Aberdeen House Hotel

There are quite a lot of steps, so it may not suit everyone. There might be a lift, but I didn’t need to ask. The receptionist was super smiley and happy to help with anything. Although the place is surrounded by noisy bars, I didn’t hear a thing all night, so the soundproofing must be very good. It’s a nice, central room at a reasonable price. The ensuite bathroom was lovely, though there’s no bath. There’s no bar or catering, just a very nice room, and they do that simple setup very well.

The receptionist was really friendly, the room was clean, and the hotel is right beside the bus and train stations. Still, I’d be very unlikely to stay again. It’s dated, there’s no lift, and sound carries badly. We could hear all the street traffic, including the karaoke bar next door. One key opens everything, and someone even came into our room.

The staff at The Station Hotel next door were amazing, and the doors were open. I’d suggest booking one of their refurbished rooms instead. This place isn’t a normal professional hotel, and I would never have booked if I’d known the doors could be locked and what the luggage policy was. I arrived at 13.30 to find the door locked and a sign up, with no prior warning in my booking.com confirmation and no information about leaving luggage. I had to find another hotel and cancel this booking so I wouldn’t be marked as a no-show. They still refused to refund any of the £128. Neither the hotel nor booking.com could resolve it, and I got no reply to my messages.

We found the hotel and the one staff member we dealt with to be great, but the policies overshadowed that. Having to put down a £50 deposit per room, which could be forfeited over stains on the bedding or towels or any other damage, made it hard to relax during a stay meant for unwinding. The family bed setup, with a parent bed and children’s bunks in one room, is handy for families, though the rooms felt fairly small. Being close to the bus station and ferry park is a big plus, and the city-centre location gives you a good view from the window. The self-service setup, with one staff member covering many duties, has upsides and downsides: assistance can be slow or inadequate. Technology is useful, but human interaction matters in this kind of business.