Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel — Hotel in Great Britain

I had an absolutely wonderful experience thanks to Ashley, who works at Crane Youth Lodge Hostel in Scotland. From the moment I arrived, he went above and beyond to make sure I felt welcomed and supported. Ashley is extremely helpful, smart, and genuinely cares about the guests.

When I found myself in a difficult situation with my laptop charger not working, Ashley quickly stepped in and kindly offered me a laptop charger to use, saving me a lot of hassle. He also took the time to show me around the hostel and explain everything clearly, making me feel completely at ease. His friendly and engaging nature stood out — he is one of those rare people who are truly interested in having meaningful conversations with the guests rather than just doing the minimum required.

Unfortunately, after I checked out, I realized I had forgotten my blue Adidas jacket. When I called the hostel, Ashley answered and immediately confirmed that he had found it. Without any hesitation, he offered to post it back to my home address free of charge — something you don’t often experience nowadays.

Ashley is an outstanding team member, and people like him make a huge difference to a guest’s stay. His professionalism, kindness, and genuine enthusiasm are clear to see. I truly believe he deserves to be recognized and promoted to a senior role — he is a real asset to the hostel and to the hospitality industry in general.

Thank you, Ashley, for everything. You made my stay memorable and...

Great hostel that should have been 5. It is in the most amazing location opposite Loch Morlich and the Pine Marten bar which is very cute. |The room was clean and a good size with a nice view. |The communal areas were by far the best of the places we've stayed on our road trip. Our kids especially enjoyed the pool table and there are several places to site inc a quiet room. |The bathrooms were good - shower, sink and toilet all in one which is so much better. |Food looks great - we ate at the Pine Marten but the fish and chips especially looked great and fresh and the breakfast (cooked) was very nice. |BUT there are a couple of things that stopped it being 5 and could be easily addressed.|1. Twice there was no toilet paper - they use dispensers of single sheets and often just stick a small pile on the vanity unit as some don't even have dispensers. They quickly run out. Difficult if the other bathrooms are in use 🙄 and I had to visit several on our second morning to find some.|2. The bathrooms are not a great design. They aren't wetrooms and only have shallow shower trays and shower curtains. Nothing to step on out of the shower. So the floor is literally covered in puddles and the skirting/floor edges damp and black with mould.|3. The kitchen (and bathrooms) are very clean after daytime cleaning but other guests don't always follow rules and there's no ongoing evening cleaning which means its all a bit grubby after a couple of hours. |Definitely...

I had an excellent experience during my stay at Cairngorm Youth Lodge, and a big part of that was thanks to Simon, the receptionist. From the moment I arrived, Simon was incredibly helpful, professional, and kind. Every time I had a question or needed support, he responded with genuine interest and went out of his way to assist me, even with things that weren’t necessarily part of his job.

Simon clearly knows his work inside out, and he handles everything with calm efficiency. He’s a great communicator, always approachable and respectful, and he even remembered my name throughout my stay — a small gesture that made a big difference.

What really stood out was his ability to solve problems quickly and thoughtfully. He’s the kind of person who doesn’t just do his job — he genuinely cares about people and takes pride in providing great service. It’s rare to meet someone so dedicated and personable, and I truly appreciated all his help.

Simon is a real asset to Cairngorm Youth Lodge. His professionalism, warmth, and people skills helped make my stay memorable, and I’m very...