Maldron Hotel Shandon Cork

The building has an interesting history, and the staff were really lovely and friendly. The rooms were clean and a decent size. But I booked this place for the spa and ended up not using it, as it looked quite rubbish from outside. You have to wear a swim hat there and pay €3 for one, which felt like a money-making scheme. It’s also up a big hill, which was a struggle for my mum, so it may be hard if you’re not very fit. There are cheaper hotels closer to the centre.

We stayed room only and didn’t eat at the hotel. It’s a nice place, 5-10 minutes’ walk from the city centre, with clean, nice rooms and pleasant, welcoming staff. The shower was running cold on our first morning, and we reported it, but it still wasn’t fixed by the time we left.

We had a remarkable and really enjoyable four-night stay, especially for the kids. The staff were professional and gave great service. Breakfast and dinner were very tasty, and the kids had a great time swimming. A great experience overall.

We had a string of problems that means we’ll look for another place when our Dublin-based family returns to Cork. At check-in we were moved twice. The first room’s door lock didn’t work, which I can understand, but then we were put in a smaller room. When I asked for a room the same size as the first, I was reminded that I was “entitled” to the larger room according to my booking. It left a bad impression. In the final room, the sink was clogged and the toilet wouldn’t flush fully. I also paid for parking but got a ticket that didn’t work, making it much harder to leave the garage.