Hotel Powerscourt Arms (Enniskerry, Ireland)

Whatever other issues guests had with the hotel, its staff was certainly not one. They were pretty much universally described as a delight to deal with, being very welcoming on arrival and always ready to assist during a guest's stay.

It was very hard indeed to find a bad word written about the food offered at Powerscourt Arms. Breakfast was described as a hearty Irish feast, with the omelettes said to be especially good, while the restaurant maintained the high standards by offering excellent food at lunch and dinner.

Receiving just as much praise as the restaurant, Mac's Bar was said to have a great atmosphere, with many guests enjoying traditional Irish hospitality over an excellent pint of Guinness.

This was definitely the most common, and most serious, criticism. Guests say that, while the rooms were generally clean, they were well, past their sell-by date. It wasn't merely a question of décor, which was said to be dated, but also function, since many fixtures and fittings were broken or simply not working.

An astonishing number of guests mentioned feeling very cold in their rooms. It seems that the temperature is not adjustable in-room, and that many of the rooms were inadequately heated in winter.

Although not mentioned often, it was pointed out that there is no cosy guest lounge, were one can relax and socialise with friends, ideally around a roaring fire in winter. It was sorely missed and mentioned that a place calling itself a country house really ought to have such an amenity.