My Stay at the Royal Marine Hotel Dún Laoghaire

by Shane McDonald | Nov 19, 2024 | Hotel Reviews

I recently stayed over 3 different weekends at the historic 4-star Royal Marine Hotel in Dún Laoghaire just outside Dublin city. The hotel features 228 luxury bedrooms that have been updated with both contemporary and traditional furnishings. Iis a historic hotel and Queen Victoria and Laurel & Hardy had stayed here. Some of the rooms have magnificent views across Dublin Bay and we enjoyed just such a view on our second and third stay here. There are also other facilities which you can enjoy when you stay here.

There are both relaxed and dining options and health and a spa and swimming pool. For us, we didn’t try the spa or the pool but it’s good to have such an option if you need it.

The check-in process was excellent and I can say that the staff at this hotel go out of their way to ensure you are happy. I have a background in hospitality and I can spot a team who work well and this was certainly obvious.

The first stay at the Royal Marine Hotel was an inside room on the 3rd floor. The room was bright, warm, comfortable and the bathroom was basic but very clean and had obviously been recently upgraded. There is free WIFI, multichannel TV, Tea / coffee facilities in the room and free water for your convenience.

Above – Standard room at the Royal Marine

On our second and third stay at the Royal Marine Hotel, we enjoyed a sea view room on the 6th floor. We were upgraded due to being a member of the loyalty Neville Hotels programme. This was an even more luxurious room, larger and with such a fantastic view how could you not enjoy your stay? These more luxurious rooms have Panoramic views across Dublin Bay, Egyptian linens, and Hypo-allergenic duvets and pillows. The bathroom is bigger with a bath and separate shower. There was also a Laptop safe, Air-conditioning, and Complimentary WiFi as standard.

Above – Sea View room at the Royal Marine Dun Laoighre

Dún Laoghaire is a very nice spot to visit. I had not really been here in many years and it has a very relaxed vibe. If you are looking for some nice food, I recommend the Gourmet Food Parlour which is about 5 minute’s walk from the Hotel. I also recommend trying a Teddy’s Ice Cream (my favourite is the one with Sprinkles) and you can also enjoy a walk along the pier which extends into the harbour. There are also may sea tours and stand up paddle board companies offering experiences subject to the season / weather. The People’s Park in Dún Laoghaire is only a few minutes’ walk from the hotel and these beautiful landscaped gardens are a great place for a stroll. Dún Laoghaire also has many museums, a theatre, and access to many walking trails.

Above – the amazing view from the Sea View room at the Royal Marine

I really enjoyed my stay at the Royal Marie Hotel which is why I do these hotel review, and we will be back again very soon. Just a note, There is secure parking and your parking is validated on departure.

Also Don’t forget to join the Neville Hotels Loyalty Scheme for great bonuses on every stay.

Royal Marine Hotel Website – https://www.royalmarine.ie

My stay at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas

by Shane McDonald | Jun 27, 2024 | Hotel Reviews, Travel

I have been to Las Vegas 3 times now since 2022 and the previous 2 times I stayed at The Luxor but this time, I decided upon the Excalibur as it was working out slightly cheaper for the dates I wanted.

About the Excalibur Hotel and Casino

Excalibur Hotel and Casino is a casino hotel on the Las Vegas Strip operated by MGM Resorts, the same company that owns The Luxor Hotel where I stayed previously. The resort features a medieval castle theme and is named after King Arthur’s mythical Excalibur sword. The Excalibur Property includes a casino, a 28-story hotel with 3,981 rooms, and various restaurants.

The $290 million property was originally developed by Circus Circus Enterprises and construction of the hotel and casino began in October 1988, with the Excalibur resort opening on June 19, 1990 – so I was staying almost exactly 34 years after it’s opening. It was the largest hotel in the world until the opening of the nearby MGM Grand in 1993.

My Stay and Review

I arrived at around 11 pm following a 10 pm landing at the nearby airport. My taxi ride only took about 10 minutes and proximity to the airport is one advantage to this hotel.

The check-in was processed very fast and I was given a small upgrade to a 12th-floor tower room as I extended my stay on arrival.

The room was very nice but quite a long way from the elevators. Now, I actually like being away from the elevators to avoid noise so my location in the hotel was ideal for me. The room may be considered a small bit dated in design however it was clean, comfortable, and welcoming. I did notice that along with the air conditioning, there were aromatherapy diffusers and also a dehumidifier ( I will come back to this later). The shower and bathroom are large and the shower has plenty of hot water and power. The bed was super comfy and I had a very enjoyable 11-hour sleep to recover from my jet lag; so the next day I was unaffected by my 24 hours of travel on the day before. It was just as well really as I was performing at 7 pm and had soundcheck at 3 pm… the quality of sleep allowed me to be perfectly energetic and awake.

So coming back to the dehumidifier in the room; normally my sinuses play up with all the air conditioning in the hotels and public areas, since in Ireland we don’t have this and it seems to really dry me out. However, with the dehumidifier in the room, I was unaffected and this is another reason why I will certainly consider returning to the Excalibur hotel.

There is a very large casino area, and I did try a few thing like roulette and a few slots but I didn’t win much at all – unlike the $258 I won th last time I was in Las Vegas. Dining is available at multiple locations including a food court and also a very good Buffet which starts at around $31 per person for lunch.

Overall I really enjoyed my stay and I will certainly be back to either this great hotel.

If you have been to Vegas, what is your favourite hotel – leave a comment below and I might try your suggestion next !

This castle-themed resort and casino is located central on the Las Vegas Strip. It features 4 seasonal outdoor pools, 14 restaurants, 100,000-square-foot casino and live nightly entertainment are provided.

WiFi (included with the resort fee) is provided throughout rooms at Excalibur. Every room has a cable TV, a large bathroom with a hair dryer.

The Excalibur Hotel and Casino provides a tour desk. Guests can browse the numerous on-site shops.

There are 4 outdoor pools featuring a water slide, poolside cabanas, and an Adult Only Pool. A large gym with modern equipment is also available.

Interstate 15 is 1 mile from the resort offering easy access to area attractions Harry Reid International Airport is 2.8 miles away and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas is 2.5 miles from the hotel.

Cavan Crystal Hotel – Hotel Review

by Shane McDonald | Nov 7, 2023 | Ireland, Reviews

Cavan Crystal Hotel
A Modern and Impressive Hotel in Cavan with excellent service and a large restaurant

About the Cavan Crystal Hotel

Cavan Crystal Hotel is in the heart of the stunning Lake County in the Midlands of Ireland. The Hotel is nicely situated near many different tourist attractions and is the closest four-star hotel to Cavan Town. I walked it myself a few times with no issues and is only a few minutes from the town. You can also relax in the award-winning Zest Health & Fitness Club which features an 18-metre Swimming Pool, Steam Room, Jacuzzi, Sauna, and a fully equipped Gym – this access is complimentary when you book a stay at the hotel. You can also enjoy a wide range of delicious food from the Bar Menu or a cocktail or other libation in the Atrium Bar!

The Cavan Cavan Crystal Hotel is only 1 hour and 10 minutes from Dublin via the M3 Motorway and also includes beautiful Gardens & Children’s Playground, Complimentary Wi-Fi, and free on-site parking for all guests.

My Visit to the Hotel

Having won a trip to the Cavan Crystal Hotel on Pigsback, I was looking forward to visiting Cavan for the first time but I was dreading such a long trip. It took over 5 hours (including a stop off for lunch) to get to the Cavan hotel. When we arrived the girl on reception, Orlaith, actually remembered speaking to me on the phone earlier (very impressed with service at the hotel in general). The hotel foyer is bright and nicely decorated in modern clean designs.

The rooms are large with bigger than standard bathrooms, fruit baskets and robes were in the room (not sure if these were standard) but overall the room was very nice. Newspapers were left outside your door the next morning and a turndown service was provided around 7 pm which was not availed of. (it was a nice touch though). Overall I’m not a fan of turndown service, it just seems a bit like “servant turn down my bed for me” and I’m sure the housekeeping staff has better things to be doing than opening people’s beds.

The Opus One restaurant has a wide selection of quality dishes, from duck and venison to seabass and vegetarian options. The starter and main courses were excellent with 2 small complementary intermediate offerings between starter and main and also main and dessert. One criticism of the restaurant, however, the menu does not change, so if you are staying here for more than one night you may run out of options. I personally think that a restaurant needs a selection of daily specials, especially for those staying at the hotel for repeated days. We only ate here once as a result.

The leisure center and gym are good, with a large pool, sauna, jacuzzi, and steam room – however, it can get crowded at times (especially if there are lots of children). However there is very little privacy from the gent’s dressing area and when the pool door opens, make sure you are not getting changed nearby otherwise … oops!

There is a Spa at the hotel but strangely this is not open on Sundays, probably the main day people will be relaxing and will avail of such a service. Note, this visit was a few years ago and perhaps a revisit might be warranted to see if things had changed.

Pros: Great service, great food, attentive staff and nice rooms, comfortable sleep.

Cons: The Evening Menu in the Restaurant does not change, the spa is not open on Sundays, Bar area can lack a bit of atmosphere.

Overall: 7.5/10

Related Links :

Cavan Crystal Hotel

Pigsback

Bellinter House Hotel & Spa – Hotel Review

by Shane McDonald | Oct 23, 2023 | General Travel, Hotel Reviews

I had some business in County Meath and having looked at all the options Bellinter House Hotel was perfect for what I needed. I prefer quieter hotels and because Bellinter House sits on the south bank of the River Boyne this was perfect as a location. This beautiful Georgian mansion was built about 1750, about 7 years before Mount Juliet where I once worked. Richard Castle designed the house for John Preston, grandfather of the first Lord Tara. This 18th-century Georgian house is located in the heart of the Boyne Valley, about 30 minutes from Dublin, and for me, it is just over 2 hours from Waterford.

I have stayed here 5 times now and every time I have had a wonderful stay. The staff are wonderful and the house is set on beautiful grounds it looks wonderful in the mornings when you are heading to breakfast.

The Rooms at Bellinter House Hotel

Bellinter House Hotel has 41 bedrooms and there are several different room types in Bellinter House each with a different style. I have stayed in the Deluxe Rooms which are located in The Ruins beside The Bathhouse Spa. The room has lovely touches like wood floorboards, vintage furniture, and some extra touches that add character. The rooms have everything which I need and on my second visit to the hotel, there were chocolates in my room with a nice hand-written message. My only criticism is that the lighting in the room is a little dimmer than I would prefer. The rooms have nice showers and on one occasion I had a very nice deep bath, however, I was so busy on that evening I never had a chance to try it.

Dining

I ate a few times in The Library, The Study, or the Drawing Rooms. I have had the Burger which is served with chips and it was amazing. I also had the fish and chips which was very good also.
Breakfast is served in Preston’s from 8am and it is one of the best breakfasts I have had. The only thing I would personally like is a slightly earlier breakfast service.

Hotel Location

Bellinter House is located approximately 7kms south of Navan town in Co. Meath and about 40/45 minutes from Dublin airport. For me, it was only 23 minutes from The hotel has plenty of parking on the grounds.

Conclusion

It is my defacto hotel to stay in County Meath and I hope to continue to come here for all my future stays in the Meath area. The staff are wonderful, the sleep is peaceful, the rooms are comfortable, the breakfasts are fantastic, the food is delicious and the area is just so quiet and peaceful. Just perfect.

Website: https://www.bellinterhouse.com/

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More Hotel Reviews will be added soon.

Hotel Review of The Grosvenor Hotel, Victoria, London

by Shane McDonald | Sep 5, 2020 | Hotel Reviews, Travel

Hotel Review of The Grosvenor Hotel, Victoria, London

From time to time when travelling, you will want to splash out and go for a bit of luxury. In 2013 when planning a trip to London I was looking for a nice hotel. I knew of 2 very good hotels, the Blakemore Hotel and the Park Plaza Hotel, however, these were not what I was looking for. I found some excellent TripAdvisor reports for the Grosvenor Hotel Victoria London and noticed it had a Chinese Restaurant, the Grand Imperial, attached which clinched the deal.

The Grosvenor Hotel was booked and prior to arrival, I had a very nice pre-arrival courtesy call which I thought was a nice touch.

The History of the Grosvenor Hotel London

As with most of the major city railway stations in the UK, back in the day of steam locomotion, hotels were attached to thee stations. The Grosvenor Victoria was built by Sir John Kelk’s company. The Grosvenor is very much luxury and lavish and the grandest hotel in London. The Grosvenor opened to the public in 1862 a year after Victoria station opened. The original 1st class railway lounge is now the Reunion cocktail bar. The millionaire and Bellini cocktails here are worth a try.

Grosvenor Victoria Hotel Review

On the day of travel, we actually arrived very late thanks to a strategically planned Irish airport strike. However, we arrived at the Grosvenor just after midnight and had a very pleasant check-in and proceeded to the room. Even with our late arrival, nothing was a problem and the staff was ever courteous. You will be greeted very well and the check-in was very well polished.

Guest rooms are very comfortable and very nicely decorated. The history of the hotel is not very obviously reflected in the rooms. They are more contemporary in nature than the historic facade and foyer. Lush colours such as deep purples and chocolate browns give a real warmth to the guest rooms. There are some reviews which call the entry-level rooms to be small but I feel they are adequate. I have stayed here twice, thus, I have stayed in 2 room types.

In general, the rooms are very well appointed, include a small but nice bathroom and comfortable bed. Many rooms overlook Victoria Station but on our stay, being 5 floors up, there was no noise. You may get an infrequent station announcement or such, which may just catch the wind. Overall, you will be guaranteed a very pleasant sleep.

There are also very high-quality tea and coffee facilities in your beautifully presented room. Once on a return stay, we also got a complimentary upgrade. The touches here are high-end. If you are looking for a hotel stay in the heart of London but with a luxury-twist, you will not be disappointed.

The staff at the Grosvenor Victoria are excellent. They are all attired in immaculate black suits. The hotel was ideal for me, as a leisure guest, but would be an ideal hotel for corporate guests. You will also find that there is a gym, a 24-hour concierge plus round-the-clock room service should the need or hunger arise.

Photo of Grosvenor Hotel London Victoria, Room Photo

Image - The Grosvenor Hotel room - tea and coffee facilities

It is a pleasure to stay in such great accommodation. The hotel is pristine with a very ornate and impressive foyer. You must also go outside and cross to the street to get a vista on this impressive hotel, The architecture outside is amazing. Features with sculpted heads with laurel crowns, many balcony type features and sculpted flowers. It is a sight to behold. Just note that the street outside can be busy and there can often be queues for busses, so you might have to battle through the crowds during rush hour just to get into the hotel.

Dining & Breakfast at the Grosvenor

I already mentioned the Grand Imperial restaurant but the hotel has a second restaurant. This is called The Brasserie – we tried both restaurants and both are well worth experiencing. I had a fantastic croque madame which is always a favourite of mine. It was perfectly cooked and had a really fine quality cheese filling.

The breakfasts are very good and are held in the Brasserie area. Plenty of choices and no rush with great coffee to get you started for the day.

Inside and Outside the Grosvenor Hotel

The entrance of the Hotel has a grand foyer, with a stunning chandelier which you can’t miss. You should take to the next level up, so walk around and see the architecture in more details.

The Grosvenor’s location is great, only a 60-second walk to Victoria station. There is a private and direct route from the station into the hotel. There are also many bus stops outside the hotel also. If you are flying into Gatwick then the Gatwick Express will get you direct to Victoria Station. As a result, the Grosvenor Hotel would be ideal for you.

This was a wonderful stay at the Grosvenor Hotel and we will certainly be back next time we are in London.

Grosvenor Hotel London Victoria Address & Hotel Information

Grosvenor Hotel Website: https://www.amba-hotel.com/en/london/the-grosvenor.html

Grosvenor Hotel Map & Location
Grosvenor Hotel, 101 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0SJ, England

The Grosvenor Hotel, Victoria, London

Things to do near the Grosvenor Hotel, London

The Grosvenor Hotel is located in the area known as Victoria. This is close to Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, Westminster Cathedral and is ideal if you want to visit the Apollo Victoria which at the moment has the show, ‘Wicked’. The fact that Victoria station is on your doorstep, means you have a variety of tube lines at your disposal.

You can also refer to my London Guide: Top things to do in London as a reference.

Photo Gallery – The Grosvenor Hotel, Victoria, London

Grosvenor Hotel, Tea and Coffee facilities

This is a Hotel Review from my Travel Blog. This Hotel Review of the Grosvenor Hotel, London is not a sponsored post. I was not paid or compensated by the Grosvenor Hotel London for this hotel review and it is simply my honest view and review of two separate stays at the Grosvenor in 2013 and again in 2015.

Some Questions which were submitted to me by email, which I will answer here for others to see…

Is the Grosvenor Hotel London Nice?

In a word, yes, however if you have a chance to spend a bit more I would do so. A few extra on the room will give you a more spacious and more lucurious room. However on the 2 occasions I stayed I certainly had no complaints on the room size. Great Staff, Great Food, Great Hotel.

Did you try the Grosvenor Hotel Afternoon Tea?

No, I did not have a chance to enjoy the Afternoon Tea, however it is not something I normally go for, so therfore we probably did not see it out. But in general the food here is excellent.

What’s the Breakfast like at the Grosvenor Hotel?

For me, Hotel Breakfasts are things I avoid unless included in the price. One one occasion we did have breakfast at the Grosvenot Hotel and it was very impressive and also very enjoyable.

If you have any other queries about my stay at The Grosvenor Hotel London Victoria please drop me a line

« Older Entries

My Stay at the Royal Marine Hotel Dún Laoghaire

My stay at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas

About the Excalibur Hotel and Casino

My Stay and Review

Cavan Crystal Hotel – Hotel Review