I stayed at the Grand Hotel Tralee as part of a hurridly arranged tour of a Ireland trip between Christmas and New Year 2007. The hotel is a hub of activity in the centre of the town - the bar full of life, a warm inviting fire in the foyer and busy women congregating in the doorway sheltering from the inevitable western Irish December cold and rain. It's an ideal spot to stay with a wonderful basement restaurant situated across the road, the Kerry Museumn a hundred yards away and a geat little bar with a green door a stones throw turning right coming out the hotel door. An ideal spot to stay indeed - but only if you travel there by train! The parking situation is pretty dire - there is on street metered parking in operation until 18.30hrs with a maximum stay of 1 hour only! The hotel does advertise 'limited parking' which consists of a narrow somewhat dodgy looking alleyway where I'd be disinclined even to park my bike (if I had one). The best advice the receptionist could provide was not to worry about parking 'as the traffic wardens were on holiday'!

The biggest downside however is the noise. The hotel runs a disco on a saturday night until two in the morning (I'm not sure about other nights and don't plan to find out). The receptionist did mention this on arrival and pointed out (rather honestly) that the noise from the disco would be disturbing but would stop at 2am. This prompted me to request a quiet room to which she responded that the only quiet rooms were the 'superior rooms' at the front of the hotel but that a room there would cost me an extra 30 euros! An extra 30 EUROS for a nights sleep! I offered her an extra 20 but she wasn't having it - customer service was not a strong point here and certainy not worth the cost of seven english pounds. There most frustrating thing was that having coughed up the extra 30 euros (making the room a whopping 110 euros), I found that the front of the hotel was indeed quieter before 2am but CERTAINLY NOT AFTER 2am when what seemed the entrire population of the town spilled out from the disco and hung around outside our room for a couple of hours desperately seeking sobriety in the loudest possible manner! I couldn't help feeling I was conned by the receptionist into parting with my 30 pieces of silver - the room didn't seem at all 'superior' and she wasn't even that pretty!

We recently stayed at the Grand Hotel in Tralee and had a wonderful experience. The front desk staff was very friendly and professional. Our favorite aspect of the hotel was the fantastic breakfast which was served in the dining room. We had the BEST scrambled eggs we have ever tasted- enough so, that we asked for the recipe....which was kindly produced.
The hotel was around the corner from a fantastic pub (whose name escapes me at the moment). Would wholeheartedly recommend this for anyone staying in Tralee.

This trip was company awayday/bonding session. We stayed at the Grand Hotel in Tralee a short, weekend break which involved cycling and horse riding. The hotel was very welcoming and the rooms were excellent. All of the services provided, bar, restaurant, reception seemed to have such friendly helpful people dealing with the guests. The Isle of Smiles sums up my feelings about the Grand Hotel and County Kerry.

Great Service from Great People in a fabulous place.

Malcolm Sapsed

Training Manager

have been going to Ireland for yrs- first stay at the Grand in tralee- the service was Ritz-Carleton class -

the rental car company messed up my reservation,was concerned about getting to my tee time- the hotel OWNER- took me in his personal car to an out of the way place,got me a rental and saved the day

AND drove me back on departure-now that is service

the food was the best i have had in Ireland- particularly the beef-

the room was spacious at a fair price and the bathroom recently redone and 5 star all the way

did i have a criticism? yes,of course-- one morn the mixed berry muffin was a bit dry

oh well - nobody's perfect