Last week was a pretty good week for the Irish tourism board with Lonely Planet singing our Celtic Praises and naming Ireland in their list of the top 10 countries to visit in 2015. And now yet more praise is coming our way from some of the best travel publications in the world.
Condé Nast Traveller, part of the magazine group that publishes titles such as GQ and The New Yorker, have named four of Ireland's resorts and hotels as the top destinations in Europe to travel to.
Their top ten list included The K Club, Adare Manor, Sheen Falls Lodge and Ashford Castle, with two of them occupying the top spots on the list. The top ten in full is:
1) Sheen Falls Lodge, Co. Kerry
2) Ashford Castle, Co. Mayo
3) Blue Palace Resort, Crete
4) Kildare Hotel at the K Club, Co. Kildare
5) The Gleneagles hotel, Scotland
6) Badrutt's Palace, Switzerland
7) Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, Switzerland
8) Villa d'Este, Lake Como, Italy
9) Old Course Hotel, Scotland
10) Adare Manor, Co. Limerick
Ashford Castle, MayoAdvertised
Patrick Hanley, the General Manager of Sheen Falls Lodge said “We are extremely honoured to be named the number one resort in Europe and to be one of four hotels from the UK and Ireland in the Top 100 hotels and resorts in the world. A special thank you must be extended to the team here who dedicate themselves and make an exceptional effort to ensure all guests have a pleasant and memorable stay.”
The magazine noted that the lodge, which is in a picturesque location overlooking the Sheen Falls, came top of the list thanks to their "first-class service, very high-quality design" and "very pretty views".
We're sold. Sign us up. And which way to the spa?
Have you been to any of the resorts that made Condé Nast Traveller's list? And if you won the Lotto, what spa would you which us all off to? Tell us in the comments while we get to grips with some day dreaming….
