Wineport or Sheraton Athlone?

havana

Hi - didn't know whether to post this here or Midlands forum so did both. Not sure if duplicate posts are allowed - if not feel free to delete one of them.

Anyways.....

I want to take himself away for his birthday. Am trying to decide between the Wineport or Sheraton in Athlone. I'm leaning towards the Wineport, cos it looks lovely and relaxing, but as I'm sorta working from a budget I'm concerned that the restaurant looks a little pricey! Is it a long/ expensive trek into Athlone by taxi to a nice restaurant, or would I be better off booking in the town.

I'm not looking for somewhere close to pubs etc - for a change this will hopefully be a relaxing break, with nice food and the odd spa treatment. Any reviews on the spas in the two hotels?

Thanks and sorry for all the questions!

P. Breathnach

I didn't know the Wineport had a spa! But I write from a male's point of view and, like the typical Irishman, I have no great interest in spas. Does your fellow, or is that bit for yourself? [No, I'm not suggesting that you should be denied all pleasures just because it is meant as a treat for him; I'm just inviting you to rank the prioroties.]

I am happy to go out of my way to eat at the Wineport. If I were staying in Athlone, I'd be willing to pay the taxi fares to visit it. Yes, it's a bit pricey, but I don't think unreasonably so, taking account of the quality. Great setting, too.

havana

Well he mentioned in the past wanting a massage so i'm grabbing on to that idea :-)

maybe i should just bite the bullet and book the wineport. At first glance it looks more expensive but there are some lovely extras included like wine in the room on arrival and free room service.

from reading up on the spa it doesn't seem to be the 'whole' spa experience you might get elsewhere but has everything we need.

Sometimes i think too much about things instead of going with my gut :-)

thanks:-)

ryue65

The food in the wineport is excellent. An alernative is to eat in Grogans in Glasson which is very close to the wineport or at the Village Inn? both are good.

The Sheraton Athlone is a new hotel, very clean. However I'd reccomend eating out ( not at the hotel). There are some decent restaurants on the Roscommon side of the bridge, near the castle.

lumo22

wineport lodge is really nice, food great, spa etc and a cool hot tub on the roof!!!!!

havana

Its gas i also posted this in the westmeath forum and everyone there said avoid the wineport! Thats the problem with asking advice. You get it and it just confuses you more:-)

but thanks- still no closer to an opinion.

ncmc

Havana, I stayed in the Sheraton for a family get-together in October and was pretty un-impressed . First of all, I thought it was pretty expensive, it is located above a shopping centre so the location is pretty unromantic (but obviosly very central for Athlone). I thought the whole hotel was very souless, it had no character whatsoever, the rooms were very bog standard and the bathroom was so dark, you couldn't but on your make-up (also the shower floor is dangerously slippy, it's taking your life in your hands every time you take a shower!). The breakfast is only ok, the restaurant again only ok. My biggest bugbear was the fact that to get to your room, you had to take two lifts and walk endless corridors, it is the most confusing place I have ever stayed. It would be grand if you were just looking for a place to crash after a night on the town, but for a romantic break, I would give it a wide bearth. However, I didn't use the spa or leisure facilities, so I can't comment on them.

blast05

As one who lives half way between Athlone and Glasson and has tried all the restaurants and know what all the hotels are like, then i have to say i would say in the Radisson in town (although not fully sure re their Spa facilities) and eat in the Village Inn in Glasson - €12-15 taxi each way from town. I think the Wineport is spectacularly over-rated and agree that the Sheraton is a bit soulless (spel?) .... and is rumoured to be closing within a month. For a few pints after dinner it would have to be either Grogans in Glasson or Seans or The West back in town (both pubs beside one another and only a couple of hundred metres from the Radisson).

Another alternative is just stay for the full weekend out in the Hodson Bay ( 3 or 4 miles out the Roscommon road from Athlone)

ncmc

and is rumoured to be closing within a month.

Is that true Blast? Did it not only open quite recently? That would be a major shock. It will be interesting to see how many of these big new hotels will be around in 2 years time.

paulusdu

sorry to hijack an old thread but does anyone know roughly how much it would cost in a taxi from the radisson to the wineport lodge?

coylemj

paulusdu wrote: »

sorry to hijack an old thread but does anyone know roughly how much it would cost in a taxi from the radisson to the wineport lodge?

It's about 7 kms so should come in at about €10 one way. The taxis in Athlone are all metered.