Lovers' Lodge

The bedrooms were a nice size and the house felt very homely. There's a great dog-walking spot directly across the road, with a large bird sanctuary as well. I chose Kilkenny for my big birthday and wasn't disappointed. We'd definitely stay at Lovers' Lodge again. A house name on the wall would help, though, as a couple of takeaway deliveries got completely lost.

You need a car here, and it's far from the supermarket, though handy for golf lovers using the golf range. The key box is convenient, but booking is only available by calendar week and the place feels a bit impersonal. It could be lovely with more TLC. Cleaning needs a lot of improvement: the bedding was creased and not ironed, there was one small towel per bed, the fridge was dirty with an old margarine box inside, and there were crumbs and chairs on the dining table. The dishwasher had dirty dishes from the previous guests, and there was washing in the machine, unclear if it was clean. The second-floor windows were open in November. The owner needs a better caretaker for the listing.

We stayed for two nights with family for my birthday. The bungalow has an open fire, a small nice back garden, Wi-Fi and off-street parking, and it's well equipped. It's just outside Kilkenny centre, so a car is a good idea. Check-in is at 3pm, but check-out is 10.00 am, which feels a bit early when you also have to tidy before leaving. We had two toddlers and a baby, and it got a little noisy at times because sound carries. Probably better suited to families with older children.

WiFi worked well, and the kitchen facilities were good in this comfortable self-catering cottage near Kilkenny city centre. The TV was temperamental, there was a damp smell in the ensuite, and the bedrooms didn't seem to have much hanging space for clothes.