GONE: Sheraton Fota Resort, Cork, Ireland [Master Thread]
Jul 10, 2006, 12:01 pm
#16
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 72
Originally Posted by alect
jmd4211
I am in the midst of planning a vacation to Ireland next July (07) for a friend's wedding, and was thinking of staying at this property. If around Jul 15-19, is this likely to co-incide with any major gold tournaments you may be hosting, or anything else I should be aware of?
Also, if we based ourselves at the property and have a rental car, what would you say is a reasonable surrounding area we could explore without moving to other hotels? Our end point (the wedding) is in Galway, so in theory could we stay in Cork at the property and explore, and then drive up to Galway in time for the wedding?
Also, if driving into Cork, is the parking situation reasonable?
thanks in advance.
I am in the midst of planning a vacation to Ireland next July (07) for a friend's wedding, and was thinking of staying at this property. If around Jul 15-19, is this likely to co-incide with any major gold tournaments you may be hosting, or anything else I should be aware of?
Also, if we based ourselves at the property and have a rental car, what would you say is a reasonable surrounding area we could explore without moving to other hotels? Our end point (the wedding) is in Galway, so in theory could we stay in Cork at the property and explore, and then drive up to Galway in time for the wedding?
Also, if driving into Cork, is the parking situation reasonable?
thanks in advance.
Thanks for your message - I'm delighted that you are considering us for your upcoming vacation to Ireland.
In answer to your initial question, there are no major events planned at this stage, however, as I am sure you can appreciate, this may be subject to Change.
As regards travelling and sightseeing, there is plenty to see in Cork, especially in West Cork, and would highly recommend renting a car and enjoying some of these areas - we can provide further information to you closer to the time and help you put together a list of things you may like to see.
Finally, Parking in the City Centre is extremely easy, so there would be no forseeable problems in taking a car in - though you may like to consider taking the train, as traffic in and out of the city can be fairly arduous!
I hope that you decide to come to Fota next summer, if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to let me know. Also, once you have booked, please forward me your reservation details so I can oversee your arrangements and ensure you are well looked after!
Warm Regards,
James
Jul 10, 2006, 9:13 pm
#17
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MEL/LAX
Programs: AAdv GLD(MM), QF LTS, UA MP_nada, HH Gld, SPG, GoldenCircle Jade
Posts: 4,472
Originally Posted by jmd4211
Dear Alect,
Thanks for your message - I'm delighted that you are considering us for your upcoming vacation to Ireland.
In answer to your initial question, there are no major events planned at this stage, however, as I am sure you can appreciate, this may be subject to Change.
As regards travelling and sightseeing, there is plenty to see in Cork, especially in West Cork, and would highly recommend renting a car and enjoying some of these areas - we can provide further information to you closer to the time and help you put together a list of things you may like to see.
Finally, Parking in the City Centre is extremely easy, so there would be no forseeable problems in taking a car in - though you may like to consider taking the train, as traffic in and out of the city can be fairly arduous!
I hope that you decide to come to Fota next summer, if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to let me know. Also, once you have booked, please forward me your reservation details so I can oversee your arrangements and ensure you are well looked after!
Warm Regards,
James
Thanks for your message - I'm delighted that you are considering us for your upcoming vacation to Ireland.
In answer to your initial question, there are no major events planned at this stage, however, as I am sure you can appreciate, this may be subject to Change.
As regards travelling and sightseeing, there is plenty to see in Cork, especially in West Cork, and would highly recommend renting a car and enjoying some of these areas - we can provide further information to you closer to the time and help you put together a list of things you may like to see.
Finally, Parking in the City Centre is extremely easy, so there would be no forseeable problems in taking a car in - though you may like to consider taking the train, as traffic in and out of the city can be fairly arduous!
I hope that you decide to come to Fota next summer, if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to let me know. Also, once you have booked, please forward me your reservation details so I can oversee your arrangements and ensure you are well looked after!
Warm Regards,
James
thank you so much for the "olive branch". I will PM you with some further questions and details of our reservation. When do reservations open - 330 days out? ie - for Jul 07 I should be looking at reserving in Aug 06?
Jul 11, 2006, 2:16 am
#18
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 72
Originally Posted by alect
james
thank you so much for the "olive branch". I will PM you with some further questions and details of our reservation. When do reservations open - 330 days out? ie - for Jul 07 I should be looking at reserving in Aug 06?
thank you so much for the "olive branch". I will PM you with some further questions and details of our reservation. When do reservations open - 330 days out? ie - for Jul 07 I should be looking at reserving in Aug 06?
Last edited by jmd4211; Jul 26, 2006 at 5:31 am
Jul 21, 2006, 8:00 pm
#19
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Houston
Programs: UA LT GS/5MM, DL 3MMGold, HHDia, HyattGlob, IHG Spire Amb, Marr Plat/LTG, SPG LTP
Posts: 195
I had the pleasure to stay at this property this week and was most impressed. Short review:
Checked in last Sunday for 3 nites, 2 rooms. The property is brand new - very contemporary designed building set amid gorgeous woodlands with adjacent golf course on Fota Island just east of Cork. Easy acces on the N8 with good signage to the hotel. Check-in was smooth and my room was upgraded to a very spacious and comfortable suite - the "Cherry Suite." There are only suites on the top floor, all names after different woods (I wonder if they are decorated in the woods that name them - mine did look like cherry wood had been used extensively.) Nice balcony/terrace looking toward the back of the property (wooded.) The other room was a regular one - facing forward, but very comfortable and well-designed. Great bathrooms.
Bar has a rather clubby feeling, and service was excellent. We only ate breakfast in the restaurant - and the included buffet was more than adequate, though one could order from a more extensive menu if desired (fairly pricey - 22 Euros for a "traditional Irish Breakfast.") Food and service were again very good.
The spa/health and fitness area is not yet completed. The hydrotherapy suite was closed - though we peeked inside and it is beautiful. The weight room is well-outfitted with new (and a bit stiff) machines. My companion had a massage which she felt was good - though the offerings in the spa menu were not exactly the same as what were available. Sauna was still being grouted.
The adjacent golf club is well-established, but didn't have time to visit it or to play the course.
Staff was very responsive and helpful.
Despite a few rough bits awaiting completion, I thouroughly enjoyed the property and would rate it very highly. Once the few kinks are ironed out, this could be a real stunner. Strongly recommended.
Checked in last Sunday for 3 nites, 2 rooms. The property is brand new - very contemporary designed building set amid gorgeous woodlands with adjacent golf course on Fota Island just east of Cork. Easy acces on the N8 with good signage to the hotel. Check-in was smooth and my room was upgraded to a very spacious and comfortable suite - the "Cherry Suite." There are only suites on the top floor, all names after different woods (I wonder if they are decorated in the woods that name them - mine did look like cherry wood had been used extensively.) Nice balcony/terrace looking toward the back of the property (wooded.) The other room was a regular one - facing forward, but very comfortable and well-designed. Great bathrooms.
Bar has a rather clubby feeling, and service was excellent. We only ate breakfast in the restaurant - and the included buffet was more than adequate, though one could order from a more extensive menu if desired (fairly pricey - 22 Euros for a "traditional Irish Breakfast.") Food and service were again very good.
The spa/health and fitness area is not yet completed. The hydrotherapy suite was closed - though we peeked inside and it is beautiful. The weight room is well-outfitted with new (and a bit stiff) machines. My companion had a massage which she felt was good - though the offerings in the spa menu were not exactly the same as what were available. Sauna was still being grouted.
The adjacent golf club is well-established, but didn't have time to visit it or to play the course.
Staff was very responsive and helpful.
Despite a few rough bits awaiting completion, I thouroughly enjoyed the property and would rate it very highly. Once the few kinks are ironed out, this could be a real stunner. Strongly recommended.
May 1, 2007, 9:04 pm
#20
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA Plat, UAL Premier Exec, SPG and HH Gold
Posts: 498
Update on a recent stay:
We had 2 cash & points room for one night in April. Hotel is very nice and rooms (especially enormous bathrooms and showers) are very modern and well-appointed. It is a little odd, though, to stay at a property that looks like it should be in Phoenix but is instead in southern Ireland.
Staff was very nice, but reception staff kept pushing us to eat at the hotel restaurant (and actually ignored questions about other restaurants off-property). After getting the run-around from the reception staff, we went to the the bell staff, who gave great recommendations and good directions for other places. (We read lots of reviews online saying that the restaurant was over-priced and very, very slow.) Breakfast in the restaurant was good (though not cheap).
One random note -- at check-out they give out free postcards and offer to mail them anywhere in the world for free. Great perk -- if only they offered it before the car is loaded and everyone is ready to leave!
Plenty to do in the area -- wish we had more time there!
We had 2 cash & points room for one night in April. Hotel is very nice and rooms (especially enormous bathrooms and showers) are very modern and well-appointed. It is a little odd, though, to stay at a property that looks like it should be in Phoenix but is instead in southern Ireland.
Staff was very nice, but reception staff kept pushing us to eat at the hotel restaurant (and actually ignored questions about other restaurants off-property). After getting the run-around from the reception staff, we went to the the bell staff, who gave great recommendations and good directions for other places. (We read lots of reviews online saying that the restaurant was over-priced and very, very slow.) Breakfast in the restaurant was good (though not cheap).
One random note -- at check-out they give out free postcards and offer to mail them anywhere in the world for free. Great perk -- if only they offered it before the car is loaded and everyone is ready to leave!
Plenty to do in the area -- wish we had more time there!
May 30, 2007, 9:26 am
#21
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manchester, England
Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, BMI Gold (RIP)
Posts: 8,019
Mini-review
I've just come back from a great stay at the Sheraton Fota Island and was really impressed with the hotel.
The Stay
Two nights from 25th-27th May
Location
Knowing that the hotel is a few miles away from the centre of Cork, we decided to hire a car to get to and from the hotel as well as to visit some of the surrounding area whilst we were there. The hotel is about 15 minutes drive from Cork airport, but we weren't travelling at rush hour. It is pretty easy to find, although you do need to watch out for the turning to the hotel as it is around a bend, so pay attention to the handy sign that the hotel has put up. (I didn't!)
The hotel is accessed up a long drive from the road to Cobh through wood and parkland up to the hotel. It is surrounded by wide open spaces, with the golf club being a little bit further up past the hotel. I didn't visit the golf club whilst I was there, but it does have an excellent reputation from what I gathered.
Check-in
After parking in the free car park in front of the hotel, it is a very short walk to the main lobby entrance. We were greeted by one of the concierge team and taken straight to one of the check-in desks across the lobby. There are 3main check-in desks and the whole process is a bit more relaxed as you get to sit down whilst you check-in. The whole process was very warm as we were asked where we had come in from and if we had had a good trip over etc. We were asked if we had any newspaper preferences, wished for a wake up call to be arranged or needed any dining reservations making etc. We asked a few questions about the hotel facilities as well as the restaurants and were given helpful information to help us decide on dinner as well as what to do for the rest of the day.
We were also informed at check-in that we had been upgraded from a Superior room (their 'standard' room I believe) up to one of their suites. In this case it was the same Cherry Suite that leisure warrior had stayed in last year. This was a really nice upgrade for an SPG Gold as we found out when we got to the room.
At the end of the check-in we were walked to the lift and told to get in contact if we needed anything. Another nice personal touch.
The Room - Cherry Suite, Room 304
It really is a superb room and if it is typical of the majority of the suites at the hotel then they are well worth staying in. As you walk in from the wooden floored corridor (another nice touch) you go straight in to an entrance area which then leads into the main living room. Before getting to the living room there is a toilet to your left a separate storage area to your right with a couple of wardrobes and room for luggage.
The main living room itself is pretty large. Part of it is taken up by a small dining table and chairs, the larger section of the room has the main seating area and coffee table etc. Due to the size of the room, it is very spacious even with the dining area, a 2 seater sofa, two chairs with footstool and another additional chair. The sofa and chairs are all very traditional, but very comfortable. Also in the living room is a very large (42 inch or so) flat screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities, a safe and a good supply of reading materials. You could easily host 5 or 6 guests in the living room without it feeling too full!
On arrival in the room we had a selection of fruit waiting for us as well as a hand signed welcome note from the GM. Later each evening a couple of large bottles of water were delivered free of charge along with a bucket of ice.
At the far end of the living room there is access to a private outside decking area. This went across the length of the suite and had a table and chairs to enjoy a drink or a spot of food with views of the woodland behind the hotel. A really nice spot to relax in especially when the weather is nice.
The bedroom itself was a good size with a connecting bathroom through a pair of sliding doors. The king bed was pretty big and probably more of a superking in European terms and featured some good quality bedding as well as a very comfortable mattress. There was plenty of storage space with even more wardrobes and plenty of drawers available. There is woodern flooring in the bedroom unlike in the living room which is carpeted. The bedroom has it's own flat screen TV as well, but it still only the 2nd TV out of 3 in the room! There are circa 30 channels available including the main Irish and British channels, as well as French, German, Italian and American choices as well.
Through the sliding doors leads to an impressive marble bathroom. This features a separate toilet, a nice sized shower, wash basin and changing area as well as a full size bath. As an added bonus for the TV addicts out there, there is also a smaller flat screen TV for you to watch whilst in the bath. Plenty of nice soft towels are in the bathroom (so no need to ask for extra towels for once) and the suites at least feature Molten Brown toiletries.
A fantastic room to stay in with plenty of space to either work or relax in.
Hotel Facilities
Besides the golf course at the hotel, one of the other main features for the hotel is the Fota Spa. We went in on the Sunday afternoon to use their hydrotherapy suite which was fantastic and a nice way to spend a couple of hours. There is also a well equipped gym and a large swimming pool area as well. There are plenty of treatment rooms at the spa and a large range of treatments available. Prices looked pretty reasonable and certainly no more than other good hotels. If you visit the hotel, then I definitely recommend a visit to the spa.
One other bonus at the hotel is that free internet access is available via the business centre PCs which was useful when I needed to quickly check a couple of emails during the weekend.
Food and Drink
From what I can tell there are 3 main areas here:
1) Amber Bar & Lounge serving drinks and bar meals in a nice informal environment. We had a spot of afternoon tea here when we arrived and it was very nice and fresh.
2) The Fota Restaurant. This is where breakfast is served (16 Euros for Continental Breakfast, 22 Euros for the Full Irish option) as well as evening dining. We had one breakfast here which was pretty nice. We also ate here on both evening. The evening menu had a good range with circa 7 or 8 starters, mains and desserts available at a price of 32 Euros for 2 courses or 40 Euros for a 3 course meal. The food was well cooked and tasted delicious. They do some excellent sea food dishes as well as a very succulent Rib-Eye Steak! Service is very good, striking the right balance between friendly and formal.
3) The Cove. We didn't eat there, but this is their top end a la carte dining restaurant with a very nice looking menu. It is a bit more expensive than The Fota Restaurant, but a local couple we spoken to at the hotel were raving about the place. It apparently has a good local reputation.
Check-Out
Again this was swift and smooth, but at 5:30am I wasn't really expecting much of a queue. We were offered a coffee whilst checking out which I thought was pretty good, especially at that time of the morning but unfortunately we had a flight home to catch. The staff member was again friendly and wished us a good onward journey.
Overall
We really enjoyed the stay at the hotel. The staff were very friendly and attentive, the room was great and the spa alone is worth a visit. We'll definitely go back as it is only a short hop from the UK, so a good location for a weekend break. For anyone coming from further afield it is also a good base to explore Cork and the surrounding region. We had a day trip out to the likes of Blarney, Macroom and Cobh in the hire car, but there are plenty of options within driving range to comfortably fill a week.
Finally I also had chance to say hello to James who posts on here from time to time whilst I was at the hotel. As well as being one of Starwood's finest, he's a nice chap as well. If you visit the hotel, tell him FlyerTalk sent you!
If anyone has any questions about the hotel or my stay then feel free to ask away.
Cheers,
RAPC
The Stay
Two nights from 25th-27th May
Location
Knowing that the hotel is a few miles away from the centre of Cork, we decided to hire a car to get to and from the hotel as well as to visit some of the surrounding area whilst we were there. The hotel is about 15 minutes drive from Cork airport, but we weren't travelling at rush hour. It is pretty easy to find, although you do need to watch out for the turning to the hotel as it is around a bend, so pay attention to the handy sign that the hotel has put up. (I didn't!)
The hotel is accessed up a long drive from the road to Cobh through wood and parkland up to the hotel. It is surrounded by wide open spaces, with the golf club being a little bit further up past the hotel. I didn't visit the golf club whilst I was there, but it does have an excellent reputation from what I gathered.
Check-in
After parking in the free car park in front of the hotel, it is a very short walk to the main lobby entrance. We were greeted by one of the concierge team and taken straight to one of the check-in desks across the lobby. There are 3main check-in desks and the whole process is a bit more relaxed as you get to sit down whilst you check-in. The whole process was very warm as we were asked where we had come in from and if we had had a good trip over etc. We were asked if we had any newspaper preferences, wished for a wake up call to be arranged or needed any dining reservations making etc. We asked a few questions about the hotel facilities as well as the restaurants and were given helpful information to help us decide on dinner as well as what to do for the rest of the day.
We were also informed at check-in that we had been upgraded from a Superior room (their 'standard' room I believe) up to one of their suites. In this case it was the same Cherry Suite that leisure warrior had stayed in last year. This was a really nice upgrade for an SPG Gold as we found out when we got to the room.
At the end of the check-in we were walked to the lift and told to get in contact if we needed anything. Another nice personal touch.
The Room - Cherry Suite, Room 304
It really is a superb room and if it is typical of the majority of the suites at the hotel then they are well worth staying in. As you walk in from the wooden floored corridor (another nice touch) you go straight in to an entrance area which then leads into the main living room. Before getting to the living room there is a toilet to your left a separate storage area to your right with a couple of wardrobes and room for luggage.
The main living room itself is pretty large. Part of it is taken up by a small dining table and chairs, the larger section of the room has the main seating area and coffee table etc. Due to the size of the room, it is very spacious even with the dining area, a 2 seater sofa, two chairs with footstool and another additional chair. The sofa and chairs are all very traditional, but very comfortable. Also in the living room is a very large (42 inch or so) flat screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities, a safe and a good supply of reading materials. You could easily host 5 or 6 guests in the living room without it feeling too full!
On arrival in the room we had a selection of fruit waiting for us as well as a hand signed welcome note from the GM. Later each evening a couple of large bottles of water were delivered free of charge along with a bucket of ice.
At the far end of the living room there is access to a private outside decking area. This went across the length of the suite and had a table and chairs to enjoy a drink or a spot of food with views of the woodland behind the hotel. A really nice spot to relax in especially when the weather is nice.
The bedroom itself was a good size with a connecting bathroom through a pair of sliding doors. The king bed was pretty big and probably more of a superking in European terms and featured some good quality bedding as well as a very comfortable mattress. There was plenty of storage space with even more wardrobes and plenty of drawers available. There is woodern flooring in the bedroom unlike in the living room which is carpeted. The bedroom has it's own flat screen TV as well, but it still only the 2nd TV out of 3 in the room! There are circa 30 channels available including the main Irish and British channels, as well as French, German, Italian and American choices as well.
Through the sliding doors leads to an impressive marble bathroom. This features a separate toilet, a nice sized shower, wash basin and changing area as well as a full size bath. As an added bonus for the TV addicts out there, there is also a smaller flat screen TV for you to watch whilst in the bath. Plenty of nice soft towels are in the bathroom (so no need to ask for extra towels for once) and the suites at least feature Molten Brown toiletries.
A fantastic room to stay in with plenty of space to either work or relax in.
Hotel Facilities
Besides the golf course at the hotel, one of the other main features for the hotel is the Fota Spa. We went in on the Sunday afternoon to use their hydrotherapy suite which was fantastic and a nice way to spend a couple of hours. There is also a well equipped gym and a large swimming pool area as well. There are plenty of treatment rooms at the spa and a large range of treatments available. Prices looked pretty reasonable and certainly no more than other good hotels. If you visit the hotel, then I definitely recommend a visit to the spa.
One other bonus at the hotel is that free internet access is available via the business centre PCs which was useful when I needed to quickly check a couple of emails during the weekend.
Food and Drink
From what I can tell there are 3 main areas here:
1) Amber Bar & Lounge serving drinks and bar meals in a nice informal environment. We had a spot of afternoon tea here when we arrived and it was very nice and fresh.
2) The Fota Restaurant. This is where breakfast is served (16 Euros for Continental Breakfast, 22 Euros for the Full Irish option) as well as evening dining. We had one breakfast here which was pretty nice. We also ate here on both evening. The evening menu had a good range with circa 7 or 8 starters, mains and desserts available at a price of 32 Euros for 2 courses or 40 Euros for a 3 course meal. The food was well cooked and tasted delicious. They do some excellent sea food dishes as well as a very succulent Rib-Eye Steak! Service is very good, striking the right balance between friendly and formal.
3) The Cove. We didn't eat there, but this is their top end a la carte dining restaurant with a very nice looking menu. It is a bit more expensive than The Fota Restaurant, but a local couple we spoken to at the hotel were raving about the place. It apparently has a good local reputation.
Check-Out
Again this was swift and smooth, but at 5:30am I wasn't really expecting much of a queue. We were offered a coffee whilst checking out which I thought was pretty good, especially at that time of the morning but unfortunately we had a flight home to catch. The staff member was again friendly and wished us a good onward journey.
Overall
We really enjoyed the stay at the hotel. The staff were very friendly and attentive, the room was great and the spa alone is worth a visit. We'll definitely go back as it is only a short hop from the UK, so a good location for a weekend break. For anyone coming from further afield it is also a good base to explore Cork and the surrounding region. We had a day trip out to the likes of Blarney, Macroom and Cobh in the hire car, but there are plenty of options within driving range to comfortably fill a week.
Finally I also had chance to say hello to James who posts on here from time to time whilst I was at the hotel. As well as being one of Starwood's finest, he's a nice chap as well. If you visit the hotel, tell him FlyerTalk sent you!
If anyone has any questions about the hotel or my stay then feel free to ask away.
Cheers,
RAPC
May 30, 2007, 8:48 pm
#22
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MEL/LAX
Programs: AAdv GLD(MM), QF LTS, UA MP_nada, HH Gld, SPG, GoldenCircle Jade
Posts: 4,472
Excellent comprehensive report - thanks ^ I am looking forward to staying there in July - a suite upgrade would be nice but i am not counting on it.
May 31, 2007, 9:17 am
#23
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manchester, England
Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, BMI Gold (RIP)
Posts: 8,019
From what I saw when doing a bit of corridor snooping, the standard rooms are obviously a bit smaller, but looked every bit as well presented and furnished as well so I'm sure you'll be fine. I'm planning on going back for another break later this year, so don't think I'll luck out quite so well 2nd time round either.
Jun 2, 2007, 9:06 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 72
I've just come back from a great stay at the Sheraton Fota Island and was really impressed with the hotel.
The Stay
Two nights from 25th-27th May
Location
Knowing that the hotel is a few miles away from the centre of Cork, we decided to hire a car to get to and from the hotel as well as to visit some of the surrounding area whilst we were there. The hotel is about 15 minutes drive from Cork airport, but we weren't travelling at rush hour. It is pretty easy to find, although you do need to watch out for the turning to the hotel as it is around a bend, so pay attention to the handy sign that the hotel has put up. (I didn't!)
The hotel is accessed up a long drive from the road to Cobh through wood and parkland up to the hotel. It is surrounded by wide open spaces, with the golf club being a little bit further up past the hotel. I didn't visit the golf club whilst I was there, but it does have an excellent reputation from what I gathered.
Check-in
After parking in the free car park in front of the hotel, it is a very short walk to the main lobby entrance. We were greeted by one of the concierge team and taken straight to one of the check-in desks across the lobby. There are 3main check-in desks and the whole process is a bit more relaxed as you get to sit down whilst you check-in. The whole process was very warm as we were asked where we had come in from and if we had had a good trip over etc. We were asked if we had any newspaper preferences, wished for a wake up call to be arranged or needed any dining reservations making etc. We asked a few questions about the hotel facilities as well as the restaurants and were given helpful information to help us decide on dinner as well as what to do for the rest of the day.
We were also informed at check-in that we had been upgraded from a Superior room (their 'standard' room I believe) up to one of their suites. In this case it was the same Cherry Suite that leisure warrior had stayed in last year. This was a really nice upgrade for an SPG Gold as we found out when we got to the room.
At the end of the check-in we were walked to the lift and told to get in contact if we needed anything. Another nice personal touch.
The Room - Cherry Suite, Room 304
It really is a superb room and if it is typical of the majority of the suites at the hotel then they are well worth staying in. As you walk in from the wooden floored corridor (another nice touch) you go straight in to an entrance area which then leads into the main living room. Before getting to the living room there is a toilet to your left a separate storage area to your right with a couple of wardrobes and room for luggage.
The main living room itself is pretty large. Part of it is taken up by a small dining table and chairs, the larger section of the room has the main seating area and coffee table etc. Due to the size of the room, it is very spacious even with the dining area, a 2 seater sofa, two chairs with footstool and another additional chair. The sofa and chairs are all very traditional, but very comfortable. Also in the living room is a very large (42 inch or so) flat screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities, a safe and a good supply of reading materials. You could easily host 5 or 6 guests in the living room without it feeling too full!
On arrival in the room we had a selection of fruit waiting for us as well as a hand signed welcome note from the GM. Later each evening a couple of large bottles of water were delivered free of charge along with a bucket of ice.
At the far end of the living room there is access to a private outside decking area. This went across the length of the suite and had a table and chairs to enjoy a drink or a spot of food with views of the woodland behind the hotel. A really nice spot to relax in especially when the weather is nice.
The bedroom itself was a good size with a connecting bathroom through a pair of sliding doors. The king bed was pretty big and probably more of a superking in European terms and featured some good quality bedding as well as a very comfortable mattress. There was plenty of storage space with even more wardrobes and plenty of drawers available. There is woodern flooring in the bedroom unlike in the living room which is carpeted. The bedroom has it's own flat screen TV as well, but it still only the 2nd TV out of 3 in the room! There are circa 30 channels available including the main Irish and British channels, as well as French, German, Italian and American choices as well.
Through the sliding doors leads to an impressive marble bathroom. This features a separate toilet, a nice sized shower, wash basin and changing area as well as a full size bath. As an added bonus for the TV addicts out there, there is also a smaller flat screen TV for you to watch whilst in the bath. Plenty of nice soft towels are in the bathroom (so no need to ask for extra towels for once) and the suites at least feature Molten Brown toiletries.
A fantastic room to stay in with plenty of space to either work or relax in.
Hotel Facilities
Besides the golf course at the hotel, one of the other main features for the hotel is the Fota Spa. We went in on the Sunday afternoon to use their hydrotherapy suite which was fantastic and a nice way to spend a couple of hours. There is also a well equipped gym and a large swimming pool area as well. There are plenty of treatment rooms at the spa and a large range of treatments available. Prices looked pretty reasonable and certainly no more than other good hotels. If you visit the hotel, then I definitely recommend a visit to the spa.
One other bonus at the hotel is that free internet access is available via the business centre PCs which was useful when I needed to quickly check a couple of emails during the weekend.
Food and Drink
From what I can tell there are 3 main areas here:
1) Amber Bar & Lounge serving drinks and bar meals in a nice informal environment. We had a spot of afternoon tea here when we arrived and it was very nice and fresh.
2) The Fota Restaurant. This is where breakfast is served (16 Euros for Continental Breakfast, 22 Euros for the Full Irish option) as well as evening dining. We had one breakfast here which was pretty nice. We also ate here on both evening. The evening menu had a good range with circa 7 or 8 starters, mains and desserts available at a price of 32 Euros for 2 courses or 40 Euros for a 3 course meal. The food was well cooked and tasted delicious. They do some excellent sea food dishes as well as a very succulent Rib-Eye Steak! Service is very good, striking the right balance between friendly and formal.
3) The Cove. We didn't eat there, but this is their top end a la carte dining restaurant with a very nice looking menu. It is a bit more expensive than The Fota Restaurant, but a local couple we spoken to at the hotel were raving about the place. It apparently has a good local reputation.
Check-Out
Again this was swift and smooth, but at 5:30am I wasn't really expecting much of a queue. We were offered a coffee whilst checking out which I thought was pretty good, especially at that time of the morning but unfortunately we had a flight home to catch. The staff member was again friendly and wished us a good onward journey.
Overall
We really enjoyed the stay at the hotel. The staff were very friendly and attentive, the room was great and the spa alone is worth a visit. We'll definitely go back as it is only a short hop from the UK, so a good location for a weekend break. For anyone coming from further afield it is also a good base to explore Cork and the surrounding region. We had a day trip out to the likes of Blarney, Macroom and Cobh in the hire car, but there are plenty of options within driving range to comfortably fill a week.
Finally I also had chance to say hello to James who posts on here from time to time whilst I was at the hotel. As well as being one of Starwood's finest, he's a nice chap as well. If you visit the hotel, tell him FlyerTalk sent you!
If anyone has any questions about the hotel or my stay then feel free to ask away.
Cheers,
RAPC
The Stay
Two nights from 25th-27th May
Location
Knowing that the hotel is a few miles away from the centre of Cork, we decided to hire a car to get to and from the hotel as well as to visit some of the surrounding area whilst we were there. The hotel is about 15 minutes drive from Cork airport, but we weren't travelling at rush hour. It is pretty easy to find, although you do need to watch out for the turning to the hotel as it is around a bend, so pay attention to the handy sign that the hotel has put up. (I didn't!)
The hotel is accessed up a long drive from the road to Cobh through wood and parkland up to the hotel. It is surrounded by wide open spaces, with the golf club being a little bit further up past the hotel. I didn't visit the golf club whilst I was there, but it does have an excellent reputation from what I gathered.
Check-in
After parking in the free car park in front of the hotel, it is a very short walk to the main lobby entrance. We were greeted by one of the concierge team and taken straight to one of the check-in desks across the lobby. There are 3main check-in desks and the whole process is a bit more relaxed as you get to sit down whilst you check-in. The whole process was very warm as we were asked where we had come in from and if we had had a good trip over etc. We were asked if we had any newspaper preferences, wished for a wake up call to be arranged or needed any dining reservations making etc. We asked a few questions about the hotel facilities as well as the restaurants and were given helpful information to help us decide on dinner as well as what to do for the rest of the day.
We were also informed at check-in that we had been upgraded from a Superior room (their 'standard' room I believe) up to one of their suites. In this case it was the same Cherry Suite that leisure warrior had stayed in last year. This was a really nice upgrade for an SPG Gold as we found out when we got to the room.
At the end of the check-in we were walked to the lift and told to get in contact if we needed anything. Another nice personal touch.
The Room - Cherry Suite, Room 304
It really is a superb room and if it is typical of the majority of the suites at the hotel then they are well worth staying in. As you walk in from the wooden floored corridor (another nice touch) you go straight in to an entrance area which then leads into the main living room. Before getting to the living room there is a toilet to your left a separate storage area to your right with a couple of wardrobes and room for luggage.
The main living room itself is pretty large. Part of it is taken up by a small dining table and chairs, the larger section of the room has the main seating area and coffee table etc. Due to the size of the room, it is very spacious even with the dining area, a 2 seater sofa, two chairs with footstool and another additional chair. The sofa and chairs are all very traditional, but very comfortable. Also in the living room is a very large (42 inch or so) flat screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities, a safe and a good supply of reading materials. You could easily host 5 or 6 guests in the living room without it feeling too full!
On arrival in the room we had a selection of fruit waiting for us as well as a hand signed welcome note from the GM. Later each evening a couple of large bottles of water were delivered free of charge along with a bucket of ice.
At the far end of the living room there is access to a private outside decking area. This went across the length of the suite and had a table and chairs to enjoy a drink or a spot of food with views of the woodland behind the hotel. A really nice spot to relax in especially when the weather is nice.
The bedroom itself was a good size with a connecting bathroom through a pair of sliding doors. The king bed was pretty big and probably more of a superking in European terms and featured some good quality bedding as well as a very comfortable mattress. There was plenty of storage space with even more wardrobes and plenty of drawers available. There is woodern flooring in the bedroom unlike in the living room which is carpeted. The bedroom has it's own flat screen TV as well, but it still only the 2nd TV out of 3 in the room! There are circa 30 channels available including the main Irish and British channels, as well as French, German, Italian and American choices as well.
Through the sliding doors leads to an impressive marble bathroom. This features a separate toilet, a nice sized shower, wash basin and changing area as well as a full size bath. As an added bonus for the TV addicts out there, there is also a smaller flat screen TV for you to watch whilst in the bath. Plenty of nice soft towels are in the bathroom (so no need to ask for extra towels for once) and the suites at least feature Molten Brown toiletries.
A fantastic room to stay in with plenty of space to either work or relax in.
Hotel Facilities
Besides the golf course at the hotel, one of the other main features for the hotel is the Fota Spa. We went in on the Sunday afternoon to use their hydrotherapy suite which was fantastic and a nice way to spend a couple of hours. There is also a well equipped gym and a large swimming pool area as well. There are plenty of treatment rooms at the spa and a large range of treatments available. Prices looked pretty reasonable and certainly no more than other good hotels. If you visit the hotel, then I definitely recommend a visit to the spa.
One other bonus at the hotel is that free internet access is available via the business centre PCs which was useful when I needed to quickly check a couple of emails during the weekend.
Food and Drink
From what I can tell there are 3 main areas here:
1) Amber Bar & Lounge serving drinks and bar meals in a nice informal environment. We had a spot of afternoon tea here when we arrived and it was very nice and fresh.
2) The Fota Restaurant. This is where breakfast is served (16 Euros for Continental Breakfast, 22 Euros for the Full Irish option) as well as evening dining. We had one breakfast here which was pretty nice. We also ate here on both evening. The evening menu had a good range with circa 7 or 8 starters, mains and desserts available at a price of 32 Euros for 2 courses or 40 Euros for a 3 course meal. The food was well cooked and tasted delicious. They do some excellent sea food dishes as well as a very succulent Rib-Eye Steak! Service is very good, striking the right balance between friendly and formal.
3) The Cove. We didn't eat there, but this is their top end a la carte dining restaurant with a very nice looking menu. It is a bit more expensive than The Fota Restaurant, but a local couple we spoken to at the hotel were raving about the place. It apparently has a good local reputation.
Check-Out
Again this was swift and smooth, but at 5:30am I wasn't really expecting much of a queue. We were offered a coffee whilst checking out which I thought was pretty good, especially at that time of the morning but unfortunately we had a flight home to catch. The staff member was again friendly and wished us a good onward journey.
Overall
We really enjoyed the stay at the hotel. The staff were very friendly and attentive, the room was great and the spa alone is worth a visit. We'll definitely go back as it is only a short hop from the UK, so a good location for a weekend break. For anyone coming from further afield it is also a good base to explore Cork and the surrounding region. We had a day trip out to the likes of Blarney, Macroom and Cobh in the hire car, but there are plenty of options within driving range to comfortably fill a week.
Finally I also had chance to say hello to James who posts on here from time to time whilst I was at the hotel. As well as being one of Starwood's finest, he's a nice chap as well. If you visit the hotel, tell him FlyerTalk sent you!
If anyone has any questions about the hotel or my stay then feel free to ask away.
Cheers,
RAPC
Thank you for taking the time to provide such detailed and positive feedback following your brief time with us. I am delighted that you enjoyed your stay, and look forward to welcoming you back in the near future.
Regards,
James
Jun 10, 2007, 6:09 pm
#26
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: DUB/ORD/SIN/PVG
Programs: EI AerClub Concierge, EK Gold, BA Gold, BD Gold (Retired), HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Gold
Posts: 2,923
^ Great report. Very much looking forward to our stay later this month.
Jun 10, 2007, 7:50 pm
#27
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Westfield, NY (BUF)
Programs: USAirways, SPG gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 451
Hi There
James,
I sent you a PM a few days ago. Please let me know if it didn't get through.
Thanks,
Eileen
I sent you a PM a few days ago. Please let me know if it didn't get through.
Thanks,
Eileen
Jul 16, 2007, 5:56 pm
#28
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: MEL/LAX
Programs: AAdv GLD(MM), QF LTS, UA MP_nada, HH Gld, SPG, GoldenCircle Jade
Posts: 4,472
Posting from the Sequoia Suite at the Fota thanks to James ^ - a really superb stay - possibly the nicest hotel stay I have had. The Suite really is very impressive - stunning actually. I second everything RAPC said. The staff have beenb superb. Will post a more detailed TR once I get back with some photos.
Jul 17, 2007, 2:20 am
#29
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manchester, England
Programs: Bonvoy LT Plat, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, BMI Gold (RIP)
Posts: 8,019
Posting from the Sequoia Suite at the Fota thanks to James ^ - a really superb stay - possibly the nicest hotel stay I have had. The Suite really is very impressive - stunning actually. I second everything RAPC said. The staff have beenb superb. Will post a more detailed TR once I get back with some photos.
Jul 17, 2007, 5:55 am
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2003
Location: AA Plat / UA NOTHING / Alaska 75K / Hyatt Diamond / SPG LT Plat / Marriott Gold / Priority Club Plat / Hertz Pres
Posts: 24,707
James took great care of a bunch of us during the Shamrock Do last year in DUB when he was part of the management team at the Westin. A Cork Do would be a great idea and very well attended.^