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It’s easy to fall in love with Galway. My only regret was not spending more time here! I spent one day in Galway and walked all over the city, soaking up its charming atmosphere. As for where I rested my head at night, I spent two nights at The Connacht Hotel in Galway.
The Connacht Hotel is an independently-owned hotel just outside of the city centre. There are numerous reasons to stay at the Connacht Hotel, and I’m going to share my experiences with you. It’s easy to see why this tops the list of where to stay in Galway.
While it’s not within the main city center itself, The Connacht Hotel is the perfect option if you have a car and you’re road tripping all over Ireland. It’s difficult to find hotel parking (and inexpensive hotel parking) in the middle of Galway City.
I suggest staying comfortably at The Connacht Hotel, taking advantage of the free parking, driving into the city when you visit, and then using the car to reach other places around Ireland from there.
Looking for a rental car? I always use Discover Cars to compare car rental prices between companies to find the best rates. Find your rental car in Ireland here.
Update: Please note that the hotel has undergone a refresher and refurbishment since our stay. When booking The Connacht Hotel, you can view the newer photos!
My Ireland road trippin’ buddy, Ashley and I stayed in a Classic Room, one of the standard rooms at The Connacht Hotel. We had two twin beds. They were super comfortable, with fluffy pillows and a firm mattress for a restful night’s sleep.
You’ll also find an flat-screen TV with numerous channels, complimentary Wi-Fi, a large desk, tea and coffee, and a safe that will fit a laptop.
I thoroughly enjoyed an ample amount of outlets near the bed so I could easily plug in all of my electronic devices.
The bathroom had a shower/bathtub combination and standard toiletries.
In addition to the Classic Room, you can also book a suite, a family room, or one or two bed apartments. If you’re considering a lengthier stay, having a full apartment would be a fantastic luxury so you could cook your own meals.
Although we didn’t have time to use it, The Connacht Hotel Galway has a massive indoor swimming pool that’s open all year round. If swimming laps isn’t your thing, relax in the Jacuzzi or steam room.
If you’d like to fit in a workout, there’s a fitness studio and a 24-hour gym. The gym facility has cardio machines and free weights. There are also two fitness studios offering over 40 classes each week. Fitness trainers are also available to assist you. I’ve never seen a hotel gym quite like this one!
One of the best perks of this hotel? The free parking! There are outdoor and indoor parking lots with tons of spaces.
If you’re traveling on an Ireland road trip, you’ll need somewhere to park the car. In Galway, parking can be quite expensive, so it was nice to save a little bit of money this way.
We reached Galway in the early evening after a day of adventures through Donegal, Sligo, and the seaweed baths in Enniscrone. Needless to say, we’d been exploring pretty hard all day and wanted to simply relax that evening.
Once we reached the hotel, we’d both decided that we were staying put. Thankfully, the Connacht Hotel has Rueben’s Restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
While there weren’t many vegan offerings on the restaurant menu, the staff was super helpful in making sure I had something to eat. They prepared a vegan pizza for me – no cheese and topped with my favourite vegetables.
This wasn’t on the menu, but they were happy to customize this pizza for me! I brought the pizza back to my room and ate it cozily in bed while watching TV. If you’re seeking more plant-based meals, check out my Vegan Guide to Galway.
The Bar Solo has music and live entertainment, as well as freshly made cocktails created by in house mixologists. It’s a great space for a variety of events, such as watching live sporting events or popping by for afternoon tea.
The Ryan Room is perfect for special events. It’s a private event space with room for up to 180 guests. This spacious venue is excellent for parties, meetings, and even wedding receptions.
While the Connacht Hotel isn’t situated in the city centre, it’s still a fantastic place to stay.
As I mentioned before, there’s free parking and you might save some money by staying a little outside of the city. It’s only a 30 minute walk into town or about a 5 minute drive.
I highly recommend spending a day or two in Galway as it’s such a vibrant town to visit. Street musicians, vegetarian restaurants, cobblestone streets, quaint shops, a charming university campus, a beautiful waterfront…Galway really has it all!
Looking for where to stay in Galway, Ireland? I highly recommend staying at the Connacht Hotel.
My two nights at this Galway accommodation were ideal and I had everything that I needed for a cozy stay. The staff were friendly and the room was clean, quiet, and comfortable.
With the perks of free parking and a close location to the city, I couldn’t ask for a better stay. Book your stay here.
Want more travel tips and inspiration? Follow me on Instagram! I share daily adventures, whether I’m at home in Ontario, Canada, or halfway across the world!
Heading out of the country? Don’t forget to get travel insurance. It’s best to be covered in case of an emergency, cancellation or accident.
says
We sure wish we had more time in Ireland so we could have experienced Galway, and stayed at the Connacht. It looks grand, as they say. 😉 One more to add to our “next trip” list. 🙂
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This is the story of a Canadian couple, Lauren Yakiwchuk and Justin Ceksters, slowly making their way around the world since 2013.
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