Cairn Hotel

The room itself was spot on, with a good amount of space, a bath and shower, TV, iron and board, hair dryer, fan, and tea and coffee. The bed was large, though the mattress was very hard, which didn't suit me. The view wasn't great, but I didn't mind. Getting to room 107 was an adventure through the old building's maze of stairs and corridors, even following the number signs. We'd chosen the hotel on Booking.com for a short city break because of the location, price, and parking. We found a space on the road when we arrived. At check-in I asked about parking and was told I could leave it there, but had to move it across the street by 08:00, pay, and had only four hours. Since it was late, I left sorting it out until morning. Reception then explained that limited private parking costs £20 a day, though anything larger than a hatchback is hard to maneuver there. The hotel was simple and welcoming, and overall spot on. I'd recommend it.

For a short stay, it was good value, and the staff were really friendly and helpful. The building is old and the rooms are extremely tiny. I'm not sure I could reach the far end if I were bigger. The room also gets quite dark at night because the lighting is limited.

The location near the centre and public transport was great, and there was an on-site bar. Some staff were nice, but those positives couldn't make up for how bad the stay was. The rooms looked nothing like the website photos. They were cramped and stuffy, like cages, with windows that barely opened for fresh air, and the hallways smelled awful. The shower only produced a trickle. Breakfast was tasteless, and they served rotten oranges. When we complained, staff didn't seem to care, so we had to buy breakfast elsewhere. This was the worst hotel I've ever stayed in. Don't stay here.

The staff were friendly, and the room was clean and comfortable. We had no issues during our one-night stay at the Cairn Hotel. Its location is perfect for exploring, and I'd recommend it for a short visit.