Advice appreciated

Islandmagee

I'm looking to book a special luxury hotel stay in N.Ireland, preferably with spa but must have excellent accommodation and food - any recommendations, no expense spared as it is a once in a lifetime indulgence! Thanks all!

CEON44

The Galgorm near Ballymena is pretty hard to beat. Great setting, best spa in the country, excellent food and accomodation

ARandomMiser

Agree with galgorm, or last time i was over on business we stayed in The Merchant ...... Expensive (probably too expensive) but handy for the city centre

Heisenbug

Lough Erne Resort or The Merchant, both 5 star but very different settings depending on whether you want city or country. The Galgorms also a contender especially if you want a spa but it lacks that fifth star, not that the star means everything but the last time I stayed in it their normal room was poor compared to the others.

The Culloden and The Fitzwilliam are the other 5 star hotels but I found the Cullodens room lacking and The Fitzwilliam had serious issues with its air con, it was like sleeping in a oven. Of course these are just my experiences and everyone's mileage may vary, a lot depends on the room.

Milko

Manor House Enniskillen

Ticked

Another vote for the Manor House. Killyhevlin's pretty good too!

suki1964

Had a fantastic stay at the Manour house. I prefer it to Galgorm

steveymp

Manor House for me too, very friendly staff, great leisure facilities and wonderful food. Just make sure you get a suite in the new build section. The older house side had issues with heating when I stayed but I got moved to the newer side when I brought this up with reception.

Take your golf clubs if you play, they have a course or hire a pleasure craft from their marina if money is no object a wee cruise up the lough is beautiful

PaperDoll

Galgorm trumps Lough Erne for me. Lough Erne resort is lovely but felt a bit soulless to me while Galgorm has a much warmer, friendlier feeling.

However, if money is no object, I'd head a few mile across the border to Castle Leslie. Actually, no, if money was no object for me, I'd go to Ashford Castle which is the only truly 5* experience I've had in Ireland but obviously not in the North so doesn't meet OP's requirements.

Tammykitty

PaperDoll wrote: »

Galgorm trumps Lough Erne for me. Lough Erne resort is lovely but felt a bit soulless to me while Galgorm has a much warmer, friendlier feeling.

However, if money is no object, I'd head a few mile across the border to Castle Leslie. Actually, no, if money was no object for me, I'd go to Ashford Castle which is the only truly 5* experience I've had in Ireland but obviously not in the North so doesn't meet OP's requirements.

I completely agree with this - Ashford Castle is the best hotel I have ever stayed in - however, it is not a spa hotel, and not in the North.


Hayfield Manor in Cork is also pretty amazing and a true 5* Establishment (although again no spa).


Lough Eske Castle in Donegal is lovely too, and has a great spa.


Although none of these are in the North.


Spa hotels in the North I have stayed in are:


Burrendale Hotel in Newcastle - great experience, great staff, great food etc


Galgorm - Good but I didn't find it excellent, it was too "corporate" for me - nothing out of the ordinary


Slieve Donard, Newcastle, again good, but the meals let it down, the service is standard, but you do get lovely views from the pool.


Non spa hotel but excellent is
Ardtara Country House, Upperlands, Maghera.
The food is brilliant, and lots of it home grown, unique menus etc


the rooms are unique - and even have working fireplaces in the rooms. Its very romantic.

jenheiffer

Slieve Donard is only good if you manage to get a decent room. I speak from experience. 😠