Again stopping away from home working in Inverness for a two week period. I searched the net & local papers etc for accomodation in Inverness only to find extremely unrealistic prices for what can only be called basic accomodation. I kept being told that 'it was the height of the holiday season' & there was no way would they drop their prices. £60.00 per night for basic b&b in someones house isnt my idea of a holiday! I found the Smithton on here & after talking to them i decided to stay for the two weeks. The hotel is situated above a pub, a pub that kicks out the locals around 11.40pm, the locals then assemble outside the pub & chat/smoke & as they have had drink, they talk very loud & laugh as if they have to laugh as loud as possible to anything remotetly funny, the jokes being told were not funny, i should know, they stood under my window & i could here everything! Working a 12hr day & having to be at work for 07.30 it is not good to be kept awake constantly until after midnight with a combination of drunk local & the staff SLAMMING doors. I asked the owner to try & keep the noise down due to it keeping me awake or worse still, waking me up. I was told that they had no control over people leaving the pub & they were right, it doesnt help me but i couldnt argue about that.The food served was acceptable but they had a cooker replaced on the tuesday & didnt have evening meals available. Finally, Pro's; Affordable (£45pn), Friendly staff generally. Cons; NOISE! Dated rooms oh & NOISE!
A foreign tourist asked for a traditional Scottish drink with her meal, she was told the choices were irn bru, beer or Tennants super by the waiter, no mention of whiskey at all? Surely other than kilts etc Scotland is famous for its whiskey trade? In general i found Inverness a very expensive place to stay (accomodation) Yes it is by Loch Ness but even b&b outside of the area at this time of year are very expensive. Good luck :0)