Just back from a short break to the hotel. Food was exceptional, hotel decor was country style, room was spacious. The best part of this place was the staff, after the first night we felt like we were at home which is what the Manager told us to do, a job well done. Bar at the back has a bit of a history, and has had quite a few celebrities hiding away there, well so they told us anyway! We'll be back!

We booked for Xmas with two sets of older parents as the reviews were very good. Overall we enjoyed the break but we found several problems. When we got there the rooms were very cold, as was the rest of the hotel - which our parents found particularly uncomfortable. The heat did improve but not by much. The staff were friendly and helpful (especially when putting up and dealing with some of the moans of the parents). We found drinks expensive although they did have a very comprehensive wine list. The pub out the back of the hotel was open Xmas day and evening which was cheaper and gave some variety. The Xmas dinner was poor - especially as this should have been the highlight of the day. I love sprouts but you could have used them as ammunition they were so hard. You felt as if it was a bit of a conveyor belt and as some of our party had ordered different meals we ended up being served our meals at different times and therefore we didn't eat together. The tables for meals were not allocated by room or party so the first night (as we didn't know this) we ended up at different tables. Generally the food was good but you felt as if you were in a canteen rather than a restaurant. I would consider a Xmas break again but probably not the Dunalastair. The reviews we had read talked about the atmosphere, perhaps we were unlucky but it wasn't anything special.

My husband and I (early 30's) stayed here with another couple on January 03rd 2007. We had visited previously about 4 years ago and were looking forward to a return visit. On checking in our friends were upgraded free of charge to a 4 poster room, same as ours, this was a very nice welcome touch. The hotel is typical Highland country house from a few centuries ago and has all the charm that is expected, such as open fires and whiskey bar, but be realistic and also expect a few oddities such as hotel corridor and room decor from a few decades ago, and rooms that require you to plug in the extra heater provided, for full warm cosy rooms. But this is NOT in a negative way, if you're looking for and expecting the mod cons, boutique chic decor, and faceless conformity of city centre high rise chain hotels, then this is not the hotel for you. This hotel has plenty highland charm and has resisted the full leap into the modern century, and thats why we like it. The country pub at the back of the hotel is nice for an afternoon or evening drink, and they have a nice decked terrace for the summer months. The service in the bar area before dinner was excellent, very friendly and dinner served in the Red Room was lovely. Full cooked Scottish breakfast to order in the morning was great, and again chatty and attentitive staff. On checking out of the hotel another nice surprise from Reception, they reduced my room rate to match the original lower rate of my friends room, and again, thats service that makes your stay more special. Stay as you are Dunalastair, thats why we come back.

We stayed here for the New Year break 2006 / 2007. In my opinion, the hotel did not really live up to the promises on the website. The website states that all rooms have been recently refurbished. If this is true, I would not have liked to have seem my roon before hand...

When we arrived, some of the lights in the rooom did not work, a window was cracked and the paint was peeling from the walls. The safty deposit box did not work (but having spoken to the hotel apparently none of the safety deposit boxes work).

The band on New Year's Eve was also a complete disaster. I hope all their ailments that prevented them from playing well or for any duration, have healed.

The food, location and atmosphere were really excellent though.

It is worth staying here, but don't expect a hotel finished to a hig standard, or a bath!!!!!!!!!!!