Recently, Her.ie hit up the crazy Friday afternoon traffic from Dublin and made our escape to the sunny south east. We were lucky enough to spend two fabulous nights at the luxury Kelly’s Resort Hotel and Spa, and here are our top reasons why you should made a visit too…
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A Warm Welcome
Kelly’s is a family-run resort, and it has all the markings of it. A warm welcome is a balm for a weary traveller, and it’s clear throughout a trip that a huge emphasis is placed on staff training – they all look delighted to see you morning, noon and night. The volume of returning visitors is testament to this ethos.
Location, Location, Location
The sunny South East is a dream location, whatever time of year. Kelly’s Resort is set perched on the edge of a glorious five-mile stretch of sandy Wexford beach that makes for a perfect playground in summer, and an incredible view from a cosy room on the less agreeable days.
Laughter By Night
One of the sweetest things about this destination is the familial atmosphere. In the nicest possible way, evenings in the bar are reminiscent of the ballrooms in holiday resorts you might have visited as a child, or aboard a cruise ship. Young and old hit the dancefloor for some good old-fashioned waltzing. It’s a world away from modern life, and as such – a tonic for the soul.
Dine Till You Drop
We shouldn’t encourage gluttony, but lets just say you really shouldn’t visit during a diet. The food at Kelly’s Resort is spectacular. Whether you opt for La Marine Bistro or Beaches Restaurant, you can expect top-quality food from local suppliers, including delicious farmhouse cheeses, tender lamb, and beef and seafood from Kilmore Quay.
Raise Your Glass
Just as the food alone is reason enough to visit, so too is the wine list. Kelly’s Resort boasts one of the most impressive in the country, with a cellar full of treasures including hard-to-find gems along with organic and biodynamic wines. A delicious Cotes-Du-Rhone starts from €25, but if your wallet is large enough you can go all the way up to a whopping €440 for a Domaine Ramonet, le Montrachet Grand Cru, billed as “Undoubtedly, the world’s greatest white wine”.
It’s An Art
One of the most striking things about the hotel is the awe-inspiring art collection. More impressive than the haul of many Irish galleries, the Kelly’s collection has been built up over 40-odd years and nowadays is undoubtedly one of the best exhibits of traditional art. Including pieces by Howard Hodgkin, David Hitchens, Elizabeth Blackadder, Joan Eardley, William Crozier and Josef Herman alongside works by the likes of Picasso, Miro, and Andy Worhal. It’s possible to wander around the halls for hours just taking them all in.
Pamper and Preen
If we were biased we’d name the SeaSpa the jewel in the Kelly’s crown. Using the healing seawater from the Rosslare coastline, guests can experience all the benefits of thalassotherapy, as well as a wide range of other treatments. The beautiful spa incorporates 11 treatment rooms, a couples suite, a seawater vitality pool, a bio sauna, seaweed baths, a pebble walkway, an ice fountain, a mud room, a salt-infused steam room and rainforest showers. On our visit we opted for a massage, and practically floated home after. Divine.
For more on Kelly’s Resort and to book, call 053 9132114 or visit their website here.
