Black Friars

It was central and near amenities, but the room was down a back alley. Getting to it meant passing bins, and I saw two rats outside. Later, I could hear them running around in the roof above the room. The building looked like four tiny adjoining rooms put together with cheap plasterboard, almost like a garden shed. For such poor quality, it was very expensive. The furniture and fittings seemed as cheap as possible. The bedside reading lights had no bulbs, and the kettle was too big to fit under the bathroom tap, so I had to improvise to fill it. There was only one cup and no tea or coffee, so I had to buy my own and the kettle was pointless. No soap or shower gel was provided either. There was thick dust on the skirting boards, and the room smelled strongly of damp. The fire exit sign had cracked glass, which the owners had tried to hide with a pocket tissue stuck over the broken area. That didn't give me confidence in the accommodation's safety. There were other issues, but I can't be bothered typing any more. I've wasted enough time there. Do yourself a favour and stay somewhere else, this place is a dump.

The only upside was the convenient location in Inverness. I stayed in two different rooms, and both felt like a former cheap Airbnb. The family room had broken bunk beds and a broken chair, plus a leaking shower with no hot water and a bathroom fan that didn't work. I told the owners, but got no reply. The single room was cold, dirty, and smelled of cat piss. There were lots of bugs inside, including live and dead flies and spiders. The bathroom was claustrophobic, and during the night something larger than a mouse was rummaging around in the walls and ceiling. Save yourself the trouble and choose a hostel or proper hotel. This is too expensive for what you get, and a real shame for Inverness.

Good value for money, and I felt safe. I was horrified by the reviews and nearly cancelled, but the place turned out to be fine. There was enough space for one person, and the hot water and WiFi worked. There were a few spiders, but nothing major. I can see why some people might be uncomfortable with the back alley location, though I was okay with it. They should put accurate photos on the profile so people know what to expect instead of having to rely on the negative reviews. :)

I was given room #5 instead of the booked room #4. Management had replied that #5 was still a family room. It had a double bed and bunk beds, but some of the upper bunk's slats were missing. My niece put the mattress on the dusty floor so it wouldn't be too risky and crush my cousin. One fitted sheet didn't fit the bed, and the two single mattresses and pillows had no protectors. There was mold and dust. If you're after a budget stay, a hostel would be better.