Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort

Popular with vacationing couples and wedding parties, the Galgorm Resort & Spa mixes the Irish countryside, an 18th-century manor, and a modern spa into a grand retreat. The family mansion retains its historic air but has been updated with contemporary materials and finishes. Other aspects have been polished with a modern grandeur, such as the reception desk, and some common areas are illuminated by chandeliers that are a modern riff on a traditional style. Other parts of the interiors nod gently to Art Deco and Victorian motifs, such as the inlaid floor designs in the hallways and high-back armchairs in the lounge. The spa and restaurants use natural materials such as wood, stone, and metal to build civilized spaces that consider the natural surroundings.  

Galgorm is a village within Ballymena, a small city that has several historic attractions. Gracehill, a Moravian village founded in 1765 and filled with Georgian architecture, is a five-minute drive from the hotel. Dating back over 200 years, the village is now a designated conservation area, Slemish Mountain, one of the first known homes of St. Patrick, is 25 minutes away by car. (People regularly walk to the top of the extinct volcano as a pilgrimage._ Galgorm Castle Golf Club, which is ranked one of the 30 best in Ireland and also includes a 17th-century castle on its grounds, is a five-minute drive away. For a modern diversion, there's the Junction One International Outlet Center, about 20 minutes away by car. The mall includes Adidas, Clarks, and Gap stores. Belfast International Airport is around 35 minutes away by car.

Rooms range from small Twins up to chicly furnished Suites with separate living areas and wraparound balconies. There are also standalone self-catering cottages with full kitchens. Decor extends the country-estate theme, with earthy materials such as wood and leather matched with noble accents such as purple bed linens and high-back chairs. Some rooms retain the ornate molding and carved wood fireplaces that have probably been with the house for decades or centuries. All have minibars, safes, coffeemakers, and large flat-screen TVs, and some units have terraces. Bathrooms have a simple elegance, using stained wood and modern fittings with a separate shower and tub. Views are either of the countryside or the Maine River that runs through the property. 

Galgorm Resort & Spa has more features than most guests will be able to take advantage of in a week. The three on-site restaurants serve a range of cuisines, from upscale dishes such as duck with beetroot, cabbage, and port to barbecue ribs and lasagna. Sports activities available throughout the grounds include horseback riding, archery, and fishing (though there's no fitness center). The spa complex has an indoor pool, a sauna, and a hot tub; and massages, facials, wraps, and hot stone treatments are available. The resort also offers numerous wedding packages that include elements such as tea receptions and five-course meals. The grounds are big enough to host three celebrations simultaneously without them intersecting. They also offer team-building activities for corporate groups, and there are meeting rooms available to rent. Wi-Fi is free in all of the buildings.