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Perfectly located in the Heart of Donegal Town convenient for all local amenities an ideal base for touring the stunning County Donegal. The Abbey Hotel is conveniently situated for beautiful coastal drives and main signature discovery points of the Wild Atlantic Way including the famous Slieve League. Seasonal nightly entertainment in The Bar, Concessionary Parking, Complimentary Leisure Facilities (in our sister Hotel the Central next door), Disabled Access.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Centrally Located
River View
Languages Spoken
English
Location
The Diamond, Donegal Town F94 AP8W Ireland
The Abbey Hotel
4 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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The Abbey Hotel garners praise for its central location in Donegal Town, making it a hit for those looking to explore local shops and dining on foot. Many guests speak highly of the hotel's cleanliness and the cozy comfort of its rooms, although some suggest the rooms could benefit from modern updates. The ambiance is lively, with traditional entertainment and music frequently mentioned, but there are calls for refurbishment in certain areas.
While the service receives commendations for being friendly and professional, there are occasional mentions of inconsistent service quality. Travelers are divided on the hotel's value, with some critical of the food prices and the state of the amenities offered.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Lively
Rooms
Shabby
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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Apparently Donegal is a favorite location for country & western music shows— even in January — who knew the Irish were such fans?! I was able to grab a last available room at the Abbey for Saturday night on short notice. It was a triple (two single beds and a double bed) but it worked fine. We were far away from the music and despite there reportedly being 1000 people at the event we heard very little— even in the hallway outside our door. The Abbey is in the process of a renovation bit by bit and whatever they may lack because of that (the elevator was clearly marked with information about renovation) they make up for in sheer good will and effort. Patricia at reception was very clear with us to call upon them for anything we needed and gave us a lot of information when we checked in. Our server Shay (in the bar for a late lunch) was a delight and dear Abby (working full time during her gap year before college to become a social worker) saved us when my husband left his cell phone at the table after we ate. Despite the rush and crush of people coming for the concert Abby took the cellphone to reception and then kept an eye out for us when we came back from our walk. The next day we didn’t need the room serviced but we didn’t have a “do not disturb” sign. We took the housekeeping person in the hall and also mentioned it at reception; when we returned there was a “do not disturb” sign on our door! The lobby of the Abbey is impressive, the elevators are quick and I love that the staircases are wide and easy to access. Our room was very large and yes, there were only two plugs for our electronics (and we had to share one with the hot water kettle) it was fine. We had a big bathroom with good water pressure and plenty of hot water. You can’t beat the location — right on the diamond downtown and while you do have to park the car just down the hill in the public parking it is very inexpensive and free after 6:00 PM and on Sundays. I would definitely stay here again; this place has heart!
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kirsty Abbey Hotel, Guest Services / Front Office at The Abbey Hotel
Responded Jan 31, 2023
Hello shaunmW7433CH Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a wonderful review of your stay with us recently. As you mentioned we are a well known location for country & western music weekends here at the Abbey Hotel and I hope you got to enjoy the amazing atmosphere that comes with them. I am so glad to hear that it didn't disturb you during the evening. Your compliments of our staff is wonderful to hear and I will make sure it is passed onto them. We are currently under small renovations in order to continue improving and hopefully if you come back to visit us you will be able to see the results. Finally I would just like to say that your review is everything we try to strive to do and be on a daily basis and it is so wonderful to hear how much you enjoyed your stay with us. We hope to welcome you back soon. Kind Regards.
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The Abbey Hotel is an ideal location, very well situated in the centre of the town. Expressway coach services stop right outside, for travel north and south. There are several bars and restaurants very close by.
Check-in was fast and smooth; the receptionist was very pleasant young man. I had booked to stay there as an escape and distraction from the fact that the date would have been my wife’s birthday, had she not died last Christmas. I therefore found the receptionist’s remark “On your own, are you?” both insensitive and wholly unnecessary. I struggle, even now, to think in what possible circumstances such a gratuitous remark would be appropriate.
I was satisfied with my room, although it was not the twin room that I had booked. It was clean, large, bright and airy, notwithstanding the heavy dark furniture. It looked out on to the town ‘square’ (a triangle actually) which might be a problem at weekends with noise. The bed was comfortable and the pillows were just right. There was ample storage space and several lighting options. However, the modest sized TV had limited channels – no BBC or ITV.
The bathroom too, was spacious with a large walk-in shower; all tiled from floor to ceiling and everything very clean. Towels were soft but on the thin side and the bath towel was one of the smallest I’ve encountered in many years of travelling. Complimentary toiletries, shower, gel, shampoo and body lotion were good quality products; however they were not matched by the toilet paper which was of the thinnest cheapest variety – why? There was no box of tissues.
Also missing, from the complimentary tea/coffee tray, were the small packets of biscuits that even a one star B&B would provide. Nescafe coffee or Tetley teabags was what was on offer; no decaff or herbal tea alternatives. This was not a housekeeping oversight – I checked; the hotel does not provide them. Having paid over £110 without breakfast, I felt short changed by this petty penny-pinching. Slim wooden ‘stirrers’ had replaced teaspoons – they are not much help in removing a tea bag without leaving a trail of drips.
The doors have old fashioned and rather bulky keys, rather than keycards. I suspect the US tourists think they are ‘quaint and adorable’. On leaving the room, the door handle all but came off in my hand!
I did not eat in the restaurant, but the bar area was again clean, spacious, and attractively furnished with a very good range of drinks and a pleasant ambience.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sales And Marketing, Sales at The Abbey Hotel
Responded Dec 8, 2023
Dear Lynnaer, Thank you for choosing the Abbey Hotel and sharing your detailed feedback. We appreciate your positive remarks about our location, fast check-in, and pleasant receptionist. We extend our sincere apologies for any insensitivity in the comment made during check-in; it was neither appropriate nor considerate, and we regret any discomfort it caused. Your insights regarding the tea/coffee tray and the door handle are valuable, and we'll use them to make necessary improvements. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding. We hope you consider giving us another chance to provide you with a more enjoyable stay. Best regards, Abbey Hotel Management
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Hotel is in a perfect location that's the only thing that's perfect. On arrival we did get parked at the door but when we moved n came back later we had to drive round n round to hopefully get a spot. At check in i was informed when you book through a third party you don't get breakfast included iv never had this before so that set the tone for our stay ,it was 15euro each if we wanted to have breakfast. The room was basic no veiw looking on to a dirty square of forgotten hotel . The room was to hot. The bathroom had no space to set out our toiletries. 1 key not key card for the room. WiFi never worked in the room I asked at reception 1 lady did try to help but when I went upstairs it wouldn't work. There was no turn down housekeeping come to the door ask to you want towels and toilet roll.
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:No carpark.
WiFi doesn't work in the room.
Make sure and don't book through 3rd party you won't...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I just spent 2 nights in the Abbey Hotel. I'm not a regular traveller so this review may not interest many people, my room was on the 3rd floor which I didn't mind as I was close to the lift,when I checked in I was given a key with a rather large keyring attached, which was fine at the time but on arrival to my room I started to realise that the keyring was the least of my issues. It was like taking a trip back in time to the 1980s everything was so out dated from the furniture which to be honest I have taken furniture in a lot better condition to my local council skip. The lighting was those old florescent lamp bulbs,there was no WiFi in my room there were no data points, there was one double socket into which everything had to be plugged. When I used the kettle to make coffee I had to unplug the rather small television which only had local TV reception. The bathroom was clean but again the toilet was one of those old type flush handle the wash basin was old with a crack across the centre. The shower and bath were just ok. This Hotel definitely needs to be updated and brought into the new millennium
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We went here for lunch as a family visiting from Dublin. When we went in and sat down, we asked one staff member for a highchair for the baby. When he eventually brought it, he held it away and said "first I do have to inform you, its company policy that we ask you to keep the place as clean as possible if the baby is going to eat." That was bizarre enough but then an older man who worked there came and grabbed the menus from us and said "you've to go up and get it yourself" (carvery - absolutely fine but we hadn't been told this at all) and then I asked where the bathrooms were to bring my daughter and he snapped "through the gallery which basically meant through a small corridor and down to the right but really was little to no help. We left as the staff were so incredibly unwelcoming. In 7 years of having 3 small children eat out with us frequently I've never experienced it. Olde Castle Bar across the road is incredible & couldn't be more welcoming to the kids and the food is really lovely. F
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Date of stay: April 2024
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sales And Marketing, Sales at The Abbey Hotel
Responded Apr 4, 2024
Dear Claire, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We sincerely apologise for the disappointing encounter you had during your recent visit to our hotel. Your feedback regarding the service you received is deeply concerning to us, and it does not reflect the standards of hospitality we strive to maintain. Please be assured that we have addressed this matter with our team to ensure that such instances do not recur in the future. We understand the importance of creating a welcoming atmosphere for families and we hope you will consider giving us another opportunity to provide you with the exceptional service and hospitality that we are known for. If you would be willing to give us another chance, please do not hesitate to contact us directly so that we can ensure your next visit exceeds your expectations. Once again, we apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.
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This is the only time I have ever felt the need to complain about a Hotel room. Stayed at this establishment on a Saturday night and the noise was so bad the light fitting above the bed was shaking and rattling. My 8 year old son didn't get to sleep till after 2am. At around midnight and my 3rd attempt I finally got someone in reception to answer a phone. I was informed that the band would stop playing at 1am but the nightclub music would start then. At 12.30am the fire alarm went off for about a minute (false alarm). This was the catalyst to head down to reception. Got chatting to an apologetic manager but to be honest there wasn't much he could have done to help at that stage. For the room itself I found it to be very basic and run down. The room was clean but bed wasn't that comfortable. On check out I was asked "how was our stay". I mentioned the noise and that I wasn't happy with our experience. I was basically informed that this was normal for a Saturday night as they have live music and a nightclub. I'm not even sure if I was offered an apology and got the impression that what did you expect. If any effort at all had been made to address the issues we had I probably wouldn't have taken the time to write this review. In my opinion the only positive thing this Hotel has going for it is the location if you want to be in Donegal town. Hopefully I will never have to stay her again.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Saturday night extremely noisy. Rooms basic and dated. Bed not that comfortable.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We arrived just after 8 after a long, rainy day in the car. The restaurant was about to close, we didn't know where to park and were exhausted and hungry. John the manager couldn't have been more accommodating: he reassured us we could leave the car out front while we got settled, had us order dinner (which the chef stayed late to prepare) while we put our bags in the room, then checked back to make sure we were settled. Great customer service all around!
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kirsty Abbey Hotel, Guest Services / Front Office at The Abbey Hotel
Responded Apr 5, 2024
Hello L9844KTnancyw, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at the Abbey Hotel. We're glad to hear that despite the challenges you faced upon arrival, our team, especially John the General Manager, was able to provide you with exceptional customer service. It's heartening to know that John went above and beyond to ensure your comfort and satisfaction, from accommodating your parking needs to arranging a late dinner for you. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another memorable stay in the future. Safe travels! Warm Regards.
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Was very disappointed with the hotel..room would need updating. The room was cold I phoned to ask could we have heating on 3 hours later they give us a heater. The 22 inch TV had very few channels so wasn't worth putting on.The service in the restaurant was bad we ordered dinner at 7 and got it at 8!!.the only good thing about this place was the staff.
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Location is fantastic, the girl at reception was really lovely and managing to let us check in early at 2.30. Normal check in time is 4pm. When we checked in were informed lift wasn't working and we'd have to carry are cases us 2 flights of stairs, my mam isn't well so I had to carry all the luggage. No help was offered with cases. When we got into the room and had just fell asleep we had a loud knock at the door and before I could even answer a member of staff let themselves into our room. Room was big and spacious and very clean, unfortunately after that everything was a let down. Went to the bar for food, asked for a wine list that never arrived. Bar was covered in dust. Me and my mam ordered fish and chips, mine arrived and the fish was raw. I called over a waitress and she took it away and just brought out another with no explanation or to ask would I like something else. I did not want another fish after eating a piece of raw fish but was stuck with it. They also were blasting music from a nightclub at 7pm aswell as different music in the bar. You couldn't even have a conversation it was so loud. A couple sitting left because the noise was so bad. That night when we returned to the hotel at 12.30 we could hear the nightclub from our room. Really disappointing stay all around.
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were on holiday near Ballybofey and wanting to stay in Donegal to listen to the music for the night. The hotel was very elegant and well maintained. The staff were all very pleasant and helpful. We decided to eat in the bar for the evening meal and felt the service was very good. Kieran the bar manager was especially attentive to all the patrons. We will definitely stay here again when in the area. The breakfast was included in the price of the room which made staying there a very good value.
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Date of stay: September 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Rooms overlooking the river and bay are the best view
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Abbey Hotel, Guest Services / Front Office at The Abbey Hotel
Responded Nov 29, 2022
Hello formersandman, We are incredibly grateful that you took the time out to leave us a 5-Star review. We are delighted to hear about your wonderful experience, from your stay, to the food and time in the bar. The team here at The Abbey Hotel is thrilled to receive such a great rating. Hopefully we will see you soon. Best Wishes,
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There are more places to choose from in the Donegal Town area.
PRICE RANGE
C$172 - C$230 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the abbey hotel donegal town, abbey hotel donegal
LOCATION
IrelandCounty DonegalDonegal Town
NUMBER OF ROOMS
117
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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