GREAT VALUE SPRING GETAWAYS - TEN OF THE BEST

Lengthening days and the promise of spring in the air make a short break away from cities very appealing – especially with Mother’s Day, St Patrick’s Weekend and Easter all coming up in quick succession. A hotel is always a good bet early in the year, offering plenty of comfort and facilities if the weather is disappointing, and it needn’t break the bank. To get the best rates, give the special offers pages on hotel websites a good browse, take up holiday weekend offers or travel midweek if possible - and book direct. Here are just a few of our favourites to tempt you.

Kelly's Resort Hotel & Spa
Rosslare Co Wexford

Constant reinvention has always been the story at the Kelly family’s renowned fifth-generation seaside hotel – and never more so than now, with recent developments including the return of sisters Laura and Grace Kelly to work alongside their father Bill, an increased focus on sustainability in the extensive (and very beautiful) kitchen gardens, which guests are encouraged to visit, and then the introduction of The Sea Rooms in 2022. A stunning two-storey all year indoor/outdoor dining project with sea views and terraces (and, since November 2025, current Euro-Toques Young Chef of the Year David Harte taking over from Chris Fullam as Head Chef), this design-led contemporary addition has further extended the hotel’s (already impressive) dining options and transformed the ambience of the whole property. Add a beachside location, superb leisure facilities, the famous wine cellar, a unique art collection... and, quite simply, Kelly’s has everything. Yet - and perhaps this is the secret ingredient in the Kelly’s success story – there’s always another new plan in the making. All of which made Kelly’s an obvious recent candidate for the GCGuides Innovation Award - and explains why it is always so exciting to visit this long-established gem, and see what they’ve been getting up to lately. Their off-season midweek activity breaks are legendary - art, wine, cooking, gardening, you name it – and the offers page is always worth a browse.

Kilkea Castle
Castledermot Co Kildare

One of Ireland’s oldest inhabited castles, Kilkea dates back to the 12th century. The original structure is surprisingly small - a ‘boutique castle’ perhaps - but it is authentic and elegant, with a pleasing ambience that conveys intimacy as well as a certain sense of grandeur. Sensitively restored by the current owner, Jay Cashman, it is now a thriving hotel once again and was our 4-Star Hotel of the Year 2024. Offering lodges, championship golf course, spa, falconry and equestrian activities - and a fairytale wedding venue – this atmospheric destination has everything, including good food. Appealing dining options include the excellent Hermione’s Restaurant in the Clubhouse for an informal ambience and fine dining at Restaurant 1180, with a real ‘castle’ atmosphere and magnificent views over the countryside. Special breaks, or ‘Experiences’, include activities and relaxation (golf, spa & wellness) and there's an especially interesting one with a guided visit to the National Stud Farm (2-3 hour tour) and a self guided visit to the Japanese Gardens and St. Fiachra’s Garden included.

BrookLodge & Macreddin Village
Aughrim Co Wicklow

Evan Doyle and his brothers, Eoin and Bernard, built this extraordinary food, drink and leisure complex on the site of a deserted village in a Wicklow valley in 1999. Today, it is a spacious and welcoming ‘green’ hotel offering everything from conferences and events to a sumptuous spa and wonderful food, and has been recognised by many awards, including our own. The hotel is most famous for promoting organic and wild food, and all things sustainable - its main restaurant, The Strawberry Tree (our Restaurant of the Year 2019, was Ireland’s first certified organic restaurant, and they were among the first to install EV charging points in the car park, long before it became the thing to do. Their second restaurant La Taverna Armento and the atmospheric Actons Country Pub & Brewery echo the same philosophy and off season breaks are good value too with midweek packages (golf, pampering, mindfulness...) especially accessible. And there’s all of the wonderful Garden County to explore.

The Lansdowne Kenmare
Kenmare Co Kerry

One of Kenmare’s oldest buildings, the former Lansdowne Arms was built as the town residence of William Petty Fitzmaurice, 2nd Earl of Shelburne, in 1790. After a closure and then restoration by previous owners, the famous Brennan brothers, it re-opened in 2021 as a lovely ‘new’ hotel with a fresh contemporary look and traditional values. Now, with owners Patrick and Aileen Hanley (formerly of the super Co Wexford pub/restaurant The Strand Cahore) at the helm, it's very much the heart of the town’s activities once again and a lovely, lively place to stay, eat - and have fun. Various offers are available and longer stays often offer best value - when you stay two consecutive nights off season you may have a complimentary third night, for example, and special off season perks are offered to Blue Book voucher holders. Very attractive in-house dining options include the daytime Café, The Grill Bar & Terrace, The Piano Lounge (champagne and cocktails…) and great food cooked over coals - and the bars and restaurants of the town are literally on the doorstep.

Fota Island Resort
Fota Co Cork

A sister property to The Kingsley Hotel in Cork city, this beautifully located resort is deservedly one of Ireland’s most desirable destinations. Luxurious accommodation includes a high proportion of suites, many enjoying panoramic views over woodlands or golf course. The three championship golf courses and Fota Spa are big attractions among the resort’s many activities and families are well catered for, with a dedicated kids programme in school holidays - and Fota House and Wildlife Park among other attractions nearby. Serving local food has always been a focus here (the suplier list is available on the booking page), and the excellent offering is wide ranging. As well as specials for St Patrick’s, Mother’s Day & Easter, numerous special offers include good midweek B&B rates, leaving you free to choose from a number of great dining options from casual dining in the Amber Lounge (with dining terrace) to The Cove Fine Dining Experience Culinary Odyssey (tasting menu). As well as having so much to offer on site, Fota Island Resort is very well placed for great days out – including an outing to the recently restoredd Mount Congreve Estate & Gardens, just a scenic run along the N25.

Carton House
Carton Demesne Maynooth Co Kildare

Once the residence of the Dukes of Leinster, Carton House is an imposing mansion set in one of Ireland’s finest country estates – and home to two championship golf courses - so it would always be worth a visit, if only to see the property. While the luxurious accommodation is contemporary, prices are relatively reasonable for a hotel of this style (and amenities to match) and the public areas lend themselves to entertainment on a grand scale. The wonderful Morrison Room restaurant (fine dining) takes full advantage of the magnificent setting and Head Chef Adam  Nevin serves exquisite food to match, while Kathleen’s Kitchen and The Courtyard Bar offer informal alternatives, along with The Carriage House gastropub atthe  golf Clubhouse. Offers here are ‘Experiences’ rather than deals and there is value to be had considering the range of activities (many of them complimentary, including swimming pool & bikes) and free meals for under 5s in family packages.

Mulranny Park Hotel
Westport Co Mayo

Set in wooded grounds, this former railway hotel dates back to 1897 (the line is now the Great Western Greenway walking and cycling route) and it has retained some of the original character. It’s a welcoming hotel, with well appointed rooms, good amenities – including a recently renovated Leisure Centre and Seaweed Baths & Treatment Room - and a strong focus on food,notably in the elegant Nephin Restaurant, which has stunning views across Clew Bay. And there’s great value to be had here including off-season B&B, advance purchase deals and Greenway Adventure Breaks (walking, cycling) with a packed lunch, also multi-generational breaks and Apartment Packages in the modern serviced apartments beside the hotel.

Dunraven Arms Hotel
Adare Co Limerick

Established in 1792, the Murphy family’s large hotel in ‘Ireland’s prettiest village’ has retained something of the comfortable ambience of a country inn – albeit a very luxurious one. An unrivalled reputation for the quality and value of short breaks offered, and a dedication to giving personal service, make the Dunraven Arms an outstanding example of contemporary Irish hospitality and it has been the recipient of several of our GCG awards, including Hotel of the Year and Irish Breakfast awards. The delightfully old-fashioned Maigue Restaurant showcases the best of local produce and is set up as smartly for their excellent breakfast as it is for dinner. While prices vary according to the season and day of the week, special offers range from their famously keen room rate (available at certain times) and some deals include a 3-course meal as well as that terrific breakfast. A popular Sunday Piano Package is offered intermittently too, and their offers are always well worth travelling for.

Lakeside Hotel & Leisure Centre
Ballina Killaloe Co Clare

This beautifully located hotel overlooks the River Shannon, with a lovely view down to the famous old 13-arch bridge that joins counties Clare and Tipperary, and the towns of Killaloe and Ballina. With a convenient location and good facilities, it has long been the hub of the local community and, no matter when you visit, there is always something going on the this Taste of the Waterways award winner whether it be a local fund-raiser or a family event. Recent upgrading has included some desirable high-spec adult-only waterfront rooms with private balconies - and there is a really nice feeling about the place, largely down to the very friendly and helpful staff. Special offers include attractive family deals and it would make a good base for a multi-generational family break, with child-friendly leisure facilities, plenty of things to do within walking distance and much of interest to explore in the area. Along with ever-popular offers for B&B/dinner and seasonal specials, the Lakeside includes some more innovative deals tying in with the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands theme.

Great Southern Killarney
Killarney Co Kerry

The pillared entrance and ivy-clad facade of this classic Victorian railway hotel still convey a sense of occasion and its convenience to Killarney town - and, of course, the station - is unrivalled. The protected building and its large gardens have gone through several changes of ownership in recent years, but now - in the ownership of the Scally family (of Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork, the Killarney Royal and St Helens in Dublin) - its much-loved original name has been restored and the welcoming open fire at the entrance continues to draw guests through to the spacious, pillared Grand Foyer. Accommodation is sympathetic to the age of the hotel and the bedroom corridors in the original building (built wide enough ‘to allow two ladies in hooped dresses to pass comfortably’) still set the tone. The great gilt-domed Arbour Brasserie (formerly the Garden Room Restaurant) is a prime example of Victorian opulence, while more informal fare is offered in is pleasingly clubby Brownes Bar with its open fires, comfy sofas and the famous Malton prints. So, happily, this pleasant hotel remains a destination of choice with plenty of reminders of its glorious heyday – and there’s always value to be had among the special offers, including a range of Spring Escapes.