We recently stayed here and I thought it was just ok. It is definitely an interesting place and the views are stunning. I also thought the decor was beautiful with large draperies and antique furniture.

However, the shower had very low water pressure and the water did not get hotter than lukewarm. It also took quite a while to drain.

The room had an air freshener plugged into the outlet that was very, very strong. My husband is asthmatic and it can be triggered by strong perfume smells, so I immediately unplugged it.

My only other complaint was that the bed wasn't very comfortable. We were in the old part of the hotel though, so maybe the shower and beds are better in the newer part.

A wonderful place. Our family arrived jet lagged and stressed out and spent 2 relaxing nights at Ballinalacken Castle Hotel. Cecelia made us feel right at home. We booked 2 hotel rooms which were both really nice. If you can, get 'room 16' which has a glass enclosed gazebo overlooking the Atlantic, and the Aran Islands. The food at the restaurant was great, too.

My wife and I loved the 3 nights we spent at the Ballinalacken. From the moment we drove up to the estate and stepped inside, we immediately felt at home. The service was personal, friendly and impeccable. The food was so delicious that we chose to eat dinner there each night, and so appreciated the atmosphere and the beautiful music.

From our room we had an unobstructed view of the Atlantic Ocean, a large forest of trees to our left, and rolling hillsides all around. The first evening, as we were settling in, the rain got heavier and heavier. Before long there were gale-like winds raging all around us, visibility near zero, and the sound was quite ferocious. An hour or so later, after dinner, it began clearing and we could see the ocean appear with streams of light hitting the water. As it cleared more, the Aran Islands seemed to rise out of the waters, and then to our far left the striking Cliffs of Moher appeared. Truly an unforgettable experience to witness!

We stayed 2 nights at this hotel and loved it. Yes, some of the furnishings are a bit tired in the old part of the building, but this is not a characterless chain hotel. Our room had a fantastic four poster bed and antique style furniture, plus a sitting area, amazing views from the huge bay window and an en-suite. The cream carpet was immaculate as was most of the room (apart from a cobweb behind the tv!) although it did smell a little musty - well, it is a Victorian building! The towels were white, fluffy and big enough to wrap round yourself.

The service was great - friendly, but not pushy and the food was the best we have had in Ireland (maybe even the world and we've stayed at some of the world's best! My hubby also works in food quality.) The breakfast was to die for - melt in the mouth scones and perfect scrambled eggs. Plenty of choice too.

We arrived late (due to my hubby's map reading) and Declan was happy to put our dinner reservation back 45 minutes to give us a chance to freshen up. Our order was taken over a drink in the lounge and we were brought some delicious canapes. Even the breads brought to accompany the meal were gorgeous. My husband said his chicken starter was the best he had ever had and his seafood platter contained a prawn that was more the size of a langoustine!

My only small complaint would be that the bed was quite uncomfortable and creaked loudly! And my only regret is that we didn't get a chance to enjoy a drink in the bar as we were too tired. I would have no hesitation in recommending this hotel to anyone and it was the best value place we stayed in Ireland.