Hotel Agena

I'm home again after visiting Lourdes, where I stayed at this hotel twice this year and have been coming for the last five years. The welcome at the door is exceptional. The managers and the desk, restaurant, and bar staff are all so friendly, kind, and helpful. Nothing is too much trouble. The rooms are beautiful and comfortable, and the food is delicious with my needs catered for. Knowing I'll be staying at such a friendly hotel is one of the highlights of my yearly visits. It makes all the difference.

The staff are very friendly and helpful, and the food is tasty, served at the table. It's not gourmet. Breakfast is a continental buffet with cereals, fruit, yogurt, cheese, and ham. This is a three-star hotel with clean but compact rooms, suited to a short stay. The grotto is a five-minute walk away, and the small wardrobe fits the short-stay setup. There's free Wi-Fi and a small bar in the lobby, where Irish TV is available. Parking is limited, so book in advance. Street parking seems plentiful, though the area wasn't busy in midweek in June.

The staff, owners, and managers are very friendly, and the same staff return each year, which I see as a good sign. I've stayed at the Agena Hotel in Lourdes every year for nine years, and I'm extremely happy there. I'm Coeliac, and they provide me with three gluten-free meals a day and look after me excellently. Birthdays and other celebrations are catered for too. There are two lifts to the bedrooms, safety-deposit facilities, and a bar at modest prices. The Grotto is a ten-minute walk along flat pavements. I wouldn't want to move to another hotel. Frank Wall, St. Mary's Pilgrimage, Clonmel, Ireland. 25 August 2016

The beds were really comfortable, and the room had air-conditioning, which was essential in the heat we had. We also had a balcony. Rooms are basic, as you'd expect from a three-star hotel, but the place was very clean and tidy, with friendly staff and a great atmosphere.