Park Hotel Kenmare

The Park Hotel makes its home in Kenmare, a quaint little village at the foot of the Cork and Kerry mountains in southwest Ireland. Originally a railway hotel, today it’s a grand Victorian-style spa retreat, an authentic 19th-century railway hotel converted into a contemporary five-star lodging, all period architecture, antique furniture, and old-school professional service.

Rooms are traditional in style but modern in function, with flat-screen TVs and DVD players alongside fine fabrics, Victorian-era antiques, and stunning country views. The Sámas spa is a big part of the draw, rather than an afterthought. Guests pay a premium over the standard room rate to indulge, but are rewarded with an extraordinary selection of services, from standards like massage and beauty treatments to “movement therapies” like yoga and pilates and any number of steams and saunas, all presented in a luxe, theatrical setting.

Golfers, naturally, are in heaven, with the Kenmare course a short walk away and many more within easy reach. There’s plenty of walking to do without chasing a ball as well, from the hotel’s acres of manicured lawns and gardens to the picture-perfect vistas along the Kerry Way trail or around the bay — and some of the best views can be had without walking at all, from the dining room of the Park Hotel’s restaurant.

How to get there:
Park Hotel Kenmare is approximately a 1 1/2 hour drive from Cork Airport, 50 minutes from Kerry Airport and a 40 minute drive from the town of Killarney.