Talbot Hotel Carlow: Review!

I was very lucky that for my very first time visiting Carlow I got the chance to also visit the beautiful Talbot Hotel Carlow and tell you guys all about it. Reading the reviews and seeing just how gorgeous it was in pictures, I was eager to get down and see for myself!

The first thing I was really impressed with was how ideal the Talbot Carlow was a hotel was for all ages. Parents, couples, grannies, grandas, new-borns, toddlers and teens; there was something to keep everyone entertained.  The hotel offers an on-site babysitting service, kids club and has a large family entertainment centre knows as ‘The Dome’ situated right next door.  The dome is home to a bowling alley, a children’s play centre, a games arcade and a kids party venue rolled into one. All of this is included in the price when you book a stay at the Talbot Hotel Carlow and it really is fantastic value. The hotel bar has live music on Wednesdays and at the weekend and to top it all you’re in the best hands ever, with the loveliest & friendliest staff to make sure everything is perfect for you.

The hotel is a very popular choice for weddings and on the sunny afternoon that I visited the staff were busily preparing for the arrival of two newly-weds and their guests. The general manager is the very friendly Robert Millar and he was kind enough to give me a tour of the stunning ball room & reception prior to the bride & grooms arrival. And I even got a little glimpse around the bridal suite which was absolutely stunning. I was so impressed.

Sleeping:

With elegant décor, the rooms at the Talbot Hotel Carlow are extremely spacious with a large en-suite bathroom and complimentary deluxe toiletries & fluffy towels. The rooms also feature TV’s, air conditioning, free wi-fi, free hair-dryers & a 24 hour room service menu. My gorgeous room overlooked beautiful Irish countryside. It’s the perfect view to wake up to and enjoy a morning coffee with your in-room coffee machine. Each hotel room in the hotel is exactly the same. They have one large double bed and one large single. Cosy, comfy and relaxing! 5 stars all round from me.

Dining:

The hotel has two on-site restaurants. The Liberty Tree restaurant and Corries Bar & Bistro and each of them have 24-hour room service. The choice really is yours. The Liberty Tree restaurant is located on the 4^th floor of the building and provides absolutely stunning views of the beautiful Carlow countryside. They do fresh & homemade cuisine with locally sourced products. Corries Bar & Bistro is a comfortably designed lounge. It has the perfect relaxed atmosphere and serves teas, coffees and carvery daily from 9am.

Weddings:

The Talbot Hotel Carlow really looks after its wedding parties and includes so much in each of their wedding packages. You can expect a red carpet arrival with Champagne for your wedding party, complimentary tea/coffee accompanied with the renowned Talbot homemade cookies for all wedding guests and the wonderful luxurious Leinster Suite reserved exclusively for your guests. Not to mention the crisp white table linen & chair covers with bows, candelabra centrepieces with white candles, personalised menu cards as a memento of your special day, beautiful wedding cake table and a choice of wedding cake stands along with cake knife.

The Talbot Hotel provides the Bride & Groom with the fabulous Bridal Suite, overlooking the rolling countryside, complimentary on the night of your wedding.

The Cost:

Room rates vary and depends on the date in which you book and your preferred time of arrival. You can check them out over on www.travelfinders.ie or the Talbot Hotel Carlow website or Aertel!

Riverside Park Hotel: Review!

Riverside Park Hotel

I had heard a lot about Enniscorthy’s 4 star Riverside Park Hotel so when I arrived from Dublin after a surprisingly short journey (less than two hours),  I was really looking forward to checking the place out. Before arriving I had done my research of Wexford & the hotel and seen so many beautiful pictures of the hotel and its surroundings. I was delighted to have the opportunity to go there and share with you all my stay.

On seeing the stunning views along the scenic banks of the Slaney and the fabulous hotel itself, I knew I was in for a treat.

The hotel is situated on the outskirts of Enniscorthy town and as the name implies, right on the banks of River Slaney. The picturesque Sunny South East surroundings were a joy to take in and probably one of the most Instagram-able places I’ve visited.  Any bloggers dream.

One thing I had heard about the hotel was that it was home to one of the finest leisure centres in Wexford and for a fitness freak like me I was eager to check this out. I am one of those girls that need a good gym and pool facilities when I go away. It definitely lived up to its standards. See for yourself in the photos I have included.

For a quiet Thursday, the hotel was so busy and the atmosphere was fantastic. I really didn’t expect it to be so lively during the week and it made my stay even better.

The Room:

The well-furnished rooms boast a private bathroom, a TV, ironing facilities, free WiFi and 24-hour room service. You couldn’t ask for much more really. You have the choice of a standard room, a family room, a balcony room or a suite. Depending on your budget, of course.

I couldn’t have faulted anything about the rooms. I felt extremely relaxed and got treated like a queen by the lovely staff.

The Food:

When I visit a hotel – one of the main things I am excited about is always the food. I love the thought of letting someone else take care of all the cooking for a day or two so that I can kick back and relax. I think the key to a good hotel menu is variety and this is exactly what I got at the Riverside Park Hotel.

The hotel is home to two restaurants. The first is The Moorings, which offers classic cuisine – yum. Or The Alamo Steakhouse which offers a wide variety of dishes.  If you are after something a little lighter or more chilled out you can also eat from the Promenade Bar which offers stunning views of the River Slaney and features live music and entertainment. I spent most of my time here admiring the views.

You can also satisfy your hunger without even leaving your room with the 24- hour room service.

For a small fee or depending on the offer you get when you stay at the hotel – a full breakfast is served each morning. For me breakfast is my favourite meal of the day and I loved the selection the hotel had to offer.

All-round yummy meals & amazing value for money.

What to do in Wexford:

If you want to escape the hotel for a little while then you’re in the perfect spot. Wexford is jam packed with fun things to do.  It really is in the perfect location as it places you within a 10-minute stroll of Wexford County Museum. There is nearby golfing, sandy beaches, surfing/boogie boarding, sailing, bicycle rentals, hiking plus much more. So if you want to relax, see the sights or be active, then they have you covered.

Room rates:

Room rates vary and depends on the date in which you book and your preferred time of arrival. You can check them out over on www.travelfinders.ie or Riverside Park Hotel website or check them out on Aertel!

The Secret Escape: Take me back!

The Secret Escape won’t be a Secret for much longer. That’s for sure. It opened its doors to the public on July 31^st & for anyone who has booked it – you are seriously in for a treat. And for anyone that hasn’t yet. Get it on your bucket list because it is honestly a little slice of heaven right at your doorstep.

There isn’t many places I can say that I’ve been to that I’ve instantly wanted to return to the moment I left, but The Secret Escape has definitely had that effect.

Myself & 3 close ladies of mine headed of early on a Sunday morning. We didn’t know what to expect but we were all set & excited ready to have a nice chilled out girl’s night, and that is exactly what we had. Girls’ trips away don’t come around too often for us so we set off with some chilled prosecco in the boot, our bags packed and excited to have a bit of craic. With a few wrong turns, and dodgy google maps it took us roughly 1 hour and 30 mins to get to the house... but trust me, I would have tripled that travel time to get to where we were going.

The Secret Escape is a beautifully refurbished Farm House which offers luxury Boutique Bed & Breakfast. Upon arrival you will be set down a long private tree lined drive way, surrounded by the open countryside and amazing views of the Sperrin Mountains… us 4 little townies, were in heaven.

The house is set with 5 luxurious bedrooms, and includes a cinema room, a ‘chill room’, & two beauty rooms (which offer a full range of treatments and make-up applications). So if you really want a PJ night in with the girls, a romantic night with your other half or you want to head into Portrush for a night out – the choice is up to you. If makes it even handier because the house is only 15 Miles from Portrush & Portstewart and only 12 Miles from Ballymena & Coleraine.

They offer amazing packages such as ‘Girls night out’, ‘Midweek Escape’, ‘Birthday Bubbles’, ’50 shades package’ or an ‘Us time’ package… they range in different prices per person per night, starting from as little as £49 per guest! You can tailor your package to suit you and it truly is a bargain for what you get J

Even though I don’t believe in luck and I definitely don’t get anything given to me – but after all the years of likes & shares I have given to Facebook competitions,  it finally paid off and I won this amazing package with The Secret Escape. As the competition winner, I received one night’s accommodation for myself and 3 friends. Unlimited use of the hot tub with unlimited cocktails, a one hour full body massage each, full makeup application, VIP return transfer to the amazing Ramore Winebar in Portush & a £120 voucher for the restaurant plus breakfast.  There are no words so sum up the nights craic we had, we spent the day/night living like queens and we honestly couldn’t have had a better experience at The Secret Escape. We were booking again before we even got out the door. 

It was one of the best places I have ever visited around Ireland. The owners, Frank & Angela, go over and above to make sure all your needs are met and you truly drive home wishing you could stay a little longer.

5 stars all round from me & my other 3 ladies.

See you again very soon The Secret Escape!

Caoimhe J