We enjoyed our now annual visit to the Park House, excellently located in Galway's attractive city centre and beside the train and intercity bus stations. This is a well run four star in a cunningly converted old building, with complimentary parking for residents, a real bonus in congested Galway.

The largely windowless public areas are over furnished, over decorated and poorly lit. However, all the rooms we have used were bright, spacious and well equipped.

The elegant restaurant serves an excellent breakfast with food cooked to order. It also seems a popular venue for dinner. All the staff we met were exceptionally pleasant and helpful.

Recommended as a comfortable base for visitors to Galway's many festivals but minimalists may recoil from its overblown decor.

Tip - enjoy a gourmet dinner in elegant Kirwan's Lane in the middle of the pedestrian area.

We booked a 3 night stay at the Park House in July and arrived on a Tuesday afternoon. I was told that our room we had booked was oversold, so we were upgraded to a deluxe room. The room was larger, nicely decorated with new carpeting. What I couldn't believe was the bed and linens. For US travelers, the bed and linens were similar to a Motel 6 or a Super 8. There were 2 beds in our room, a twin and a double. I felt that for what we were paying for the room that this was unacceptable. The bed was so bad that you could see body impression divots in the mattress through the polyester cover. The linens consisted of the polyester cover, a single blanket and a white sheet, and 2 flat pillows. It was ridiculous. In fact, I was so put off, that I went down to the front desk to ask about the room I had booked (a superior king). I was told that none were available. After further discussion, they found one. When I went to look at it, same crappy bed, with the same divots. You could actually feel the individual springs on these beds!! I told them no thank you, and proceeded to cancel our booking. Moral of the story is that this hotel is not worth it's high ranking. Very few rooms look like the internet pictures. The only thing I give it credit for is the cleanliness and the curtious staff. If you are looking for great location, stay at Jury's Inn or the Spanish Arch Hotel; both are right at the heart of Galway's night life, and likely offer similar beds (if not better). We chose to stay further out (20 minute walk to Quay St.) at the G. The difference was night and day. The room at the G is what I would expect for what was charged at the Park House.

My family of four stayed in a Junior Suite for two nights. Seemed pricey but worth every penny. I was worried when we walked home from dinner and the two pubs next door were having a music sound off. When we entered our room (which faced the street), we didn't hear a sound. Galway partied on without us! Loved the location. Breakfast was very good. Room was comfortable and clean. Loved the Wi-Fi, flat screen and large bathroom. Great Hotel.

We were excited to stay at the Park House based on the reviews we had seen online and in our guidebooks. I was disappointed with our experience there, largely due to the rude front desk staff. Most hotels and b&b's in Ireland were very friendly and accomodating, but the man at the Park House desk (Gervis I think his name was) was very rude upon our arrival. I usually try not to let staff color my opinions, but given the excellent hospitality we had elsewhere in Ireland, I couldn't help but feel that way. I will say that the room was comfortable and clean, with a nice spacious bathroom and good shower. In general, however, I didn't find the hotel to be anything particularly special, especially compared to some of the other excellent experiences we had in Ireland (i.e., Loch Lein Country House in Killarney).
Although the location is convenient to Eyre Square and the train station, I would have preferred to be closer to the happening part of town, nearer the shops and water, on the other side of Eyre Square.