The Great Western Hotel

“Basic grand hotel good value”

Old very grande hotel we did expect the rooms to be dated for the price we paid. Rooms clean, tea coffee facilities, hairdryer. Nice quiet relaxed atmosphere. Very central and lovely views from the front of the hotel. The staff are just the nicest friendliest and helpful people. Always checking in … more

Old very grande hotel we did expect the rooms to be dated for the price we paid. Rooms clean, tea coffee facilities, hairdryer. Nice quiet relaxed atmosphere. Very central and lovely views from the front of the hotel. The staff are just the nicest friendliest and helpful people. Always checking in with guests to make sure they’re happy. The staff made our experience memorable. Well done to all!

less

“Get what you pay for.”

I stayed at the Great Western Hotel in Oban and overall it was a mixed experience. To start with, I had arranged to check in early at 12pm instead of the usual 3pm. When I arrived, the room wasn’t ready, which was a bit frustrating, but to be fair they did let me park the car early, which helped. … more

I stayed at the Great Western Hotel in Oban and overall it was a mixed experience. To start with, I had arranged to check in early at 12pm instead of the usual 3pm. When I arrived, the room wasn’t ready, which was a bit frustrating, but to be fair they did let me park the car early, which helped. I ended up going on a nature boat tour for a couple of hours, which actually worked out well. When I came back to check in, things got a bit awkward. There were two staff members at the desk chatting while I stood there for about a minute before being acknowledged. Not the best first impression. Then I was told I needed to pay £10 for parking, and straight after that they asked where I’d parked even though I was already parked and had mentioned it. It felt a bit disorganised. I was then asked for my bank card even though I had already paid for the room. After that, the staff member went on a bit of a rant about rooms getting wrecked, which came across like a warning aimed at me. It just felt unnecessary and a bit unprofessional if I’m honest. Another thing was being asked about booking an evening meal and being given times, even though I hadn’t asked about food. It felt a bit forced. The room itself was dated, with things like peeling paint, but it was acceptable for the price and, importantly, the bed was clean. The highlight was definitely the sea view, which was genuinely really nice. A few downsides in the room though, the soap dispensers were empty so I was scraping the last bits out, which shouldn’t really happen. During the night it got freezing, and you could actually feel the wind coming through the old window frames. Breakfast was a bit of a strange setup. It was partly buffet, but for hot food like sausages you had to be served by a staff member, which felt a bit like being back at school. The entrance is also a bit awkward, with a revolving door and a side door that’s tight for suitcases, so getting in and out isn’t the easiest. Overall, it’s in a great location and the sea views are a big plus. If you get a good price, it’s not a bad stay. Just don’t expect anything modern or polished, and be prepared for a few rough edges like dated rooms and slightly odd service at times.

less

“Put the heating on”

When we arrived there were other guests checking in. The check in process is very slow. We waited in the lounge which was decidedly cold. There were Lots of small oil filled radiators around the room Our room was extremely cold and staff gave us two of the above mentioned radiators. After 2 ho… more

When we arrived there were other guests checking in. The check in process is very slow. We waited in the lounge which was decidedly cold. There were Lots of small oil filled radiators around the room Our room was extremely cold and staff gave us two of the above mentioned radiators. After 2 hours, the room was still cold and were allocated an upstairs room. Thankfully warmer than the first. Poppy was very pleasant, friendly and efficient in her approach to finding a solution for our issues. She doubled as barmaid and waitress, training a young girl new to the job. Food was good, we has dinner the first night and breakfast both days. Breakfast selection couldn’t be faulted and the fresh fruit salad was a nice touch. The only improvement to be made, the cooked food could have been hotter

less