Radisson Blu Hotel, Sligo

Our stay at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sligo was unforgettable. From the moment we arrived and throughout our stay we were made feel so welcome and we were treated like VIP’s. This hotel is just the place to book if you are on the lookout for a luxury summer break in a beautiful area.

The grounds are simply stunning with the main hotel situated on an elevated site at the end of an immaculate sweeping driveway.

The stone building looks very ‘posh’ but that’s only the beginning of the luxury!

Reception is where it should be – right inside the front door and straight away you can also see the restaurant area, the bar, the lifts/stairs and a seating area. I think this is an excellent layout as this was my first visit and on entering I knew exactly where to go.

The reception was dominated by this fabulous fireplace where I noticed many of the guests stopping to admire the artwork and flowers. I couldn’t resist a photo!

The kids were given some kids packs which included several goodies, fun activity books, crayons and vouchers for the bar – this was a great idea as my sister decided to be traditional and have a pint of Guinness and the kids were given a choice of none other than Tayto crisps, (yummy and you cannot visit Ireland without trying these), and a fizzy drink.

Like the reception area, the bar was tastefully decorated .

Our room was, shall I say, ‘above my expectations’! I had a suite which had the most superb view of the mountains.

The room comprised of a very large bed, table and chairs, 2 sofa beds – one which had been kindly made up for the kids, a dressing table and coffee table complete with a few select magazines. Other amenities included a mini bar, nespresso coffee machine, and many other items that completed the luxurious experience.

After check in I really didn’t want to leave the room and could have returned for the evening with a couple of magazines and a soft seat beside the window but the blue sky and sand was ‘calling’ the kids and we headed to the beach which was 2 miles away – perfect!

Look at this, simply stunning and almost deserted! This is just the way beaches should be. ‘Rosses Point’ beach does not permit cars so its very safe for children.

The sea was as warm as a bath – all joking aside – our last holiday to Spain didn’t have seas as warm! The sheltered cove is surrounded by huge rocks so the kids really did have the ‘best holiday ever’ climbing on the rocks and sliding down the sand dunes for hours after a swim in the sea.

In the evening we decided to skip the restaurant, although it looked lovely, and opted for dinner in the bar. This was a good choice. The setting was excellent along with the variety of tempting food on the menu. The service couldn’t be improved upon and we were all pleased with our selections. I opted for the salmon and ordered a side of vegetables – these were cooked to perfection with just a little ‘bite’ to them – scrumy!

My sister ordered a caesar salad and she certainly had no complaints. Tender slices of moist chicken breast accompanied with crispy bacon, croutons, parmesan cheese and delicious dressing – it looked and tasted very good.

I have to say we were both impressed with the childrens’ menu. The girls choose slider burgers and skinny fries and proudly declared that it tasted ‘better than McDonalds’!

Dinner was finished off with some desserts. Cait opted for an Eton Mess and she wasn’t disappointed.

Sleep was restful with no noise what-so-ever coming from the remainder of the hotel or the corridor. The beds weer supersoft and cosy and thankfully no-one stirred until morning.

Breakfast was quite the luxury but who wouldn’t enjoy sitting down to a table with a view like this?

The table was set rather luxuriously, with the cutterly enclosed in thick white napkins, expertly folded. Its the little touches like this that remind me I am staying in a hotel where attention to detail and the guest experience is paramount.

The spread and choice was as good as I have experienced. The kids choose from a selection of freshly squeezed juices to start, while I had filtered coffee and relaxed watching my family enjoy themselves.

Hot food was on offer along with a variety of Irish breads, pastries and scones. These were sampled and they were deliciously soft and tasty. The layout was immaculate and staff were attending to the area continually ensuring the plates remained stocked and the area was tidy.

Choose from Irish cheeses, cold meats, giant plum tomatoes and much more.

Following breakfast we visited the pool. I had to give the spa a miss but have plans to return (without the kids) to relax and enjoy the experience.

The pool was beautiful and spotlessly clean. We were able to relax on pool side loungers while the kids had a swim and played together.

All too soon it was time to leave this wonderful place – we cannot wait to return! I would recommend the Radisson Blu hotel in Sligo to those who have kids in tow yet want to experience a little bit of luxury during the summer months. Its very reasonable priced and you can book direct with the hotel to get the best rate.

For further information visit www.radissonblu.com/sligo