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Cheaper
Average
Higher
About
4.5
#2 of 3 hotels in Sneem
Location
4.8
Cleanliness
4.7
Service
4.6
Value
4.3
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Parknasilla Resort and Spa, set amidst the stunning landscapes of the Ring of Kerry and overlooking Kenmare Bay, is a haven of natural beauty and luxury. The resort offers a range of accommodations, from elegant rooms and suites to self-catering lodges, all designed for comfort and indulgence. Guests can relax in the serene spa, featuring the new botanical Sothys Spa Treatments, or enjoy a swim in the outdoor infinity pool with breathtaking views. Outdoor activities abound, including a nine-hole golf course, hiking trails, water sports, and guided nature walks. Exceptional dining options showcase the finest local ingredients, and the resort's warm Irish hospitality ensures a welcoming and memorable stay for all guests.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
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Parknasilla Resort & Spa is often described as enchanting, offering breathtaking bay views and lovely dining experiences, though there is a sense that certain areas could benefit from a refresh. While the hotel's picturesque location garners appreciation for its scenic trails and family-friendly activities, opinions on the rooms are mixed; some guests enjoy the views and comfort, but others point out outdated aspects.
Despite some concerns about consistency, the service generally receives high marks for attentiveness. The hotel's amenities and cleanliness are highlights for guests, though the value for the price is questioned by many.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Enchanting
Rooms
Dated
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Comprehensive
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A positive experience from the moment we arrived . So much to say about this hotel. Friendly and obliging staff. Excellent food from start to finish (we had an all inclusive 5 night package special for November). Fabulous facilities in the spa, pool and especially the outdoor tubs. Amazing free guided walking tours by the poetic and amusing Tim Buckley and Vincent Hyland as well as the unforgettable time spent with Andy and his owls. The numerous walking trails with maps provided and 2 hours solving The Mystery Murder Trail kept us occupied for the duration. For those with children there were special trails as well as a zone for teens to hangout in The Hideout. In the warmer season they provide multiple opportunities for sea activities. I did see a few hardy souls take a dip in the sea. All of this is set in such a beautiful place that is startling in it's beauty regardless of the weather. We relaxed in the sitting room watching the changing skies and reading the newspapers provided. What's not to like? Would hope to return again. A lovely sense of friendliness between the staff here and they are obviously well trained in customer relations. Do not understand why this hotel is not 5 star. Highly recommend for all ages.
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Come off season if u can. Bring your walking gear.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Simon Moore, Guest Services / Front Office at Parknasilla Resort & Spa
Responded Nov 17, 2023
Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to review Parknasilla Resort and Spa. It is great to hear that you got to fully enjoy your experience here at the resort. We are very lucky to have the service's of both Vincent & Tim, they are a credit to the hotel and the work they do. Your comments on our staff and the hospitality they provide will be passed onto the team here, they will be delighted to hear it. We look forward to your return visit, Kind regards
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My husband and I, together with our adult daughter, have just returned from a stay in the Courtyard Lodges at Parknasilla. Our stay was wonderful!
Parknasilla’s location on the bay is breathtakingly beautiful and, taking advantage of its extensive grounds, the range of walks has been significantly extended since we first started visiting in the 90s. There is an air of tranquillity which is very calming and both the grounds and the hotel itself are full of strategically placed nooks and crannies for a spot of quiet reflection or reading. The resort seems to be closed to non-residents at the moment which adds to the peaceful atmosphere. If you wanted, you could quite easily spend your entire stay within the grounds but should you wish to venture out there are many interesting places to visit – Ring of Kerry, Kenmare, Valentia island etc.
Meals and snacks were all delicious and eating in the dining room with its view over the bay was a magical. Due to the pandemic, the menu is now a combination of the bar menu and fine dining options. This actually worked well as it provides lots of options, depending on mood, appetite etc.
We were delighted with our accommodation which comprised 2 excellent bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, a living area and an outside patio. It was a 5 minute walk to the hotel for meals and enjoyment of its many other facilities – pool, hot tub etc.
The staff at Parknasilla were terrific – warm, helpful and very well trained. Thank you for making our stay so memorable!
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Amy O'Regan, Guest Services / Front Office at Parknasilla Resort & Spa
Responded Oct 3, 2020
Dear 655fuchsia, It was such a pleasure to read your wonderful comments on your recent stay with us at Parknasilla, I am delighted you had such a great time and were able to explore the grounds and enjoy some good quality food at the hotel, I will pass on your feedback to all of the departments here and let them know how much you enjoyed your stay, Thank you again, Best Wishes, Amy O'Regan
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We spent 7 nights in a 3 bedroom self catering house at Woodland Lodges on grounds of Parknasilla. The house was well kitted out. Lodges are a 10-15 minute walk from hotel but on a good well maintained path, that is also well lit. We had no wifi/tv/phone the first night, but Parknasilla staff, in particular Amy, went above and beyond to try resolve the issue. We ate in hotel twice for dinner. Both nights the food was superb. We felt very safe there, staff were masks, and there were plenty of hand sanitizer stations around. Numerous lovely walks of different lengths and terrains available. We also went kayaking which was lovely. We would highly recommend, and are looking forward to returning in May 2021.
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Amy O'Regan, Guest Services / Front Office at Parknasilla Resort & Spa
Responded Oct 10, 2020
Dear Carrigteen, Thanks so much for completing a review on your stay with us at the Woodlands Villas, I am thrilled you had such a wonderful stay, On a personal note is was a pleasure to meet you and your family I am happy we were able to come to some resolution for you during your stay, I really look forward to meeting with you again, Kind Regards, Amy O'Regan
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Upon arrival the front desk staff were unwelcoming and very rude that we apparently hadn’t called to tell them we would be checking in late. We only arrived at 6pm unaware that everything closed so early or that it would be an issue. We were not helped with our luggage and no one even offered to help. Our rooms were so far away from the front desk and no explanation was given on how to get there, we even had to carry our luggage up and down different sets of stairs through hallways to get there. We ended up on a lower level room with no view. The whole room was a bit dated and worn. We barely had time to drop our things off before we had to rush to the bar to get dinner before the kitchen stopped serving food. After that we thought we would check out the hot tubs, but no those close at 8pm as does the pool. We were so disappointed. We called the desk for extra soap and the man who delivered it was so curt and unfriendly it really sealed our opinion of the staff. We got up for breakfast and there was a large spread of food but by then we were just ready to leave, we had been so excited to visit after friends raved about it but we will not be back nor will we be recommending it to anyone else.
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Amy O'Regan, Guest Services / Front Office at Parknasilla Resort & Spa
Responded Aug 15, 2020
Dear KatObryan, Thank you for taking the time to complete a review on your recent stay with us, I am sorry to read that there were a number of issues you encountered through out your stay with us, which I will be sure to highlight with the relevant departments, I am sorry you left disappointed but I do appreciate all your comments and we will work to do better in the future, Best Wishes, Amy O'Regan
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Stayed for two nights with my partner i was so looking forward to staying here and was a bit disappointed to say the least. I found the hotel overpriced for what you get, the room was not luxurious as you would expect from a hotel of this rating, while room was clean and comfortable it lacked alot! Rooms do not look like brochure asked for sea view and got partial view from side window. The set menu for dinner is the same as the lunch menu and can only be described as pub grub with high prices..we did not stay for lunch or dinner the second day because of this, when paying so much for a 2 night stay you would not expect that you would rather leave and drive to the next town to eat for lunch and dinner because the menu at the hotel lacked imagination. Breakfast at Parknasilla was much the same my partner had a full Irish and to be honest it looked like it had been pre cooked and not fresh at all. The staff at the hotel were friendly and trying their best and i can not fault them at all. The views and location of hotel are amazing,loads of lovely walks that we enjoyed, and we also enjoyed looking at the owls with the ROK falconry and Andy was very knowledgeable we had a great chat with him. Would i stay again,unfortunately no it really did not live up to our expectations and their star rating is questionable!!
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Amy O'Regan, Guest Services / Front Office at Parknasilla Resort & Spa
Responded Jul 19, 2020
Dear Sarah T, Thank you for completing a review on your recent stay with us, It is disappointing to read that you did not have an enjoyable stay with us and for that I am sorry, I will ensure your feedback is communicated through to the relevant departments and as always we will strive to do better for the future, Thank you again for your feedback, Kindest Regards, Amy O'Regan
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My husband and I just spent 2 nights at Parknasilla with our 6 year old child, as our summer holiday.
In terms of the positives, this hotel has the most beautiful exterior and grounds that are simply unbeatable. The walks and facilities are excellent.
However, in terms of service and the interior, the prices are outrageous for a service that fails to live up to what you would expect when paying over €800 for 2 nights (incls 1 meal, 1 drink, 1 bottle of wine.
First of all, we had to carry all of our luggage up and down to the family room ourselves which was on the 3rd floor. There is no lift.
The toilet in our room broke on both nights and wouldnt flush. The first night I had to ring reception 3 times before someone came to fix it because the guy forgot about the request. He then said some people were "rough when flushing it" so they clearly had the same issue before.
When it broke again the second night, it was extremely frustrating - and because no staff were on duty when I rang down at 8am, all 3 of us had to use a bathroom in another bedroom.
This is totally unacceptable when you are paying €400 a night and I would like to hear back from a manager on this, as the staff at reception merely said "sorry" and that they would escalate the matter.
The meal wasn't bad, but I asked for my steak medium well and it came out rare, so I had to send it back. By the time they brought it out again, the other two had finished eating.
Also the waiter kept leaning in across my son to serve me, instead of trying to keep a little distance based on covid and walking over to me.
The breakfast bar needs more than 1 person servicing the cereal/juice/fruit stand as there is a constant queue. Also when we stayed before, the breakfast was much better with baked ham, Irish cheeses etc. The continental stand was very bare. I I couldnt find anyone to take my order for the hot breakfast, so I flagged down the only man who was walking around. Instead of taking the order, he said "I'll find someone to do that". The hot breakfast was only okay.
I had a free hour one sunny afternoon so I wanted to try the outdoor area. I asked the waiter for a drinks menu. 20 minutes later, he still hadnt brought me a drinks menu and then I saw his colleague off chatting to some guests, who were not even seated in the bar/food area.
Finally, we were charged for 3 people. However, when I booked dinner, I was sent a reservation for 2 people. I had to ask them to update that to 3 people. When we got to the family room, they only left out 2 glasses instead of 3. And when we came down for breakfast the next morning, they put us on a table for 2 people. and stuck 3 chairs around it. There is not enough surface room for 3 people on a table for 2.
When I rang reception looking for robes to use the outdoor hot tub, I was told they'd cost €10 each based on the detergants needed to clean them.
When paying an avg. of €400 per night, you would expect a bathrobe and a much higher level of service than we experienced - and at the very least, a working toilet in your room.
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Karel Soudny, Guest Services / Front Office at Parknasilla Resort & Spa
Responded Aug 21, 2021
Dear UnaCat, Thank you for taking the time out and posting your review based on your recent stay with us at Parknasilla Resort and Spa. Upon reading your review I would very much care to make a contact with you personally to discuss your review and the points you have made in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me at ksoudny@parknasillahotel.ie. Thank you again for your review, Warmest Regards, Karel Soudny Guest Relations Manager
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We stayed with small children for a week in June in the Woodland Villas. The pool was the highlight of the week with a lifeguard on duty, spacious changing rooms, and the most beautiful view of sea and mountains. Don't forget your towel and swimming hat!
On the sunny days, Dorothy's Beach and the playground were lovely spots to spend time. On the many rainy days, we enjoyed the fairy walk and Herons trail that was just behind the Woodland Villas.
Accommodation was clean, comfortable, and well-equipped. We were fortunate to stay in one of the houses that backed on to the woods which was a joy after months of lockdown.
Practical touches like dishwasher tablets, bin bags, and tea towels were helpful until we could visit the supermarkets in Kenmare about 30 minutes away.
Food at the restaurant was good but relatively expensive. Bill for family of four including two small children was €100+. Food at The Tram was grand and there are similar options five minutes down the road in Sneem. Cocktails (without the small children) were excellent with a menu of classics including a perfect negroni.
Staff were friendly and welcoming after the long lockdown. It's a great spot for a holiday and - on a sunny day - one of the most beautiful places in the world.
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Keara O'Brien, Guest Services / Front Office at Parknasilla Resort & Spa
Responded Jun 26, 2021
Dear 741ciaram Thank you for your review and sharing you thoughts with us. I am delighted that you and the family had a wonder time here at the woodland villas. It is a perfect place for a family holiday. You seem to have enjoyed many aspects of the hotel from the fairy trail to the swimming pool, the beach to the cocktails. It really seems you had a lovely time. We look forward to welcoming you back again in the hopefully not too distant future Warmest Regards Keara
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My fiancé & I stayed for 2 nights recently in Parknasilla. What a beautiful hotel. The spa wasn’t open but the pool & outdoor hot tubs were heavenly. You must book ahead for day time but it’s adults only from 6-8pm without booking. The location is so amazing right on the seashore. There are lots of walks on the grounds of different lengths. We even had a swim from the pier & hopped into the new adjacent outdoor heated pool (seawater) afterwards. The food was gorgeous. All in all it’s our new favorite place ;)
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Amy O'Regan, Guest Services / Front Office at Parknasilla Resort & Spa
Responded Oct 19, 2020
Dear breedal2018, Firstly I would like to thank you for taking the time out to complete a review and share your thoughts with us. I am thrilled that you enjoyed your stay here with us at Parknasilla Resort and Spa. I will be sure to pass on your regards to all of the staff here. They will be as happy as I am that you enjoyed your stay. Kind Regards, Amy O'Regan
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I stayed in one of the self-catering villas with my family in July. Overall this is a very good self-catering option in a beautiful location with the use of the pool, tennis courts, golf course, restaurant etc. All of the staff in the hotel are very friendly.
The villas are well equipped though a good coffee maker would be a welcome addition. I would also like to see compostable refuse bags provided. We separated all of our brown waste but then there was no brown bin in the communal bin store. The grill in the oven was not working so our self-catering options were a little limited by this. And we found the mattresses a little hard.
I participated in one of the yoga classes with Orla which I found to be excellent. It would be good to have more classes available. Unfortunately, owing to the weather, the class I attended had to be indoors in a room with no windows – it would be preferable to have the indoor classes in a better room if possible.
I would also like to see compostable wet kit bags and paper water cups in the spa. It would also be great to vary the music played in the changing rooms – it has been the same for the last few years!
A half size hot chocolate would be a welcome addition in the Railway Café – the large cups are too big for smaller children and expensive at €4.
All of the walking trails are a great amenity with fantastic views. Some ropes have been added recently at some of the stepped areas that can get slippy. However, there is a strong smell of sewerage on one of the trails (at the villas end) that should be addressed.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Simon Moore, Guest Services / Front Office at Parknasilla Resort & Spa
Responded Aug 16, 2023
Dear Guest Thank you for taking the time to review Parknasilla Resort and Spa. We are happy to hear you enjoyed your stay with us. We have taken note of your feedback regarding compost waste and have passed it on to the appropriate team to look into. We are so lucky to have Orla this year and we are receiving some fantastic feedback on her Yoga classes. It sees to be quite the hit this year. Thank you again for feedback and we look forward to your return visit. Kind Regards
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I stayed here a number of years ago (great experience) and then for 3 night in July 2020. It was our first trip away after months of restrictions due to Covid. We were really looking forward to the stay but unfortunately it was a huge disappointment. We stayed in room 304 which was shabby and in serious need of a makeover. The door into the room was warped such that light and sound from the corridor entered the room. The wallpaper was torn, the bath panel and furniture in the room had paint peeled off. We paid almost 200 euro per night for the room, We had dinner one night in the hotel and found it okay but over priced and ordinary considering it was a set menu. We drove to Kenmare the other two nights for dinner as a result. The quality of the breakfast, was very poor and the service overall was terrible, unfulfilled requests at dinner, double billing for drinks, and lack of customer service at breakfast. The hotel was full to capacity but it seemed like they did not have enough staff. I stayed in Druids Glen Hotel the following week for 2 nights. The cost of the room was cheaper and the experience was far superior. The team in Parknasilla really need to up there game.
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Date of stay: July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Amy O'Regan, Guest Services / Front Office at Parknasilla Resort & Spa
Responded Aug 26, 2020
Dear corkrebels2010, Thank you for completing a review on your recent stay with us, I am sorry to read your disappointment and that we failed to meet expectations on this occasion, we appreciate your feedback and will work on the areas highlighted and strive to improve in the future, Thank you again, Best Wishes. Amy O'Regan
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There are more places to choose from in the Sneem area.
PRICE RANGE
$210 - $327 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
parknasilla hotel sneem
LOCATION
IrelandProvince of MunsterCounty KerrySneem
NUMBER OF ROOMS
80
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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