Kells Bay House and Gardens

The gardens at Kells Bay gave my son, Benji, a memory he'll carry for life. We were walking through when we came across an amazing dinosaur sculpture, and my nine-year-old was so excited he jumped for joy. Seeing him like that lifted my heart. As we headed out, Benji told me, "you're the best Dad in the whole entire world". Thank you, Kells Bay. The staff were simply wonderful as well. If you're in the area, this is a must do. Really, just get yourself to Kells Bay.

The setting is spectacular, with beautiful gardens and a great view from the room, but those things were overshadowed by the food, service and room condition. There was a large old stain on the carpet, and the bathtub only produced rusty, black bits of water that never cleared. Getting in was also a hassle: no gate code had been sent beforehand, and nobody answered my first call to reception. I got through on my second try, five minutes later, and was given the code. The receptionist was kind and pointed us toward the gardens, beach and room, but we didn't see her or any other hotel staff again, including when we left the next day. We handed the key to the kitchen server and that was it. At dinner in the hotel's Thai restaurant, loud conversations that sounded like arguing came from the kitchen staff from our arrival until the meal was served. It was the same the next morning. The server who was speaking loudly was kind to us, though. Dinner and breakfast were mediocre at best.

We came to see the gardens, not to stay, and I left disappointed. You can tell how beautiful the place once was and could be again with care, but it felt neglected. Several wooden structures were broken, rotten or hidden under overgrown foliage. Some paths needed clearing and plants needed cutting back so new growth could come through. With more investment and TLC, hopefully it could become spectacular again.

The waterfall was the best part of our garden visit, and the kids had a great time on the rope bridge. We spent a wonderful day there and could easily have stayed all day. The small café near the entrance is a gem, with a lovely view down to the sea.