We (family of 4 with kids aged 11 & 12) stayed for the June Bank Holiday weekend at the Galway Bay Hotel. We chose Galway for our weekend away as the Volvo Ocean Race was being hosted in Galway and a great weekend was assured and we were not disappointed.

But to speak of the hotel; we arrived to a very warm welcome and a great buzz of activity. Plenty of parking, welcoming ambiance, warm colours in hotel and rooms and overall a very good first impression. We headed out and walked for a few miles along Salthill promenade which goes on for many miles. The hotel is on the prom and could not have better views (which cannot be interrupted). We were completely spoilt on the weekend we chose of course as we sat out on the balcony on Saturday morning, sun beaming down, national radio station broadcasting from my left, bar & barbeque on my right, table service, stunning sea views, hundreds of people on the prom, large screens, red arrows doing an amazing air display and the boats participating in the Volvo Ocan Race in front of us........and not to forget my G&T in hand!! I ask; can you ask for more!!

The staff of the hotel were very friendly and helpful. They were exceptionally busy as they had the Crew of the VOR staying over in addition to all us visitors plus one wedding on Friday and two weddings on Saturday and yet there were ample staff to look after us all.

We took a family bedroom which consisted of a double and two single beds with ample room to relax in. It was very spacious actually. If I had to pick a negative however, its' location was not great. Room 125 is located at the back of the hotel (which incidentially is the front of the hotel in that that is where the main entrance/reception is). As our room was just over the entrance it was a little noisy at 2/3am as people were heading home from weddings or going out for a ciggie so avoid that location. Of course, if you can ask for a seaview room and you won't be disappointed. Unfortunatley, there weren't any available for us. The room was very clean as was the bathroom and the housekeeper was very pleasan.t

Our package included 2 evening meals (note for 2 people and not 4). We availed of this on both nights and I could not fault it. The menu on both nights was fab. Very difficult to choose in fact as the choice was really tempting. There is a set dinner menu (€35) or a full menu (Table d'Hotel) - Supplements are outlined on the menu. For breakfast there is a choice of hot buffet, fruit etc.... plenty of everything. There is a lobster tank at the entrance to the restaurant which will amuse the kiddies. The head chef has quiet an impressive accolade having cooked for Michael Jackson, Bill & Hilary Clinton, Michael Flately and many more celebs.

The kids went for a swim (kids under 12 must be accompanied by an adult). They thought the pool was small but good fun as they have pool balls etc.. to play with.

We travelled into Galway a few times by taxi (approx. €10). There is a bus service every 15 mins however, being the busy weekend it was a taxi was just as easy as it would have cost as much to park in Galway..if we could get parking that particular weekend!

During the high season, Perks funfair is right next to the hotel. There is a ferris wheel, from which you will have stunning views of Salthill. There is a crazy golf course which costs 5 per adult and 3 per child. There are other rides too for teenagers and small kiddies.

In 2010 there is a stunning new Golf Course opening very close to Hotel designed, I think, by Christy O'Connor Jnr.

Overall, as super location for a trip to the west. Have fun.

This hotel is in a great location overlooking a beautiful bay. The rooms are fine although mine smelled of cigarette smoke but under no circumstances go to the lobster pot restaurant.
When we went we had to wait 30 minutes to get served. When the waiter finally got round to taking our order we were told they only had 1 lobster (despite lobster being the restaurants main selling point!) and that 2 other seafood options were unavailable. when the starters came I got 3 tiny slivers of salmon on very old salad leaves and my mother received a tian of crab and avocado that was more gelling agent than either (the restaurant did agreed to remove the tian form the bill. The wine we ordered was corked and when we sent it back we had to have a 15 minute argument with the wine waiter about not paying for it before he eventually went a tried the wine and agreed it was undrinkable. The lobster we received was fine (though at 42 Euro it should be!) and the poussin and chips were good. But the monkfish I ordered was 2 small over cooked discs served on a mound of mash.
My advice is stay in the hotel, have a drink on the terrace and go into Galway, which is beautiful vibrant city, for dinner. There are many better eating options than this hotel.

I have wanted to stay in this hotel for many years but with children we always went s/c. Now children grown up we could go and it was worth the wait. We had a beautiful view from our bedroom window and the room was all I was wanting. All toiletries provided and even an iron and ironing board.

Even though the hotel was fully booked there was always somewhere quiet to sit and they had laid on children's activities so you didn't notice the children around the hotel.

Breakfast was fabulous, every taste catered for and as much as you wanted. We did not eat in the restaurant as with the rate for the pound it was pricey for us, but our friends that did eat there said it was worth the money - excellent. I did not see any sign of the hotel looking weary as mentioned in other reviews, it still is hard to find better in the area, and I am picky.

Just across from the sea and safe beach, but even though on a fairly main road, the traffic noise did not filter through. A very pleasant walk along the shoreline takes you most of the way into Galway city and all up the walk is only around 20 minutes, so can leave the car behind and just get a taxi back rather than trying to find somewhere to park.

Staff very helpful and polite and couldn't do any better. I did not find any of the problems found with previous reviewer regarding lack of staff or helpfulness. I found the staff went out of their way to help you and at breakfast toast was brought piping hot and the buffet was constantly replenished. Perhaps it is attitude towards the staff that brings out the worst in them, a smile and polite request normally helps things along.

We had a wonderful few days and will definitely go back to stay here when in the area visiting family again.

My husband, two young sons and I stayed here last week. The staff were very friendly. It was a refreshing change to have staff in an Irish hotel who had good english and the majority of which were Irish. They must treat the staff well and it shows. We stayed in a family room and had plenty of space for my 5 year old to play with his toys. We had dinner on the first evening in the lobster pot hotel restaurant in the hotel, it was so good we had it there the second night also even though we had planned to go to Galway city. Although the pool is small there was plenty of room in it because nobody was using it we had it to ourselves most of the time. Cant say enough good things about this hotel. It has it all.