We booked the Carlton Kinsale as it was offering a 2 night B+B and 1 dinner deal + also the B + B accommodation in Kinsale town is unbelievably expensive!! I was a bit concerned as some of the reviews on tripadvisor had commented on rude/unhelpful staff. When we arrived we were welcomed by a friendly receptionist (not Irish) but thats ok!! Overall the staff were very nice although mostly foreign so not the place to go for traditional Irish hospitality.

The hotel is very modern but unusually designed, as said in a previous review the front of the hotel is facing the car park (we were lucky and got a back room with a lovely view), also the bar is behind the restaurant which means you have NO view while having a few drinks. Seems a pity really!

Our room was a good size and clean, I also noted the very dark bathrooms, but it didn't bother us too much, apart from applying make-
up!!

The breakfast was lovely and so was our 'package' dinner. There is a free shuttle bus that goes into Kinsale town but only runs between 6pm and 11pm, helpful if you're out for the evening but the hotel is about 3 miles away from the town so you need to drive if you want to go for the whole day. We got a taxi into town for 10 euro and then got the free bus back.

Overall I would stay here again, but would definately request a room with a view.

We arrived on Friday in time for the start of the rugby 7's weekend. The reception team, although busy, were extremely friendly and helpfull. We were escourted to our room by the nicest porter I have ever come across. Our room did not have a view of the bay but the car park and waterfall. This was OK as it was full of vintage and new MG's, some sort of rally tour, and the sound of the water was quite relaxing. This also lights up at night and I think makes a better view from the window than the bay.

The room was standard in size, but the decor very tastefully put together. The bed is so compfy we slept in every day!!! The only negative point I would say is the lighting in the bathroom is very poor.

The breakfast buffet is just wonderfull, the later you eat, the busier it is, but any fool could work that out!!! They provide everything you can think of and it is all so very fresh, even at the end of service, very rare in this day and age.

All in all I have to say that our time at the Carlton was fantastic. Having read previous reviews we didn't know what to expect but I think that the recptionists, breakfast staff, porters and bar staff are a credit to the hotel. In particular Kamil, Connie & Sarah. This will be the first of many visits we plan to make to Carlton Kinsale. I would recommend to anyone that you visit for yourself as soon as possible!!!

When we found it! (their sign post sent us way off course) I was immediatly taken by the long tree lined sweep into reception. The room was lovely, huge, with seperate shower and bath. We were carpark facing which was fine, we had a waterfall feature to sooth us. I am not usually happy about these things. We had a baby and it was so easy there. We loved the leisure centre, although we found it cold and didnt linger with the baby. when i asked the guy said it was regulated to be 29c. I wasn't convinced. There was the biggest steam room ever, and im afraid to say it was also lacking in steam. Overall, i was really impressed, even the out of town location grew on me really quick. We walked into town, I enjoyed the country lane ramble. We walked home too, via Charles Fort. It was very memorable The staff were amazing, especially in the restuarant. The bar was a bit pokey and i wouldn't recommend it for an evening out. Cant comment on sitting as we shipped baby out to relatives.So, I must say again, the restaurant. wow. Great food too, and plenty of it!. The restuarant came into it own in the early morning when we listened to the most wonderful chorus of bird song after breakfast, and that was it, no other sound. It was inspiring. Go.

My husband booked through lastminute.ie for a quick break to Kinsale, we live in Waterford so it was a 2 hr drive, what a setting for a hotel, really beautiful. We arrived and were greeted by those magic words...free upgrade...the garden suite we were staying in had 3 ensuite rooms a lounge and dining room with private terrace and a huge balcony off the main bedroom, stunning views and designer furnishings, I said to my husband if carlsberg did hotels they would all be like this one. We found the staff to be extremely friendly and helpful, the breakfast was out of this world, eggs cooked anyway you like and all the usual buffet plus delicious pastries and coffee on the terrace in the sunshine, we used the free shuttle bus into town, saved trying to find parking and we could have a drink with dinner, numerous places to eat, would recommend Max's for their early bird. Great food, three courses for 23.00 Euro, Breaded mussels, chicken stuffed with chorizo and rhubard tiamisu, we couldn't fault the food or service, we will return. loved Kinsale and its friendly people. all in all great value and great service in a beautiful setting.