My spouse and I recently had the misfortune of staying at the Dalmahoy, which claims to be a luxury hotel. Sadly, the experience was far from luxurious. The staff were aloof, showing a glaring lack of attentiveness and a service level more befitting of an inattentive butler from a comedy show. Breakfast was a lowlight, easily the most lackluster we've ever endured.
Aesthetically, the hotel is trapped in a bygone era, and not in a charming, vintage way. It's just outdated, with interiors that evoke the term "old crap" more than anything else. The water system seems equally ancient, requiring a near-epic wait of over 30 minutes just to get cold water in the mornings.
The price of 300 GBP per night hinted at a posh experience, but what we received was reminiscent of a youth hostel. And that’s being generous! Even a Premier Inn offers a superior experience, and that's saying something.
While they entice you with promises of sleeping in a castle, this is far from the truth. The castle houses only a restaurant and a couple of conference rooms. Bedrooms are unceremoniously tucked away in a nondescript building from the 1990s – hardly the fairytale experience we were led to believe.
To top it off, the noise levels were unbearable. Light sleepers, be warned: the slamming doors will rouse you well before you’re ready to face the disappointments of the day. All in all, the Dalmahoy was a monumental letdown. It’s a castle of broken promises,