Loughrea Hotel & Spa

The food was a real highlight, with excellent dinner and breakfast, and the staff were welcoming and professional. Check-in was friendly, too. For my wife's 50th birthday, the hotel had gone the extra mile: wine, a treat plate, luxury chocolates and Valentine's party crackers were waiting in our room. The hotel itself was brilliant, and as a former F&B Manager and So Hotels employee, I tend to notice how places are run. The spa was the big disappointment. I chose this hotel because I needed spa time for physical healing, but residents have to pay €20 each for a timed one-hour session. I wasn't willing to keep paying that much for several visits. The saunas and jacuzzi were properly hot, but the steam room had loose, chipped tiles with sharp edges that could cause an injury. The ice experience was out of order, and I had to rinse away the previous guests' suds from the foot spa. There were also young girls taking photos to post on social media, which made it hard to relax for fear of appearing in someone's content. For a four-star stay, being charged by the hour for a birthday treat didn't sit right with me. The spa price setup needs changing, perhaps to a small flat fee for the stay or inclusion in the room rate.

Breakfast was unreal, freshly cooked, and so much nicer than the usual smelly buffet with spoons going into the wrong containers. The staff were great, and our room, away from the main corridor, was good. The bath had seen better days, though, and I missed having a large mirror beside the room's sideboard for doing my hair and makeup. If you like a properly hot jacuzzi, try the terminal suit. All in all, a great stay, and I'd visit again.

The spa had just what I needed to recharge, and the massage was spot on. We had a brilliant weekend, with a divine view and outstanding restaurant food. The pasta tasted super Italian, and the staff worked hard to make the experience as good as possible. One of the best places in Ireland!

The long table set for all 19 of us at dinner was a lovely surprise. We'd expected to be split up, but instead had personalised menus with our family name, Glavin, printed on them. Before that, we'd enjoyed the rooftop bar views, and Jonathan made me the nicest strawberry daiquiri I've ever had. Later, Vinnie played music in the bar and got everyone from 25 to 70 singing and dancing. The atmosphere was fantastic. Mary, the reservations manager, had been helpful from my first call in May while I organised the family weekend. My daughter has a 28kg Border Collie, and although the hotel usually takes only small dogs, Mary made sure he could come. She also arranged the rooftop bar booking and dinner. The rooms were spotless and comfortable, and the staff couldn't do enough for us. Two days after we got home, Mary phoned to check that everything had gone well, a thoughtful personal touch. Every detail made the weekend memorable for our family. Although Lough Rea Hotel is a four-star, I'd give it five without hesitation. Thanks to the team, especially Mary, Jonathan and Vinnie. We'll be back.