Duisdale House Hotel

After 24 hours of flying, multiple delays on our trip from Phoenix, Arizona to Inverness meant we arrived 12 hours later than planned. With a two-hour drive still ahead, we weren't going to reach Duisdale until 11:30pm, after check-in closed at 11pm. We called, and Vishnu said he'd stay up for us. When we got there, he showed us to our lovely cottage. It had a great bed, warm towels, lovely-smelling shampoo and soap, and a cosy sitting area with a TV. We'd gone a while without sleeping in a bed, so we slept late. Breakfast ended at 10am, but Vishnu, still bright-eyed after staying up the night before, let us order from the dining room, and Mia brought the food right to our cottage. I'm really grateful to both of them. They went above and beyond, and made our first night in Scotland unforgettable.

Our check-in was lovely. The staff member was warm and welcoming, helped with our bags, and booked dinner for us, which we really appreciated. The broken hair dryer was replaced within five minutes after we told reception. But there was no hot water in our room, and the showers stayed lukewarm. Reception said the boiler had malfunctioned and asked us to wait 20 minutes. We waited longer, but the water was still cold. It was late after a day of hiking, so we showered anyway. At checkout on March 6, we raised the problems and were told someone would get in touch soon. We still haven't heard anything. The friendly staff couldn't make up for the cold shower during our honeymoon or the lack of follow-up. We were disappointed with Duisdale House Hotel.

That shower was a bit of a challenge. There was only an overhead showerhead, so keeping my hair dry was nearly impossible. I was pregnant at the time and had to do daily gymnastics to avoid washing it. Even so, more than a year later I still think about this magical place and hope we get to return. My husband and I had a wonderful stay. The inside was beautiful, cosy, warm and welcoming; our room was lovely, with a comfortable bed and very soft bedding. Breakfast and dinner were both excellent.

Lovely hotel, with attentive, knowledgeable and helpful staff, plus a high-class restaurant. I didn't have a car, but there was enough to walk around for a day. Beyond that, you'd need a car or a tour. There's also a great little path opposite the hotel for guests to use to visit the bay.