Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews of Galway Period Villa Overlooking Palladian Fountain in Private Estate


Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 20 out of 25 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 25 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 25 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 25 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 25 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Staff & service

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

Vahan C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Tremendous Location
Tremendous country location steeped in history. Peaceful and quiet with lots of outside things to do. Finola was a very gracious host, who provided a wealth of recommendations for things to do and see in the area. Upon our arrival, Finola was there to greet us and had the fireplace going to stave off the damp, chilly spring weather. Great hiking in the area. Ventured to Galway and Cong for day trips. The town of Headford was nearby which had a Tesco for groceries. Locals were friendly and accommodating. Finola was responsive to most of our issues. There was a lack of internet connectivity during our stay, which was not resolved. With the exception of the internet issue, we would highly recommend this rental.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Heidi R., Webster, NY

Liked: Cleanliness
Spectacular
Beautiful historic place to stay. Our hostess could have not been more gracious. Had an issue with the WiFi which was addressed and remedied. Finola even brought by some gifts as an apology. A wonderful pub was right down the road. If you stay here go to Queally’s. The locals could not have been more friendly. We are looking forward to returning to the area. Wonderful place!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Aug 2023
Thank you , Heidi for taking the time to describe your Stay in Lisdonagh Carriagehouse , We really appreciate Best wishes until we welcome you in the future , John & Finola

10/10 Excellent

Mary B., Tucson, Arizona

Liked: Cleanliness
Idyllic scenery and location
My stay was perfect! It is a beautiful and well appointed place to stay. The host, Finola, was kind and helpful. The detail in maintaining the property really shows and I would stay again when I find myself in the area. Everything was truly wonderful!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anne R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely estate & host
My husband and I very much enjoyed our stay. Finola was a terrific host and made us feel like family. We had quite the adventure, and the chance to stay in a lovely country estate.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Quite magical
Better than we could have imagined.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Britt H., Muskego, WI USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Two days of pampering
The owners have the eye of a traveling artist. Every thing was clearly chosen to complement our stay. As a seasoned traveler my self, I appreciated my room had everything we needed to make us feel welcome and our stay peaceful. The next time I travel out of Dublin, I will stay here. Oh and did I say the breakfast was amazing?
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sherry N.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful!
The apartment was lovely, quiet, and exactly as advertised. The surroundings were gorgeous.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

David A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect
Property and location were superb. The location is in the county but a short drive from most conveniences. I’d highly recommend this property!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sam & Cheryl T., Kingwood, TX

Liked: Cleanliness
Charming Caherlistrane
We stayed at this property for a couple of nights and it was terrific. Very quiet and nicely appointed. It is an easy 20 minute drive to Galway and nicely positioned to visit the grounds of Ashford Castle and on to Connemara. Communication with the owner was efficient and timely and she kindly took us on a tour of Lisdonaugh House and shared some of the history.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth A., San Francisco

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful property, cozy rental, lovely host
We stayed for three nights, but we could have stayed for a week. The property was beautiful and we enjoyed walking the grounds with the owner's dog Saffron. Our little rental was cozy and the one small issue we had was dealt with promptly. Fortunately the group that rented the manor house left the same day we did and our host gave us a tour. The Manor House was nothing short of magical and it was clear that everything about the property was a labor of love.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

8/10 Good

Frances K., Ottawa, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful
We had a wonderful time at the Coach House. It had all the amenities of home. Finola met us when we arrived and she was so pleasant. There was lots to see and do in the area. The folks at the pub in Caherlistrane were very friendly.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Thank you for taking the time to describe your experience of staying in Inisfree Villa kind Regards John & Finola

8/10 Good

Stephanie J., Levallois

Liked: Cleanliness
Poor communication but lovely spot
I did not understand from the add that the house was part of a bigger estate, with other apartments and the owner living just across the yard. It wasn't a problem for us however. Cleanness is only so-so, i found a dead bee in my bed… Well it's the country, that happens… What really was a problem was the poor communication with the owner. We had a shower problem while staying there (that happens and was not a tragedy, since there are two bathrooms) but there was no way to address it with the owner until the very end of our stay, despite her living so close. I asked her twice if i was supposed to leave the keys on the door when we left : still no answer. This coming on top of the absence of communication before our stay : i had to ask for directions and the only two mails i got were about payments. And above all some very poor taste remark of John concerning the fact that israelian people don't like gas (??!) while he was showing us the fireplace. I did not care for it at all and it made me very ill at ease. Having said all that, the house is lovely and so is that part of Ireland. But i don't feel like coming back in this particular property.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
Thank you for taking the time to tell us of how you experienced your Stay we totally rely on your feedback. Please let us apologise for any unintended offence which you may have misconstrued , I am so sorry My husband has encountered and worked with many Jewish people and he is always singing praises about how talented and driven as people and is very complimentary and full of admiration so as I was not there I cannot say only that there was definitely no offence intended Regarding the two communications in advance of your arrival re payment , that is sent automatically by the booking platform in my name as host but not by me. I apologise that communication from me was not to your satisfaction prior to your arrival and during you Stay. We do not get eveything right all of the time , but we do try to be here for any guest requirements and to sort out any issues that may arise. Thank you for you lovely comments about the beauty of the location and the high standard of fit out and furnishings as you say , it is a restored heritage building in the Countryside with timber windows that can be opened and closed but we do have a full houskeeping department that spend many hours preparing the house for guests. Kind Regards and every best wishes , John & Finola Cooke

10/10 Excellent

Sarah A., Boston, MA

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful and restful escape
I was traveling to Ireland for work and added on several days to explore on my own. I mentioned to my Dublin co-workers that I was going to Galway, and when I showed them the listing for this place they commented "you are in the middle of nowhere!" Naturally I was a bit concerned that it would take me hours to get anywhere, but that was not the case at all. This location is close to Tuam, Galway, the Cliffs, Westport – for me this was the perfect place to stay! Waking to the sounds of sheep baahing in the fields was charming. The estate is beautifully kept, with much attention paid to the grounds and the gardens. My apartment, Inisfree, had plenty of room – more like a small house than an apartment. Clean and tidy with period furniture, it steps you back in time. The modern shower/bathroom was a treat I wasn't expecting. While I was checking in, Finola offered to do a small load of wash for me, which I gratefully accepted. After showing me around the property, Finola and John asked me to join them for tea. They are both very engaging and personable, and I was sorry I couldn't find them to say goodbye before I left. I also enjoyed their dog, a very sweet retriever who loves people and head scratches. I would highly recommend any one of their accommodations on this estate.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This place is stunning! Its like an old fashioned country getaway. I would have happily spent a week here. The apartment is spacious and gorgeous and felt like home. Finola made us feel so welcome and we loved the horse ride for our daughter. You will see us again!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019

4/10 Poor

Penny C., Albany, OR

Disappointment upon arrival!
We booked this property in late January 2019 for part of our trip to Ireland in July. The day of our arrival, we drove from Kinsale to Galway and were in contact with the property owner during the day. There was no indication of any issue during the day, in fact we received a message welcoming us to the property later in the day. The property is located about 35 minutes from Galway and we had some trouble finding it. After driving and getting directions we finally arrived around 6:30. However, upon our arrival, we were informed by the owner, that she had discovered that morning, that she had mistakenly double booked our private two bedroom en suite with living, dining, kitchen and the cottage was not available for the night! We were totally caught by surprise and not sure what to do, since we were quite a distance from other accommodations and not sure we would be able to find suitable alternative for the night. The owner offered us two bedrooms in her home, with non-private bath down the hall and use of the family's kitchen, for one night and then to move to the cottage for the remaining two nights. We asked if there would be compensation for the downgrade, lack of privacy and inconvenience and were told there would be. After we agreed to stay and requested again what the compensation would be for the downgrade, we were not given a final answer that night and asked again in the morning regarding compensation. We were told, that no compensation for the downgraded, non-private rooms, would be made. We were told we would be charged full price at the cottage rates for the night and no compensation for our inconvenience was offered. We wished there had been honest communication during the previous day that there was an issue, so we could have made arrangements while we were still in town for an appropriate alternative. Once we were at the property, we did feel limited in our options and once we spent the night, we were at the mercy of the property owner for any compensation for our inconvenience. It was an unfortunate outcome for what should have been a lovely country stay in a delightful private country cottage. I wish our host had been more forthright and understanding of the inconvenience caused by her overbooking of the cottage. We paid full price for less than what we booked! It was very disappointing, as we tried to be flexible to accommodate the owner's error, and felt some compensation was warranted.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar 2020
We are delighted to have the opportunity to respond As the description set out by the writer is totally in conflict with her response at the time. The guest for due to stay for 3 nights in a self catering cottage On arrival, I explained the situation to the guest abd showed tje alternative for the first night OR I could compensate her for the first night or the full 3 days. I gave her plenty of time to decide having seen what was on offer She came back to me in tje positive Saying "we will make it work" She had separate entrance and Two full bedrooms abd two bathrooms in a separate wing of the house And full use of kitchen, living room I spoke with her twice that evening once when she said felt rejuvenated after fabulous shower abd I came from work after 10 and we chatted a little in TV room, . The accommodation she had booked was ready for her at 11am And the two ladies got their bags moved in. Startled by the review, as totally at odds with how she behaved at the time Unde difficult circumstances, I did everything humanly possible abd she had the choice to accept or decline Unfortunately impossible to manage unrealistic expectations Thankfully, this experience is the only exception of truly wonderful, delightful, happy guests of 2019 and though upsetting to read an edited version of events, clearly there are underlying issues with this person Whom I wish well and future resolution and happiness Kindly Finola

10/10 Excellent

kathie s.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful place
This property is beautiful! Everything was perfect! John was right there waiting for for check in and to make sure if we needed anything right away! Finola is a wonderful hostess, there for whatever we needed and very accommodating for our needs! Her hospitality was endless! We truly enjoyed our stay!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Shelly D., Ojai,CA

Liked: Cleanliness
Sweet surprise
What a fabulous place to stay! I don’t want to give away the surprise, you just have to see it for yourself! Tip-top property! Finola is fabulous and her and her husband have made quite the special place! Definitely off the beaten track. We would put it on our Ireland Circuit again! Not far from grocery supply, and a cozy, unique place to be if you just want to hang out for awhile after exploring the country!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Cyd A., Sachse, TX. USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely cottage
This cottage was way off the beaten path and well worth the drive. Living room seating was a bit worn, but the rest of the cottage and grounds were perfect. Thanks Finola for a great stay.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Deb W.

Beautiful country property
This property exceeded our expectations. The apt was lovely as was the entire location. If your looking to relax in an aidylic country setting then this property is the treat your looking for. Finola was a wonderful host. We will fondly remember our time here
Stayed 2 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

terence M., ormstown

Wonderful place
Great place would return
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Susanne S.

A gem set in the Irish countryside!
This place is truly gorgeous and the photos don’t do it enough justice! Everything you could possibly need is there. We felt as if we were characters in a Jane Austen novel! Finola is a lovely hostess!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2018

8/10 Good

Dorothy Katie P., Reno, Nevada, USA

Gorgeously Decorated Home
This is a beautiful home, tucked away in rural Ireland. If you’re wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of city or town life, this is a really wonderful place to stay. The owners were helpful and accommodating. The kitchen is really tiny, but workable. The washing machine was not working, which was a huge bummer as we were relying on all of our house stays to have washers, at the very least. Finola offered to wash our clothes for us, which was very kind. One of the huge pluses was that each bedroom had a bathroom and there was also a small WC downstairs. If you’re traveling with 2+ people, this is a HUGE treat. One thing to be aware of is that there are no showers. Both bathrooms have tubs only. This was not a huge issue for us, however. It was all part of the experience. We really enjoyed this place.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Robert B.

A beautiful, romantic location within easy driving distance of everything in Western Ireland
We stayed here 2 nights at the end of our 2-week driving vacation in Ireland. It is absolutely the most beautiful, romantic, fairy-tale-like location. It's 20 min drive outside of Galway, with easy day trips to Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry, Sky Road, -most of the Great Atlantic Way. This flat is in the old coach house of an historic manor. 2 bedrooms and full kitchen and dining area. There are several nearby towns with pubs and restaurants, but also groceries and bakeries within 6km, so we cooked some meals and stayed in. The flat's manager could not have been more gracious and helpful. When we next return to Ireland, we plan to just miss Dublin, fly in to Shannon International and stay the whole time here!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Maria Rosa D.

Liked: Cleanliness
A great experience in a beautiful place
An absolutely wonderful place! We felt at home from the moment we opened the door. The rooms are very comfortable, specially the beds! Such a great and recommended experience!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Thilo P.

Sehr nette Gastgeber, eine sehr stilvolle , ruhige und gut eingerichtete Wohnung
Lässt keine Wünsche offen
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017