Great National South Court Hotel

For €160 a night, I expected more. The facilities are very basic: the shower only has an all-in-one hair and body wash, and the sinks don't have mixer taps. Wi-Fi doesn't reach my room either. I suspect most guests are visiting Raheen business park for work, which makes the connection especially frustrating. In room 103, neither my phone nor laptop could connect with the door closed. Hotels in Limerick city are much nicer for the same price or less, even though their rooms are usually a little smaller.

The meal in the restaurant was nice, but getting a drink was abysmal. My quickest wait was 7 minutes and the longest was 18. The restaurant manager and assistant didn't seem interested, or perhaps didn't know how to run a restaurant. Three staff members saved the day: Catherine was realistically running the show and should be the manager. Caesar moved between the bar and floor, always ready to help with a smile and good humour. Talita, if I've got her name right, was always available and full of energy. She should be Catherine's assistant manager. The singer Dermot Kearns was amazing, and his interaction made my mother's night. I'd hire those people in a heartbeat. I had to leave my room to get online because there was no internet in the bedroom. The hotel hierarchy is resting on its laurels and needs to up its game. This was my second stay, and it will be my last. The rooms are like a cheap Premier Inn, clean and basic. Catherine, Talita, Caesar and Dermot, thank you for saving the day. If we come back, it'll be because of you.

The evening meal at OTB was great quality and well priced, and breakfast was smashing. I had a good room and parking was good too. It's a great big hotel, with excellent staff at reception, in the restaurants and in the bars. Well done.

The staff were so friendly and obliging, and the toilets were clean. There's loads of parking too. I went to a Christmas dinner party here last week, and the food was amazing. Credit to the chef 👏👏.