Sheraton Hotel Athlone

Comic Book Guy

Hi All,

My Fiance and i are planning on getting married in Summer 2012. At the moment the 2 of us are 50 50 on whether to get married here or in Portugal. We are heading to portugal in late september for a week to take a look at whats on offer over there.
Back home we have visited the Sheraton in Athlone and were impressed with the whole set up.
Just wondering has anyone here been to a wedding here or even had their reception in the hotel and what were your experiences.

Any feedback would be gratefully received.

lazygal

I was at the worst wedding I was ever at here, even my very laid back boyfriend said he'd never go there again.

It is the most confusing layout in terms of our room and finding the pre-reception and reception area I've ever come across. There was no one around to ask where to go and we decided to go to the hotel cafe for a sandwich while waiting for things to get going - had to leave the hotel and re-enter through the shopping centre to find it.


The service and food was mediocre and the room was too big for the number of guests, with no attempt to partition it. Others at the wedding said the same. Worst of all, when we got to our room at 2.30 am the sheets on the bed were dirty and we were waiting an hour for them to change them. Would avoid it like the plague.


Sorry if anyone takes offence, I just had a terrible experiance there.

Sunny Dayz

We viewed the Sheraton earlier this summer for wedding.

What we didn't like was the honeymoon suite! Quite fancy, won't mind it for the actual honey moon, but not for a wedding night were you would only get to spend a couple of hours in it. I just feel I wouldn't get the use out of it. IMO all you want is a bed for the night!! But the bed area was up a narrow winding and steep stairway in the room, myself and my hubbie-to-be agreed that we would probably end up sleeping on the sofas as we would be too tired/tipsy to make it up them steps!!

In the reception room, they have a lovely feature wall and we said, that would be a nice place to have the top table but our guide said, oh no, most people have their top table over here by the window with the curtains closed, they were drab and dark curtains!! Why??

The staff member who showed us around was very nice and couldn't be more helpful, it looks to be a lovely hotel, bit confusing to find my way around but it was my first time in it. My other half often attends work conferences in it and never had any complaints about the hotel.

Bear in mind there are other hotels in Athlone...

cruty

Hi,
was at my friend's wedding in the Sheraton 2 years ago and I had a very positive experience. The wedding co-ordinator was constantly checking in on the bride a few weeks before the wedding. They were very professional and everything went off with our a hitch. The lay out is a little confusing but the interior is lovely and modern.
I recently enquired about their packages and found it good. They showed me around the hotel and invited me to a tasting lunchen last weekend with 10 other couples who were also thinking of having their wedding there. The food was incredible! The chef came out and talked to us. Any of the staff that we met made a big fuss of us.
The wedding co-ordinator was very bubbly and professional and I can imagine that you would certainly trust her to make sure everything goes well on your wedding day.

wyneo

Sunny Dayz wrote: »

What we didn't like was the honeymoon suite! Quite fancy, won't mind it for the actual honey moon, but not for a wedding night were you would only get to spend a couple of hours in it. I just feel I wouldn't get the use out of it. IMO all you want is a bed for the night!! But the bed area was up a narrow winding and steep stairway in the room, myself and my hubbie-to-be agreed that we would probably end up sleeping on the sofas as we would be too tired/tipsy to make it up them steps!!

There's another door directly into the bedroom of the suite, so you can just get the lift up another floor and avoid the windy stairs. When we booked our wedding here we got the night after thrown in too (didn't ask for it), so there is the chance to enjoy the suite.

So far all experiences with the hotel have been very good. We got so many freebies that I couldn't possibly find fault (yet anyway).

afkasurfjunkie

they are having their wedding fair this weekend on sunday. might be some good deals to be had or special offers on the day.

redhead99

Booked my wedding there (Aug 2011) based on the excellent word or mouth recommendations and fantastic package we got.:):D

With reference to the honeymoon suite - for the couple that did not like it - they actually have 2 and the second does not have stairs. Its called the purple room.

Have another look!

Comic Book Guy

Congrats Redhead!

We have talked with their wedding planner a couple of times. Were ye able to bargain them much under the 60 euro per person price that they offer?

Featherl

Sheraton is a nice new modern hotel.

Have you tried many other hotels? In Athlone?

Hodson Bay Hotel is nice, Athlone Springs is new and is popular.

Also, Shamrock Lodge Hotel.

skregs

Went to a wedding there. Rooms weren't ready, had to get changed in the bathroom!

Service of the catering staff was very slow, but aside from those two points it was nice, if underwhelming

fat__tony

If only you folk knew of the problems surrounding the Sheraton over the past 18 months.

Leaks from dodgy plumbing, burst sewer pipework the lot.

It's a nice hotel so hopefully all is okay now.

wyneo

Probably a little late to add this to the thread but incase it's of help to anyone ..... we've had our reception here over a month ago. I really can't find fault with anything.
We got an excellent price per person and so many added extras. The food was excellent, the staff were friendly and very professional. Staff were also very good in dealing with the Children at the wedding.
Talking to guests later, they all raved about the food.

Just one thing to take note of .... It's a long walk to some of the rooms in the tower of the hotel, so if you have any older guests staying over I'd recommend you get them booked into the rooms that aren't in the tower.

andylennon11

I can't decide between the shearwater ballinasloe hotel and the shearton athlone hotel to have my wedding at Xmas. I'm so confused as I love them both. Anyone been to both for wedding? It's for a small wedding.

copyandpaste

andylennon11 wrote: »

I can't decide between the shearwater ballinasloe hotel and the shearton athlone hotel to have my wedding at Xmas. I'm so confused as I love them both. Anyone been to both for wedding? It's for a small wedding.

Hi, did you decide on a venue? I am looking at hotels in Athlone area too for my wedding next year. Just wondering how big is your wedding? we are currently trying to decide on numbers. I am thinking of having mine in the Sheraton Athlone or in the Hudson Bay. I am only starting to look now, so would be interested in other peoples views.

clint_silver

andylennon11 wrote: »

I can't decide between the shearwater ballinasloe hotel and the shearton athlone hotel to have my wedding at Xmas. I'm so confused as I love them both. Anyone been to both for wedding? It's for a small wedding.

both very good, you genuinely wont go wrong in either of them so if you cant decide, maybe pick the best value or most convenient for people to stay in/travel to or the one with cheaper guest rooms.

guests wont know or even think you thought about it but youll know you saved everyone 30-40 quid less for a room for the night.
not that I know if theres a price difference but you could find out.

I was at a wedding in the sheraton last year where there was at least 300, see if theyll shorten the room. I think they can.

witnessmenow

andylennon11 wrote: »

I can't decide between the shearwater ballinasloe hotel and the shearton athlone hotel to have my wedding at Xmas. I'm so confused as I love them both. Anyone been to both for wedding? It's for a small wedding.

Probably to late but the Sheraton is a bad choice for a Christmas wedding. Simply because there will not be enough parking for your guests!

clint_silver

witnessmenow wrote: »

Probably to late but the Sheraton is a bad choice for a Christmas wedding. Simply because there will not be enough parking for your guests!

While a good point as the car park is so small, one must ask the question is there more parking required at christmas time than summer time? :P

lazygal

clint_silver wrote: »

While a good point as the car park is so small, one must ask the question is there more parking required at christmas time than summer time? :P

Loads of Christmas shoppers in the centre parking in the shared car park I'd imagine.