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Top 10 Places To Stay In Ireland This Summer - Irish Staycation Recommendations

9.6.20




Summer 2020 might not be everything we'd hoped for/imagined, lots of us won't be travelling abroad like we had planned to, but all is not lost! We're very lucky to live on such a beautiful island with the most gorgeous beaches, mountains and lakes. Today I thought I would share some of my top picks of places to stay on the island of Ireland in case any of you are looking to get away for a bit of a 'staycation' this year (trust me, I don't like that phrase either, but it is very apt isn't it?). 

Below is a list of my favourite Irish hotels, and if you'd like to read more in-depth reviews about them, be sure to check out the travel section of this blog for those. I've also included a link to my top picks on Airbnb if you're more into the idea of having an entire place to yourself for a few days, which is exactly what I'm doing for the August bank holiday down in Kenmare, and I can't wait! Obviously every hotel will have different opening dates and procedures, so be sure to check with the individual hotels if you are booking something. So, without further ado, here are my top picks for a good old staycation in Ireland this summer.

1. Lyrath Estate Hotel - Kilkenny

A roundup of my most favourite Irish hotels would never be complete without the Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny! I have been lucky enough to stay in this gorgeous hotel a good few times and it's just perfect every time. It's one of those hotels that feels tucked away from everything, and so calm, and yet the lovely city of Kilkenny is just minutes down the road. The food is always impeccable, the spa facilities are heavenly and most of all, the staff are always so friendly and welcoming.

2. Druids Glen - Wicklow

Next up is another hotel tucked away from the world in the beautiful Wicklow mountains. Druids Glen is one of those hotels where I wanted to go back as soon as we were in the car driving home. It's only a 30 minute drive from Glendalough, a must-see if you've never been before, and I'd highly recommend doing the Spinc walk for the incredible views above the lake.

3. Maldron South Mall - Cork City

If you're more of a city break person, then the Maldron South Mall in Cork city is one of my favourites! Right in the heart of Cork city, only a few minutes walk from all the restaurants and shops, the Maldron South Mall is beyond handy. It's only newly renovated and everything is finished to such a fabulous standard, but it won't break the bank either with extortionate prices which I think we can all agree is very welcome.

4. Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort - Ballymena

Whenever anyone asks me what the best 'spa break' I've ever been on is, my answer is always Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort. Galgrom has a huge 'thermal village', with outdoor hot tubs, lots of different saunas and even a snow cabin for the very brave. When we visited Galgorm, we didn't even book actual spa treatments, but instead spent hours floating between all of the different hot tubs, saunas and heated beds and it was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before! Galgorm is also a 45 minute drive from the Giants Causeway and the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge and only 30 minutes from The Dark Hedges road for any Game of Thrones fans. 

5. Finn Lough - Enniskillen

Our most recent trip, just before all of this pandemic craziness kicked off, was to Finn Lough, which was like escaping to a completely different world altogether. Finn Lough is most well known for their bubble domes (pictured above), but we actually stayed in one of their Waterside Cottages and we will definitely be visiting again as soon as we can. Finn Lough is one of those places that you can go and completely switch off from the outside world. There are bikes that are free for guests to use, and their Element Spa Trail was an absolutely incredible experience. 

6. The Mont - Dublin

Another one for the city break lovers is The Mont in Dublin, a recently renovated hotel that has such a cool vibe, an incredible in-house Italian restaurant, and the most adorable French Bulldog called Monty who is more than happy to greet you every single time you come into the hotel lobby. The Mont is right around the corner from The National Gallery of Ireland, so when we stayed there for my birthday last year, after breakfast we had a wander around the gallery and it was the loveliest way to spend a Sunday!


7. Lusty Beg Island - Enniskillen

It's been almost 4 years since we stayed in Lusty Beg and yet Dara and I still talk about how much we loved this trip. You actually have to get a short ferry ride from the mainland to Lusty Beg Island, which helps it feel like a whole different world even more. There are lots of activities on the island, like clay pigeon shooting, off-road driving, archery, canoeing, and even power boating, as well as a spa so there is something for everyone! Lots of the accommodation can fit at least 4 people and are self-catering, so perfect if the whole family is going.

8. Westport Coast Hotel - Westport

If you're looking to explore more of Ireland's gorgeous coastline and maybe visit Achill Island (which I would highly recommend), Westport is the perfect place to base yourself and Westport Coast Hotel is the hotel I'd recommend! With lovely big rooms, an incredible view of Croagh Patrick from the restaurant and a brilliant pool and spa, it's the perfect hotel to get away to, relax, and also explore.

9. The Wilder Townhouse - Dublin 

A boutique townhouse in the heart of Dublin city, The Wilder is a real hidden gem. Since it's not a huge building with hundreds of rooms, there's a lovely, intimate vibe in The Wilder and although it's only a 15 minute walk from Grafton Street, the area it's in is quiet and peaceful. The decor in the hotel is stunning and every little detail has been thought of, even down to the Irish made treats that are available in the rooms.

10. Airbnb

If you've been following me for a while, you might know that I'm a bit of an Airbnb fan (to say the least) and as I mentioned at the start of this post, I've booked a gorgeous Airbnb in Kenmare for the August bank holiday weekend which I am so excited for. Airbnb now have a new feature that allows me to share some of my saved places on one page, so here are my top picks for Airbnbs in Ireland, if you prefer to have your own place to completely relax in! You can also get up to €41 off your first Airbnb trip by signing up through this link, and I'll also get some Airbnb credit too which is a win win!

Honourable mentions:

There are a few hotels/places to stay in Ireland that I haven't yet visited but were either next on my list to visit (like Sheen Falls Lodge which I was just about to book right before lockdown), or were highly recommended to me, so I thought it only fair to include some of those here too.

Sheen Falls Lodge - Kenmare
- Faithlegg Hotel - Waterford
- The Armada Hotel - West Clare
The Montenotte Hotel - Cork City

I hope this post will be helpful to those of you who are like me and are dying to get away even just for a weekend! 

Thanks so much for reading.

Emer x


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