Overview

Nothing good to say about this place.

Transport & Parking

For rail travellers, this is not far from the station. Car parking doesn't seem to be a problem in Thurso. This hotel's entrance (stepped) is directly off an uneven pavement.

Access

As a disabled wheelchair user, before planning a holiday break I always check hotel accommodation by speaking to the staff before booking – asking " is your place accessible?" is never enough. So, after enquiring about entrance steps, level access inside to all facilities, access to the room and bathroom, and receiving positive responses to all questions from reception, I booked for three days. After a day and a half travelling over 600 miles I arrived at the Royal to find steps at the entrance (I was let in via a bolted side door – no guest key available), three steps to the lift (no mention of lift over the phone), a lift with manually operated doors, a small guest room filled mostly by the bed, a tiny bathroom with no possibility of getting to the toilet or the shower (which had a large step), and about a dozen steps to the ground floor restaurant. The staff seemed to think that their home made ramps would solve all problems: the ramps were extremely steep, had a large gap down the centre and a step at the bottom – much too dangerous. The nonplussed receptionists called the manager whom I informed that I was leaving immediately and that he should question the person who lied about their accessibility. Rather than offer me compensation (payment for a room elsewhere would have been a start) he tried to defend the absent receptionist. Readers should note the following – the Muthu Royal hotel is 100% inaccessible to wheelchair users none of the staff seem to understand about basic access requirements had I not been accompanied I would not have been able to enter the hotel IF YOU ARE A WHEELCHAIR USER DO NOT ENQUIRE ABOUT ACCOMMODATION IN THIS DREADFUL HOTEL. Thanks to a late cancellation I was able to stay at the excellent Park Hotel in Thurso which has every facility and wonderful staff.

Toilets

Seemingly none other than in rooms - inaccessible.

Staff

Clueless. Manager, unpleasant as well.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

My wheelchair is the narrowest adult power chair made, 500mm. So anyone reading (Trip Adviser) the Manager's defence of the hotel and staff will soon get the idea that not only does he have a failing memory but lives some distance from the truth.