Oban Bay Hotel

“Outstanding Hotel Experience”

I’ve stayed at the Oban Bay Hotel & Spa many times over the years, and I can honestly say I’ve never once been disappointed. This latest visit was no exception – another truly outstanding stay. From the moment we arrived, the staff were absolutely fantastic – warm, welcoming, and genuinely attenti… more

I’ve stayed at the Oban Bay Hotel & Spa many times over the years, and I can honestly say I’ve never once been disappointed. This latest visit was no exception – another truly outstanding stay. From the moment we arrived, the staff were absolutely fantastic – warm, welcoming, and genuinely attentive throughout. The food, as always, was simply delicious, with a real sense of quality in every dish. One of my favourite parts of the hotel is the conservatory. Sitting there, looking out over the bay, is just so peaceful and calming. It’s the kind of place where you can properly switch off and take everything in – the views, the atmosphere, the stillness. It really is the perfect getaway. However, there’s one experience I feel I have to highlight, and I would go as far as saying it’s an absolute must-do if you’re staying here – the thermal experience at the spa. We had 90 minutes of exclusive use, which included a steam room, Swedish sauna, and jacuzzi. The highlight? The jacuzzi overlooking the Bay of Oban… it’s just breathtaking. Sitting there, taking in that view, was one of the most relaxing and memorable experiences I’ve had. A huge thank you as well to Marc Gardner, the General Manager, for his wonderful hospitality – it really made our stay feel extra special. We’ll definitely be back again (and again!).

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“Stunning”

The Oban Bay Hotel was a highlight of our trip. The location right by the sea, the building itself, and the friendly staff. The rooms were very clean and larger than usual in Scotland. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for the spa. But we’ll definitely visit it next time.

“Take in the view - with a drink!”

Stayed here recently whilst using a voucher we received at Christmas. Couldn’t really fault anything about the hotel - breakfasts were very good, staff were friendly and helpful, room was really nice and the view from the conservatory overlooking the bay was stunning. Only issue for ourselves was c… more

Stayed here recently whilst using a voucher we received at Christmas. Couldn’t really fault anything about the hotel - breakfasts were very good, staff were friendly and helpful, room was really nice and the view from the conservatory overlooking the bay was stunning. Only issue for ourselves was car parking - only disabled spaces available. There are a number of small flight of stairs and a bit of a walk to get to the lift - didn’t bother us but could be problematic for folk with access issues.

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“Good with some niggles”

While overall it was a very pleasant stay, there are some caveats. The location is superb and the food was excellent, although not cheap. The room was fine and clean, but storage for a stay longer than a day or two is poor (plenty of small drawers, but few appropriate to clothes!). The bathroom … more

While overall it was a very pleasant stay, there are some caveats. The location is superb and the food was excellent, although not cheap. The room was fine and clean, but storage for a stay longer than a day or two is poor (plenty of small drawers, but few appropriate to clothes!). The bathroom is very badly laid out, with a small sink, an overly large central tap with no indication of temperature, and a shelf that manages to be too small and too big at the same time! It's too small to put everything needed on, but gets in the way when washing. It needed a conscious effort to not hit your head on the tap or shelf when washing your face. The shower is an equal mystery and I never discovered how to get the larger head to flow. There is almost no parking (although apparently a few around the back that they keep secret!) and the valet parking is just a nod in that direction, even though it's expensive, given that the valet only works from 9 - 5 when most guests would be out. Where the hotel does need to change is regarding their fixation with computer systems and ipads. I had the feeling that guests were almost a nuisance while they stared at their screens. Try listening, remembering, and writing things down, it gives a much better impression. To give an idea of just one aspect, we stayed 6 nights and have received at least 30 emails. Other elements of this lack of appropriate attention appear around meals. For instance, we only wanted tea and toast for breakfast, but the tea was never more than a small cup each without asking for more, the toast was just a few slices without asking for more, the butter would barely cover that without asking for more, if two people both wanted marmalade you would have to ask for more... And, by the way, toast should be toast, not barely browned dry bread! Finally, I would like to offer some thanks to the bartender, who was very cordial and efficient. The drinks were expensive, but he was first class and a jewel in your crown.

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