We have just returned from a weekend break to this hotel. We have stayed several times in the past but it is approx. 3 years since we were there.

It could not be more central and from the outside is a beautiful building. The foyer is gorgeous with a welcoming real fire blazing away. My only little gripe is the bedrooms which are very basic and quite small for such a lovely hotel. They are in need of an update in the decoration and bearing in mind that this hotel was renovated approx 2 years ago some of the bedrooms were obviously not done.

The staff are pleasant enough and breakfast was very good with a large variety at the buffet. We ate in the restaurant one of the nights and were a little disappointed at the range on offer together with the quite high price. One nice little touch though was the Irish Coffee made at the table with the glass set on fire to heat it - these are the little things that add a bit extra from one hotel to the next! Pite this was the only thing!

I dont know if I would be rushing back to the Great Southern in preference to the other hotels situated on Eyre Square - it just offered the same as I could get in any other hotel of this class.

We stayed at the Great Southern, Galway for the first night of our honeymoon. They upgraded us (no charge) because it was our honeymoon, to the 5th floor where they have the Leisure facilities and executive lounges. It was impressive! The service was great, people were friendly and helpful. Breakfast was expensive and the hot food wasn't as good as other places we stayed, but it was a nice variety - especially if you aren't used to the meats of Ireland. They had yogurt and fruit, pastries and cereals to choose from. Our room was amazing! It is in a great location, walking distance from the pubs and shopping.

My husband & I spent 3 nights here while on a Brendan Tour of Ireland. It was by far the worst hotel experience we had on our trip. Brendan Tours told us they use this hotel because it's so centrally located, which is certainly true. It was so central to all of the action on Eire Square that we were kept awake, one night until 3 a.m. due to a local "prom" being held in the hotel. There were people carousing in the streets, yelling & smashing bottles. In desparation our tour director went to the police station on our last night & asked for patrols in the Square, which helped some. Or maybe we were so exhausted by the 3rd night that we finally slept through the noise.

Additionally, our room was very small & cramped with no luggage racks (when requested the front desk told us there were none left), only 5 hangers in the wardrobe & a blanket that was too small for the bed. On the plus side, the room had a fridge, a keyboard to access email through the TV, & a spacious bathroom. Unfortunately there was no air conditioning, so we were forced to suffer with a stuffy room, since opening the window wasn't an option with the noise outside.

The public spaces in this vintage hotel are well maintained & elegant. But that's small comfort since we couldn't sleep in the lobby, although it wouldn't have been any noiser than our room! Needless to say, we wouldn't stay here again or take any tour that stays at this hotel.

We stayed at the hotel in late July 2006. Fantastic location, beautiful entrance/lobby, great breakfast. Room was very well decorated, though to get to it felt like we were taking the back stairs or servants route. Room was very small and dark, with an interestingly shaped bathroom. The view from the bedroom was bleak, looking out over rooftops with an incessant din. Hotel had pay per view and internet, but very expensive. Bar under the hotel had good service and was empty when everywhere else in Galway was black (Arts festival). Apparently they serve nice food though they had taken the menus away early so we couldn't order. Parkings is free overnight in a nearby multi-story carpark.

Had we not paid over €200 euro for the room, it would have been fine - but the price was to much for such a small room.