Portlaoise Road, Carlow, Ireland | (251) 219-4428
Easy access to the surrounding countryside
Family-friendly hotel with free supervised activities for children during school holidays and weekends; children under 12 stay free
Modern rooms have attractive decor and free Wi-Fi
Fourth-floor restaurant serves a locally-sourced menu alongside country views
Extensive facilities such as pools, a sauna, and a kids' club
Spa offering health and beauty treatments (for a fee)
Spacious fitness center with modern equipment
Live entertainment in Corries Bar & Bistro multiple times a week
Free parking
Not much within walking distance
No air-conditioning in the rooms and flat-screen TVs are small
Rooms facing the front and those near the restaurant can be noisy
Bland decor in some parts of hotel
This upscale hotel won't win any architectural awards, though it has won plenty of others -- especially related to its emphasis on providing top-notch services for families. Rooms are modern with decent amenities, though they do lack air-conditioning, and some facing the road can be noisy. They are spacious, however, and feature attractive decor like gold headboards and dark wood accents. Leisure facilities are impressive, especially those for kids: There's a kids' club and organized activities. Rates are on par with this level of hotel, and most nearby options do not offer the same level of amenities, like the on-site spa and the large fitness center.
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Scene
Family-focused hotel with underwhelming exterior, but bright, welcoming interior
From the outside, the Talbot Hotel Carlow looks like a mass of beige blocks adjoined by a column of black glass. Inside, the lobby opens up into a bright, airy atrium with polished tiled floors, potted plants, and crushed purple velvet sofas. The hotel's decor -- brown carpeted hallways and art prints on the walls -- errs on the bland side. A contemporary, button-tufted leather reception desk attends largely to local families with younger kids -– definitely the demographic the hotel firmly targets –- as well as the occasional business guest and the odd couple, or wedding party.
Location
Situated one mile from the center of Carlow in southeast Ireland, with easy access to the picturesque countryside
The hotel is located on the outskirts of Carlow town in the southeast of Ireland, just over a one-hour drive from Dublin on the N80. Carlow's center is about a mile from the hotel, meaning that a car is necessary to access more sights and dining. A shopping mall is located on one side of the hotel, while the other overlooks rolling farmland, and the hotel is surrounded by the picturesque countryside.There's plenty to do outdoors, from visiting the farmer's market in town, to hiking, golfing, and horseback riding. The Blackstairs Mountains are to the east, and the Barrow Valley and the Killeshin Hills are to the west, while the two major rivers of Carlow, the Barrow and the Slaney, offer salmon fishing and boat tours.
Rooms
Plush, modern rooms have small flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi.
The Talbot Hotel Carlow has 84 rooms, all of which are decorated in gold and brown tones, with contemporary furnishings and patterned fabrics. Rooms are generally spacious, and all come with small flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and tea and coffee facilities. Modern, tiled bathrooms have granite tops with high-end toiletries, but most have tub/shower combos. Some rooms have views over the countryside.The rooms lack air-conditioning, and can get hot in the summer. Front-facing rooms also overlook a noisy roundabout, and noise is also audible in fourth floor rooms near the restaurant.
Features
Family-friendly facilities including a large pool and kids' club
The hotel provides an impressive level of leisure facilities for both kids and adults -- from a large indoor swimming pool, spa pool, and sauna, to separate kids' pool, a kids' club, and even swimming lessons. The kids' club, located across the parking lot, has a 12-lane bowling alley, go-karts, and other activities.There is also a gym on-site, as well as a spa offering a range of treatments. Liberty Tree restaurant on the 4th floor serves typical fare, but its locally sourced and the countryside views are incredibly pleasant. Popular with locals, a bar and bistro also provides food and drink in a casual setting. There is also live music three nights a week and trivia in the bar once a week.
