Druids Glen Resort

Was treated to a session at the Spa here very recently which included lunch. There were three of us together who all had different treatments and although fairly happy, none of us were completely satisfied. The treatment room where I had my therapy was very cold and while I did say this to the Therapist she apologised and said it was due to the very cold day, but I would have thought they should have sufficient heat to cater for all temperatures. The treatment area is upstairs and you have to go down stairs, which is a bit of a drag, to the pool area. We did use this area and while the steam room was working and the sauna was out of order. After showering, we dressed and had our lunch downstairs in the restaurant area off the main bar — the choice was pretty limited and the portions were on the small side, but we all enjoyed a salad of crabmeat (too much mayonnaise!) smoked salmon and mashed avocado, served with a tiny seaweed bun. However, as we were still feeling hungry, we decided to add to our costs and our waistlines by sharing Crème Brulee and Chocolate Brownie and cups of coffee all round. Would not consider this a Five Star resort.

I had a lovely half day in Druids Glen last week with my mam and friend — the staff were lovely and it was a rainy horrible day — so nice to be all wrapped up inside being treated to nice things! If it wasn’t for the staff and the weather and our general moods though, I’m gonna be honest, it would have been a lot more disappointing. So let me run you through the good and bad points — you can make your own minds up on it.
Good stuff:
— Staff — really friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable on skincare, and generally really really pleasant. Thanks guys for making the experience so much better.
— Food — we had lunch in Thirteen — see my review on it — it was really excellent.
— Location — less than an hour from Dublin, straight down the M50, simple to find, grand.
Not so great stuff:
— The facial I had was nice, though by no means the best I’ve ever had. The therapist definitely seemed to know her stuff, but I still felt that it was very short, not very deep cleansing, and my skin didn’t feel majorly different afterwards. It was also pretty freezing in there so I had to have two towels put over me while I had the facial but I was still cold.
— The spa and the pool area are on separate floors which isn’t conducive to the relaxing spa experience you imagine in your head. It’s really more like going to a beauty parlor for a facial /​massage and then going to a leisure centre afterwards.
— You never really get the feeling of luxury which is what you’d hope for on a spa day, right? It’s all just a little bare and well. bland.
— The sauna was closed the day we were there which was a bit lame. There were loads of cleaning signs all over the place, and again it just gave the feeling that you’d popped down your local pool rather than any feeling of treating yourself.
So, once your expectations are in line, I think you’ll enjoy your time here. If they’re not, you might be disappointed.

My guy and I only stayed for 2 nights here, from 4.27.2012 to 4.29 but it was an absolutely amazing experience! We came for my dear friend, Isabella’s wedding but stayed to travel through Ireland, the whole group of us, jolly drunks.
I don’t know how the hotel handled the entire wedding event but I didn’t see any major disasters and they were perfectly lovely and professional to us and other guests. We did have a minor problem with the A/​C cover coming off the wall at check-​in but it was quickly resolved. We asked for a couple of appliances and they helped us. We needed currency exchange, they did that too.
The entire property looks amazing, quite upscale, meticulously manicured lawns and landscaping, quite classy dining room, even though breakfast time was a dizzying and noisy affair because of all the wedding guests from all over the world.
Our room looked fairly basic but clean and comfortable… and was booked with a group/​event discount. It’s a highly luxurious retreat (with spa and golf course and whatnot) in the middle of nowhere… I’m joking of course: it’s about 6 km to the coast and 3.6 km to the closest — if small — urban center, Newtown Mt. Kennedy. The resort itself is located adjacent to a large park/​golf course and that’s exactly how I like it: peaceful and quiet.
It really feels like an enchanted place where you can have it both ways: the convenience afforded by technology and deep immersion in nature. I’m very surprised I’m the first reviewer here. It’s on my bucket list for a second visit.