Ratings based on 50 Verified Reviews
4.4 Room cleanliness
4.5 Service & staff
4.4 Room comfort
4.2 Hotel condition
Expedia Verified Reviews
by A verified traveler from Swampscott
Posted 4 Jun 2024
This is a friendly place with clean pleasant rooms and a nice breakfast. However, it isn’t really a hotel, more a pub offering bed and breakfast. When I booked it advertised a restaurant, but this had closed down by the time we arrived, and we had to book dinner in a sister hotel nearby. Not a big issue, but as there are only two restaurants in town you have to book early. We found here that like many places in Orkney there seems to be a serious staff shortage. The same lovely lady who served breakfast also ran the bar all day and tried to cover reception duty. She was fantastic (older lady with long hair) but struggled to cover everything. However, we would stay again, and it seemed much nicer than the other hotel in town.
by A verified traveler
Posted 22 May 2024
This is one of the few places to stay in the ferry port of Stromness, Mainland Orkney. The staff (and pretty much everyone on the island) are extremely friendly and helpful. The hotel is well-located close to the ferry to mainland Scotland. The rooms are clean and comfortable. The included breakfast is marvelous! The main drawbacks are that the building is old, so there is no parking and no elevator. The hotel is staffed only by the breakfast servers and then the bartender, so checking in is slightly confusing. The sister hotel, The Ferry Inn, responds promptly to any concerns however and is very helpful. I would definitely stay here again!
Comment from Hotel Management
23 May 2024 by Angela, Hotel Management
Thank you for the lovely review. We're so glad you enjoyed your stay with us and hopefully we will see you again soon. Best wishes from the Royal hotel and Ferry Inn team.
by A verified traveler
Posted 17 May 2024
by A verified traveler
Posted 16 May 2024
We only really saw staff at the hotel when we checked in and out. Otherwise it seemed relatively unattended. Noise from the pub carried upstairs into our room. The hotel has no lift, which I understand, but I sorted my search by places with lifts and it still came up. My friend has problems with stairs, so it was kind of inconvenient. Overall am OK stay, but next time I would stay in Kirkwall.
Comment from Hotel Management
16 May 2024 by Karen, Hotel Management
Hello, I am sorry that you thought that we had a lift. We are a small family hotel and staff are happy to help carry luggage upstairs for guests. I hope that this is helpful information for future guests.
by A verified traveler
Posted 31 Aug 2023
Very nice host.
Comment from Hotel Management
18 Sep 2023 by Angela, Hotel Management
Thank you. We hope to see you again soon.
by A verified traveler
Posted 26 Aug 2023
Great location on main street in heart of Stromness, very convenient for the bus to Kirkwall and hiring bike.
The staff were very helpful and breakfast service was excellent.
Unfortunately there was a problem with the lighting in the bathroom, which without a window for natural light was very dim.
Comment from Hotel Management
10 Oct 2023 by Angela, Hotel Management
Thank you for the lovely review. We're so glad you enjoyed your stay with us and hopefully we will see you again soon. Best wishes from the Royal Hotel team.
by A verified traveler
Posted 23 Aug 2023
There’s a back bar that’s bright and comfortable (ask the bartender how to get through). The rooms were small but comfortable. The people were so friendly in this little town. Great food but everything closes early. Far fewer tourists here. It’s a great stop!
Comment from Hotel Management
23 Aug 2023 by Angela, Hotel Management
Thank you for the lovely review Catherine. Hopefully we shall see you again soon. Best wishes, the Ferry Inn team
by A verified traveler
Good location
Posted 30 May 2023 on HotelsHad a large room with a king size bed. Great experience, helpful staff.
Comment from Hotel Management
30 May 2023 by Karen, Hotel Management
Thank you so much for this super review :)
by A verified traveler
Posted 22 May 2023
Comment from Hotel Management
14 Jun 2023 by Angela, Hotel Management
Thank you, best wishes from the Royal team
by A verified traveler
Posted 29 Apr 2023
Excellent service
Comment from Hotel Management
29 Apr 2023 by Karen, Hotel Management
Thank you for this great review :)
