Never let me hear about kerry hospitality services again

OK, I know, a click bait heading.

I never want to hear kerry hospitality services moaning about lost customers.

Took a few day trips this week with the family. Went to Clare and today to South kerry.

When I asked the person serving ice cream cones to not handle the cone I was going to eat,all I got was abuse. From him and his boss.

I was apparently being unreasonable asking he pick up the cone with a tissue rather than his bare hands.
The sanitiser he was adamant he had just used (he didn't) he couldn't find.

Went onto another establishment later hoping to get a meal.

Nope, don't serve kids after 5.30 from the restaurant. I was told to go around the corner to their pizza bar which had seats on the street. I couldn't even bring the pizza around to the restaurant outside seating area while my wife and I ate a meal. My kids didn't want pizza.

Anyway, took my business elsewhere and went to the local pub.

Granted seats were on the street. Beer garden was being renovated.

They had a kids menu. My son wanted a burger which was only on the adults menu. To their credit, it wasn't a problem. He got his burger and chips with all the dressings for the kids price.
The adults had a lovely lasagne with salad and garlic bread.

And kerry hospitality businesses are moaning they have no customers. If this is how 2/3 of them treat their customers they don't deserve to be in business
(size of the survey was 3. +/- 0)
Anyway, rant over.

Darc19

You're probably a local

The good service is reserved for tourists who will spend money.

KevRossi

I was last in Kerry for a longer holiday in 2015. Crazy prices. Near Dublin levels in Dingle and Killarney.

Went to Kenmare where it was a lot better and just headed to the Beara Peninsula for the last couple of holidays. It's just as beautiful, less arrogant, and a damn sight cheaper.

Darc19

Darc19 wrote: »

You're probably a local

The good service is reserved for tourists who will spend money.

I'm a blow in. Anyway. Its 2 businesses I'll never set foot in again.

I'm sure the fsai would like to visit one of them.

4Ad

KevRossi wrote: »

I was last in Kerry for a longer holiday in 2015. Crazy prices. Near Dublin levels in Dingle and Killarney.

Went to Kenmare where it was a lot better and just headed to the Beara Peninsula for the last couple of holidays. It's just as beautiful, less arrogant, and a damn sight cheaper.

Killarney, when I was last there, 3 years ago was so expensive, esp for food ! They really seemed to aim for the American market...

dobman88

What were the places?

HeidiHeidi

SouthWesterly wrote: »

I'm a blow in. Anyway. Its 2 businesses I'll never set foot in again.

I'm sure the fsai would like to visit one of them.

Vote with your feet, fair enough.

If your second paragraph is serious, though, act on it - for everyone's sake.

Darc19

SouthWesterly wrote: »

I'm a blow in. Anyway. Its 2 businesses I'll never set foot in again.

I'm sure the fsai would like to visit one of them.

Because they used their hands?

Hope you never see a working kitchen.


There is absolutely no issue whatsoever in using bare hands for food handling. Usually it's cleaner than the false sense of gloves.

Where there could be an issue is the twin process of using bare hands for multiple tasks such as ice cream and money, or ice-cream and raw meat.

But ice cream on its own, salads on their own, raw meat on its own - no problem whatsoever and that's in the fsai haccp food handling manual

WesternZulu

Yerra

Purple Mountain

SouthWesterly wrote: »

OK, I know, a click bait heading.

I never want to hear kerry hospitality services moaning about lost customers.

Took a few day trips this week with the family. Went to Clare and today to South kerry.

When I asked the person serving ice cream cones to not handle the cone I was going to eat,all I got was abuse. From him and his boss.

I was apparently being unreasonable asking he pick up the cone with a tissue rather than his bare hands.
The sanitiser he was adamant he had just used (he didn't) he couldn't find.

Went onto another establishment later hoping to get a meal.

Nope, don't serve kids after 5.30 from the restaurant. I was told to go around the corner to their pizza bar which had seats on the street. I couldn't even bring the pizza around to the restaurant outside seating area while my wife and I ate a meal. My kids didn't want pizza.

Anyway, took my business elsewhere and went to the local pub.

Granted seats were on the street. Beer garden was being renovated.

They had a kids menu. My son wanted a burger which was only on the adults menu. To their credit, it wasn't a problem. He got his burger and chips with all the dressings for the kids price.
The adults had a lovely lasagne with salad and garlic bread.

And kerry hospitality businesses are moaning they have no customers. If this is how 2/3 of them treat their customers they don't deserve to be in business
(size of the survey was 3. +/- 0)
Anyway, rant over.

In relation to the ice cream. Did you ask to look in the food prep area of the pub where you ate?
Do you think they were wearing gloves cooking your kid's chips and burgers?
Same thing.

Darc19

Darc19 wrote: »

Because they used their hands?

Hope you never see a working kitchen.


There is absolutely no issue whatsoever in using bare hands for food handling. Usually it's cleaner than the false sense of gloves.

Where there could be an issue is the twin process of using bare hands for multiple tasks such as ice cream and money, or ice-cream and raw meat.

But ice cream on its own, salads on their own, raw meat on its own - no problem whatsoever and that's in the fsai haccp food handling manual

Same person was taking the money.
I've been in some of the countries best known kitchens. I wouldn't eat in some of their restaurants

Purple Mountain

Purple Mountain wrote: »

In relation to the ice cream. Did you ask to look in the food prep area of the pub where you ate?
Do you think they were wearing gloves cooking your kid's chips and burgers?
Same thing.

The kitchen staff didn't handle my money.

touts

Killarney's approach seems to be "You know we're good because we are so expensive. If you don't like it we don't want you."

They have gotten away with rip off prices for generations. But I'm detecting real anger among people this year. If you ask someone about their holiday plans the rip off high prices seem to be main topic of conversation and Killarney in particular is singled out.

PuddingBreath

aw crap, heading that direct shortly, we'll keep our wits about us. that said, we cancelled a foreign hol and are doing kerry on the cheap i.e. not a hotel stay so we're not expecting much 5* carry on. bit of an overhang of the "children are superspreaders " detected from your second example ? kids don't get hungry after half 5 now ? shocking.
that fella handling money and cones is a dirty ****, needs a new job. it's standard practice now to use a tissue. too tight to spend on a few tissues.
the ONLY upside of this covid19 ****e is there's better standards now to basic cleanliness, standards that were waaaay too low beforehand and those old fashioned attitues are a thing of the past, that ice cream fella would want to wake up

BPKS

touts wrote: »

Killarney's approach seems to be "You know we're good because we are so expensive. If you don't like it we don't want you."

They have gotten away with rip off prices for generations. But I'm detecting real anger among people this year. If you ask someone about their holiday plans the rip off high prices seem to be main topic of conversation and Killarney in particular is singled out.

Got a night in a 4 star hotel in Killarney over the bank holiday weekend - including breakfast and 3 course dinner (no supplement for the €26 steak) for €190.

Drink prices in Killarney are the same price as my home town and less than Limerick and Cork cities.

BPKS

PuddingBreath wrote: »

aw crap, heading that direct shortly, we'll keep our wits about us. that said, we cancelled a foreign hol and are doing kerry on the cheap i.e. not a hotel stay so we're not expecting much 5* carry on. bit of an overhang of the "children are superspreaders " detected from your second example ? kids don't get hungry after half 5 now ? shocking.
that fella handling money and cones is a dirty ****, needs a new job. it's standard practice now to use a tissue. too tight to spend on a few tissues.
the ONLY upside of this covid19 ****e is there's better standards now to basic cleanliness, standards that were waaaay too low beforehand and those old fashioned attitues are a thing of the past, that ice cream fella would want to wake up

One persons experience.

newman10

touts wrote: »

Killarney's approach seems to be "You know we're good because we are so expensive. If you don't like it we don't want you."

They have gotten away with rip off prices for generations. But I'm detecting real anger among people this year. If you ask someone about their holiday plans the rip off high prices seem to be main topic of conversation and Killarney in particular is singled out.

Didn't see Killarney being mentioned in the original post

Fils

Did a day trip there around the ring the weekend, most places have made good effort but sadly a lot of shanty town dining areas. The likes wouldn’t be seen in Calcutta.

The_Kitty

SouthWesterly wrote: »

OK, I know, a click bait heading.

I never want to hear kerry hospitality services moaning about lost customers.

Took a few day trips this week with the family. Went to Clare and today to South kerry.

When I asked the person serving ice cream cones to not handle the cone I was going to eat,all I got was abuse. From him and his boss.

I was apparently being unreasonable asking he pick up the cone with a tissue rather than his bare hands.
The sanitiser he was adamant he had just used (he didn't) he couldn't find.

Went onto another establishment later hoping to get a meal.

Nope, don't serve kids after 5.30 from the restaurant. I was told to go around the corner to their pizza bar which had seats on the street. I couldn't even bring the pizza around to the restaurant outside seating area while my wife and I ate a meal. My kids didn't want pizza.

Anyway, took my business elsewhere and went to the local pub.

Granted seats were on the street. Beer garden was being renovated.

They had a kids menu. My son wanted a burger which was only on the adults menu. To their credit, it wasn't a problem. He got his burger and chips with all the dressings for the kids price.
The adults had a lovely lasagne with salad and garlic bread.

And kerry hospitality businesses are moaning they have no customers. If this is how 2/3 of them treat their customers they don't deserve to be in business
(size of the survey was 3. +/- 0)
Anyway, rant over.

That was bad, you're not even meant to handle or eat food after hand sanitiser anyway. Its 70% ethanol. So yeah he should have used a tissue if you asked as thats only being reasonable.

The_Kitty

BPKS wrote: »

Got a night in a 4 star hotel in Killarney over the bank holiday weekend - including breakfast and 3 course dinner (no supplement for the €26 steak) for €190.

Drink prices in Killarney are the same price as my home town and less than Limerick and Cork cities.

Was that for 2 people because that is very good for Killarney. Can you say the name of the hotel?

Calahonda52

Had two nights for two in Ballygarry House outside Tralee on the B/H weekend.
We dined well, bottle of wine each for dinner, c 30 euro a pop
availed of the spa treatments for a fee,
got free charging for our EV
free bike hire
all for euro 990.19 and 100% supporting an Irish business with Irish suppliers of food, so none of your asparagus from Peru

great staff,
great service
great food
great wines
great room
great parking
great gardens

bonus: TK max down the road

Ciarrai76

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Had two nights for two in Ballygarry House outside Tralee on the B/H weekend.
We dined well, bottle of wine each for dinner, c 30 euro a pop
availed of the spa treatments for a fee,
got free charging for our EV
free bike hire
all for euro 990.19 and 100% supporting an Irish business with Irish suppliers of food, so none of your asparagus from Peru

great staff,
great service
great food
great wines
great room
great parking
great gardens

bonus: TK max down the road

Beautiful hotel! Its still a family run hotel, and the owner has done a great job. The Nadur Spa is fab! Big hit with locals, its so nice!

Calahonda52

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Had two nights for two in Ballygarry House outside Tralee on the B/H weekend.
...
all for euro 990.19 and 100% supporting an Irish business with Irish suppliers of food, so none of your asparagus from Peru

Hands up...there is just no way I'd pay a grand for 2 nights in a hotel, even including evening meals and the free car battery charge.

I actually thought you were going to end with a "it's outrageous"...:D

I guess it's all subjective. 4 of us (2 adults, 2 kids) doing 4 nights in a Cork hotel - leisure centre, very good food - for less.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

I lived 3 and a half years in Tralee and the only touristy stuff we got to do in west or south Kerry was day trips, apart from 1 time we stayed in Caherciveen on a Friday night. Prices for accommodation in west or south Kerry were just prohibitively expensive. I'd still love to do a weekend in Dingle or Kenmare at some stage, but you've to be prepared to pay through the nose, unless you're happy to stay at a hostel or go camping.

Someone mentioned about them aiming for the American tourists and that's exactly what I thought myself, get the cash-rich ones in, clean them out and send them home.

Stihl waters

It's what happens when places don't have to work to attract people's business, in certain places you get a level of arrogance that only comes with unlimited access to constant business where all they have to do is open the doors and a queue starts to form simply because of the amount of people flooding into the same area

Dtp1979

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Had two nights for two in Ballygarry House outside Tralee on the B/H weekend.
We dined well, bottle of wine each for dinner, c 30 euro a pop
availed of the spa treatments for a fee,
got free charging for our EV
free bike hire
all for euro 990.19 and 100% supporting an Irish business with Irish suppliers of food, so none of your asparagus from Peru

great staff,
great service
great food
great wines
great room
great parking
great gardens

bonus: TK max down the road

Lol, a THOUSAND euro??? For 2 nights?? Talk about being ripped off! Jesus Christ

Stihl waters

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Lol, a THOUSAND euro??? For 2 nights?? Talk about being ripped off! Jesus Christ

But they got their EV charged for free, that's got to have knocked 1.50 at least off the cost

Stihl waters

Stihl waters wrote: »

But they got their EV charged for free, that's got to have knocked 1.50 at least off the cost

Plus it's their money and their own business what the do with it.

notAMember

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Plus it's their money and their own business what the do with it.

Plus it’s less than what I’ve seen for 5 star in Kerry at the moment. 1700 for two nights B&B on particular dates in some of the 5 stars.

I’ll be skipping the holiday in Ireland experience this year after phoning a few places, cannot wait to get on a plane when those vaccine passports appear.

JCJCJC

Killarney has always been a rip-off venue. Every business owner there feels entitled to a millionaire’s lifestyle and they charge customers accordingly. Dingle used to be a lot nicer but I haven’t been there for a few years, I hope it hasn’t gone the way of Killarney.

c montgomery

SouthWesterly wrote: »

The kitchen staff didn't handle my money.

Beat they scratched their balls tho

Fils

Saw a woman do that once after paying for a kebab after the rose festival.

Dempo1

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Lol, a THOUSAND euro??? For 2 nights?? Talk about being ripped off! Jesus Christ

Have to agree, It sounds like a massage was thrown in (Their Wallets), mother of God, €1000 for 2 nights, fine hotel to be fair but that just obscene.

Dempo1

JCJCJC wrote: »

Killarney has always been a rip-off venue. Every business owner there feels entitled to a millionaire’s lifestyle and they charge customers accordingly. Dingle used to be a lot nicer but I haven’t been there for a few years, I hope it hasn’t gone the way of Killarney.

I actually think Dingle and indeed Kenmare more expensive, some eye watering prices in restaurants particularly with Guest Houses (Posh B&B"s) nearer to town centre's charging 5 star hotel prices.

Calahonda52

Calahonda52 wrote: »

all for euro 990.19 and 100% supporting an Irish business with Irish suppliers

I hope you posted that up on the rip off Ireland thread,

Dempo1

Dempo1 wrote: »

Have to agree, It sounds like a massage was thrown in (Their Wallets), mother of God, €1000 for 2 nights, fine hotel to be fair but that just obscene.

Fools will always part gladly with there money.

Dempo1

Fred Daly wrote: »

Fools will always part gladly with there money.

I thought the great parking line amusing, @ €1k for two nights, I'd not only be expecting car parking facilities but a full 5 star Valet service

Shaka Hislop

Hotels in Dingle are booked out until after August.
Hotels in Dublin are running at about 13% capacity over the summer months.
There's a multitude of reasons why this is.... but high on the list is covid has been almost eradicated in Kerry... you know you're getting a safe holiday...and that's why people are still flocking down.
I was in Dingle Thursday and the town was very busy, bars, restaurants all doing a roaring trade...a local boat owner is now doing cruises of the bay for hen nights, champers and chocs.....Fungi is a massive loss to that area... but people seem to be adapting, thankfully.

Dempo1

Shaka Hislop wrote: »

Hotels in Dingle are booked out until after August.
Hotels in Dublin are running at about 13% capacity over the summer months.
There's a multitude of reasons why this is.... but high on the list is covid has been almost eradicated in Kerry... you know you're getting a safe holiday...and that's why people are still flocking down.
I was in Dingle Thursday and the town was very busy, bars, restaurants all doing a roaring trade...a local boat owner is now doing cruises of the bay for hen nights, champers and chocs.....Fungi is a massive loss to that area... but people seem to be adapting, thankfully.

Hen night Cruises in Dingle Bay? I've heard it all, No fear is Fungi ever returning if he hears this

Shaka Hislop

Dempo1 wrote: »

Hen night Cruises in Dingle Bay? I've heard it all, No fear is Fungi ever returning if he hears this

Tbf, they have to adapt to the Fungi reality ( ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís)
Fishing is saturated in the area...so hen nights, tours of the area, rod fishing tours etc... adapt or die unfortunately

It's not a uniquely Kerry issue...but the price gouging in the hotel sector across the country is just crazy at the moment.

I know the free market idea is "but people will pay it". They will because they have to...but I hope they remember the worst offenders when it comes to booking next year and hotels here may not a captive audience.

Plus, not every hotel does it. When I said 4 of us are in a Cork hotel with a leisure centre for 4 nights and paying less than what 2 nights for 2 in Tralee is costing (as per the post above), we specifically booked this hotel because they didn't ramp up their price. And we'll be back.

whisky_galore

Dtp1979 wrote: »

Lol, a THOUSAND euro??? For 2 nights?? Talk about being ripped off! Jesus Christ

No, they did have some change out of a grand....

whisky_galore

Dempo1 wrote: »

Hen night Cruises in Dingle Bay? I've heard it all, No fear is Fungi ever returning if he hears this

Marine life love getting gawked on.

Grab All Association

I’ve been to Tralee and Killarney a number of times since 2019. I never spent more than €10 on a visit. I go to Ye Olde Lidl for lunch or Garveys SuperValu. Latter has a great selection of cheeses for sale.

Dempo1

Grab All Association wrote: »

I’ve been to Tralee and Killarney a number of times since 2019. I never spent more than €10 on a visit. I go to Ye Olde Lidl for lunch or Garveys SuperValu. Latter has a great selection of cheeses for sale.

Ye Olde Garveys in Dingle was certainly not cheap before Ye Knew lidl arrived. Garvey fought for years to stop any and all competition coming to Dingle, sites bought up etc. I lived there in early 2000"s and my god a weekly shop was extortionate causing most locals to travel to Tralee to do weekly shopping.

Gaspode

Scientifically speaking, a sample size of 3 is not very representative. But it concurs with my experience of eating out in Ireland so feeds my bias nicely.

Calahonda52

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Had two nights for two in Ballygarry House outside Tralee on the B/H weekend.
We dined well, bottle of wine each for dinner, c 30 euro a pop
availed of the spa treatments for a fee,
got free charging for our EV
free bike hire
all for euro 990.19 and 100% supporting an Irish business with Irish suppliers of food, so none of your asparagus from Peru

great staff,
great service
great food
great wines
great room
great parking
great gardens

bonus: TK max down the road

Just reposting this as a foil to some of the negative, disparaging remarks posted in response thereto.

To those of you who gave it a thanks, much appreciated, I think its a personal record for a post of mine:D

1: You can't take it with you, certainly not if a bake and shake.
2: If you look at my profile you should find a link to a 5 year long thread about prostate cancer.
3: I am no longer in remission so facing an uncertain future.
4: Enjoying life and making a contribution to Irish run companies post Covid/Brexit when I spend my mula is where I am at right now.

So in conclusion, before pi$$ing in on a post, maybe consider what else is out there, show some empathy and don't dismiss people like me as fools.

Have a great day:D

knipex

BPKS wrote:

One persons experience.

Two..

Killarney is lovely but for it has built itsself around the American tourist market and hugely overpriced for what it is.

Dtp1979

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Just reposting this as a foil to some of the negative, disparaging remarks posted in response thereto.

To those of you who gave it a thanks, much appreciated, I think its a personal record for a post of mine:D

1: You can't take it with you, certainly not if a bake and shake.
2: If you look at my profile you should find a link to a 5 year long thread about prostate cancer.
3: I am no longer in remission so facing an uncertain future.
4: Enjoying life and making a contribution to Irish run companies post Covid/Brexit when I spend my mula is where I am at right now.

So in conclusion, before pi$$ing in on a post, maybe consider what else is out there, show some empathy and don't dismiss people like me as fools.

Have a great day:D

There’s nothing wrong with splashing out in something. I was more referencing the extortionate prices some places charge. There’s no fcuking way a place is worth 500 a night unless you’re being woken in the morning by a 25 year old Swedish model giving you a neck massage as she feeds you caviar.
Those fat cat hoteliers screwing people just because they can

Dempo1

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Just reposting this as a foil to some of the negative, disparaging remarks posted in response thereto.

To those of you who gave it a thanks, much appreciated, I think its a personal record for a post of mine:D

1: You can't take it with you, certainly not if a bake and shake.
2: If you look at my profile you should find a link to a 5 year long thread about prostate cancer.
3: I am no longer in remission so facing an uncertain future.
4: Enjoying life and making a contribution to Irish run companies post Covid/Brexit when I spend my mula is where I am at right now.

So in conclusion, before pi$$ing in on a post, maybe consider what else is out there, show some empathy and don't dismiss people like me as fools.

Have a great day:D

In fairness the Thread does and should not delve into very personal matters, the discussion generally about hospitality, prices etc in Ireland.

I don't believe previous posts or threads you've partook in are necessarily relevant and certainly poster's should not be expected to review your previous posts on other threads to form an opinion on how to respond to your post on this thread, that would be entirely unfair as is it to somehow justify your post here which was a little bit of tongue and cheek which would definitely get responses.

This all said, from my own perspective, I meant not personal offence and I hope you can accept this. I come to this thread having 30 years experience of Irelands hospitality sector, several of them running a successful restaurant in of all places Dingle.

I do wish you well, have my own medical challenges to fully appreciate we're your coming from, best wishes for your journey ahead.

KevRossi

Darc19 wrote: »

Because they used their hands?

Hope you never see a working kitchen.


There is absolutely no issue whatsoever in using bare hands for food handling. Usually it's cleaner than the false sense of gloves.

Where there could be an issue is the twin process of using bare hands for multiple tasks such as ice cream and money, or ice-cream and raw meat.

But ice cream on its own, salads on their own, raw meat on its own - no problem whatsoever and that's in the fsai haccp food handling manual

It’s a stipulation of food handling from the HSE that you don’t touch the cone, has been for at least 10 years. Either use a tissue and hand it to the client with the tissue, or use a glove. That’s their rules.