Overview

My main reasons for choosing this hotel were the location in Killarney as a base for exploring southwest Ireland, the fact that it offered family rooms with accessible bathrooms, and that it had a pool for my swimming-loving young son. The bedroom and bathroom turned out to be clean, recently decorated and reasonably spacious, so thumbs up for that. But the surprise bonus was that I could use the pool too, because they have an accessible changing room and a waterproof wheelchair that can be used to lower disabled swimmers into the water. There was level access throughout the hotel buildings, with lifts where needed. It's a big site with several restaurants and bars, and we ate some good meals in three of them with no access problems. I also used the hotel's shuttle bus into the centre of Killarney, which worked well as the driver was quick to get the ramp out for my small scooter. The only real drawback to the place was that the marked 'quiet zones' in the corridors outside the bedrooms didn't work, and there were people talking loudly as they passed our room most nights, sometimes as late as 1am. I'd be happy to stay there again, but next time I'd ask if anything could be done about the shouty people!

Transport & Parking

There was plenty of parking outside the hotel, including several blue badge spaces. The hotel's accessible shuttle bus into the centre of Killarney worked well for my small scooter, and I understand this bus also goes to the local station, although I don't know about the access there.

Access

There's level access throughout the hotel, including ramps and lifts where necessary, and when it appeared at first that there might be a difficulty in one restaurant on two levels, we were soon directed to a different way in. The very nice accessible pool was a pleasant surprise, and in general I felt that the hotel lived up to the commitment to accessibility that it makes on its website.

Toilets

Our room had a clean, recently-decorated accessible bathroom with good rails for the loo, but it could really have done with some more shelves and hooks for your stuff, as there was only a ledge above the loo and the rim of the washbasin to put anything on. The shower had a pull-down shower seat, which was fine, but like the other hotels we stayed at in Ireland, only had a rail on the right-hand side of the seat. Because somehow you become better at standing up when you're using a shower rather than a loo?

Staff

Almost all helpful and welcoming, and nobody terrible! Honourable mentions for the shuttle bus driver and the swimming pool staff member who helped us with the accessible changing room and waterproof wheelchair.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

As with everywhere in Ireland at this time, mask-wearing indoors was well observed and there were clearly-marked sanitiser stations.

Photos