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Reviews of Islay Frigate Hotel

Harbour Street, Tarbert, PA29 6UD, United Kingdom

#16 of 18 hotels in Tarbert

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 366 hotel reviews

7.4

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    7.9

  • Comfort

    7.9

  • Location

    9.2

  • Facilities

    7.2

  • Staff

    8.6

  • Value for money

    7.7

  • Free WiFi

    8.2

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Showing 76 – 100

  • Reviewed: 26 February 2023

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Small Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    No breakfast or diner in winter, even though we booked for a room with breakfast included. No discount either. Small room as well, hardly any room to move.

    Nice enough hotel, friendly staff, ok rooms, lovely location.

    Stayed in February 2023

  • Reviewed: 4 February 2023

    6.0
    We’re not demanding guests and I understand that lack of staff & off-season timing influences the quality. But hoste
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The room was cold when we arrived, heating wasn’t on neither in our room nor on the floor or in the common bathroom (which had also a window open). We arrived late jn the evening, so this wasn’t very welcoming. Also, there was no mention of breakfast (there was no one at the hotel in the morning) despite Q&A on Booking mentioning that it’s included. It is off-season and we didn’t see any other guests (but we left quite early), so I hope this is the reason and that it’s not always like this. But at least the price should be lower then.

    Location is great when you have to adapt to ferry schedules. The hotel is a bit outdated, but it has all necessary facilities (if they’d have enough staff to use them). Staff was very friendly and helpful.

    Stayed in February 2023

  • Reviewed: 19 December 2022

    6.0
    Cold (it was particularly cold weather), but otherwise pleasant.
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Single Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night

    Single room has separate bathroom which is fine and was what I expected but it was freezing - sub-zero outside and window wide open so similar inside. I switched on towel rail but despite light indicating it was on, it did not work. I'm sure if I'd brought these things to the proprietor's attention, she would have responded positively however. No breakfast was provided. With only two guests and a lack of staff, I was told it wasn't worth opening the kitchen. I accept the difficult situation so again, no big criticism.

    Room and bed comfortable enough. The proprietor was friendly and obviously working hard despite long hours and difficulties in recruiting staff locally.

    Stayed in December 2022

  • Reviewed: 1 November 2022

    8.0
    would definitely stay again if in the area…
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Family Room with Private Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    super friendly staff and clean room

    Stayed in October 2022

  • Reviewed: 16 October 2022

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Small Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    A very small room and no soundproofing

    Stayed in October 2022

  • Reviewed: 5 October 2022

    7.0
    Good
    • Solo traveller
    • Single Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Very noisy, neighbouring room banging door and TV on all night.

    Friendly staff, good breakfast.

    Stayed in October 2022

  • Reviewed: 2 October 2022

    8.0
    really convenient place to stay
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Small Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    nothing

    friendly staff, the hotel is in the process of being redecorated, our room was newly done and very nice.

    Stayed in September 2022

  • Reviewed: 10 September 2022

    6.0
    Couple of tweaks and this place would be brilliant
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Suite with Sea View
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    I hadn't realised there was no main door on the "suite" we'd booked. Due to this I wouldn't recommend this hotel for young children at a weekend as the bar was very busy and noisy and you also had to check in at the bar. My children were being high fived on the way in by people who had clearly been in the bar for a while. I would've felt more comfortable with a lockable door to the suite, not sure it is mentioned on booking.com - might be worth making sure people know this before they come. The rooms are right at the top of the hotel so far enough away but I felt were just rooms rather than a suite as advertised. We also didn't get our breakfast due to a misunderstanding - we'd been asked to book a time slot which we had done but when we turned up we were told breakfast was over and the chef had gone. We'd booked the "last" time slot, but hadn't been told when we booked it that we should book earlier. We had to then go to the cafe to buy breakfast even though the registration form had said we could have had a packed lunch - this wasn't offered. I was also told it was one price whether we had food or not and wasn't offered any sort of compensation for having to buy breakfast. Annoying as we had actually all been up and could have gone down earlier but had waited for our slot! The blame was put solely on us, I felt the attitude of the staff member I spoke to was "you should have booked earlier and weren't here in time - tough"

    The rooms were lovely and clean and mostly suited our needs. Location was great.

    Stayed in September 2022

  • Reviewed: 9 September 2022

    6.0
    ok but not as good as several years ago. won’t return.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room with Sea View
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    en-suite was tiny and poorly fitted cobwebs on ceiling

    we’ll appointed and comfortable

    Stayed in September 2022

  • Reviewed: 24 August 2022

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Family Room with Private Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Good, clean, affordable accommodation.

    Stayed in August 2022

  • Reviewed: 23 August 2022

    7.0
    Pleasant wee stay.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Small Double Room
    • Stayed 3 nights

    Due to costs breakfasts are becoming minimal (one each of everything), due to staff shortage no meals available at hotel, the room we were in was small, (glad we weren't obese) no cupboards for clothes just hangers on wall.

    Staff were pleasant, the area was beautiful, definitely need transport to explore the area.

    Stayed in August 2022

  • Reviewed: 23 August 2022

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Small Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Nothing in particular.

    Good atmosphere. Owner was attentive. Freshly decorated.. Good atmosphere.

    Stayed in August 2022

  • Reviewed: 22 August 2022

    7.0
    A good stop off point on the way to getting the ferry to Islay in the morning.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room with Sea View
    • Stayed 1 night

    We were not alerted in advance that the restaurant was not in operation - one of the main reasons for booking a hotel rather than a B&B. The only proper restaurant in the town was fully booked when we tried to get a table at 7pm after a long drive from the south. We ended up getting a drink in the pub and a - good - meal in the cafe.

    Comfortable bed, very clean, friendly staff, location.

    Stayed in August 2022

  • Reviewed: 19 August 2022

    7.0
    Hotel met our needs adequately.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room with Sea View
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    No complaints

    Location was good.

    Stayed in August 2022

  • Reviewed: 12 August 2022

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Single Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night

    Lovely cooked breakfast with good choice and lovely service. All the staff are friendly and welcoming. Pool table and beer garden are an added bonus.

    Stayed in August 2022

  • Reviewed: 4 August 2022

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Small Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Temperature in shower was diffust to change,no space for luggage

    Cosy but small room ,lovely location

    Stayed in July 2022

  • Reviewed: 2 August 2022

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Small Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    The time of breakfast 8:00 is too late for walkers. Our hostess kindly proposed us 7:45 (with a reduced formula) but we suggest 7:30 or earlier. We suggest also the possibility of booking dinner for walkers who sleep in the hotel because there are few restaurants in Tarbert.

    For Scottish people, the breakfast is copious. For French people it is less elaborate. However we would appreciate with bread, jam, marmalade and butter, a fruit and a yogurt with cereals and milk (especially for the walkers on the Kintyre way).

    Stayed in July 2022

  • Reviewed: 31 July 2022

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room with Sea View
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    beautiful location friendly staff and locals made us feel welcome

    Stayed in July 2022

  • Reviewed: 23 July 2022

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room with Sea View
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Room good and nicely decorated. Bed comfortable and great harbour view. Free parking always available close by. Friendly staff, good selection of whiskeys but currently not serving food other than breakfast which was mediocre.

    Stayed in July 2022

  • Reviewed: 15 July 2022

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Family Room with Private Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Access to toilet

    Location, staff

    Stayed in July 2022

  • Reviewed: 13 July 2022

    8.0
    Very good
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Single Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night

    Room could do with more than one socket, unless I couldnt find the other.

    Stayed in July 2022

  • Reviewed: 12 July 2022

    8.0
    Would stay again.
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Small Double Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    The only thing I would have loved to be available was dining in the upstairs, glass fronted area. The view of the bay would have been great. I do not know if they weren't doing food the day i was there or if they stopped for COVID.

    Excellent hotel, did not do dinner but had upstairs seated area that would love to eat in. The staff recommended the restaurant next door, The Anchorage, it was excellent. Bed was supper comfy and I enjoyed my sleep. Did not get the breakfast so was given a packed lunch which came in handy.

    Stayed in July 2022

  • Reviewed: 3 July 2022

    8.0
    You get what you pay for. This place was perfect for our needs - would stay again.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Family Room with Private Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Squeaky bathroom door. Hotel smells of cigarette smoke from people smoking outside pub downstairs with hotel door left open. Room smelled fresh though. No option for continental breakfast Low pressure on the shower but did the job. WiFi variable - not great for streaming films but good enough for everything else.

    Nice view of harbour.Friendly staff. 3rd bed in family room was pull out on the floor but technically still a single bed- suited us fine for the price we paid. Squeaky mattress springs and some(not unreasonable) noise from pub/street below but we slept well after hard day of cycling. Staff created a space to store our bikes. Lovely hot cooked breakfast.

    Stayed in July 2022

  • Reviewed: 30 June 2022

    7.0
    Staff very friendly, good location for where I needed to be
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveller
    • King Room with Sea View
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    clean and comfortable

    Stayed in June 2022

  • Reviewed: 27 June 2022

    8.0
    Very nice place
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • King Room with Sea View
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    WiFi did not work in the room, that should be addressed.

    Room was great, friendly staff.

    Stayed in June 2022

Showing 76 – 100

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