Ballyfin in Co. Laois Voted Best Resort Hotel in The UK And Ireland
When you think of County Laois, your mind doesn't immediately go to Jane Austen novels does it? But that's exactly where Travel + Leisure journalist Peter Trezian anticipates you will be transported to by a stay at the famed Ballyfin resort hotel which has recently been voted as the best resort hotel in all of the UK and Ireland.
Voted by Travel + Leisure readers as part of the publication's World Best Awards survey, the five-star luxury country house hotel topped the list which also included a number of other esteemed Irish hotels.
Located at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, Ballyfin describes itself as 'a place of history and romance, of tranquillity and great natural beauty' and it's not difficult to see why from even a quick scan of the gallery on its website, you'll see the hotel is surrounded by breath-taking Irish scenery.
And of course, it's not just the hotel tooting its own horn - the voters in the survey also had high praise for Ballyfin, with one remarking in their submission: "Everything is perfect."
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"Elegance and luxury with the feel of a country home," described another voter. The resort is acclaimed in the piece for its vast art collection ranging back to the 17th century, as well as its manicured grounds, exquisite décor and, of course, the top-notch service from its staff. "The staff goes above and beyond to accommodate any special requests," remarked one voter.
Other Irish resort hotels which ranked highly among Travel + Leisure readers include Adare Manor in Co. Limerick, Sheen Falls Lodge in Co. Kerry and Ashford Castle in Co. Mayo.
To figure out where exactly you need to start saving up to stay, check out the full Top 10 list of resorts below:
1. Ballyfin, County Laois, Ireland
2. Chewton Glen, Hampshire, England
3. Adare Manor, County Limerick, Ireland
4. Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, a Belmond Hotel, Oxfordshire, England
5. Inverlochy Castle Hotel, Torlundy, Scotland
6. Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Scotland
7. Sheen Falls Lodge, County Kerry, Ireland
8. Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, St. Andrews, Scotland
9. Cliveden House, Cliveden, England
10. Ashford Castle, County Mayo, Ireland
Featured Image Credit: BallyfinTopics: Ireland