Great National Ballykisteen Golf Hotel

Recently stayed here with my partner for his birthday and got a great deal using the Tesco club card vouchers via the hotels.com site. We booked a junior suite, room was very spacious and clean. Bed was extremely big and comfortable with spare pillow is wardrobe. A happy birthday note was left with chocolates which was a lovely touch. Tea, coffee, water in room. Clean bathroom with shower/bath. One of the best hotel showers I’ve had. The pressure was incredible. Only downfall of the room was that it was very warm, no A/C or temperature control system. We turned radiator off and opened windows but was still very warm. Dinner was lovely we both ordered different starters and were very happy. The steak was cooked to perfection and the peppercorn sauce was super tasty. The brownie was slightly disappointing as it was described as a gooey brownie on the menu however we thought it was extremely dry and powdery. Otherwise everything was lovely. We also had a bottle of wine at the table. The waitress, I believe her name was Chloe was incredible, her customer service was one of the best we’ve experienced. Breakfast was nice, buffet style, hot and cold breakfast. Was a decent selection. Swimming pool was a bit small, the pictures definitely make it look bigger however it was nice to relax in after a round of golf. Hot tub was a bit cold for our liking. All clean. We had a great round of golf as well. They were extremely accommodating as we had not booked a Tee Time. The course was in great condition and well kept. Greens were very good. Golf shop had a great selection as well. Overall we had a very pleasant stay and experienced amazing customer service.

Swift checkin - lovely welcoming staff on the front desk and checked us in swiftly answering any questions we had and helped with any needs we had over our stay. Hotel room - lovely room with a nice view overlooking the front of the hotel. Swift room service within 4 minutes. Was lovely to open up the window and eat our breakfast in the morning overlooking the well maintained grounds. Bar - was an iffy one! When we first visited the bar we wanted food. At the desk we got handed menus and was told to sit where ever. We chose seats and browsed our menu, we then sat and sat… 20 minutes goes by and there’s 4 member of staff just standing around talking, I hopped up and walked to the bar to order when a member of staff approached me saying they were just coming over. Perfect. We order and the €5 chips come out undercooked and the brisket sandwich quite bland. Later that evening we return to get something light from the outdoor menu calamari and smash burger. The calamari was overcooked and textured. The smash burger couldn’t be reviewed as the person eating is picky requested No veg/Cheese/sauce. restaurant - there was a mishap in the kitchen and it left me without a meal while my partner ate alone. The manager offered to have my meal dropped up to my room to enjoy instead as by this point my partner was finished eating and 50 minutes passed. My key card didn’t work on arrival back to my room normal issue. I swiftly returned to the reception where there was no receptionist. The waiter with my surf and turf told me he was just dropping up the food and the receptionist would be with me. I waited and waited to then the waiter returned. He helps me with my key card issue.. I return to my room pick up my dinner from the door of my room and carry on in.. I was speechless. The pool - It’s a well kept leisure club as we were visiting around 3pm on a Friday. Golf course - No words. Near impossible to get a time slot as a hotel guest. Stayed for two nights expecting a game and didn’t even get a response to a email from last week nor any help in the golf shop..

Room was a bit dated, room smelled of stale cigarette smoke. Bed was two single beds pushed together and were two different heights. At breakfast there was only on girl trying to do everything, get tea coffee clean up , serve the buffet hot breakfast , felt sorry for the young girl.