Sandras Backpackers

Cosy ground floor twin room with en-suite bathroom, offering the best shower (in comparison to our other bookings during the week of our travels). Self-contained upstairs kitchen and dining area, ideal for preparing our own meals. Very economical booking - and basic (but more than sufficient) breakfast also provided including tea/coffee; bread; milks & alternatives - oat, soya; cereals; yogurt. Owners very hospitable and full of great stories from their personal travels. Well located - no more than 5 mins drive down to Thurso Beach. And 10 mins drive down to Scrabster, for the ferry crossing to Orkney. For budget travellers, dormitory accommodation is also available.

When we got there, the room was freezing. It was 9 degrees C outside and the window was open and the heat off. The mattress was so old, I could feel springs in my ribs. Most of the floor grout was missing in the tiny bathroom with coffin shower, and the fan never came on, it just made a sort of click-click noise. The toilet didn't even like to swallow liquid. There was all kinds of crud on the floor so we dared not go barefoot. We were not provided towels and were told they were in the dryer and would come to the room in 20 minutes. Over an hour later we phoned again for towels, and he said he was in the supermarket. Another hour later when we came home from dinner, they were piled up outside our door on the floor. And they'd been line dried, not in the dryer! Security was lax, with the outside door constantly open. The linens were fairly new and pretty. The promised seating area turned out to be a small window seat. The breakfast was self-serve and generous, though the seating in the kitchen was crowded. We went to a hotel for our second night even though we'd already paid for this place. We couldn't do it if we didn't have to.

Do NOT book with Sandra’s Backpackers. They are NOT helpful nor accommodating. It is almost impossible to cancel a reservation with them especially if you’ve booked thru ***********. Best NOT to use *********** and use Expedia.com for better service.

I called and make a long term booking, where I was told that the booking would be cancelled if I didn't show up unless I called ahead. I called ahead in order to inform them I wasn't able to check in that day and everything seemed fine. I then had my train cancel on me the next day, where I then called again, and was informed that my booking was cancelled no matter what if I didn't show up even if I called ahead. They then said there was another customer and hung up on me. I waited 20 minutes to call back just to confirm that I had called before and ask why that wasn't taken into account? I was not allowed to speak over the minor shouting coming from the person on the phone. I tried to call one more time, asking to have a conversation, where I was told, "if you show up here I will headbutt you". So I would not recommend going to this place, as the staff seem to have problems communicating with customers.

I stayed for 2 nights in a private room with en-suite on the ground floor. Had to call the hostel on arrival and was met by the host, who showed me around everything and pointed out some eating options around the town. The kitchen upstairs was well setup and the included breakfast was great, Towels available. Popular fish and chips place across the road. Bus to John O'Groats leaves from the top of the road a minute's walk away. Train station was 5-10 minutes walk from the hostel. Tesco supermarket also close by. Wi-Fi only worked when upstairs, was the only downside.