The Smugglers Hostel

A group of us hired out the entire hostel over Hogmanay and had a wonderful time. The staff were really friendly and helpful in the lead-up, and the facilities were spacious and clean. It's a lovely location too, would highly recommend.

I have cancelled my stay in the smugglers hostel on time to get a free cancellation but it was impossible to reach them or Orbitz. Now I have received a few messages and they said I have to ask ******* to get my refund but that's also impossible so I would say, be careful. I am trying to get my refund but I will have to contact customers protection I think. This feels like a scam!

A brilliant, very well equipped and clean hostel. The staff were very helpful in accommodating our needs. For a small hostel, the facilities are excellent and the rooms are spacious. Highly recommended, we will come again.

I’ve stayed here a number of times over recent years and it’s never disappointed. The location is perfectly positioned for a multitude of activities including munroing, whiskey trails, mountain biking and skiing. The host is friendly and very accommodating, when I was going to be late arriving without a specific eta they went out of their way to ensure my stay was as problem free as possible. The rooms are clean and tidy with enough charging points and lockers for all. The kitchen and dining room are enormous with excellent facilities. The drying room/shed is fitted with numerous heaters and a dehumidifier which is very effective and much better than most. Excellent stay thank you for being great hosts and so flexible. 5*

Great communication after a last minute booking as a family of 5. Very comfortable and clean. In a lovely setting.

To pay £100 for a private room with private bathroom in a youth hostel, and for that, only receiving a quick email explaining that there will be probably no staff at arrival time (while ********** mentions until 7pm) but that you can pass and visit thrz tourist center ..between 3 and 5pm !!! At the end, no code supplied for your private room. Other guests on site saying that they did not see any staff for the last 2 days except the cleaning person. Emergency numbers given online and onsite : 0 answer ! ********** support : 0..just good enough to make your call lasting as long as possible. Finally found a dormitory open and slept in it but with not door code so were always afraid that the door could get closed . Terrible service from the hostel. Self checking needs a minimum experience...they have none. ********** : thanks for the travel I don't know where thanks to your online support ..but not a better service than the hotel.

Superb location and lovely common areas.

For a one stop or a base for walking and cycling, then this is the place to be. Also, whisky galore :-) A brand new luxury kitchen - what a pleasure. Due to Covid we got the entire place to ourselves. The drying room saved our trip!!

Oli very kindly allowed us to stay as part of our Round Britain Climate Challenge and the Smugglers Hostel was the perfect base for us to catch up with desk-based work, editing and get some much-needed rest in their super comfy beds! There is also a lovely short walk nearby called the Tomintoul Circular route - perfect for taking a midday break and refresh! Thanks for having us Oli we will all be sure to pop back in when we are next in the area!