The Earl of Desmond Hotel
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The Earl of Desmond Hotel

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About

#12 of 14 hotels in Tralee
3.4 of 5 bubbles
Location
3.9 of 5 bubbles
Rooms
3.9 of 5 bubbles
Value
4.2 of 5 bubbles
Cleanliness
4.1 of 5 bubbles
Service
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sleep Quality

The Earl of Desmond Hotel is an excellent choice for travellers visiting Tralee, offering a charming environment alongside many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay.

For those interested in checking out popular landmarks while visiting Tralee, The Earl of Desmond Hotel is located a short distance from Chute Hall Ogham Stones (1.3 mi) and St. John's Church (3.1 mi).

Guest rooms offer amenities such as a flat screen TV, and guests can go online with free internet access offered by the hotel.

The Earl of Desmond Hotel features 24 hour front desk and baggage storage, to help make your stay more enjoyable. The property also boasts free breakfast. If you are driving to Earl Desmond, free parking is available.

While visiting Tralee, you may want to try some tapas at one of the nearby restaurants, such as Mozarts Tapas.

There is no shortage of things to do in the area: explore popular parks such as Tralee Town Park.

Enjoy your stay in Tralee!

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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Bar / lounge
Evening entertainment
Nightclub / DJ
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Baggage storage
Paid private parking on-site
Internet
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Vending machine
Meeting rooms
Non-smoking hotel
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Room features
Housekeeping
Safe
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
3.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Great View
Quiet
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans, German

Reviews
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Detailed Reviews
theleveller wrote a review Sept 2011
Blackpool, United Kingdom
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Picked up from Blackpool 06:40 ,journeyed to Chester ,picked up the coach and driver for the Irish part of the holiday. Then on to Anglesey for the ferry crossing to Dublin . Straight through Dublin and a straight forward drive to the Hotel arriving around 2100 hrs and a 3 course meal.
Hotel was very good, clean and pleasant set in countryside grounds, Entertainment in the evenings , wi fi in the bar and reception lounge , woke up to birds singing in the mornings .
Food , always a holiday issue was very good . Usual choice breakfast, the difference being i had not tasted the bacon , black pudding and suasages like that for a long time , it tasted excellent possibly because it was locally sourced. Evening meals consisted of 3 courses each with 3 choices of menu and if that was not enough the staff at mealtimes did their best to accomodate so you recieved your preference.
The holiday was five days, made up with 3 days of touring and visiting in the coach . They were The ring of Kerry , the Dingle Penninsula and Killarney.That made up our itinery and was more than enought to see that part of western Ireland. The views were spectacular , the people were warm and friendly,
A special mention for our coach driver Alan, who for me made the holiday ,with his knowledge of the places we visited , where we were, the local history and sheer entertainment . Thanks Alan . If you decide on this holiday with National Coach Holidays then i hope that Alan is your driver.
One thing i have discovered apart from Ireland is that the coach holiday had left me with no stress at the end of it , no travel to the airport , no squashed sardine enviroment for nearly six hours on board a aircraft which i can hardly sit down in, no transfer to the hotel , all hassle .!
I would recommend this holiday and the hotel .
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Date of stay: August 2011
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SF_Party_of_five wrote a review Sept 2004
California, USA
3.0 of 5 bubbles
We stayed here for 4 nights, which included attending a wedding function. The hotel guests are mainly wedding attendees and people on coach tours.

The rooms are adequate, clean and warm with tv and tea/coffee making facilities. There are no nice extras, such as a clock radio (or even a clock), pen and paper, phone book, tourist info, etc. are all missing. The bathroom is supplied with a bottle of Dove hand soap and a bottle of Dove shower/hair lotion attached to the wall. No little treats there!

Breakfast finishes at 10:30am and the bar opens at 1pm. We checked out at 11am, as requested by the hotel and had an hour wait before going to the airport. We were unable to purchase even a cup of coffee until the bar would open in 2 hours time......!

The food in the bar, restaurant and at the wedding reception was very good at all times. The hotel staff were on the whole, pleasant.

The hotel is 10/15 mins from Kerry airport, 2 hrs from Shannon and 2 hrs from Cork. Tralee town is a 10 minute drive.

We paid 130 euro per room, breakfast included. Whilst we did not have a bad experience as such, iif in Tralee again, I probably would bypass this hotel and stay in Tralee town itself.
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Date of stay: September 2004
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
3.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
3.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
3.0 of 5 bubblesService
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Road34004 wrote a review Sept 2005
Preston Hull England.
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 18th-22nd 2005. Trip advisor member Preston England. Arrived 8.00pm with over 88 other people in our party that had traveled from all over England. Asked to go straight into the large spacious dining room. The menu was two starters two main courses two sweets plus coffee/tea. Every evening menu was different. The breakfast was just as substantial. If you wanted fries instead of mash you only had to ask and it was served immediately. The rooms were large well decorated and clean as were all aspects of the Hotel. The staff were very profesional. The rooms were tided every day and clean white towels were supplied. There was entertainment ever evening in the very large bar/dance floor singer with electric piano. During our stay I never heard one complaint by anybody in our party, more praise for the standards in this Hotel.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy M wrote a review Mar 2022
1.0 of 5 bubbles
One of the worst places I’ve stayed in, the staff didn’t bother communicating with us when we arrived or left, we weren’t given any information sheet to sign just a giant key, we weren’t told what time check in was or anything. When we went to the bar it was empty and the Guinness was stale, our room was average, very outdated furniture, there was a dead daddy long legs in the drawer, the tv had barely any channels, there was no lunch available and we didn’t chance eating the breakfast the next morning as the rashers were swimming in oil and the eggs were watery. It was way too overpriced for what we got. Most of the staff would need to improve their communication skills and make more of an effort, they clearly didn’t care about us and didn’t ask how out stay was. The hotel needs a lot of renovations, the paint colour on the walls was an off putting custard.
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Mark Audie, General Manager at The Earl of Desmond Hotel
Responded 20 Jul 2023
Dear Amy Thank you for your comments, we take all comments very seriously. As we pride ourselves on customer happiness, we thank you for bringing these concerns to us. We have fully addressed your concerns, and have instructed all staff on these matters. We apologize profusely for your uncomfortable stay with us, this will not happen on any future stay with us. Thank you once again for bringing these concerns to our attention, as this helps us perfect our goal of making each guests stay a perfect and happy one.
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Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Annette H wrote a review Aug 2014
Tralee, Kerry, Ireland
1.0 of 5 bubbles
This is my third attempt to review this hotel and the review keeps getting removed. In my opinion this is really unfair as a person needs to be well informed about where they choose to hold their wedding.

I caught a tiny bit of the reply before my previous comment was removed and the response was a joke. I will give a few examples of what was done wrong but I would not have space to cover all of it.

When we arrived at the arranged time the bridal suite was not ready. I had to come back twice before the room was ready. We booked a party for 150 guests and I was given a hall that could easily hold 500 people. We saw the room that morning and commented that it was too big. They said that they could cordon it off if needed. They knew in advance that our wedding was abroad and that this was a party for friends and family that couldn't make it abroad.

We arranged a buffet and wine for the guests that were coming. I was asked to pick finger food which I did and on the night they brought out what they felt like. They dressed the hall for a sit-down meal with candlabras and lace. We had asked that the room be very understated. It felt copy-pasted from every other wedding day. All of our requests were ignored.

We were mortified when they brought out sandwiches and sausages onto the dressed tables. The group at the wedding party was very disjointed so people were coming and going all day, When the food did come out there were a lot of people missing, so the manager came out, stood in the middle of the dining room and, very openly, counted the heads that were there. Those who were out smoking or at the bar were not counted.
I asked for wine with the finger food and I paid per head for this, yet a few weeks later I was told by friends that were there that they were told by staff under instructions to not leave the wine on the tables.
I am coeliac, there was nothing at the party for me to eat, I was given watermelon and a gluten-free roll, this could go on and on,

Now I could go on and on, and if tripadvisor feels I have not included enough I can add more details because I could write a book. I did not marry that day, if I had I would never have recovered. It was a party for friends and family who could not make it, but it was a terrible, terrible experience. I complained at the time and the email was ignored, I had actually paid for all of this in advance, but more family had joined us abroad than originally planned, so there was about €500 left over, I did not want to ask for my money back as I had made changes to the original booking and the hotel had accommodated us in this.

At least I thought they had! Anyway, I decided to ask for a voucher for their sister hotel to use later in the year. The manager could not even do this, He came back and tried to push a two night stay on me for 500 euro in Clare. That would be 250 a night for B and B, I found the whole experience terrible and horrible and I will never forget it,

I will say this, some of the staff were lovely and the breakfast was lovely. It is laughable that the hotel thinks a good reply to this is that it was ages ago, It was a year and 3 months ago and this is my third attempt at reviewing,
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Date of stay: September 2013
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
1.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rochford16 wrote a review Aug 2005
Wexford, Ireland
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Stayed on group tour for 3 nights....choice of courses at dinner - v good, breakfast good (but groups would like a poached or fried egg too not just individual bookings please). Hotel lobby very nice indeed.
rooms good size, clean, some small problems with toilets not flushing but they moved clients to another room next day so full marks for that.
However, the couple of issues i felt is letting the entire hotel down??
one is the bed linen - the sheets are all 'a dirty grey colour' and it looks awful - on check out i noticed the replacements left out and not one of the sets were WHITE....this hotel is full most nights with group tours, please please replace your bed linen!!!...
my personal problem was that the beautiful big quilt on my single bed had the most peculiar smell of 'dirty/smelly feet' off it....please have these cleaned regularly.
we had wonderful music/dancing on Sat and Sun and then on Monday with 4-5 coach tours in house, NO MUSIC - surely for the cost of a singer/musician (150 or so) it would be worth the effort. all our group loved the first two nights with dancing and then when they were hoping to have a really great night on last night Monday - nothing provided so most of them went off early to bed and they are not big drinkers so staying in bar was not an option>???? Spoke to receptionist about it, but they didn't seem to know that it is advertised on their website as 'nightly'.
I would also love to see a manager meeting/greeting clients, checking in Dining room that everything is OK and to ensure everyone is happy, this surely should be part of their 'Quality Customer Service' chart.
Please Mr White, you have a great hotel, location and staff, make it great for the clients too....and encourage your staff to smile and interact more with clients, especially ARA clients they love talking to young people, and as the saying goes' a smile can speak a thousand words'///
so please do look after your business or you will be probably 'looking after your business' when it's gone to another hotel???
Good luck with the rest of the year and we would hope to return with another group in the future.
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Date of stay: August 2005
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
2.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
3.0 of 5 bubblesService
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David R wrote a review Sept 2011
Liverpool, United Kingdom
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Got to be the Best 3 *** Hotel I have ever stayed in,
From the Manager Mark down to the Room maids
you are looked after, Nothing is to much trouble.,
Food First Class, Welcome from Reception was wonderful,
even bar staff wear great.
If you stay YOU WOUNT BE DISERPONTED .
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Date of stay: October 2010
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip: All Rooms First Class
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ambassador17814 wrote a review Jul 2006
Sandymount
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Seriously bad value at €150 per night. Four star prices for what should be classed a 2 star hotel.Very poor advertisment for Irish hotels.
Stayed two nights requested a change of room as the room had a damp smell. Although there was availability on the Friday night was told that nothing could be done as the hotel was fully booked on the Saturday.
The rooms are what you would expect for a 1980's hotel and are in need of a make over for the prices they charge.The flush for the toilet was in the shower.
The quality of the breakfast was appalling an overcooked fry with burnt toast. On complaining I was met with a standard of customer care consistent with all of the above.Their fist and only concern was to secure payment immediately upon check in.
I feel sorry for the busloads of Americans who stay here to be ripped off. I could accept these standards if they were priced accordingly like €70-€80 per night for the room.
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Date of stay: July 2006
1.0 of 5 bubblesValue
2.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
2.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
1.0 of 5 bubblesService
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Departure34012 wrote a review Dec 2005
London
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Attended a wedding in December and found the residents bar and hall for the reception splendid.

The service was a little gruff from the waiters and waitresses and got gruffer as the evening progressed, ie sandwiches being slammed down without a whimper. However, management was much more attentive.

My room had a wonderful bathroom but I found the bed arrangement, one double, one single, rather odd. What strange group was it supposed to accommodate?

Mediocre coffee and tea sachets, disgusting long life milk, with a kettle, make my heart sink, wherever I find them. I'd rather go without. Better to provide bottles of water.

It's a little out of the way of Tralee itself, so travel will be a problem without a car but overall, the sight of it as you pull in is enough to raise the spirits. It is a bit grand from the outside.
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Date of stay: December 2005
3.0 of 5 bubblesValue
3.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
2.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
3.0 of 5 bubblesService
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marie M wrote a review Oct 2016
2.0 of 5 bubbles
We stayed at this Hotel at the end of August for 4 days on a coach trip run by Caledonia Travel and it was the most disappointing holiday we have ever encountered. The accomodation we were allocated was an utter disgrace, mildew all round ceiling, paper patched up on walls, furniture falling apart and a constant clicking noise at night that kept us awake, which other residents also mentioned to us that it was so annoying. The bathroom was worse, poor shower pressure, towel rail hanging off wall and badly needing refurbished. Totally depressing place to stay away out in the middle of nowhere with no facilities near, not even a shop for a paper. Had to stay in hotel every night as it was so far away from next town, poor Entertainment unless you enjoy Irish music every night. The only highlight was the food was fairly good served by friendly staff. I regret not taking photos of the so called on-suite room and accepting its condition.
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Date of stay: August 2016
1.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
1.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
4.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert F asked a question Apr 2022
Redditch, United Kingdom
Hi, does this hotel have glutton free food.
Answer from NorellaMansfield
Kerry6 contributions
Hi there. The hotel is cleaned to a very high standard, should you require further information, please contact us via e mail and we will be happy to help. Kind regards, Norella Mansfield Assistant Manager
Herbbooth asked a question Jun 2018
Stretford, United Kingdom133 contributions90 helpful votes
Do the rooms have a hair dryer
Answer from NorellaMansfield
Kerry6 contributions
Good evening, Yes all our rooms have hairdryers. Kind Regards, The Earl of Desmond.
Answer from NorellaMansfield
Kerry6 contributions
Hi Heather, Yes we do have tea/coffee making facilities in all the rooms, Kind regards Norella Mansfield Assistant Manager
lesley992 asked a question Mar 2017
Middlesbrough, United Kingdom20 contributions24 helpful votes
Does the hotel cater for disabled
Answer from NorellaMansfield
Kerry6 contributions
Hi Lesley, Thanks for getting in touch. Can you please call the hotel on 00353667121299 or mail us so we can discuss your needs & requirements with you? Kind regards Norella Mansfield Assistant Manager.
kpapai wrote a tip Aug 2019
Phthiotis Region, Greece297 contributions105 helpful votes
1.0 of 5 bubbles
"Stay to another hotel"
Read full review
Shirley T wrote a tip May 2019
Kingston-upon-Hull, United Kingdom29 contributions20 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"Ask for rear of hotel overlooking quiet gardens, front rooms face noisy road!"
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marl273 wrote a tip Jun 2018
England, United Kingdom24 contributions38 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"We stayed on the bottom floor and it was nice"
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Laura W wrote a tip Apr 2018
5 contributions14 helpful votes
3.0 of 5 bubbles
"The hall ways are super long and if you have mobility issues, request a room near the lobby"
Read full review
ChelseaHotelier wrote a tip Mar 2018
Donegal19 contributions29 helpful votes
3.0 of 5 bubbles
"Try asking for a room at the end of the corridor to lessen the traffic"
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Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the Tralee area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
earl desmond hotel tralee, earl of desmond tralee, earl of desmond hotel
LOCATION
IrelandProvince of MunsterCounty KerryTralee
NUMBER OF ROOMS
155
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THE EARL OF DESMOND HOTEL | Reviews (Tralee, Ireland)

Frequently Asked Questions about The Earl of Desmond Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to The Earl of Desmond Hotel?
Nearby attractions include Siamsa Tire National Folk Theatre (5.1 km), Kerry County Museum (5.0 km), and Aqua Dome (5.1 km).
What are some of the property amenities at The Earl of Desmond Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at The Earl of Desmond Hotel?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at The Earl of Desmond Hotel?
Yes, free parking and paid private parking on-site are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to The Earl of Desmond Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include IL Pomo Doro Restaurant, Quinlans Seafood Bar, The Mall Tralee., and Cassidy's Restaurant Tralee.
Are any cleaning services offered at The Earl of Desmond Hotel?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Does The Earl of Desmond Hotel offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers meeting rooms, a banquet room, and conference facilities.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at The Earl of Desmond Hotel?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, German, and Afrikaans.
Are there any historical sites close to The Earl of Desmond Hotel?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Annagh Church (7.3 km), Chute Hall Ogham Stones (2.1 km), and Bin Ban Gallery (5.2 km).
Is The Earl of Desmond Hotel accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
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