I was booked in here by my work for 3 nights as I was working nearby. Check in is between 16:00-21:00. Myself and my colleague arrived at 21:01 after a 4 hour drive from Glasgow. The plan was to check in, drop our bags and then head to work as we were working nightshift nearby. Upon walking up the two flights of stairs we walked into a very quiet hallway trying to find reception. We saw a door to the bar so we went to walk in and then from behind us heard a woman say “hello” very abruptly. We turned round to see a very disgruntled looking woman who was half asleep and scowling at us. I explained we were looking to check in and before I could finish my brief sentence I was interrupted by the owner asking if we were nightshift workers which we were. She then said “No! Not here! I don’t take nightshift men!” When I asked why her explanation was, “I can’t get my work done during the day, it’s too noisy!” She also informed us she had already “sent 2 men packing” earlier on as they were also nightshift workers and had made the terrible decision to book this place. She literally couldn’t be anymore rude and showing no sympathy for our situation. We had to start work in 2 hours and had no where to stay now! So after almost biting my tongue in half trying my hardest not to tell this woman what I thought of her we left and tried for the next 1 and a half hours to find alternative accommodation and finally after wakening up many hotel and B&B owners we got a place in Elgin! Now I’d like to add, no where on Hotels.com does it mention she doesn’t accept nightshift workers or anything remotely along those lines! In fact they even let pets in but sadly us nightshift that cause too much a nuisance are not welcome!…
Please, if you work nightshift, do not book here. We arrived at 21:00hrs to check into our rooms for 3 nights, upon arrival, we were met by a lady who sternly asked if we were nightshift. Our reply of yes was met with, I’ve already knocked back 2 night workers, you can’t stay here, I won’t get my work done. She then advised us to go elsewhere. Great news, 2 hours before our shift was to start, luckily at this time of night we found somewhere.
We stayed here for two nights. No one was there when we arrived. A sign on reception stated she would be back shortly. Shortly turned out to be over half an hour. Room we got was up in the attic. Sloping roof meant I had to walk around bent double. The skylight windows had large metal handles sticking down to head level. The one at the top of the stairs nearly took my eye out. Surely a health and safety hazard. The owner Denise, well they should make a reality TV show about her. How rude can one person be ? On our second day, we noticed the towels hadn't been changed. When we asked for clean towels she just said no, it wasn't needed. At our first breakfast I had sausage, bacon and egg, two of each. On the second day, I only got one of each. When I told Denise that this was half of what I got yesterday, she said it wasn't her who made yesterdays breakfast. There was no orange juice or glasses. We asked if she could bring some juice, she made a snorting noise and walked off. A minute later she brought a carton of juice and set it on the table. When she came back with our breakfast I pointed out there was no glasses for the juice. She flounced out, came back and banged two tumblers down on my table. Toast was cold, I was too scared to tell her. I don't usually give bad reviews but this woman is clearly in the wrong profession. …
Stayed here for one night while traveling home.. The room i stayed in was very clean, newly decorated and everything worked. Its a private hotel so not run by a large company. The breakfast was really good, freshly cooked. The stairs up to the reception ar'nt good as the hotel starts on the first floor. The hotel is very central but the local area (in common with most British towns) has seen better days. Parking was at the rear of a Church facing the hotel and was ok.
What year is it? 1972? Imagine if you will, a cross between Fawlty Towers and Prisoner Cell Block H....minus anything remotely amusing. What you are about to read is actually true. It has to be, because you couldn't make it up. I arrive off the Inverness train having booked the previous day via Hotels.com reaching the property a few minutes before the 4pm check in. The door was open, so I negotiated the two flights of stairs to the first floor reception. As In get there, I note the place is in darkness and reception looks closed. Seconds later, I think I hear the main entrance door being locked. So I run downstairs and yes it has been locked, from the outside and nobody was there. I had been locked in this seemingly empty hotel! Going back upstairs the fire alarm/security alarm box starts beeping. I call the reception number and the phone rings behind the glass. No answer machine kicks in, it hasn't been forwarded to a mobile, it just rings out. I shout to see if anyone is in the building. There is nobody. So here I am locked in for FORTY minutes until after numerous calls to Hotel.com who themselves cannot locate the owner and no response to an email I sent them telling them I am essentially trapped in their establishment, I decide I have to get out. So I escape via the hotel kitchen and down a fire escape with my large bag. I have attached photos of the escape, possibly a first on Tripadvisor, escape from an abandoned hotel, it's like The Shining! Out in the street and more phone calls as its ten to five on a Sunday I am in a strange town and have nowhere to stay. Then I see a car pull up outside the property and two elderly people hobble out carrying plants. They walk down the side of the building. How strange is this going to get? A lot! I said all the obvious things, you know HELLO where have you been? Explaining that I had arrived and been locked in, had made a reservation the previous day, this was supposed to be a hotel, where have you been....you know, basic stuff. My being locked in 'yes that was me' got a laugh and the rest of my predicament got a poker face, a shoulder shrug and oh well, if you booked yesterday I wouldn't have got the e-mail because I haven't checked. Apology of any kind? Don't be silly. I asked if I could still check in. Another shrug and and I suppose so. She had locked up and gone to the garden centre because nobody else had booked. She hadn't been long as I knew!. Hadn't been long! I thought you didn't get the booking!? Lies and indifference, utterly appalling. I said Hotels.com were trying to find me an alternative. Ok then, you take that. This person does run a hotel by the way. It was like I was talking to an alien. In the end Hotels.com were brilliant and rightly apologetic. They found me an establishment up the street firmly rooted in 2018 and on planet earth. Upon recounting the saga, they weren't surprised. There is previous form and its a small town. AVOID at all costs.…
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