Isle of Eriska Hotel, Spa & Island

We stayed in a spa suite for three nights, and unfortunately, it turned out to be a mixed bag. The Good: The service in the spa suite was amazing. Our room was immaculately turned down twice a day—once while we were at breakfast and again during dinner. The spa itself was great, very clean, and quiet. The outdoor hot tub attached to our room was also a highlight, even if the local midges cut our soaking sessions down to about 10 minutes before swarming. The grounds are absolutely stunning and offer a fantastic setting; we even managed to spot some otters off the coast once the rain cleared up. The Not-So-Good: The restaurant was a major letdown. At £85 per person for three courses, I expected a fantastic dining experience, but the execution simply wasn't there. My risotto was far too salty, and my wife found a piece of shell in her crab starter. Furthermore, the front-of-house service lacked attention to detail; the waitress didn't know who ordered which dish. While that might seem like nitpicking, for a premium price point and a table of only two people, remembering positions is a basic standard. Breakfast was also incredibly inconsistent. On our second day, it took 45 minutes to arrive. When it did, the pancakes were burnt, and the eggs Benedict were missing the hollandaise sauce entirely. To be fair, our other breakfasts were perfectly fine, and the smoked salmon was a highlight. Finally, the hotel knew it was our honeymoon, so we were a bit disappointed that there wasn't even a complimentary glass of Prosecco or a small congratulatory gesture to mark the occasion. Overall: I won't be returning, as the price tag just doesn't justify the inconsistent experience. Management really needs to revisit the restaurant—either the service and food quality need to be ramped up to match the cost, or the prices need to come down.

Every aspect of the hotel and spa is wonderful. The welcome from management and staff the bedroom, food, service, spa and ambiance are all superb. We enjoyed delicious dinners and sumptuous Champagne afternoon tea during our two night visit

Disappointing afternoon tea. I’ve visited many times to enjoy a spa day and afternoon tea and whilst everything else was as expected the afternoon tea has taken a decline. There is a sandwich less and the scones are tiny! It’s very poor compared to quality, standard and prices at many other establishments.

Main restaurant is no longer Michellen star. Barely edible - not nearly worth anything close to $400 for a dinner and drinks for 2. Deck restaurant better than main house restaurant but very basic. Everyone is very nice but not well run. Inconsistent communication and half hazard check in. Wi-fi seems slower than dial uo at 2 Mbps download and not even 1 Mbps upload. When you spend over $1000 à night you expect everything to be way above standard, not below. The Hilltop Reserve rooms do have an amazing views and comfortable rooms. Don't let the 5 star fool you. Not worth it. Better to go to The Flodigarry Hotel on Isle of Skye.

The hotel, located on its own island is around 20 minutes drive out of Oban. Due to its fairly remote location a car is essential to enjoy the surrounding area although some organised tours seem to pass through. Rooms are traditionally Scottish but well maintained with, in our suite, a modern bathroom and, due to the location offer a quiet night’s sleep. Dining is either in the traditional main dining room (a touch dark but with a conservatory extension attached) with a three course à la carte menu or two minutes stroll away in the Deck restaurant which is above a very attractive pool and spa. The Deck offers a choice from around a dozen “small plates” and recommends 5 or 6 plates per couple. Apart from the excellent food you get a wonderful view over Loch Linnhe and its surrounding mountains. Service throughout is good with the exception of breakfast where, inexplicably, the service is slow and not very reliable. That minor gripe aside, most visitors will have an enjoyable experience at a first class hotel.