the other rooms are booked so we can't move you". I hadn't asked to be moved, but I expect a few might have asked already given the snappy response.

Breakfast was disorganised, the waiting staff were all but running across the dining room making it feel unconfortable and rushed. We were not served tea/coffee and toast where as everyone else was, so I guess they just forgot us like the forgot to cook any soft fried eggs.

Perhaps the other rooms at the back of the hotel are better, perhaps the ones we stayed in could not be changed, but if I did have a refurbished room, it was a poor refurb and I would not recommend this place at the price.

Stayed here for two nights in mid-April 2008. It's in a good location, just across the river from the castle. The room, on level 2, was quiet and a good size, with TV, hair drier, iron, etc. Quite a reasonable choice of food at breakfast with a good service (though the hotel was far from being full during our stay). A few minor downsides - the mattress was thin and quite squeaky (perhaps it had seen a little too much service?), and a rather complicated mixture of floor levels in different parts of the building, which might make a stay there a little more taxing for the infirm (unless their need for easy access was made clear when booking their room).

The Coumba Hotel is situated only a very short walk from Inverness City Centre and the front of the hotel overlooks the river Ness. Parking can be a problem as its on-street with a two hour maximum limited wait until 6.00pm at night until 8.00am the following morning so if you want a long lie beware the traffic wardens!

Reception was quick and efficient, but the rooms were a bit tired despite the claim that the hotel had recently been refurbished. Decor is rather dull and dismal. Our room was at the rear of the hotel and was very quiet and peaceful.

Breakfast was buffet style and was poor. Clearly the sausages, bacon and eggs had been cooked sometime before and left on the hotplate and was luke-warm and unappitising. They could certainly do without the canned music - who wants to listen to a trombone at 8.00am in the morning whilst having breakfast?

However at £79 per night for two people B&B it was OK. I probably will look elsewhere in Inverness rather than return to the Columba.