Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Known for its stunning location, its fantastic facilities and the warmth of its welcome, the Holyrood is a hotel unlike any other. Considering a break in the North West of Ireland? This is the hotel for you. Located in the heart of Bundoran, the Holyrood has a beautiful Blue Flag beach practically on its doorstep and offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. Known as the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the North West of Ireland, Bundoran is Donegal’s most southerly town and it’s most popular seaside resort. It’s also a main stop on the famous Wild Atlantic Way. (Link to Wild Atlantic Way page) It’s no wonder given its breathtaking beauty. Here you can stroll along the headland, breath in , clean air and feel the ocean spray on your face. There really is no better way to blow away the cobwebs! Bundoran not only offers a fantastic selection of amenities, it’s the perfect base from which to visit sites of historical and cultural interest. In fact, there’s so much to see and do in the area, you’ll be spoilt for choice. The Holyrood Hotel attracts holidaymakers of every kind and in particular couples, surfers and families with children. The 4-star hotel has a cosy bar, three eating venues all of which serve delicious fresh food, a modern leisure club and a luxury spa. There’s also a fantastic children’s club. Bedrooms are comfortable and luxurious, and you can enjoy free wi-fi access throughout the hotel. Steeped in history, the Holyrood has been in the hands of the well known McEniff family for three generations. The family pride themselves on offering the warmest of Donegal welcomes to all their guests, insuring your visit is a happy and memorable one.
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
Business
Classic
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Main Street, Bundoran F94 P2FT Ireland
The Holyrood Hotel - Blue River Leisure Centre
4 reviews
Getting there
Good 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.
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The Holyrood Hotel - Blue River Leisure Centre has garnered a reputation for its welcoming atmosphere, complete with live music and family-friendly spaces that guests enjoy. With its prime location near the ocean and attractions, many visitors appreciate the opportunity to explore the surroundings. The hotel's rooms earn praise for their cleanliness and comfort, some boasting stunning sea views.
While opinions on value are mixed, the hotel's amenities, including a spa and kids club, are popular with guests. Most visitors experience top-notch service, though a few note occasional inconsistencies.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Welcoming
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Polarized
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Top-notch
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Mum and son stayed in the hotel for a 2 night break. Firstly reception staff ok, not overly informative and kept having to ask questions regarding facilities ie restaurant and kids club. It appeared to me like they assumed i already knew the hotel and i had to keep reiterating that it was my first time there and did not know the layout of the hotel. Room was clean, no bottled water on arrival which was disappointing. Tea and coffee facilities available in room and some toiletries. We had one night dinner included. We paid the extra €12 supplements each for steak which was extremely fatty and undercooked for a medium steak, i will upload pictures. Very off putting to be asked mid meal to pay for your drinks whilst we were eating our starters. Do they not trust guests to clear their drinks bill after they have finished eating?? Very strange. First night (Friday) room was boiling hot and noise levels on the street were horrendous, drunk people coming back from the pubs late at night kept us awake until 4am. I slept on the floor as it was the coolest place to sleep. Breakfast was ok, basic. Second night we had a fan which helped drown out the noise if anything. Kept awake again until 5am. We missed out breakfast reservations due to this and had planned a morning swim which we never got to do either due to having a terrible nights sleep. I did explain this to the receptionist on check out who was not overly helpful and just said we could have moved your room. Considering the fact that I received documentation prior to my visit that stipulated room moves were not available due to sanitising I presumed this would not be available. She never offered any resolution other than this. We had to then pay for breakfast in a local cafe before we went home. This hotel fell beyond my expectations and therefore i would not chose another stay here on my next visit to bundoran.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Get a room at the back of the hotel
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.
Just home from a five night stay in this lovely hotel . All staff were brilliant, to name a few , Brian , Suranna , Amy , Geraldine . The food was really good quality and portions were huge. You were not rushed out of your room for room service, they knocked and handed in towels etc. I happed to have the pool a jacuzzi all to myself, which was very relaxing. I would highly recommend this hotel and we will be back .
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip 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 Audrey Mc Eniff, General Manager at The Holyrood Hotel - Blue River Leisure Centre
Responded Oct 22, 2024
Dear Denise, we were thrilled to read your delightful review of your recent stay with us at The Holyrood. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us and the broader TripAdvisor community. We look forward to welcoming you back to the hotel in the near future. Sincerely, Audrey Mc Eniff
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I stayed for three nights as a solo traveller. Usually this means being given a box room single where swinging the proverbial cat would be impossible. Not so at The Holyrood. I had a king size bed, picture postcard sea-view and a beautifully decorated room. Bedding, towels bathroom fittings and furniture are all good quality, spotlessly clean and contributed to a very comfortable stay. Breakfast was excellent and the perhaps the most stand out feature of a stay at The Holyrood Hotel for me is the staff. From the second I arrived at the reception, until departure, every member of staff was warm, welcoming and efficient, with nothing too much trouble. Being hospitable is an ethos that is felt throughout your stay and it is obvious that the guest experience matters in this hotel. Thank you for a faultless stay at The Holyrood Hotel; I look forward to returning.
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip:I can recommend wholeheartedly.
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.
before I booked for the deal of 109 euro for 2 people I rang to pay the deposit & asked about a milk bath which I was told yes was available so went ahead with the booking. Arrived to the hotel the next day booked in for the meal which we had 20 euro dining voucher included in our price but still ended up paying 65 euro towards the dinner at front reception whilst reserving our time slot for the restaurant. Went to our room which was beautiful but did notice during the night when we put the extra pillows in the bed that under the bed sheet their was a few hairs & looked like flakes of a pastry but we just put the covers back & fell to sleep was exhausted. The pool before dinner was really nice & relaxing & the hot tub was really warm. Changing rooms & corridors down to the pool was freezing though. Towels are also tiny didn't fit me properly as I'm 25 weeks pregnant. You get the towels from reception for the pool. Went to dinner on our time slot the elderly server wasn't to friendly I'm not sure why as we was pleasant towards him but he seemed off. The area we sat at for dinner was beautiful with a stunning open fire. The starters were lovely but the mains wasn't to nice & the desert the brownie seemed a bit stale. We had no alcohol so can't comment on the drinks as we just had iron bru & 7up. The next day went to breakfast which was Included in our stay but the breakfast seemed like it was reheated or was left under the lamps in the kitchen for a good while. We left most of the breakfast. Didn't touch the bacon. The potatoe things were overcooked. I tried one the sausages & it wasn't pleasant the eggs were like rubber to. Only enjoyed the toast tbh. Went down to the spa for the milk bath but upon arrival the lady gave me a funny look asked if I was their for nails to which I replied no I'm here for the bath she looked confused as I was. Got took to the main seating area got told they don't do milk baths but I was booked in for nails which I replied no I never asked for nails. Got told my hotel package included any other treatment so I chose a back massage,filled out the form to then have the lady's say I actually have to pay for the massage treatment so I politely said I'll go use the pool instead & said my goodbyes. It was my 30th birthday yesterday & was looking forward to staying at the hotel but a few things let it down including the mix up at the spa which was the whole point I travelled down for. I would come again but I wouldn't eat their.
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Breakfast time gets busy around half 9 so try to be a little earlier. No entertainment on weekday...
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 think the challenge for our stay at the Holyrood was lack of clarity of information provided. Tried to book a single room which the hotel does not provide . Booked two double rooms for two single family members at the standard price of a double room which I could understand; however when asked for a reduced price as only two breakfast instead of four would be taken the response was sorry we don’t do that. As it was a 70 th birthday of a family member and there was 8 family members, I emailed in advanced and requested to book a table for diner; however; was informed first come first served basis. On arrival at 2.30 pm for check in at 4 pm the reception guy was pleasant but on the most things I asked he said “ computer says NO”.He did ask did I want to book breakfast; however as other family members had not arrived. I asked could I book it later. Once again a missed opportunity by reception to to provide sufficient information about breakfast slots which sounded surprisingly like “ Hi Dee Hi holiday camp ) when asked reception for a solution he politely said he cannot help but offered to get the manager. Long story short he came to reception and gave 10 minutes of a polite but unnecessary sermon on the challenges and demands the hotel has I asked after patiently listening to him can we focus on resolution only to be told there is no possibility to help . I said that was disappointing but that what trip advisor is there for. The manager appeared annoyed and said “ staff depend on work here, they have to pay their mammy and daddy’s rent and pay petrol to get to work “ and other irrelevant stuff which appeared intimidating. I reviewed the hotel this event which I would normally have done before but as it was a family get together and my family had already booked I went with the logic to all be together. I was going to complete the hotels complaints but on looking in more detail found the hotel managing director who responds to complaints has the same surname as the owner, which may be coincidental; however her response to complaints appears to be a cut and paste response to all negative complaints. I have avoided repeating similar complaints by others , noise , both in and out of hotel room , unsupervised children and a small double bed and box room sized bedroom. The bathroom was really good with a large walk in shower. The bedroom and hotel was clean and the staff , including the receptionist were polite; other then the presenting manager who would benefit from an updating hospitality customer training.
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Date of stay: August 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:As we had a second floor room to the front of the hotel onto Main Street the noise was...
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 Audrey Mc Eniff, General Manager at The Holyrood Hotel - Blue River Leisure Centre
Responded Aug 30, 2022
Dear 19aDermotmay09 Thank you for your feedback. We are sad to hear you and your family did not enjoy your stay with us. Here at the Holyrood we thrive on making improvements and we take any criticism very seriously. We can assure you that these issues will be dealt with and will hopefully not arise again. We hope you will stay with us in the future. Sincerely Audrey McEniff
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we had a excellent stay in the holyrood hotel. the hotel itself has had a full make over freshly paint and decorated rooms. a real fresh clean smell all round the hotel. our room was great and bed was so comfortable the hotel has the friendliest staff you could ask for. everything was great from start to finish. the new spa is amazing one of the biggest in Europe and the prices are very good as well. sharana on the desk will keep you right for any needs you have and Kayla in the restaurant would run to the end of the earth for you both at breakfast and main dining sittings. the restaurant food was beautiful and a good selection. the restaurant is also open to the public and the prices are the best around bundoran at the minute unless you like fast food take away. once again holyrood thank you for a great stay we look forward to returning hopefully 306 again. 10/10 from me. also.not forgetting free use of the pool
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:free car parking the rear of the hotel just of tge main street. the gate is automatic going but...
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 Audrey Mc Eniff, General Manager at The Holyrood Hotel - Blue River Leisure Centre
Responded Jun 7, 2023
Dear Joey Thank you for your lovely review. We are pleased to hear you enjoyed your stay with us. We try our very best to look after all of our guests and we value your feedback so thank you. We look forward to welcoming you back to the Holyrood Hotel in the near future. Yours Sincerely, Audrey McEniff.
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While this hotel was centrally based a few things let it down. The spa treatment was included in our package and while the treatment itself could not be faulted we were told by the staff that the relaxation suite was too cold for us to be allowed into! We were told we’d be better sitting in the waiting area on the armchairs. Then when it came to the pool area the showers were ice cold water, there was no keys for any of the lockers the steps down into the pool were full of grit and the jacuzzi while it was warm there was only one jet working! On speaking to the receptionist regarding this we were told they’d let the maintenance man know, 2 days later it was still the same way! The only thing saved this hotel was the staff who were so friendly and helpful and the food was promptly served and delicious! The bar area also had a cosy area by an open fire which was appreciated after a walk along the beach! Although there were a few things letting this hotel down don’t let it completely put you off. We might try it again in the summer.
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
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.
Firstly parking the car was cost free as the hotel has its own car park. Checking in was easy and the staff were friendly and helpful. The room was very clean and the bed was comfortable. The breakfast and evening meals were excellent and plentiful
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
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 Audrey Mc Eniff, General Manager at The Holyrood Hotel - Blue River Leisure Centre
Responded Jul 26, 2024
Dear Gerard, Thank you so much for your kind comments! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your stay, and that everything was to your satisfaction. We sincerely hope you come back again soon, and give us an opportunity to look after you again. Yours sincerely, Audrey McEniff
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A warm welcome greeted us on arrival! Directions around the hotel were easy to follow…a very clear oneway system in place adhering to Covid Regulations .
We had a triple room - 2 double beds and a single . Very spacious , plenty of room to move around . Bathroom was clean and had great lighting. Only down fall was the shower was over the bath and it was a rainfall head , so it could not be lifted off to rinse body or if perhaps you just wanted to rinse your feet after returned from beach.
No tea/coffee making facilities in rooms due to covid regulations. Myself & friends ordered fresh tea on retirement to bed in the evening and also in the morning prior to Breakfast - no charges for this were applied on checking out!
We ate in the Hotel Bar on the first night, Surgion was our server and did an excellent job in re- sweeping under our table when he noticed some crumbs had been missed! Food was tasty, plentiful and very reasonable in price.
Dylan was our drinks waiter , very attentive and friendly…couldn’t do enough for us.
In our stay we had one evening meal free…so on our 2nd evening we had a meal in the Hotel Restaurant. Once again staff were welcoming and most obliging when came to accommodating our various dietary requirements . The food was superb!
Will definitely return for another visit. Hotel is family run and suitable for families, couples and friend groups to stay at.
The Spa/ Treatment room was fully booked so unfortunately we weren’t able to avail of a massage or facial on this trip, maybe next time!
Many Thanks to all the Staff @ the Holyrood Hotel . We 6 ladies of rooms 238/ 239 had a fabulous weekend!
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Hotel car park to the rear , free to residents. All floors to rooms are wheelchair accessible,...
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 Audrey Mc Eniff, General Manager at The Holyrood Hotel - Blue River Leisure Centre
Responded Jul 2, 2021
Dear Falcms, I am delighted to hear that you and your friends had a fabulous stay. I would like to thank you for your kind words about a number of our staff members here at The Holyrood. They are a true credit and I will be sure to pass on your kind words to them. We look forward to welcoming you back to the hotel again in the future. Sincerely, Audrey Mc Eniff
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After reading so many previous reviews I didn’t have high expectations for the hotel. But I have to say I really enjoyed my stay.
The hotel was clean and well maintained with staff cleaning touch points several times during the day. We arrived early and planned to go for a walk, but was impressed when we were told our room was ready for us in arrival.
The room was clean and tidy. The beds were a little harder than my own and I had to ask for extra pillows, but they arrived quickly without any issues. The decor is a little dated (not all the greys and muted tones that is popular now) but it was cozy and well maintained. I especially loved the upholstery on the chairs in the bar area.
Dinner and breakfast were included and I wasn’t disappointed. There was enough variety of the menus and you could add or take things away. Also good when you have kids(aged 2 and 4) who change their mind or ask for more. At dinner food came out quickly and hot. The kids meals where brought out very speedily which allowed me to relax and enjoy my meal knowing that the kids weren’t going to get bored and mess around while waiting for their food. The food was very nice (don’t go there expecting gourmet food) and on the night I had steak (medium) it was cooked perfectly.
On the last night we stayed in the lobby and the kids could play away with their friends who the met in the hotel pool. Although there was a kids club, you didn’t feel like the kids had to go there. They could play freely in the lobby and it wasn’t an issue for other guest or staff.
The only negative I can say (and I’m nitpicking) was I would have liked drawers to put clothes away in the bedroom. With a family of 4, it would make moving around the room easier if we could have stored the suitcases rather than having to pull them out all the time to get our clothes.
Overall very happy stay with the Holyrood and we would go back again.
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip 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 Audrey Mc Eniff, General Manager at The Holyrood Hotel - Blue River Leisure Centre
Responded Jan 11, 2022
Dear Jaynet665, I would like to thank you for staying here with us at The Holyrood Hotel and for taking the time to write your review. It was a pleasure to read, and I am delighted to know that you enjoyed your stay with us. We hope to welcome you back to the hotel again in the future. Sincerely, Rute Lemes
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Derry, United Kingdom33 contributions4 helpful votes
I stayed
in the Holyrood Hotel for two nights b&b in June
I paid €280 which is roughtly £250 uk. Stg.
The price is based on 2 adults. No concession for 1 person. The bar food is very good. The restaurant charges €35 per person for 3 course dinner.
Hi. Just back from hotel today. Wasn't too many restrictions, sanitisers and one way system in bar (which wasn't enforced from what we could see). We ate at the bar and asked if there was a time limit for the table and were told there wasn't. If you want a drink without eating it was explained that we could take our drinks out into lobby. Of course things could change between now and September unfortunately. Enjoy your stay... Would recommend a visit to the fairy Bridge if not already been.
There are more places to choose from in the Bundoran area.
PRICE RANGE
C$195 - C$226 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
new holyrood bundoran, hotel new holyrood
LOCATION
IrelandCounty DonegalBundoran
NUMBER OF ROOMS
91
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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Is The Holyrood Hotel - Blue River Leisure Centre accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
