Scottish Highland hotel prices.
Discussion
A local hotel here in the Highlands is now charging - minimum stay two nights, B&B (no evening meals) £3,464 for two people, one room, two nights. (Albeit the best room). Others are cheaper but most cost +/- £3k for two nights.
Before Covid these rooms were up to +/- £650 a night.
(I should add, that it's a very nice hotel!)
..but £3.5k for two nights for a room with no evening meal included in the Scottish Highlands? The world has indeed gone mad.
A good friend of mine works there and I asked how on earth these prices could be justified, and their reply was... "The thing is, we're full". I also asked where most of the guests were from, and it's mainly from the UK. (Not the USA as I was expecting).
Cost of living crisis? Not for many methinks. I'm fairly well off but wouldn't dream of spending that kinda' money to sleep in a bed (and pay for an evening meal).
Off / on topic, I just returned from a week away, having paid £695 for 7 nights in a beautiful self contained modern house in the Western Isles with views to die for .... so - £99 a night. Think I'll stick to cheap and cheerful. :0)
Before Covid these rooms were up to +/- £650 a night.
(I should add, that it's a very nice hotel!)
..but £3.5k for two nights for a room with no evening meal included in the Scottish Highlands? The world has indeed gone mad.
A good friend of mine works there and I asked how on earth these prices could be justified, and their reply was... "The thing is, we're full". I also asked where most of the guests were from, and it's mainly from the UK. (Not the USA as I was expecting).
Cost of living crisis? Not for many methinks. I'm fairly well off but wouldn't dream of spending that kinda' money to sleep in a bed (and pay for an evening meal).
Off / on topic, I just returned from a week away, having paid £695 for 7 nights in a beautiful self contained modern house in the Western Isles with views to die for .... so - £99 a night. Think I'll stick to cheap and cheerful. :0)
Edited by GetCarter on Friday 14th February 15:34
If it's on or near the west coast and on route for the NC500 I'm not surprised. We went up 2 years ago in June and some of the hotels we stayed in were very nice but stupidly expensive for what they were. Like you mention they were all sold out so if the demand is there they can charge what they want.
I've got family in Inverness and they have a couple of rental properties on their farm. I was shocked how much they get for them in the summer.
I've got family in Inverness and they have a couple of rental properties on their farm. I was shocked how much they get for them in the summer.
abzmike said:
The Torridon by any chance? Their pricing has always been pretty sporty, but perhaps there is a particular even for those dates?
I guess they are trying the price and see if anyone books - they can always wind down later.
Pretty much full for the whole of 2025 at those prices. I guess they are trying the price and see if anyone books - they can always wind down later.
GetCarter said:
abzmike said:
The Torridon by any chance? Their pricing has always been pretty sporty, but perhaps there is a particular even for those dates?
I guess they are trying the price and see if anyone books - they can always wind down later.
Pretty much full for the whole of 2025 at those prices. I guess they are trying the price and see if anyone books - they can always wind down later.
GetCarter said:
A local hotel here in the Highlands is now charging - minimum stay two nights, B&B (no evening meals) £3,464 for two people, one room, two nights. (Albeit the best room). Others are cheaper but most cost +/- £3k for two nights.
Before Covid these rooms were up to +/- £650 a night.
(I should add, that it's a very nice hotel!)
..but £3.5k for two nights for a room with no evening meal included in the Scottish Highlands? The world has indeed gone mad.
A good friend of mine works there and I asked how on earth these prices could be justified, and their reply was... "The thing is, we're full". I also asked where most of the guests were from, and it's mainly from the UK. (Not the USA as I was expecting).
Cost of living crisis? Not for many methinks. I'm fairly well off but wouldn't dream of spending that kinda' money to sleep in a bed (and pay for an evening meal).
Off / on topic, I just returned from a week away, having paid £695 for 7 nights in a beautiful self contained modern house in the Western Isles with views to die for .... so - £99 a night. Think I'll stick to cheap and cheerful. :0)
Epic view, where is that?Before Covid these rooms were up to +/- £650 a night.
(I should add, that it's a very nice hotel!)
..but £3.5k for two nights for a room with no evening meal included in the Scottish Highlands? The world has indeed gone mad.
A good friend of mine works there and I asked how on earth these prices could be justified, and their reply was... "The thing is, we're full". I also asked where most of the guests were from, and it's mainly from the UK. (Not the USA as I was expecting).
Cost of living crisis? Not for many methinks. I'm fairly well off but wouldn't dream of spending that kinda' money to sleep in a bed (and pay for an evening meal).
Off / on topic, I just returned from a week away, having paid £695 for 7 nights in a beautiful self contained modern house in the Western Isles with views to die for .... so - £99 a night. Think I'll stick to cheap and cheerful. :0)
Edited by GetCarter on Friday 14th February 15:34
Search Port Carnish (book late out of season and you'll get the cheap deals... and the place is empty!) DO NOT GO TO THE OUTER HEBRIDES IN BAD WEATHER. I hope I made that clear! ;0)
A vid I made during the stay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfQFTb7x7dA
A vid I made during the stay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfQFTb7x7dA
Edited by GetCarter on Friday 14th February 16:20
GetCarter said:
Search Port Carnish (book late out of season and you'll get the cheap deals... and the place is empty!) DO NOT GO THERE IN BAD WEATHER. I hope I made that clear! ;0)
A vid I made during the stay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfQFTb7x7dA
Superb, noted - thanks!A vid I made during the stay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfQFTb7x7dA
QuartzDad said:
We used to stay at Fonab Castle near Pitlochry. Now it's been taken over and £500 a night in the summer, not so much...
We stayed there recently, not worth it in my view, nice-ish rooms, decidedly average food, average service.Nice walk around the loch and into Pitlochry though.
It also had the most annoying door locks ever, they beep every time you swipe your card so if somebody in the corridor goes to bed late you hear their door lock beep, what an indiotic design.
ETA Dornoch Station is a decent place to stay if doing the NC500.
skeeterm5 said:
We stayed there recently, not worth it in my view, nice-ish rooms, decidedly average food, average service.
Nice walk around the loch and into Pitlochry though.
It also had the most annoying door locks ever, they beep every time you swipe your card so if somebody in the corridor goes to bed late you hear their door lock beep, what an indiotic design.
ETA Dornoch Station is a decent place to stay if doing the NC500.
Is the NC500 still in favour? No doubt the route is still great but lots of grumbles about how it's been the victim of its own success. Did toy with the idea of doing it this year with a mate but we decide not to in the end, just because of the stories.Nice walk around the loch and into Pitlochry though.
It also had the most annoying door locks ever, they beep every time you swipe your card so if somebody in the corridor goes to bed late you hear their door lock beep, what an indiotic design.
ETA Dornoch Station is a decent place to stay if doing the NC500.
Batfoy said:
Is the NC500 still in favour? No doubt the route is still great but lots of grumbles about how it's been the victim of its own success. Did toy with the idea of doing it this year with a mate but we decide not to in the end, just because of the stories.
I think it depends what you want out of it.If you want a ‘race track’ type experience then those days are gone during the summer. If you want a beautiful scenic drive then it remains one of those.
And busy around the NC599 is nothing like busy if you live England
Batfoy said:
Is the NC500 still in favour? No doubt the route is still great but lots of grumbles about how it's been the victim of its own success. Did toy with the idea of doing it this year with a mate but we decide not to in the end, just because of the stories.
It's still busy, though not so much as it was. Best guess.. there were +/- 15 cars that passed us each way per hour in daytime August 24.. compared to 25 per hour in 2023 (compared to +/- 3 per hour in 2000). Sounds not many, but single track roads, camper vans etc.Make it a weekend and you can triple the amount of traffic.
As I always say, the best way to drive here (for empty roads and photography) is to do it in the very early morning, then chill out for the rest of the day. And West is best.
Edited by GetCarter on Friday 14th February 16:56
Highlands accommodation charging lots is a great thing - good on them if they can get the money in to the community.
The underlying problem is a continued lack of accommodation for tourism. As with lots of areas of the UK there's contention between 'local' and 'tourism' in these communities
The NC500 was always just for the foreign tourists to provide a clear and easy route to follow that is very nice. If you're from the UK, or comfortable enough going about in the UK, then every single road and route north of the forth and clyde canal is amazing and enjoyable for a touring trip. My list of top 5 roads in Scotland for driving, zero are on the NC500 route.
So the higher cost of accommodation on the actual NC500 route can easily be avoided, as can any busy times on the roads. Which despite the hype was only ever during peak summer holiday times... was always quiet on shoulder months like May or September.
The underlying problem is a continued lack of accommodation for tourism. As with lots of areas of the UK there's contention between 'local' and 'tourism' in these communities
The NC500 was always just for the foreign tourists to provide a clear and easy route to follow that is very nice. If you're from the UK, or comfortable enough going about in the UK, then every single road and route north of the forth and clyde canal is amazing and enjoyable for a touring trip. My list of top 5 roads in Scotland for driving, zero are on the NC500 route.
So the higher cost of accommodation on the actual NC500 route can easily be avoided, as can any busy times on the roads. Which despite the hype was only ever during peak summer holiday times... was always quiet on shoulder months like May or September.
GetCarter said:
A local hotel here in the Highlands is now charging - minimum stay two nights, B&B (no evening meals) £3,464 for two people, one room, two nights. (Albeit the best room). Others are cheaper but most cost +/- £3k for two nights.
Before Covid these rooms were up to +/- £650 a night.
(I should add, that it's a very nice hotel!)
..but £3.5k for two nights for a room with no evening meal included in the Scottish Highlands? The world has indeed gone mad.
A good friend of mine works there and I asked how on earth these prices could be justified, and their reply was... "The thing is, we're full". I also asked where most of the guests were from, and it's mainly from the UK. (Not the USA as I was expecting).
Cost of living crisis? Not for many methinks. I'm fairly well off but wouldn't dream of spending that kinda' money to sleep in a bed (and pay for an evening meal).
Off / on topic, I just returned from a week away, having paid £695 for 7 nights in a beautiful self contained modern house in the Western Isles with views to die for .... so - £99 a night. Think I'll stick to cheap and cheerful. :0)
Same over this side. The Fife arms in Braemar are charging £3k for one night and a meal in the flying stag (pub). It is also their most expensive room and a regular room can be had for £650 night. I think a regular room at Torridon can be £460 from what I just saw but min 2 nights.Before Covid these rooms were up to +/- £650 a night.
(I should add, that it's a very nice hotel!)
..but £3.5k for two nights for a room with no evening meal included in the Scottish Highlands? The world has indeed gone mad.
A good friend of mine works there and I asked how on earth these prices could be justified, and their reply was... "The thing is, we're full". I also asked where most of the guests were from, and it's mainly from the UK. (Not the USA as I was expecting).
Cost of living crisis? Not for many methinks. I'm fairly well off but wouldn't dream of spending that kinda' money to sleep in a bed (and pay for an evening meal).
Off / on topic, I just returned from a week away, having paid £695 for 7 nights in a beautiful self contained modern house in the Western Isles with views to die for .... so - £99 a night. Think I'll stick to cheap and cheerful. :0)
Edited by GetCarter on Friday 14th February 15:34
But, things are silly now. I’ve mentioned before it’s now marginally cheaper to fly to Bergen in Norway and stay for a few nights inc flights than it is for me to drive 2hrs to Edinburgh and stay for the same length in an equivalent hotel.
I recall seeing numerous shepherds huts (a shed with a bed!) on Air bnb for £100/night in Surrey. Lots of people taking the p.
If you can get it from the saps willing to pay it then more power to you.
Paying that much for a few hours of unconciousness is laughable. I'd rather drive to a Travelodge in Perth or Inverness and come back the next day.
And stepping slightly off the obvious merry go round will no doubt turn up many more realistic options.
Other regions could do with a spruce up, though not to that extent.
When I was in Shetland a relative offered to put me up in the finest place in the islands for a special occasions. Except... there ain't one.
Paying that much for a few hours of unconciousness is laughable. I'd rather drive to a Travelodge in Perth or Inverness and come back the next day.
And stepping slightly off the obvious merry go round will no doubt turn up many more realistic options.
Other regions could do with a spruce up, though not to that extent.
When I was in Shetland a relative offered to put me up in the finest place in the islands for a special occasions. Except... there ain't one.
GetCarter said:
Search Port Carnish (book late out of season and you'll get the cheap deals... and the place is empty!) DO NOT GO TO THE OUTER HEBRIDES IN BAD WEATHER. I hope I made that clear! ;0)
A vid I made during the stay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfQFTb7x7dA
Hah! Thought that looked familiar, my pic from there in Jan 2022.A vid I made during the stay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfQFTb7x7dA
Edited by GetCarter on Friday 14th February 16:20
We were NOT lucky with the weather, it was brutal. We had to leave a day early to catch the last ferry before they were stormbound.
It’s an amazing place though and we’ll be back one day.
We have to book accommodation for staff in Inverness for work visits and prices for the usual chain and similar standard hotels in the area seem to triple in the summer months now (our busy work period). It is rarely a cost we can fully charge on to the client so does cause us problems. The tourist demand seems insatiable for reasons I can't get my head around.
I suggested to my boss that we could buy a large motorhome with company money and use it for "work purposes" but apparently someone tried that before and it just ended up parked on someone's MIL's drive for ages and never used.
I suggested to my boss that we could buy a large motorhome with company money and use it for "work purposes" but apparently someone tried that before and it just ended up parked on someone's MIL's drive for ages and never used.
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