Loch Leven Hotel

What a letdown. We booked one night at Loch Leven Hotel for just over $400, expecting a charming stay in the Highlands. Instead, our room felt like the spare bedroom at a relative's house you only visit out of obligation—technically clean enough to stay in, but not comfortable enough to enjoy. The shower, complete with an old shower curtain, didn't drain properly and sent water across the bathroom floor. When we mentioned it to the front desk, the response was cold at best. He checked it out, poured some vinegar down the drain, and apparently considered the issue resolved. Meanwhile, the towels we used to mop up the water were left behind, and no fresh ones were provided. It's a small detail, but it's exactly those little touches that separate good hospitality from poor hospitality. The overall feeling was that guests were more of an inconvenience than people to be welcomed. Most of the staff seemed surprisingly inattentive. The one exception was the cook, who was genuinely warm and kind. The sticky toffee pudding alone almost earned the hotel another star. One unusual warning: while we were at the bar, a young local woman struck up a conversation with us, showered us with compliments, and invited us to join her table. We love chatting with locals while traveling, but something felt off, so we politely declined. It quickly became obvious she was working the room in hopes of getting guests to buy her drinks. She tried the same approach with another couple before eventually convincing a lone older gentleman to buy several rounds. It was one of the stranger experiences we've had while traveling, and it was hard not to wonder whether the bar staff were aware of what was going on. Overall, this stay felt like a complete waste of money. We seriously considered leaving almost as soon as we arrived, but it was too late to find somewhere else. For the price we paid, we expected far better. Instead, we left feeling like we'd paid premium prices for a very poor experience. If you're happy paying luxury prices for an outdated, uncomfortable room and indifferent service, you may not mind it. As for us, the sticky toffee pudding was the highlight of the entire stay—and that shouldn't be the best thing you remember about a $400 hotel.

From what I could tell the bar and dining are run by two separate operators. The person operating the bar and restaurant does a great job. However, can't say that for the rooms. Our room was poorly furnished, the mattress was new but of terrible quality. Most likely the mattress was purchased on-line and was very thin. I woke up in awful pain for two mornings after a poor nights sleep. I would have complained but never saw anyone at the front desk. It was our worst experience during a two week tour of the Scottish Highlands and the only hotel choice that I now regret.

We stayed in one of the pods. It was exceptionally tiny. Be prepared to have a full size bed tucked in between 2 walls. For two people it was challenging. The bathroom was all in one shower, toilet, sink. No a/c. No screens on the window so using the fan was not helpful. Breakfast was good, people who worked there we're helpful and friendly.