Ashford Castle Review

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Ashford Castle

  • Price range: $$$$
  • Location: Cong

Fodor's Review:

Nearly bigger than the neighboring village of Cong, this famed mock-Gothic baronial showpiece was built in 1870 for the Guinness family and has been wowing visitors like Prince Rainier, John Travolta, and Jack Nicholson ever since. Massive, flamboyantly turreted, Ashford is the very picture of a romantic Irish castle. It remains strong on luxury and good service, but light on authenticity: time-stained charm has given way to too many creature comforts. Deluxe guest rooms have generous sitting areas, heavily carved antique furniture, open fireplaces, and extra-large bathrooms. Standard bedrooms in the discreetly added new wing are smaller, with marble bathroom fittings and Victorian-style antiques. The suites in the original castle building are vast, with double-height windows and Georgian antiques, and are blissfully comfortable. The Prince of Wales Cocktail Bar (named for the one who visited in the 1890s) is the venue for elegant predinner drinks. The cuisine, by distinguished Swiss chef Stefan Matz, is stylish and unfussy. The hotel makes the most of its superb location at the head of Lough Corrib, and the surrounding formal gardens are possibly the most neatly manicured outdoor space in Ireland. The riverbank has been landscaped to facilitate angling while there has also been massive investment in the hotel's spa facilities. Pros: baronial flamboyance; no-expense-spared facilities; regal grounds. Cons: so luxurious you are in a world apart, nearly divorced from the normal hubbub of Irish life.

  • Hotel Details: 72 rooms, 11 suites
  • In-room: no a/c, Internet, Wi-Fi.
  • In-hotel: 2 restaurants, golf course, tennis courts, bars, gym, spa.
  • Credit Cards: AE, DC, MC, V
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