Courtyard By Marriott Inverness Airport

The room had a great bed and pillows, and getting to the airport was quick and easy. When flights were cancelled repeatedly, the friendly front desk staff made it simple to extend my booking. The bathroom was awkward, though: frosted glass walls and a gap under the door meant anyone sharing the room would hear everything. The food was truly awful. I had breakfast and dinner there, and both were among the worst hotel meals I've had. Stick to cereal, yoghurt and fruit if you have breakfast. I also spent six weeks trying to get my folio, through the website and by calling the hotel several times over three weeks. I heard excuses about a known system and emailed receipt issue, but nothing seemed to be done. I got tired of calling every five days and gave up. Make sure you get all the copies at checkout, not only the latest night's, so you don't end up in the same position.

Dinner was a mess. We were first seated at a table that hadn't been reserved, then moved because of overbooking. Staff said food would take two hours, and little seemed to be coming from the kitchen or being done to handle the delay. We went back to our room and ate a sandwich instead. For a Marriott, the service was a surprise and felt more like a budget hotel. The room itself was spacious and comfortable, one of the best I've stayed in, with a fridge, hairdryer and good coffee. The hotel is modern, smart and very clean, with high standards for its facilities. But the thin glass bathroom door had about a 1 cm gap when shut, leaving almost no privacy for showering or using the toilet. It was particularly disappointing in such a well appointed room, and seems like a design issue that should have been caught. I slept comfortably before my morning flight, but if this is Marriott's current standard, it's not for me.

The rooms are comfortable, spotless and a good size, with plenty of storage if you want to stay longer. Breakfast has a very good selection and the food is excellent. We're usually here because of an early flight, but we'd still pick The Courtyard even if we were on holiday and choosing among several hotels. Everyone welcomed us warmly, and Emma and Alex took especially good care of us. It's about a fifteen minute drive into Inverness, with Culloden Battle Field, Fort George, Cawdor Castle and a lovely beach in Nairn nearby. It also makes a good base for exploring The Highlands. Thanks to everyone.

We had local ale and delicious nachos last night. Emma, the F+B supervisor, was friendly and professional, and Graham was great helping my wife with a technology problem. It's a comfortable place to stay, and although I'm not usually a Marriott guest, I'd definitely return.