Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel - Review

On my most recent visit to Aberdeen I stayed at the recently opened Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel for 2 nights and it is the kind of accommodation the modern traveller to Scotland expects and that the city has been crying out for.  

Sitting in the heart of the city centre it is conveniently located for visiting most of the main city attractions and I found exploring on foot really easy with the occasional bus ride to reach places of interest outwith the centre.  
If you have a car, you can use the hotel car park although it is on a first come, first served basis.  Having your own transport means you can venture further afield in the region, personally I love the Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail and exploring the outdoor scenery and castles of Royal Deeside. 

I've stayed in a few places locally and this is by far the best which is why I just had to write this review.  From the Instagrammable interior (yes, I really did just say Instagrammable, what has my life become!) to the quirky nods to Scotland in the decor, not to mention the superb service, hopefully you will love this place as much as I did.

From the outside, the hotel is a sprawling granite building, very in keeping with Aberdeen's grand architectural style.  Previously it was part of the Robert Gordon University campus and I can't imagine many businesses would be able to take on a structure this size so I'm glad it has been preserved and given a new lease of life.

When I first walked through the entrance I was wowed by the interior, a mix of grand, colourful, funky and Scottish.  Did I also mention that it is very Instagrammable!  The seating area is super comfy and conveniently has wireless phone charging pads on the tables.

My check-in was super easy and friendly.  I arrived quite early so I could drop off my suitcase at reception while I explored Aberdeen.  When I returned later in the day to check in properly I was impressed to find that my suitcase had already been taken to my room for me.

As I made my way across the thistle carpet to my room I realised just how big the hotel is on the inside as the corridors seemed to go on forever.  There are 218 guest rooms in total of various styles and I was booked in to Corporate King Room with a sofa bed.

The room was a good size and the decor had an industrial warehouse feel thanks to the copper lights, old school radiators and exposed brickwork in the bathroom.  However, there was no mistaking I was in a Scottish hotel thanks to the tartan throw and funky Highland Coo and stag cushions.  Photographs of local Aberdeenshire landmarks also added a regional touch.

​From a smart tv to a microwave, the room was well equipped and most importantly the bed was super comfy.  At my age a good night's sleep is essential so I'm becoming increasingly fussy about my hotel bed standards and I'm pleased to say this one rated highly.

All rooms come with a walk-in shower, however I was lucky enough to have a room with a bath too - as they are not standard to every room you will need to request a room with a bath when you are booking if this is something you specifically want.  Personally, I found soaking the winter chill away in a hot bathtub was the perfect way to end the day.  Followed by curling up to watch the tv in one of the fluffy gowns provided - bliss!

I didn't eat in the hotel restaurant during my stay as I was out and about exploring, however my buffet breakfast was delicious so hopefully that bodes well for the overall standard of food.
The decor of the dining room is pretty stylish with cute flashes of tartan to keep the Scottish theme going.

Forget about Gaelic, you're on the north-east coast now and the part of Scotland that speaks Doric, which some consider a language and some consider a dialect.  It has been described to me as the traditional Scots language with a distinctive north-east dialect although I have no idea if that is totally accurate as there is quite a bit of history around the meaning of the name.  

What I do know to be true is that if you are not from the north-east of Scotland (like me), it can be tricky to follow along a conversation with a Doric speaker or even just someone that uses Doric words and phrases.  Coming from Glasgow these words are alien to me but over the years I've begun to pick bits and pieces up so I no longer have to nod my head and pretend that I have a clue what the locals are talking about.

You will find a few examples in the hotel with the bathroom being labelled for quines (girls) and loons (boys).  Another fun one in the dining room is 'Gie's a bosie' (Give me a cuddle).

Although my hotel stay was part of a trip organised by VisitAberdeenshire, I was not requested to write a review about or feature the Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel.  However, I enjoyed my stay so much that I decided to write this blog post as it might help those looking for accommodation in the city.  Check out the hotel website for latest prices and deals.
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