Ballyfoyle Holidays from £139

For a hotel advertised as 4-star luxury, the experience was very disappointing. The rooms feel like stepping back in time and are badly in need of modernisation, although thankfully the bathroom appears to have been renovated within the last ten years. When I arrived, the room was quite cold. I called reception to ask how I could increase the temperature, only to be told that the hotel is centrally heated and that the heating would come on “this evening.” Not really what you expect from a supposed luxury hotel when you can’t even control the temperature of your own room. I also paid €16 for breakfast, but when I tried to get a coffee I was told this would be an additional charge. Charging separately for a coffee after already paying €16 for breakfast seems unreasonable. What made the experience worse was the response from staff. When I raised these issues, there was no real attempt to resolve them or offer an alternative; I was simply told that all the rooms would be the same. Overall, definitely not the standard I would expect from a 4-star luxury hotel.

The location on the outskirts of Waterford is ideal for outings to e.g. the Copper Coast drive or to Mount Congreve Gardens. The hotel is clean, modern and very stylish. My room was spacious, clean and very comfortable. My evening meals in the restaurant were very good. My only critical observation would be that perhaps the waiters could be a little more courteous. All in all, I would highly recommend this hotel for anyone staying in Waterford.