We just checked into our hotel in Inverness, the Heathmount, which was recommended by Mr. Steve's in his most recent travel guide to Scotland. Words to the wise - it's a nice boutique hotel with a restaurant and bar, but the bar is apparently THE place to be in Inverness in a Friday night. It is packed with young people, who are getting louder as the night continues. We made reservations for dinner at the restaurant, but it was so loud we ended up at a restaurant across the lane. Currently, I'm listening to a steady base thrum from the bar and patrons are spilling out into the front of the hotel, laughing, singing, and carrying on. Nothing against them having a good time after a long week of work, but I wish I had known about this in advance as it's not really my cup of tea. :(
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4856 posts
I just read the full booking.com description. When the first thing they reference are their 2 bars, well, I leave it there.
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
I think you're wise to always travel with earplugs. When I moved to NYC 7 years ago I slept with earplugs for six months before I adjusted! But back to Inverness, I have stayed in city center hotels there and when the pubs close there is a lot of noise. I guess one of the side advantages of moving to NYC is that I can deal with noise at night anywhere! (And yep, even in the Heights I have earplugs in my nightstand!)
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Most hotels have bars, so I don't think caveat emptor is a warranted response. Also, noisy people is one thing; noisy people plus pounding bass until 2-am and the glass recycling dumpster outside my room both are in a whole other league. I did talk with the wait staff this morning and they said that yesterday was the last day of school in Inverness, so the bar was full of school teachers. So this may have been a one-off.
Posted by
3122 posts
We experienced something similar in Dublin (Harcourt Hotel), so don't feel bad. A friend who has lived in Rome and traveled extensively all over Europe says this has become a common problem in many cities as cheap flights make it easy for folks to jet off to someplace where nobody knows them, and go wild for a weekend without any sense of responsibility. Pre-wedding "stag" and "hen" (bachelor & bachelorette) parties are notorious for this, apparently.