Oak Wood Arms Hotel, Shannon

Just back from a weekend Jaunt to Ireland. We flew Ryanair Eastmidlands to Shannon, £38 return (No hold luggage and online checkin).

We booked the Oakwood Arms at Shannon, this was mainly as our return flight was 09:30 Monday morning and we did not want to get up early to travel.

We booked it thru LATEROOMS.COM for 85 Euros a night for Double room with Buffet Breakfast.
Ireland seems to be pricey for Hotels, so ...
...go Venice).

We had hired a Car so after picking that up it was just a 10 min Drive into Shannon and the Hotel.

First Impressions were very good, better than most of the reviews we had read.
Its a low level building on the edge of Shannon, not that there's much in the middle of Shannon, just seems to be a Housing Estate.

Checkin looks very smart and professional, we were checked in in just a few ... more

Just back from a weekend Jaunt to Ireland. We flew Ryanair Eastmidlands to Shannon, £38 return (No hold luggage and online checkin).

We booked the Oakwood Arms at Shannon, this was mainly as our return flight was 09:30 Monday morning and we did not want to get up early to travel.

We booked it thru LATEROOMS.COM for 85 Euros a night for Double room with Buffet Breakfast.
Ireland seems to be pricey for Hotels, so this was not too bad (We do cheaper when we go Venice).

We had hired a Car so after picking that up it was just a 10 min Drive into Shannon and the Hotel.

First Impressions were very good, better than most of the reviews we had read.
Its a low level building on the edge of Shannon, not that there's much in the middle of Shannon, just seems to be a Housing Estate.

Checkin looks very smart and professional, we were checked in in just a few minutes, all was explained Breakfast Times, location of Restaurant and Sophies Bar.

We were given Adjoining Ground Floor rooms at the front, and although this is where the Car Park and Road are, we had very quiet nights.

The corridors of the Hotel remind us of an Old Cruse Liner, low ceilings and lots of dark brown wooden panels, perhaps a bit too dark.
Plenty of leather seating areas.
The walls are covered with Photos and Posters showing what an important Stop Over Shannon used to be when planes needed to refuel for the Tran Atlantic trip. Many stars of the past, Monroe, Laurel and Hardy.
Historic photos of old air travel, when they used to have Bunks (Perhaps not such a new idea).

The rooms we had were large, so the double bed seemed lost in the corner.
Good Dressing Table, and large Wardrobe, bed side cabinets.
Sheets and towels were changed every day.

A flat screen TV with Touch control, and internet points.

The Bathroom was larger than most. With all the usual fittings, and very over bath powerful Shower. Plenty of instant hot water.

I liked the idea of two large Soap/Shampoo dispensers, seems far less wasteful than those silly little bottles.

We ate in the Hotel on each of the three nights, due to the torrential rain.
We used Sophies Bar as the menu was good and far cheaper than the hotel Restaurant. We are not stingy but the Restaurant was almost empty , while the bar was full of people and atmosphere.
Guiness was 3.70 Euros a pint, seemed to compare well with the pubs we visited during the day.
The menu was a Pub Like menu with a few extras. But service was very good and portions large.
On the Sunday night it was a cavery, Rib of Beef, Pork, Lamb Cutlets, Turkey or Sea Bass, with all the vegatables, about 13 Euros a head.

As I said earlier the Hotel seems to serve as a local, as there is very little else in Shannon. So although busy there were no problems, those Irish love to talk.

Breakfast was in the Hotel Restaurant, and a good spread.
A selection of 5 Fruit Juices, plent of choice of cerials.
Good cold selection, including fresh fruit.
Hot selection: Hash Browns, Grilled Tomatoes, Black/White Puddings, Sausages, Fried Eggs, Scrambled Eggs. Bacon, all high quality.

What I liked was that you were Greeted and Seated, Coffee/Tea were brought to you with a large pile of Toast.

While on the Tea issue, whereas it always fails to please in Europe, Ireland know Tea Making, HOT Plenty of Tea and a large Milk Jug, not those silly Thimbles that only service a small cup.

The HOTEL I would definately use again but they need to move it to Ennis, like I say there is virtually nothing in Shannon for the evenings, but Ennis a small Market Town about 17 km away has a lovely centre (although small) with a good selection of Pubs and Music. 

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