As a travel writer and lodging editor, I’m blessed to be able to visit wonderful places, meet interesting people from all walks of life and try new experiences around the world. Strandhill Bay in County Sligo, Ireland is a place that I stumbled upon in March. It’s also a destination that I know I will visit again. David McCoy, General Manager at Strandhill Lodge & Suites is one of those people who will go out of his way to make you feel welcome and share his love of Strandhill, Ireland.
To be honest, my husband and I had no intention of staying more than one night in County Sligo. Neil Walton of Voya Seaweed Baths was chatting to us about his experience with Martha Stewart’s television crew and how they ended up staying longer than anticipated in Strandhill because they “fell in love with the place.” The same spell was cast upon us. We enjoyed the area so much that we decided to book our boutique Strandhill hotel room for several days. There are so many things to see and do in County Sligo and the Strandhill area that we know we will return.
Our balcony room in the four star hotel looked out to Strandhill Bay. The floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass door led out to a small veranda with views of Strandhill Golf Course, the village and Atlantic Ocean. The large, double deluxe room with king bed included complimentary wifi, iron and ironing board, iPod docking station, mini safe & complimentary breakfast.
We were visiting in March. One day the weather was absolutely gorgeous and we walked all around the village and along Strandhill Bay. I even went horseback riding with Island View Riding Stables thanks to David’s recommendation. The next day we joined Sligo Walks for a forest walk in Benbulben and ended our adventure at Davis’ Restaurant Yeats Tavern for tea and the best scones with strawberry jam!
If you happen to experience inclement weather, the hotel features a residents lounge and conservatory with a large DVD collection and a Nespresso machine for making fancy coffee and hot chocolate with steamed milk. There was a basket of cookies (they call them biscuits in Ireland) next to the Nespresso machine.
Breakfast buffet included with your hotel stay
Speaking of coffee and biscuits, breakfast includes a comprehensive continental buffet of boiled eggs, meats & cheese, croissants, bagels, fresh fruit, yogurts and mixed fruit, juices, pancakes, danishes and a range of 14 breakfast cereals.
Need to know:
Rates range from $95-to $210. As always, check the hotel website for package deals and special pricing. There are 22 rooms in total – 18 Deluxe rooms and 4 Superior suites. Twelve of these hotel rooms have seaviews with outside access and three of the suites have a seaview, as well.
The property is not pet-friendly with the exception of guide dogs.
Wifi is complimentary and there is both WIFI and LAN access at the hotel. There is plenty of complimentary parking.
Check in: 2:00 p.m.
Check out: 12:00 p.m.
Insider Tips: The Venue Bar & Restaurant, located next door, offers good food & live music. Be sure to book a seaweed bath. The hotel offers discounted rates for the local Voya Seaweed Baths and Spa. Head over to Shells Cafe for a great lunch & a killer brownie. For additional insider tips follow luxury travel writer @Nancydbrown on Twitter or Instagram @Nancydbrown and @Strandhill Lodge on Twitter and Facebook.
If You Go:
Strandhill Lodge & Suites 353 (0)71-9122122
info@strandhilllodgeandsuites.com
Top Road
Strandhill
County Sligo, Ireland
Strandhill Lodge & Suites hotel review, video and all photography by travel writer Nancy D. Brown. Not a sponsored hotel stay. All opinions are my own.