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Summary of reviewsWoodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow is praised for its serene location just outside the bustle of Carlow town. Guests appreciate the peaceful setting, complete with majestic gardens, a tranquil river walk and charming fairy garden trail, making it an ideal retreat near major highways for easy access between Dublin and Cork. The proximity to Carlow, although not always walkable, is counterbalanced by convenience for car users and its strategic position an hour from Dublin.
The breakfast experience at the hotel is widely lauded for its excellent, fresh and diverse offerings, catering to various dietary needs including gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. Although there are occasional mentions of limited choices or cool food, the overall feedback points to a well-presented and satisfying breakfast buffet enhanced by friendly, prompt service.
Dinner is also well-received with guests praising the fantastic and delicious food quality in both the main restaurant and the bistro. While a few suggest expanding the menu variety and quicker service times, the majority find the dining experience impressive, noting commendable service and presentation.
Rooms at Woodford Dolmen Hotel are generally spacious, clean and comfortable. Many guests appreciate the modern amenities and pleasant views, alongside frequent praise for the room's cleanliness and the comfort of the beds. Some guests have noted issues with room temperature, inadequate cooling options and occasional noise, but the overall sentiment emphasizes a satisfactory and comfortable stay, supported by the helpful and friendly staff.
Cleanliness throughout the hotel is consistently highlighted with guests frequently describing the property as spotless and well-maintained, contributing to an inviting atmosphere. Minor issues like occasional key maintenance and noise do not overshadow the positive reviews regarding cleanliness and overall upkeep.
The staff's exceptional friendliness, helpfulness and professionalism significantly enhance the guest experience at Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow. The team is recognized for going above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay and while there are rare mentions of less favorable interactions, the majority of reviews commend the staff's attentive and warm service.
For families, the hotel offers spacious and clean family rooms, reasonably priced and well-suited to family needs. The fairy garden trail is a hit among children, adding to the family-friendly aura. Some guests do note the need for better temperature control in family rooms, but generally, the amenities for kids and overall family experience are well-reviewed.
The beds are another highlight with many guests finding them extremely comfortable, contributing to a good night's sleep. However, there are some critiques regarding bed sizes and the comfort of extra beds, suggesting a need for updates.
Overall, Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow aligns well with its reputation, balancing between four-star luxury with well-maintained modern rooms and amenities and three-star value with reasonable pricing and decor. Its accessibility, including disability-friendly options, further adds to its appeal. Despite minor areas for improvement, the hotel offers a pleasant, clean and friendly environment for diverse types of travelers. Show more
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Categories
Family Friendly Hotel
Business Hotel
Accessible Hotel
4-Star Hotel
Room Types
Double RoomFeatures include a complimentary newspaper, en suite bathroom, 32-inch flat-screen TV, and tea and coffee making facilities. There is also a hairdryer, work desk, and 24-hour room service.
Executive Double Room (Single use)Features include a complimentary newspaper, en suite bathroom, 32-inch flat-screen TV, and tea and coffee making facilities. There is also a hairdryer, work desk, and 24-hour room service.
Family RoomFeatures include a complimentary newspaper, en suite bathroom, 32-inch flat-screen TV, and tea and coffee making facilities. There is also a hairdryer, work desk, and 24-hour room service.
This room is for 2 adults and 2 children aged 6 years or younger. Children aged 7 years or older will need to pay extra.
A fold-out bed can be provided if required.
Triple RoomOffering free toiletries, this triple room includes a private bathroom with a bath or a shower and a hairdryer. This triple room features an electric kettle, heating and a flat-screen TV. The unit offers 4 beds.
Guest Reviews
8.2
Very Good
Location
Nestled outside the hustle and bustle of Carlow town, the Woodford Dolmen Hotel boasts a stunning location that consistently earns high praise from guests. Visitors are charmed by its beautiful setting, complete with majestic gardens and a peaceful river walk. The hotel is conveniently situated near major highways, making it easily accessible for those traveling between Dublin and Cork and perfect for exploring the Carlow area.
Despite being a bit removed from the town center, the location is appreciated for its tranquility, offering a quiet and relaxing environment. Guests often mention the lovely walkways and charming fairy garden trail, which add to the serene atmosphere of the grounds. While it's primarily accessible by car, the location is deemed suitable for various needs-from attending local events to simply enjoying the picturesque surroundings.
Proximity to Carlow town is a noted advantage, though it isn’t within walking distance for some. However, this slight distance from the town is counterbalanced by the hotel's strategic positioning; it's just an hour away from Dublin and easy to reach from the Dublin airport. Overall, its location is described as excellent, offering both convenience and a peaceful retreat amid beautiful landscapes.
Breakfast
The breakfast experience at Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow has been largely praised with many guests describing it as excellent, outstanding and delicious. Visitors frequently highlighted the hotel's extensive and varied breakfast options, including gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian choices, which cater to diverse dietary requirements. The breakfast offerings were noted to be fresh with a good balance of hot and cold food items ensuring there's something for everyone. Guests also appreciated the friendly and helpful staff, who contributed to a pleasant dining experience by providing prompt and courteous service.
While most feedback was positive, a few reviews mentioned areas for improvement, such as instances where breakfast could have been better, citing issues like cold food or limited choices. Despite these occasional concerns, the general consensus was that the hotel's breakfast is of good quality, abundant and well-presented. The buffet-style service received particular praise for its variety and comprehensiveness, making the breakfast experience at Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow a highlight for many guests.
Dinner
Guests at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow generally praise the hotel's offerings for dinner, often describing the food as fantastic, delicious and of great quality. Many guests highlight both dinner and breakfast as being equally excellent with some even noting standout items such as a particularly well-poured pint of Guinness. The selection and quality of food in both the main restaurant and the bistro receive high marks with quick service and beautifully presented dishes adding to the positive dining experience.
Despite the positive remarks, several guests mention that the dinner menu is somewhat limited and could benefit from more variety. There are a few complaints about the waiting time for main courses and some have found the dinner to be underwhelming or disappointing. However, these negative experiences appear to be exceptions rather than the norm.
In summary, the Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow offers a generally satisfying culinary experience with high-quality food that many guests find impressive, though some improvements in menu variety and service times would enhance the overall dining experience.
Rooms
The guest reviews for the rooms at Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow paint a comprehensive picture of guest experiences. The general consensus is that the rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable. Many guests found their accommodations to be spotless and well-maintained, highlighting modern amenities and pleasant views of the river and garden areas. The comfort of the beds and the cleanliness of the rooms are frequently praised with several guests noting the rooms as very comfortable with good facilities, including some rooms being beautiful and very spacious.
However, there are recurring issues with room temperature; numerous reviews mentioned that the rooms were uncomfortably warm or even excessively hot with reports of temperatures as high as 29°C and limited options for cooling down. Some guests found the rooms stuffy, noting a lack of temperature control or windows that did not open sufficiently. A few reviews mentioned noise from outside, especially for rooms facing the reception area and a minority of guests mentioned that their rooms felt outdated or in disrepair, particularly the bathrooms.
Despite these issues, the staff generally received high praise for their helpfulness and friendliness, contributing to the overall positive impression of the stay. While some rooms were not always ready on time and certain aspects like the view and noise could be improved, most guests had a satisfactory and comfortable experience at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow.
Beds
The comfortable beds at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel in Carlow stand out as a notable highlight among guests. Many reviewers praised the beds, describing them as comfy, very comfortable and even extremely comfortable. These positive assessments contribute to a restful experience for weary travelers. However, not all feedback was favorable; some guests pointed out that certain beds, particularly double beds, were quite small and old, necessitating replacement. There were also mentions of less comfortable options, such as pull-out beds or spare beds in rooms, as well as pillows that were too flat for some preferences. Overall, the hotel seems to excel in offering comfortable bedding for a refreshing night's sleep, despite a few critiques regarding bed size and the need for some updates.
Cleanliness
The Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow consistently impresses guests with its remarkable cleanliness and comfort. Visitors repeatedly describe the rooms as spotless, very clean and comfortable, highlighting the hotel's meticulous attention to detail. The overall hotel upkeep is praised for being extremely clean and well-maintained. Guests appreciate the inviting and welcoming atmosphere with friendly and attentive staff adding to the positive experience.
The hotel itself is noted for its immaculate condition with several comments emphasizing the spotless state of the entire property. Facilities are described as clean and modern and the spacious bathrooms, while sometimes dated, are generally clean and functional. The high standard of cleanliness extends to the grounds, contributing to a comfortable and pleasant stay.
Criticisms are minimal but point to isolated issues such as a less-than-clean room on occasion or minor maintenance concerns like room keys not working and noise from reception-facing rooms. However, these do not overshadow the overwhelmingly positive responses regarding the hotel's cleanliness and comfort, making the Woodford Dolmen Hotel a recommended choice for a tidy, comfortable stay.
Staff
The reviews of Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow paint a consistent picture of exceptionally friendly, helpful and welcoming staff. Guests repeatedly mention the team’s friendliness, helpfulness and professionalism across various areas of the hotel, from reception to the restaurant and bar. Various individual staff members, including Claire at reception, are singled out for providing top-notch service. The staff’s ability to handle guest needs promptly and efficiently is frequently noted, contributing to a warm and accommodating atmosphere.
The reviews suggest that staff members go out of their way to ensure guests feel comfortable and well taken care of, displaying kindness and attentiveness. There are, however, a few isolated comments about staff rudeness and a lack of interest, but these are overwhelmingly overshadowed by positive feedback with numerous guests emphasizing that every team member was friendly and approachable. The overall impression is that the hotel has a strong, dedicated and customer-focused team, creating a pleasant stay for visitors.
Family
Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow offers a mixed sentiment regarding its family accommodations with a significant portion of guests highlighting the spaciousness and suitability of the family rooms. Many guests found the family rooms to be of great size, clean and perfectly adequate for their needs and they appreciated the reasonable pricing. The fairy garden trail stands out as a delightful activity that children particularly enjoyed, adding to the family-friendly atmosphere of the hotel.
The hotel seems well-equipped for managing family events, catering effectively to children and providing a family menu which many found satisfactory. The overall family stay experience is often mentioned as enjoyable with specific notes on children having a great time. There were, however, a few criticisms regarding room size and the lack of an adjustable heating system in the family rooms, which some guests found inconvenient.
Nonetheless, the positive aspects, such as the cleanliness and the enjoyable amenities for kids, seem to outweigh the negatives, making Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow a generally favorable choice for family stays.
4 Star
Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow boasts modern rooms and good amenities, complemented by nice new decor. Guests consistently describe the hotel as lovely and clean with an excellent rating overall. The hotel provides luxury facilities, aligning with its four-star status. However, some reviews indicate that the service, particularly from the reception staff, could benefit from additional training to meet the higher standards expected of a four-star establishment. Despite this, the hotel maintains a positive reputation for its cleanliness and contemporary design.
3 Star
The Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow offers good value for money with its wooden decor and reasonable pricing. It boasts a prime location for visiting Carlow, providing convenient access for guests. The hotel aligns more closely with a three-star standard with basic facilities and an average overall experience. While some areas, like the bar area, might appear a bit dated, the hotel still delivers better service and quality than expected for its price, making it a suitable choice for budget-conscious travelers.
Accessible
The Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow is easily accessible by car and conveniently located for travelers from Dublin airport. It offers disability access parking, ensuring convenience for guests with mobility needs. The hotel provides good accessible rooms, though these could benefit from additional power sockets for electronic devices. The accessible facilities are generally satisfactory and the helpful staff are noted for their assistance, which is crucial for guests who may require extra support. However, some challenges were encountered with the bathroom setup, as bathtubs can be difficult for elderly guests to use without assistance. Despite this, the hotel's efforts to accommodate guests with disabilities are appreciated and make it a viable option for those seeking accessibility.
No, Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow.
No, Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow.
No, Woodford Dolmen Hotel Carlow doesn't have a gym.