Intro. There are moments when one's wife should be allowed to enjoy the finer things of life, and The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort proved to be one of them. ( I am the other, and she has been very privileged to enjoy me for decades!! ) I felt it was right to take my beloved on a special package to Killenard for two reasons. Firstly, she had just arrived at pensionable age and it seemed a good way to celebrate her 60th - ( I, as her toyboy, do have a number of years to pension age as my buddies all know ! ) Secondly, there was a staggeringly good offer on Pigsback.com - and while I would not like you to think of me as a skinflint, one should not look a gift horse in the mouth!! - (which I believe has something to do with the age of an old nag!)
So here is the steamy tale.!
1 Location.
The hotel is located in Killenard. What do you mean - "where on earth is that?" ? If you are still on the horse theme, it is quite close to the Curragh. Basically, you head out of Dublin on the Naas road, keep going in the direction of Portlaoise, telling your passenger that her surprise destination is the Portlaoise Jail - and leave that road around Monasterevin. Follow the road through the village, and after about 3 miles you will find a sign for Killenard. Don't be fooled into thinking you are now totally lost - as one's passenger was - a few more Irish miles, a few
more Irish corners, a few more Irish tractors, and you will be there.! It is a rural setting!!!
2 First Impressions.
My other half did not know we were going away for an overnight stay until after she got out of bed that day. She had no idea where we going at any part of the journey. She decided that I had taken leave of my senses driving 3 hours from Belfast into the middle of nowhere. She worried that I had taken a notion of returning to Waterford where I had spent some of our engagement days. But even she was impressed by the first sights we had of the "Heritage" It is surrounded by houses and cottages that form part of the complex. It boasts impressive gates and entry, loads of car-parking, the green green grass of the golf course, and then the hotel building. As I drew up to the hotel entrance, we discovered that this was just the spa and leisure complex - the hotel was a wee bit further on! It is a modern building on a kind of traditional style of grandeur.
3 First Welcomes
In the land of a thousand welcomes, the first is still the one that matters. The concierge walked all the way to the car park to give a hand with the cases / overnight bags... a good welcome from him. The receptionist gave none of those quizzical - "are you sure you made a reservation" looks at us, but an immediate welcome, knowing look and "everything is ready for you" type of comments. I was left reassured that the suprises in my reservation were being looked after with not a hint of anything to the birthday girl/OAP.
4 First Comforts
The room allocated was on the ground floor, with a massive window looking straight out on to the golf course. This is 5 star luxury and everything in the room screamed comfort ! A bathroom with seperate bath and shower unit, a massive TV, a bed that was my size!!, tea, coffee and bottled water. Bathrobes, slippers, and towels to last a week - the list was endless. The only negative I could spot in the room at all was some peeling wallpaper just behind the curtain. A telephone call to reception lined up two of our treats. The "Spa Experience" could be done at 4pm, and we could dine in any of the complex's restaurants we like - so I chose the Arlington Room for 7.30pm - both the spa and the meal were part of the package.
5 First Treat
We were given the options of going to the leisure area in the room robes or in ordinary clothes. Either way, an underground passageway that links the spa to the hotel would keep us from prying eyes!
We took the fully clothed option, and were met at the Spa reception, shown to the changing rooms, and given instructions about meeting up in the Spa area. We were then given a tour of all the various rooms and amenities in the Spa area. Everything was provided from thermal benches to ice buckets. The next three hours was ours to spend as we wished, going from Sanarium, to Tepidarium; from Sauna to Caldarium; from hydro-pool to ice fountain. In between there were foot baths, fresh lemon drinks, magazines to browse, and more towels, more slippers and more bathrobes.! No more than half a dozen people were there along with us, and the whole experience was both invigorating and refreshing... and restful.
6 First Eats.
I just love it when you arrive to eat and the staff greet you as if you were a regular customer. We were shown to our table with no fuss, left with the menu and wine list, and offered help both with food choices and drink choices.
No sooner had we given our orders, than we were served with a variety of local breads. Drinks came right away, and then an extra complimentary starter from the chef. The food was impeccable, and service was brilliant.
There was just one cause for anxiety for me. Part of the package was a surprise celebration cake that would be styled to suit the occasion. I kept waiting for it to appear - and it didn't. I was then in a quandry ! - was it going to be brought to us the next day - the actual birthday?? Had they just forgotten to bring it out? Was I supposed to ask them to bring it out? Had they forgotten to make it? Had I not filled on the details properly? I said nothing until we were leaving the restaurant, and got a couple of minutes to ask the question while the birthday girl was down the corridor. Head of the restaurant said that she had nothing written down about the cake - but asked if there was something else they could do.! As wifey appeared on the scene again, I said not to worry, it must have been my mistake.
Half an hour later, our room door knocked, the head of the restaurant arrived in, singing Happy Birthday, and pushing a trolley with plates, knives, spoons, linen napkins - and the birthday cake! A genuine mistake had been rectified in a brilliant way - and coffee followed a short while later.
7 First Light
It was tough getting up at first light after such a brilliant sleep, but the family were doing their surprises at lunchtime at home! We had still breakfast to get and 3 hours to drive too. Breakfast was great, by the way. There was a good display in the hot and cold buffet, and there was a seperate menu for other items to be cooked to order.
8 Final farewells
Fond farewells are not the usual descriptions I use when checking out of hotels. And there were a couple of little complications at reception when settling the bill. But it was handled extremely well, and a box provided for the remains of the cake! I don't expect everything to be always perfect, even in a 5 star hotel, but those 5 stars are merited when the complications are handled in a really pleasant manner and with true efficiency. These were and we left with a sincere desire to return again.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
This magnificent resort has a 5-star hotel, leisure centre, award-winning resort spa, ... more
championship golf course and a variety of bars and restaurants.Also within Heritage Golf & Spa Resort are a walking track, a cinema and a health club with leisure poo...
Information:
Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
incl. Breakfast - HRS Rating: /10 - The 5* Heritage Golf & Spa Resort feature a true ... more
championship golf course, a wonderful spa set against an idyllic landscape in the very heart of Ireland. Located one hour SW of Dublin City & Airport & close to no few...
These luxury 2-bedroom apartments overlook the championship golf course and feature 2 ... more
bathrooms, an elegant dining room, a kitchen and a balcony/terrace.The resort contains a leisure centre, award-winning resort spa, a variety of bars and restaurants, ...
Information:
Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
exceptional by (10%):
very helpful by (90%):
