Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Some of Ireland's finest country-house and castle hotels are in this area. Dromoland Castle, between Shannon Airport and Ennis, provides a standard of luxury that you should experience at least once, if you can stretch your budget. Star country-house destinations include Gregans Castle Hotel, a tranquil retreat with views of the Burren and Galway Bay, and the more modest but also charming Ballinalacken Castle, a shooting lodge set in 100 acres of wildflower meadows next to the ruins of an O'Brien castle. Other memorable destinations include the cliff-top Moy House at Lahinch, and, in total contrast, the exuberantly glitzy "g" Hotel in Galway. Indoor pools and tennis courts are the exception rather than the rule in this region, where business is largely seasonal and the emphasis is on outdoor pursuits. Note: During peak events, such as the Galway Festival Race Week, hotel rates in Galway shoot up.
The five basic rooms with all modern facilities have the edge on other properties because of their location and view directly onto Quin Abbey. Downstairs is the village tavern---contemporary, hearty fare with a lively pub. The building was the original meeting place for locals with a shop, haberdashery and pub, so expect timber beams, shifts in floor elevation, and low ceilings.
The rambling 80-year-old house on Inishmore, with its distinctive dormer windows, is close to both the beach and the town; many guests base themselves here for two or three nights, to make a thorough exploration of the island. Almost every window at this B&B looks out to the sea, making it the perfect place to de-stress. The public rooms and guest rooms are relaxed, with modern decor including light-color linens and walls paneled with blond wood.
This 144-room quality property is one of the few full-facilities hotels in the region, with a gym, spa, and the same in-room facilities you would expect from a quality-brand hotel. Its location is hard to match---on an elevated site overlooking Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, just off the N18 and close to public transport.
The pretty gabled facade with dormer windows is traditional in style, but, in fact, Bernadette Moloney and her German husband, Armin Grefkes, designed and built this house specifically as a B&B. It's across the road from the sea, about 2 km (1 mile) north of the village, close to Bishop's Quarter Beach. The interior has character and style, thanks to a mix of imposing 19th-century German antiques, stripped-pine floors, and comfortable sofas and armchairs. Each guest room is individually styled on a wildflower theme, with plain walls, color-coordinated quilts and curtains, brass bedsteads, and attractive small antiques. The delicious breakfast menu offers an unusually wide choice, while the hosts are knowledgeable about the area, and have a good supply of books and maps.
A basic low-rise in the middle of the island's only village, a few minutes' walk from the quay and the airstrip, this simple whitewashed building with a slate roof and tile flooring has bright, plainly furnished rooms, with pine-frame beds, pine floors, and white bed linen. The social life of the island centers on "the hotel," and there are trad sessions nightly. Larger rooms upstairs can accommodate families.
Expect good-quality budget accommodations at this four-story hotel set beside the historic Spanish Arch and the river. Each room is big enough for three adults, or two adults and two children, and the rates are the same regardless of how many guests stay in each unit. The light, airy rooms have modern pine fittings, plain carpets and walls, double-glaze windows, and fully equipped bathrooms. Those overlooking the river are quieter than those in front. The atmosphere runs toward anonymous international, but the inn is central—at the foot of Galway's busy Quay Street, right on the bank of the Corrib—and the level of comfort is high for the price (note that rates shoot up at peak times, such as during the Galway Races).
This rambling 200-year-old stone farmhouse, once the family home of the O'Flahertys—one of whom was Oscar Wilde's godfather—whose descendants include the famed writers Liam and Robert, is the first choice of many visitors to the island thanks to its location at the foot of Dún Aengus fort, a three-minute walk from the beach, and about 6½ km (4 miles) from the quay and the airport (accessible by minibus). The old stone house has been cleverly extended to provide extra guest rooms. The neatly kept front garden leads to a large, high-ceiling hall and wide stairs, giving a pleasant sense of space. The walls are hung with portraits of the house's previous owners, the warrior clan of O'Flaherty. Guest rooms are spacious and comfortable, with views of the fort or distant sea views. It's worth paying a small supplement for one of the four larger rooms with king-size beds.
The trip across the Shannon on the one-way lane bridge is worth it for this stunningly appointed property with full-on lake views back over the town's historic 13-arch bridge. Rooms have a traditional finish and food is of a quality standard. The leisure center with its 18-meter pool and swirling side appeals to family travelers. The property also has a fully equipped gym.
Don't let its traditional cottage looks deceive you: this whitewashed, thatched inn on the shores of Galway Bay is, in fact, a midsize hotel, decorated with locally made, well-designed furniture, and original crafts, paintings, and sculpture. Guest rooms are medium-size with smallish, cottage-style windows at head height, and modern pine furniture; small paintings of local scenes provide the principal color. Request a room to the rear of the property for Galway Bay views.
