Killarney Towers Hotel & Leisure Centre

The staff were great, from reception to the people serving breakfast. Breakfast was amazing, and I'm getting used to beans in the morning. My room was beside the pub attached to the hotel, though, and the music was surprisingly loud. I had to sleep with earbuds playing white noise. Aside from that, it was a great experience. I'd definitely ask for a room away from the pub.

The hotel, rooms, staff and location were all five-star. We had a clean room and were happy to retreat there after the long drive, but our plan for a relaxing soak didn't work out. We'd driven for hours through the countryside, dealing with oncoming traffic and some pretty dangerous curves. By the time we reached Killarney we were exhausted, sore-backed and had swollen knees. We were told there was a spa, and were thrilled. Then we found it was a sauna, steam room and whirlpool. We assumed, as Americans, that the whirlpool would be hot. It was just cold water that whirls, with a few jets aimed up the crevices that mostly jiggled stomach fat. It closed at 10, so there was no back relief. Then we noticed the tub in our room had jets. In America, jets plus water means hot tub, so we, two female best friends, started a very platonic hot tub adventure. Except the jets didn't work. Let me reiterate: platonic. We really just wanted a hot tub, and a whirlpool doesn't compare. After this, we're thinking of opening a jacuzzi franchise. We love the Irish and think you should be freed from the cold grip of whirlpools. The hotel was fabulous, but the one thing missing was a hot tub or working bathroom jets for two friends who wanted to soak together, platonically. Like this if we should open a hot tub store in Ireland. Slainté.

Breakfast was good, and the location was excellent, right in the town centre and close to the national park. The hotel has both a front and back entrance. Our room was clean and very nice, with a comfortable bed. The shower pressure was only adequate, and I didn't try the jacuzzi in the bathtub. It has an old-school charm, with red decor against wood. This was included in my Globus tour.

Anna in the leisure centre deserves a special mention for making an extra effort to help our three-year-old daughter, who was scared to get in the water, start swimming. All the staff were lovely, and breakfast was perfect. We came for a short Christmas shopping break, and the Killarney Towers suited us perfectly because it's so central. For a hotel right in one of the country's most popular tourist towns, with a leisure centre, it was incredible value for money.