The Traitors' Real Accommodation: A £53 Airport Hotel Revealed
While the hit BBC series The Traitors showcases the stunning Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, the reality behind the scenes is far less glamorous. Contestants on the show do not actually sleep in the lavish gothic castle, but instead are transported to a budget-friendly airport hotel each night.
From Castle to Courtyard: The Practical Reality
After daily filming wraps at the 19th-century Scottish Baronial estate, stars are whisked away in 4x4 vehicles to the Courtyard by Marriott Inverness Airport, approximately 40 minutes from the castle. Rooms at this four-star hotel cost as little as £53 per person per night, offering a stark contrast to the opulence viewers see on screen.
During the day, Ardross Castle serves as the backdrop for key scenes including breakfast gatherings, post-mission lunches, tactical discussions, and the dramatic round table banishments. However, once filming concludes, contestants depart individually and return to their separate hotel accommodations, maintaining isolation from each other.
Hotel Facilities and Production Practicalities
The Courtyard by Marriott Inverness Airport, situated right beside the airport runway, provides essential facilities rather than luxury amenities. These include a restaurant, fitness centre, meeting spaces, a convenience store, and a business centre. According to reports, the BBC's choice of this hotel is driven by practicality, as it can accommodate both contestants and production staff efficiently.
This setup allows producers to keep players separated and monitored when off camera, ensuring the integrity of the game. Host Claudia Winkleman has reportedly confirmed that contestants are taken directly to their individual rooms after filming and are prohibited from interacting with each other or anyone outside the game environment.
Contestant Reactions: From Mockery to Praise
The Traitors US host Alan Cumming, 60, previously joked about the accommodation, telling the Daily Beast, 'They all stayed in the airport hotel in Inverness airport. How glamorous – you come to Scotland, and you stay in the Inverness airport hotel.'
In contrast, former Celebrity Traitors contestant Jonathan Ross, 65, defended the hotel, writing on social media, 'It’s a very nice hotel and the food is good. No complaints.' The official Traitors account responded simply with, 'Good to know.' Jonathan also clarified that contestants do not return to the castle in the evening for secret meetings, stating, 'No. We wait there until all the Faithfuls have left.'
Fan Reactions and Recent Show Developments
This revelation comes amid ongoing fan discussions about the show's dynamics. Recently, viewers expressed disbelief that Faithful contestants failed to suspect Rachel Duffy after she claimed to have FBI training in lie detection and made bold predictions at the roundtable. Social media buzz highlighted moments where Rachel's behaviour, such as targeting Ellie Buckley who turned out to be a Faithful, raised suspicions that went unaddressed by other players.
Fans took to platforms to comment, with one noting, 'I still can’t get over the fact they didn’t pile on Rachel’s play from last week,' while another questioned, 'Why aren’t they calling out her FBI training?' This adds an extra layer of intrigue to the show's behind-the-scenes logistics and on-screen strategies.
The BBC has been contacted for further comment on the accommodation arrangements, underscoring the ongoing interest in the practicalities of producing one of television's most talked-about reality series.
