The Lodge at Ashford Castle

Booked De Luxe Twin Bedroom. Clearly stated that two female friends requiring de lux twin bedroom as not booking as a couple. Having already ( on line) asked, the beds should have been between 3’ to 4’ wide for each single. So de lux twin bedroom booked. On arrival my female friend and I were shown to a small double bedroom, not a de lux twin bed bedroom. This was to be rectified while we went for meal at Cullens Cottage on the Ashford estate. On return, no acknowledgment and no apology and no change of room to what we had booked. Instead the original bedroom with the small double bed was what we were given, and the small double bed was split into two narrow singles with single douvet in double douvet covers on each narrow singles. Area around these were limited and definitely not a delux twin bedroom. The shower with over head water dispensing wider than the shower area wet the bathroom floor extensively. There was nowhere to hang dry clothes in the bathroom for use after a shower. There was no extractor fan so the bathroom was steamed and mirror obscured by this. Shower dripped a lot. The bedroom had a sash window that limited just the bottom part to open about 6” and as the opening was at the bottom, was insufficient for a well ventilated bedroom and bathroom. Breakfast basic for the expectation at this establishment and a male member of staff was loudly telling his colleagues all his egotistic history in full hearing of dining room during breakfast. For such a high standard location, and beautiful grounds, this de lux twin bedroom experience with complimentary breakfast at The Lodge At Ashford Castle is definitely one to give a miss 😢

The grounds are heavenly. Absolutely gorgeous. The lodge is within biking/walking distance of the castle (just need to pay attn to drivers). They have bikes to borrow so that you can cover more ground. The staff are very accommodating. You can tell that they are trying hard to make sure you have a nice experience. When we went over to the castle, there were some undertones that there's a difference between how lodge vs castle guests are treated, but we didn't really care and it didn't affect the experience much except that you have to have a reservation at a restaurant to get inside the castle if you are not staying there. Many of the same activities are available at both the lodge and the castle (e.g., hawk walk), and the concierge is fantastic about helping you book what you want. The room was fine. Minor issue was that there was no outlet in the bathroom (cannot style/blow dry your hair in there) but the view made up for small inconveniences like that one.

We recently stayed at Ashford Lodge Hotel and came away feeling very disappointed. The room rates are extremely high for what is actually on offer. The décor is certainly unusual, but not in a way that feels luxurious or comfortable—it felt dated and lacked the warmth you'd expect at this price point. Cleanliness throughout the hotel also left a lot to be desired. 6 months worth of cobwebs on the airconditioning unit in room 123 a party of 6 we also stayed in room 160 and room 102 and floors in general throughout are not maintained. For a property charging premium rates, the overall standard of housekeeping was below expectations. Breakfast was, unfortunately, the biggest letdown. The quality of the food was very poor, and overall it was one of the most disappointing hotel breakfasts we've experienced. The staff were friendly and courteous, which was the one consistently positive aspect of our stay. However, it feels as though the hotel is relying heavily on its association with Ashford Castle, which is located on the same estate. While the pricing certainly reflects the prestige of the Ashford name, the standard of the lodge itself does not. Even something as basic as the drinking water was disappointing. The tap water had a noticeable chemical taste and would benefit from being filtered before being served to guests. Overall, this is not somewhere I would recommend to anyone expecting a luxury experience. The prices suggest five-star accommodation, but the reality falls well short. You're paying for the location and the Ashford name rather than the quality of the hotel itself.

“An absolutely exceptional five-star experience from start to finish. The main reason for our stay was our daughter’s wedding, and it could not have been more perfect. The service is unparalleled—truly unlike anywhere I have ever traveled in the world. The hospitality is exquisite, with staff who are remarkably attentive, kind, and intuitively aware of your needs before you even realize them. Every detail is handled with effortless care and professionalism. The grounds and surrounding area are pure magic, beautifully maintained and breathtaking in every direction. The wedding was an unforgettable occasion and everyone had an amazing time. Everyone can’t wait to go back. A truly world-class experience.”

Our stay at the Lodge was outstanding beyond our expectations. The ambiance and décor are both elegant and cozy. The entire staff is professional, welcoming, sincere, helpful, and knowledgeable. We loved chatting with our servers and bartenders; learning about their training experiences and getting recommendations. (Erika, Aisha, Niles, …) Irish breakfast at the Wilde’s is exceptional with it’s continental buffet and hot order options…a great start to the day. The grounds and views of Lough Corrib are beautiful. We loved swimming at Ealu Spa. The historic boat tour with passionate Patrick is a must – learned so much about Irish history, fishing, and Quiet Man movie lore. Tea at Ashford Castle was delightful and gave us entre to see the very impressive castle. We had a magical fireside dinner at Cullens at the Cottage – best meal of our week and all our meals were excellent. We expected rain and had it; but it didn’t deter any of the grand experience. Five stars +