Blarney Hotel & Golf Resort, Ascend Hotel Collection Member

The restaurant and front desk staff were friendly, and the food was good. The golf course was pretty good, though not great. The hotel is a cheap option if you're on a budget, but it's out of the way on a hill, about 25 minutes from downtown Cork, with nothing much nearby and no attractions within walking distance. My main room complaints were the weak shower pressure and the old, soft beds that sag in the middle and are hard on your back. Housekeeping was disappointing too, they didn't respond when I asked for more towels or toilet paper.

The gym has the usual hotel equipment and is fine for a quick workout. It's a handy base if you're visiting the sights in Blarney. We ate in the bar, where the food was fine, though the menu is limited, so check it before you stay. Breakfast was a bit bland, and the scrambled eggs were almost like soup.

We got two nights B&B and two three-course dinners for €220, so the value was great. The room was spacious and clean, with a lovely bathroom, and the staff were helpful and friendly. Dinner and breakfast were delicious, with generous portions. The pool and jacuzzi were great too, especially the jacuzzi, it was hard to get out! We paid another €30 for a balcony, but our room had no view, so I wouldn't bother with that. Could use more TV channels. A good base for exploring different parts of Cork county.

There's a good 10k loop on fairly quiet roads if you like running. The hotel is out in the countryside, clean, and serves decent food, though like many hotels in Ireland it could do with a proper refurb. The pool and other facilities have seen better days and are used a lot by the community, which unfortunately causes some parking problems.