Oban56.41839800,
-5.47257300,
1 Strathaven Terrace Breadalbane Street(Show on Map)
8.1
Very Good
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1 room2 guests1 room, 2 guests
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Summary of reviewsRaniven, located in the charming town of Oban, is lauded for its superb and central location. Guests appreciate its convenient proximity to shops, restaurants and key attractions, all within a short walking distance from the city center and waterfront. Despite its central location, the guest house is situated on a quieter street, providing a peaceful retreat.
The accommodation is highly commended for its cleanliness, modern amenities and well-maintained facilities. Rooms are comfortable, tastefully decorated and equipped with necessary amenities, including spacious and beautifully decorated interiors with cozy elements. Bathrooms are noted for their stylish features and excellent showers with the overall cleanliness of the property consistently praised by guests.
Although breakfast is not provided on-site, guests are well-informed about this aspect prior to booking and appreciate the comprehensive list of nearby alternatives. This transparency ensures a pleasant experience with many guests finding the nearby options convenient and satisfactory.
Raniven also receives positive feedback for its parking provisions with off-street parking being a significant advantage, especially in such a central location. While the number of parking spaces is limited, those who secure a spot find it invaluable.
Guest interactions with the staff, though primarily remote via messages and emails, are generally regarded as responsive and helpful. Despite the lack of face-to-face contact, the efficient communication and resolution of queries contribute to a smoothly managed stay.
However, some guests have noted issues with the Wi-Fi, describing it as unstable and intermittent. There were also minor comments about the room sizes and limited storage space, calling for slight improvements. Additionally, the beds, although mostly praised for their comfort, received mixed reviews from certain guests regarding mattress firmness.
Overall, Raniven combines an excellent location, remarkable cleanliness and modern comfort to offer a highly regarded and convenient stay in Oban. Its well-maintained facilities and thoughtful communication help ensure a positive experience, making it a favored choice for visitors exploring the area. Show more
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Categories
Guest House with EV Charging Stations
Guest House with Parking
EV charging stations
Cheap Guest House
Small Guest House
4-Star Guest House
Room Types
Double RoomAll the rooms have an en suite bathroom, free Wi-Fi, TV and tea/coffee facilities.
Standard Twin RoomFeaturing free toiletries, this twin room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The twin room features a flat-screen TV with streaming services, a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, a carpeted floor as well as a quiet street view. The unit has 2 beds.
Single RoomProviding free toiletries, this single room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The single room provides a tea and coffee maker, a carpeted floor, heating, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, as well as a quiet street view. The unit offers 1 bed.
Double RoomOffering free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The double room offers a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, a carpeted floor, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, as well as a quiet street view. The unit has 1 bed.
King RoomFeaturing free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, a bath and a hairdryer. The double room features a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, a carpeted floor, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, as well as a quiet street view. The unit has 1 bed.
King RoomFeaturing free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The double room features a flat-screen TV with streaming services, a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, a carpeted floor as well as a quiet street view. The unit has 1 bed.
One-Bedroom ApartmentBoasting a private entrance, this apartment comes with 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 1 bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. In the fully equipped kitchen, guests will find a refrigerator, a dishwasher, kitchenware and an oven. The apartment features a washing machine, a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, as well as a quiet street view. The unit has 1 bed.
Superior King RoomProviding free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The double room provides a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, a carpeted floor, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, as well as a quiet street view. The unit offers 1 bed.
Double RoomOffering free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The double room offers a tea and coffee maker, a seating area, a carpeted floor, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, as well as a quiet street view. The unit offers 1 bed.
Guest Reviews
8.1
Very Good
Location
Nestled in the charming town of Oban, Raniven is praised for its superb location. Guests appreciate its proximity to the city center and waterfront, describing it as just a short walk away from shops, restaurants and key attractions. Despite being centrally located, the guest house is situated on a quieter street, offering a peaceful retreat within minutes of the bustling heart of Oban.
The accommodation is highly commended for its cleanliness and modern amenities with rooms that are both comfortable and tastefully decorated. Many reviews highlight the convenience of available parking, a valuable feature for those traveling by car. The guest house's prime location ensures easy access to the ferry terminal, train station and tourist information center, making it an ideal base for exploring the area.
Overall, Raniven combines an excellent, central location with well-maintained facilities, offering a comfortable and convenient stay in Oban.
Breakfast
Raniven, while not providing breakfast on site, ensures guests are well-informed about this aspect prior to booking. Many reviews highlight that guests did not find the lack of breakfast a significant issue, as they were given a comprehensive list of excellent nearby alternatives to try. The convenience of having multiple breakfast options in close proximity alleviated any potential inconvenience. The property is transparent about not offering breakfast, which many guests appreciate, leading to a pleasant stay despite the absence of this amenity.
Rooms
Raniven has received numerous positive reviews regarding its rooms. Guests frequently highlight the comfort, cleanliness and modern updates of the accommodations. The beds are consistently described as very comfortable and the rooms are noted to be well-equipped with necessary amenities. Many found the rooms to be spacious, attractively designed and beautifully decorated with a mix of modern and cozy elements.
The bathrooms also garnered positive remarks, particularly for their stylish features like clawfoot bathtubs and excellent showers. Additionally, guests appreciated the cleanliness and welcoming atmosphere of the rooms with several noting that they were newly furnished.
However, it's worth mentioning that some guests found the room sizes to be on the smaller side with limited storage space, though these aspects didn't seem to significantly detract from the overall positive experience. Despite these minor comments, the general consensus remains that Raniven offers comfortable, clean and aesthetically pleasing rooms.
Beds
Raniven offers a range of rooms with a focus on comfort and modern amenities. Many guests have praised the cleanliness of the rooms and the comfort of the beds, often highlighting the large, super king-sized beds with high-quality bedding. The rooms are described as well-furnished and spacious, featuring modern bathrooms that add to the overall guest experience.
While some visitors found the beds exceptionally comfortable, others mentioned that the mattresses were not to their liking with some finding them too soft or not suitable for their preferences. Despite this, the general consensus leans towards a positive experience with many noting the beds as a standout feature. Overall, Raniven appears to provide a very comfortable stay, offering great value for money and a convenient location, just a short walk from town.
Cleanliness
Raniven in Oban has garnered high praise from guests for its remarkable cleanliness and overall presentation. Many reviews highlight the spotless condition of the rooms and the inviting atmosphere of the entrance hall. Each room is described as exceptionally clean, modern and well-furnished with several guests noting the comfortable and sizeable beds.
The bathrooms, while occasionally noted for their compact size, were consistently described as very clean and well-appointed. Guests appreciated the fresh, tastefully decorated and newly furnished accommodations, which are not only clean but also equipped with essential amenities like tea and coffee making facilities.
The location of Raniven is frequently mentioned as excellent, providing convenient access to attractions in Oban. Overall, the commitment to cleanliness, paired with the modern and comfortable environment, makes Raniven a highly regarded choice for visitors to the area.
Staff
At Raniven, while guests frequently noted the absence of on-site staff, the overall feedback regarding remote communication was quite positive. Most interactions were conducted through messages and emails with the staff noted for their responsiveness and helpfulness. Many guests appreciated the efficient communication, finding that their queries were promptly addressed despite the lack of face-to-face contact. Specific mentions of helpful individuals, such as Liam and the cleaning lady, highlighted exceptional service during the stay.
However, there were a few instances where remote interactions weren't as positive with some guests perceiving responses as sarcastic or dismissive. Despite this, those who experienced misunderstandings found the owner to be helpful in resolving issues remotely. It should be noted that guests largely did not meet any staff members in person, which could be a drawback for travelers who prefer direct interaction. Overall, while physical staff presence is minimal, the digital responsiveness of Raniven's team generally ensures a smoothly managed stay.
Wi-Fi
Raniven offers a charming stay in a welcoming setting, though some guests have highlighted issues with the Wi-Fi. Many found it challenging to access or mentioned that the service was unstable and intermittent, particularly in specific rooms. A notable inconvenience was the need to repeatedly log in after reentering the building. Additionally, there were comments on the necessity of sharing personal information to access the Wi-Fi network. Guests noted that the unreliable internet connection could affect certain activities like watching TV. While the overall experience at Raniven was positive, the Wi-Fi aspect left room for improvement.
Parking
Raniven enjoys a favorable reputation among guests particularly for its parking provisions. The guesthouse boasts a fantastic location near the center of Oban and offers a charming ambiance with off-street parking as an added benefit. Many visitors appreciated the convenience of having a secure parking spot, which alleviated the stress of dealing with strict street regulations. Private parking was repeatedly highlighted as a significant advantage, ensuring peace of mind for guests who arrived by car.
Despite its limited availability with just five parking spaces for the entire property, the parking situation was generally perceived positively. Those who secured a spot found it invaluable, especially in such a central location. For motorcyclists, there was dedicated off-road parking and many guests noted how easy it was to find parking either on-site or nearby.
However, the limited number of parking spaces did mean that some guests had to search for alternative spots, though this was a relatively minor inconvenience considering the overall benefits. The guesthouse's communication about the parking situation prior to booking helped manage expectations, ensuring most guests were aware of and prepared for the constraints.
In summary, parking at Raniven generally met and in many cases exceeded, guest expectations, significantly contributing to a hassle-free and pleasant stay in Oban.
3 Star
Raniven offers clean and tidy rooms finished to a high standard, providing good value for money and serving as a great base for exploring the west coast. Despite the small size of the rooms and bathrooms, they are well-maintained and feature excellent showers. However, the experience can feel a bit impersonal, as there is no host on-site to attend to guests' immediate needs, resembling more of an Airbnb setup with key lock boxes and email communication. Some guests have noted issues with noise from adjacent rooms and occasional maintenance concerns like a slight burn mark on the carpet. Though generally seen as a suitable option for short stays, the overall atmosphere might feel too sterile and lacking in the charm typically expected from a guest house.