Carton House, A Fairmont Managed Hotel

Carton House is just one of those exceptional places to be, the staff are amazing, the hotel and grounds are world class. You will not want to leave.

We had the most wonderful experience during our stay in carton house The tour of the house by brian outlining the history of the estate was so interesting Also all the staff were so friendly and helpful especially the lovely young girl Amy who looked after us at breakfast time. Can t wait to go back another time soon.

I met family members staying at the hotel for drinks on the Sunday evening of the August Bank Holiday. Service was disappointingly slow. We waited over 10 minutes for our first round even though the bar wasn’t particularly busy, and for the second round it was quicker to order directly at the bar. The biggest surprise was discovering that a mandatory 12.5% service charge had been added to the bill. Two glasses of wine came to €24.75, and only when I queried the total was I told about the compulsory charge. I don’t believe service charges should be mandatory, particularly when the service falls below expectations. The grounds are still beautiful, but overall I don’t feel the hotel offers the five-star experience I expected. I also found the pool and spa facilities underwhelming. Based on this visit, I wouldn’t return and would recommend Powerscourt in Wicklow as much better option at similar prices.

This property is absolutely incredible! It looks beautiful on the website, but experiencing it in person is truly next level. Do not make the mistake we did of staying just for one night! (We were on a jam packed trip around Ireland and stayed here on the way to Dublin airport the next morning after driving the Ring of Kerry... and I am glad we got to experience this slice of heaven for one night at least... but oh how lovely it would have been to stay another night or several!) Driving up to the building is a jaw dropping moment. After a long drive past the golf course, the manor house comes into view, and you're struck by this panorama of essential Ireland with the stone contrasting against the blue and grey of the sky. Every detail inside the building is beautiful and perfect (I am still not sure how they have a round atrium and curved hallways inside of this rectangular building?!) The bathrooms are enormous, with strong hot water and the most powerful air conditioning. This is not a budget hotel, but the level of luxury on the inside is well above the actual dollar amount that you're paying. We had dinner in Kathleen's Kitchen - a phenomenal and innovative menu in a memorable space with so many fun historical details to look at. The customer service was impeccable - anticipating our needs almost before we began to speak with any request. We regretted not having time to make use of our complimentary spa access; we also would have enjoyed exploring the walking trails and gardens and taking the history tour offered each morning. If there is any possible way in this lifetime, I will be back!

Arrived Carton House last Friday. Stayed 3 days. The double deluxe rooms were ok, but a long way from the hotel. The food was generally good, but the service, despite good staffing levels, was erratic. Breakfast time was a fiasco. Each morning they couldn't manage to serve a coffee ( due to 2 machines only in operation and strong demand)..the food stations resembled a rush hour in a busy railway station..people queueing for food, juice etc. In such opulent surroundings, this was disappointing. Being asked to wait in some small ante chamber, whilst tables were cleared for new guests arriving for breakfast, was a portent for things to come. Why on earth the hotel doesn't just seat everyone, take orders for their breakfast when seated, and deliver to each table, I simply don't understand. This would reduce food waste, require less staff, stop the flow of people to and from both ends of the dining room, and provide a much more relaxed and harmonious atmosphere in the room. A win win for everyone. The estate is magnificent, the hotel well appointed and an excellent venue for weddings. Lots of activities too. We played both golf courses. O'Meara was a slog, long distances from greens to tee areas, but some spectacular holes at 14 and 16. The Montgomerie course was disapppinting. Suitably uninspiring. We took buggies but 4.5 hours to play a round behind 4 hackers, who simply should not have been allowed on the course, was frustrating..handicap certificates should be requested before guests can access the course. Not a course to be recommended. Overall my family enjoyed the experience but at £5000 for 3 nights, it should have delivered more.