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4.5
#3 of 6 hotels in Ballymena
Location
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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.
Northern Ireland’s Premier luxury Hotel and Spa situated only 30 minutes from Belfast is the perfect location to relax and get away from it all. Set within 450 acres of lush parkland with the spectacular River Maine flowing through the estate, Galgorm has a truly unique setting. Close to both Belfast airports and the stunning scenery of the North Antrim Coast, it is the perfect base from which to explore the region's most renowned attractions. This Resort is home to 125 luxurious guestrooms including deluxe rooms, Junior and Signature Suites, as well as a collection of Cottage Suites, Log Cabins, charming Shepherd's Huts, Forest Dens, and four group Residences. The jewel in the crown of Galgorm is the unique Thermal Spa Village, the first of its kind in Ireland with an extensive selection of riverside hot tubs, indoor and outdoor heated pools, steam rooms and saunas. The Resort also boasts a selection of restaurants & bars and extensive conference and banqueting facilities.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Northern Ireland Tourism.
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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Galgorm Resort is celebrated for its sumptuous spa amenities and tranquil, picturesque setting, with many guests lauding the welcoming atmosphere adorned with festive decorations. While the rooms are often noted for their comfort and luxury, some travelers have reported issues regarding cleanliness, noise, and maintenance.
Service quality appears to be a mixed bag, with accolades for the staff's friendliness juxtaposed against critiques of sluggish service. Despite the general cleanliness and well-maintained facilities, the value proposition has been questioned by guests who feel services may not justify the premium pricing.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Welcoming
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Lavish
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I was in the hotel for my wife's work event over the weekend, I have to say that this hotel from the time you walk in to the time you leave, the staff makes you feel like family. Not one staff member that I had walked by or who had served me look like they did not like being at the hotel, all were friendly, they all said hi and smiled. No request was to big of an ask. All the staff members were very professional at all times. We had dinner two nights in the ball room and I have to say the staff working the event was very organized, professional. There was one C&B staff member by the name of Joel Telford who I had the pleasure of having on my table for the two nights, he was attentive and professional at all times. The bed room was extremely beautiful, very clean and over looking the thermal village. the hallways were very clean, well lite at night. Food in this hotel is worth every penny you pay. the staff in the restaurants were great, and a pleasure to have meet. Breakfast was very good and I found it to be very easy to get what you want, plenty of staff to guide you if you need help. Bar staff were very polite and very good at there trade. I meet one of the management staff, Assistant Operation Manager Charlotte McClean. Every time I saw her, she had a smile on and a warm greeting, again anything ask of her was not a challenge or issue.Working in the hotel trade myself as a Duty Manager, I have to say to all the staff what a great job they are doing.
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Date of stay: January 2020
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 CMcCleanGalgorm, Manager at Galgorm Resort
Responded 2 Feb 2020
Good Evening shawnmU3434EX, Thank you for taking the time to post a review. I am delighted to read such positive feedback regarding your recent experience at the Resort, and I am glad that you were able to make us of our facilities whilst at the Resort. You mention the staff and I must say that we are very proud of the team that we have and appreciate that it is they that truly make the difference. It was a pleasure meeting you at the weekend, and I hope that we have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the near future. Many Thanks, Charlotte McClean Assistant Operations Manager
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Both my partner and I stayed for my partner's 40th birthday. We had an amazing stay. The spa and body massage treatment we had was top class. Food at Gilles was excellent and staff were very pleasant. The room was spacious and airy, with a very comfortable supersized bed.
The only gripe i would have with the Galgorm was our spa time. I was contacted the day before to confirm all our timings from arrival and throughout our stay. Check in was 3pm. A friend had arranged a birthday gift of prosecco in the room. So my partner and i had a drink and then decided to head to the spa. After 1 hour in the spa we had a massage booked at 5pm. After this it was time to return to the room and prepare for our meal.
After a 3 course meal it was late in the evening. So we had a drink in the conservatory and returned to our room. The following morning we attended the spa at 7.30 before breakfast at 9.30am. The lady on reception informed me that the spa was opening at 8am. So i gave my room number and was informed that i was only permitted to use the spa facilities on the day i arrived up until 10pm. If i wanted to use the spa it would be £20 each. I informed the lady that our breakfast was booked for 9.30am and would be leaving the spa at 8.30am. Therefore i decided not to pay £40 for a half hr in the spa.
I just felt that after spending £420 on an overnight stay that i would have had longer than an hour in the spa facilities.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip 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 Chloe Robb, General Manager at Galgorm Resort
Responded 30 Aug 2020
Good Afternoon michelleoN1759SI, Thank you for taking the time to post a review; I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed your overall stay. I would like to apologise for any disappointment you felt on the morning of check out, I have passed your feedback on to the Spa Management team. I do hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to the Resort in the near future. Kind regards, Charlotte McClean Assistant Operations Manager
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Very hard to fault. If you are looking for somewhere where you are guaranteed fantastic service, food and facilities all in one...this is the place for you. There are a variety of restaurants on site to suit all preferences (and budgets). The hotel rooms are spotless. There is both a bath and shower and you are provided with a free mini bar/some snacks (always a plus).
Personally speaking, the spa is the best feature of the resort. Opening times in the spa are 8am-10pm with the busiest period being between 3-6pm. **Tip for the spa** Although you can’t check into your room until 3pm, you can access the spa from 12pm. This is a relatively quiet time in the spa and if you’re someone who wants to avoid the crowds, it is definitely worth arriving earlier.
The elephant in the room is the room prices. At cheapest, you’re talking £300+ for an overnight stay with some rooms doubling in price during weekends. If you’re someone who like me, wouldn’t dream of paying £500+ for a night away, it’s worth noting that you can grab yourself a good deal if you’re prepared to book in advance. Keep an eye out for weekday stays with standard room prices starting from £180.
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
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We are just back from a one night stay at Galgorm, a place we try to visit at least a few times per year as we usual love our stays there. On arrival we were given our room. The room was clean but a few things had been missed (there were coins on the floor behind the chairs). We got ready to go down to the spa, our favourite! However we were so disappointed. The spa area was hiving (despite it being dinner time) and we spent the majority of our time walking round and round or sitting outside in the cold to try and find an available spot on a bed or in a hot tub. We eventually got settled after about an hour and a half and sat on the heated beds. At this point some staff members went into the room opposite to the area we were in. Then began over an hours worth of drilling (?) and banging, with the door opening and closing and the members of staff shouting to one another above the noise - not very relaxing! We went to Fratelli later in the evening and were greeted warmly. The food was good and the service was great, however the table was not clean with crumbs all over the booth seats and cutlery and slices of someone’s pizza on the floor. I advised the waitress of this and she was apologetic however the lack of cleanliness was off putting. Following returning to our room I opened the mini bar. Being coeliac I couldn’t drink the beer. I rang guest services and asked if this could be changed to wine. The staff member advised that he didn’t know and would need to find a manager to ask. For such a simple request I felt the response was poor. This morning we went down to the spa following check out and approached the desk. The staff member asked for our room number which we provided. She then stated “£30 each.” Given the experience we had had the day prior we did not want to pay this. The woman then pointed to a basket and told us to put our robes in there. She then turned our back on us. I was disappointed by her attitude and we decided to just go home from there.
We have had many many wonderful stays at Galgorm and we love visiting! We were just disappointed by last nights stay.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip 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 CMcCleanGalgorm, Manager at Galgorm Resort
Responded 12 Feb 2020
Good Morning head06, Thank you for taking the time to post a review. I am sorry to hear about the issues that you experienced and would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter with you. I would be grateful if you could contact me at cmcclean@galgorm.com Kind regards, Charlotte McClean Assistant Operations Manager
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We booked to go to Galgorm back in November 2018 after our wedding, having been advised to wait to a later date for their new packages for 2019. We booked a "3 night retreat package" on the website, confirmed with credit card etc. Whilst attempting to book our dinner reservations (included on the deal) in September as well as some additional treatments, we were informed that the package was no longer available. After following up with an email of proof of the previous promise and my disappointment I was informed the package would be honoured. On check in we had some family who had booked us into the Gin Tasting as well as ordering us a bottle of prosecco for our room, we had also booked some treatments so when we paid significantly more than the package on check in we had thought it was due to some of these additional items. During the stay, the spa was so busy, we could not use most of the hot tubs. On arrival to the spa, our bags were taken of us as there were no lockers left. Whilst in the spa, I noticed that our bags had been put in a corner looking out on the swimming pool for everyone's view. This had never been mentioned by staff and I ended up lifting the bags myself without staff noticing afterwards. Our food and service was brilliant throughout. The gin tasting was super as well as our spa treatments. However on check out, we were again questioned on the package we were on and asked to again show proof of it. The staff member asked us to take a seat in reception whilst she went to management. Our bill was adapted slightly but when home we noticed we had still been overcharged. We contacted them again and received a refund after emails back and forth. I thought this was such bad form to have several attempts of not honouring a package and overcharging on multiple occasions. We had bought many large vouchers for family and friends for this resort before our own visit but safe to say we wouldn't be doing so again.
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Date of stay: October 2019Trip 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 CMcCleanGalgorm, Manager at Galgorm Resort
Responded 23 Jan 2020
Good Evening GraTravels, Thank you for taking the time to post a review. I am sorry to hear about the issues that you experienced and would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter with you. I would be grateful if you could contact me at cmcclean@galgorm.com Kind regards, Charlotte McClean Assistant Operations Manager
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A nice hotel, with lovely facilities; however, I felt it contained a number of flaws too.
The location and hotel building itself is lovely. Plenty of parking spaces, with a bumpy walk in to reception. We were welcomed by a lovely man at the front door who directed us to a separate check in area further down the hotel. Check in was quick, as we arrived at 3pm but there was a big queue behind us.
Junior suite was lovely, very spacious. No AC but a Dyson fan provided much needed cool air. No plugs beside the beds so all devices had to be charged on the table opposite the bed. A little bit inconvenient. TV with many channels that didn’t work and facility to connect tablet for Netflix etc but that didn’t work either. Mini bar with a couple of drinks is a nice touch.
We went down to the spa before dinner and it was absolutely packed. Not relaxing in any way. Had a quick swim but couldn’t get near any of the other facilities like the hot tubs, steam room etc. Far too many people packed into the area with both day guests and residents wandering around looking for free spots around the spa.
Food was lovely. Ate in both Fratelli’s and Gillies. Breakfast in the River Room was great and the staff were very friendly and welcoming.
In other areas other the hotel, I found the staff disinterested and, in some cases, rude. There was no space in the River Room or conservatory for lunch, while waiting for our room to be serviced (which didn’t happen until 3pm). Loads of free tables but we were told there were booked for afternoon tea. We moved to the bar to grab some coffees and were left waiting for our orders. At one point, a handy man commented on where we were sitting and swore about it within our earshot.
Stayed two nights and felt that we spent a lot of the time either waiting for our room to be serviced or trying to find spaces in the spa. No where really for guests to relax in the common spaces without crowds or reserved tables.
I was really looking forward to checking out Galgorm, as I had heard good things; however, will head towards tried and trusted hotels for relaxing breaks in the future.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip 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 Chloe Robb, General Manager at Galgorm Resort
Responded 26 Feb 2020
Good Morning Carolnin, Thank you for taking the time to post a review. I am sorry to hear about the issues that you experienced and would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter with you. I would be grateful if you could contact me at cmcclean@galgorm.com Kind regards, Charlotte McClean Assistant Operations Manager
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My partner and I checked into one of the luxurious Galgorm cottages on Monday November 2nd for a 2 night stay. Located just next to the Galgorm hotel, our cottage was very modern, clean and cosy and consisted of a full kitchen, living and dining area, large bathroom and a bedroom fitted with large, comfortable king size bed. With the current COVID restrictions some parts of the hotel and grounds such as the restaurants and bars were understandably off limits but the Fratelli restaurant inside the resort offered a takeaway service which we found very efficient and made use of both nights. The food was delicious and was delivered hot from the kitchen to our cottage door within 15 minutes of our phone order. Fratelli also offered a generous dine in breakfast both mornings. During our stay we spent a lot of time in the Galgorm thermal village which we couldn’t get enough of. This consisted of state of the art outdoor facilities located along the scenic, wooded river such as heated pools, jacuzzis, saunas, steam rooms and more. It was a truly sensational and tranquil experience and would rival any similar resort anywhere in Europe. In our time at the resort we found any staff members we encountered to be friendly and helpful. My only complaint is that we couldn’t stay longer.
Will definitely return.
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Date of stay: November 2020Trip 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 Chloe Robb, General Manager at Galgorm Resort
Responded 13 Nov 2020
Good Afternoon cgreene94, Thank you for taking the time to post a review. I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time with us and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to the Resort in the near future. Kind regards, Charlotte McClean Assistant Operations Manager
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If you get an opportunity to visit the Galgorm, do not even hesitate. It’s an unbelievable hotel that oozes class in all departments from staff to food to the spa.
Rooms: Our room was perfect, so clean and had everything we needed. Even had a Christmas tree which was a nice touch. Hand sanitiser and bottled water delivered to the room each night which was a nice touch.
Spa: Amazing! The Thermal village is so spacious and feels safe even during these strange times. We used it everyday. It does get busy around 3pm when new guests check in but still plenty of space for everyone. Just heaven. We also went for 2 spa treatments and they were unreal. So relaxing and the 90 minutes was fab! Thanks to Jade and Alice for making these treatments amazing (we even dozed off!!) Cocktails available in one Jacuzzi area which were nice but pricey!
Food&drink: Great selection for breakfast and so tasty. Couldn’t fault it. We ate in Fratelli’s both evenings and one was better than the other! However we do recommend the pizza and tiramisu! A few more pasta options would have been nice. Had a few cocktails in the conservatory as well, great choice here! Mince pies and hot chocolate delivered to the room was a nice added touch, as was the marshmallows and mulled wine by the fire in the gardens. Just the extra touches makes you feel extra special.
Staff: so friendly and attentive, can’t do enough for you and being extra safe during these times. Check in and check out quick and effective. Special mention to Tegan who seemed to be everywhere and did her job to the highest standard with the friendliest smile in the restaurants onsite.
We can’t wait to go back!!
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip 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 Chloe Robb, General Manager at Galgorm Resort
Responded 27 Dec 2020
Good Evening Rosh1888, Thank you for taking the time to post a review. I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us. You mention the staff and I must say that we are very proud of the team that we have and appreciate that it is they that truly make the difference. I do hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to the Resort in the near future. Kind regards, Charlotte McClean Assistant Operations Manager
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We spent the night here before Valentine's. We were extremely impressed with the hotel and its facilities and would completely recommend to anyone we know.
The rooms are lovely and only have one flaw that there were no plugs beside the bed in the one we were in.
The spa village is out of this world and the best we have ever experienced.
The breakfast and dinner in the grill we had was fabulous and we could not fault it especially the breakfast we really enjoyed it with all the different options.
All staff we met had top class customer service skills and were a pleasure to deal with.
The complementary mini bar is packed with wine, beer, water and fizzy drinks and is a really nice added touch.
We will must definitely be back but next time for more than one night.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip 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 Chloe Robb, General Manager at Galgorm Resort
Responded 3 Mar 2020
Good Afternon travell90, Thank you for taking the time to post a review. I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time with us and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to the Resort in the near future. Kind regards, Charlotte McClean Assistant Operations Manager
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We stayed as a treat because we missed our vacation abroad. Check in was fast but we were given a 15.30 check in time which was a bit late and I would have preferred earlier. I did ask on the phone but was told it was the earliest they had. We went to the thermal village and it was amazing so many relaxing areas to go to and everything was clean and well kept. We had dinner in the river room. It was amazing but the portion were very small. A little bag was left at our room in the evening with water which was lovely. The room was lovely but we stayed on a hot weekend and it was so warm. There was a Dyson air cooler which we had help putting on but it didn't cool the room much and was very noisy we couldn't sleep with it on. Breakfast was the only thing I didn't really enjoy. The pancakes didn't taste like they were freshly made so I didn't eat those. Overall a fantastic stay and we will be back but I would like to book 2 days or earlier check in as I felt like I didn't have enough time in the thermal village with the late check in and having my meal booked for 7pm.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip 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 Chloe Robb, General Manager at Galgorm Resort
Responded 17 Aug 2020
Good Evening GraceL1645, Thank you for taking the time to post a review; I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed your overall stay. I would like to apologise for any disappointment you felt during your stay. I have raised your issues with the relevant departments to ensure all are addressed. I do hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to the Resort in the near future. Kind regards, Charlotte McClean Assistant Operations Manager
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Newry, United Kingdom315 contributions246 helpful votes
I don’t know
We only called in for dinner
Food was ok drinks in bar very expensive
The food manager replied on line ( public) that she wanted to speak to me about our experience
I contacted her — she was away on holiday — but NEVER contacted me
There are more places to choose from in the Ballymena area.
PRICE RANGE
$445 - $683 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
galgorm resort and spa, galgorm hotel ballymena, galgorm manor hotel, galgorm manor ballymena
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Galgorm Manor
LOCATION
United KingdomNorthern IrelandCounty AntrimBallymena
NUMBER OF ROOMS
125
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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