The Kelvin is a comfy, old-fashioned "small hotel" in a superb location, extremely convenient to the ferry terminal, the ScotRail station, and many of the best restaurants in Oban.
The staff, presided over by director Sheena, is a pure delight--kind, accommodating, funny. Sheena likes to hire excellent, promising young people from around the world, and provides them with kind, good leadership. I took my carryon through the front doors to find that Reception / Registration was at the bar in the wee, very cozy pub just inside the entrance to the right, and things only got better from there.
My rooms (I stayed here twice, before and after a 2-day ferry trip to the Isles of Mull and Iona) were pleasant and immaculately clean. As the ferry port and rail station are to the front of the hotel (though some distance away), and the street in front is major-ish, there is some traffic noise during the daytime, but I found the rooms quiet and restful at night.
There's plenty of hot water and the showers were good; good toiletries provided, and the usual excellent British panoply of electric hot-pot, tea and instant coffee, milk and sugar, and a small treat or two.
The ferry-pier area contains some excellent restaurants at a range of prices--make reservations for the better ones! To get there, go out the Kelvin's door and right down the street, and loop around the Bank of Scotland and then to your left. The seafood is (of course) spectacular.
Parking on street or at adjoining lot.
