Connemara Coast Hotel

The ocean view, excellent food, and friendly staff made for a fabulous stay. Our room was spacious, the bed was comfy, and shampoo and shower gel were provided in the bathroom. I couldn't give the room five stars because there were no power sockets by the beds. They were all on the far wall, where the TV and hairdryer were. I let reception know.

The cold food really put me off coming back. On both nights, once in the bar and once in the restaurant, some of our group got delicious hot meals while the rest of us had food that was cold or barely warm. We got cold soup, tepid chicken, cold burgers, and chips so cold they were inedible. The lamb shoulder was served as re-formed pieces of meat, which looked so off-putting that it went untouched. Nobody asked if anything was wrong when the plates were taken away, even though some were half eaten or untouched. The hotel itself is lovely, with clean rooms and nice reception and bar staff. There's entertainment, and breakfast was nice, with helpful staff, though they seemed unhappy in their jobs. But the family room we booked wasn't great: a single bed was put in at an angle on the side, there was only half a window, and no dressing table. I'd never stayed in a hotel room without one before.

The hotel is about 15 km west of Galway, along the Wild Atlantic Way and near the Ros a'Mhíl ferry to the Aran Islands, so it worked well as a base for Galway and Conamara. It's a plush place that's recently been refurbished, right in the heart of the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area), with lovely bedrooms and great sea views. Breakfast was nice, and the bar was relaxing. There's also a fine dining restaurant, and the staff were friendly and helpful.

We had a wonderful few days here over Christmas with the whole family. The rooms were warm, spacious, and very comfortable, and the young grandchildren loved using the swimming pool and hot tub every day. The food was delicious, although there was sometimes too much of it. Staff were always friendly and helpful. Thanks for the hospitality and service. We look forward to staying again.