The Craibstone Suites

The apartments are lovely, though they can get pretty hot. The stairs are narrow and steep, so don't bring a massive suitcase. I really enjoyed my stay, but check-in has been a problem for quite a few people because nobody is around. I ended up having to explain to them what to do.

The location is great, and having a car park close by is handy. The room itself let the place down: no proper place to eat, no coat hooks, and a sofa that was barely usable. The balcony was covered in bird mess and clearly hadn't been cleaned. Kitchen equipment was poor too, with crumbs in the toaster and a filthy kettle. The shower head had mould, and cleaning detergent had been left on surfaces without being rinsed off. Reception staff were unfriendly and hard to understand. For this price, I think there are better options in Aberdeen.

The room was very warm, which was nice, but it smelled stale and had a list of problems: the bed light was loose, the living room blind fell all the way down when adjusted, and the bedroom blind didn't fit the window and stuck out against the wall. The living room door had no latch and its handle was coming off, the fridge wasn't clean, and the standard lamp didn't work. We asked about a refund so we could stay elsewhere, but reception said it was unlikely and she'd check with the manager. We were disappointed overall. We usually stay at the Park Inn and thought we'd try these suites. The receptionist was young and alone, and the reception area was cold. Entry depended on a code sent by email for both the main door and our room, which works fine unless your phone runs out of battery. There was nobody at reception after 6pm, which felt like a risk in an emergency, though perhaps I'm being overcautious. They also took a £75 deposit that wouldn't be returned for 3 days. I wouldn't recommend it, as it didn't match what the website suggested.

The location is really good, and the flats are in working order. They're not brand new, so there are a few nicks and scratches, but nothing that bothered me. The seagulls can be loud, though that's common in plenty of Aberdeen. I do wish there were somewhere to leave luggage before or after checkout, since not having storage is odd. I'd stay again. The room was clean and the bed comfortable, and the entry code meant we could get in and out when we were out late. Just tell them if you'll arrive late, because they charge otherwise, which is an unusual policy.