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Tara M

Worst hotel experience EVER.

1.0 of 5 bubblesReviewed 6 Apr 2024
The shearwater hotel is the place to go if you want to be judged from the moment you walk into the place and then feel embarrassed. we arrived and immediately was looked up and down, at breakfast we checked in gave our room number and name and proceeded to help ourselves as does everyone else in the place

The manager came in then immediately saw me and my boyfriend and whispered something to another member of staff, within moments the staff member he whispered to came over and asked us our names and room number AGAIN demanding to know if we were actually in room 131 , even though we had just watched her cross our names off the list and then reported back to the manager, he seemed pissed off then that he was wrong and evidently we weren’t trying to steal the breakfast , what annoyed me was he put his staff in an uncomfortable position and wouldn’t even have the bravery to come over to me and ask directly himself, I have no words other than shameful

After this we went for a massage ( the massage therapist was brilliant I can’t remember her name though) but the overall experience was unsatisfactory and extremely embarrassing, the robes are one size fits all, and I asked if there was anything bigger because it was too small, and was told no, and it was really quite embarrassing, when you go away for a spa weekend the last thing you need to be worrying about is your intimate areas being on show, whilst there a pregnant lady and a man all faced the issue as-well, complimentary robes are provided not just for comfort/luxury but also for modestly when awaiting a full body treatment , And it’s extremely disappointing to see a company be so inconsiderate about size inclusivity, the spa day was completely ruined by feeling insecure and uncared uncared for

Overall a terrible experience and would never recommend coming back here again , the spa could be excusable if changes were made because the treatment itself was lovely, but the manager was rude and judgemental and completely turned me off ever returning , I would say it was probably the most deeming stay I’ve ever had.

I’ve added pics of proof of stay below because I’m sure they’ll try to pretend the stay never happened and it’s a fake review
Date of stay: April 2024
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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The listings of booking offers for each property take into account the compensation paid to us by our partners. Prices shown may be for varying room types. Prices displayed are the lowest available, corresponding to the least expensive room type available, as provided from our partners as of the time of the user’s search.
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Reviewed 6 April 2024

I stayed in the shearwater hotel for one night everything was fine only the next morning I was only out of the shower and a women came into my room after knocking the door 3 times and me shouting at her to wait she came on in only to see me standing ther with nothing on and I mean nothing as I was just out of shower when I got my pj on I went out and asked her why was she in the room she laughed and said sorry and walked away from me I was so embarrassed angry and upset about this I went down to the front desk and told one of the girls at the front desk only for her to tell me I was lucky it was a girl and not a man and was I sure it was not room service I told her room service was at 10 o’clock this was at 11.20 and check out is not till 12 o’clock she told me she would get a manager to ring me so I waited for one to ring and the didn’t so I rang them I told them how annoying and angry I was by this and I’m not accepting a free night as it was I birthday weekend he asked what did I want but at that time I really wanted to know why she was in my room in the first place he told me he would go and talk to her about it and find out why she was, he never got back to me so a few days later I rang him he told me she had a hearing problem and did not hear me shouting I don’t believe that for a minute and that she did not see anything that was lies because I was at the bottom of the bed and as soon at she opened the door she saw Everything he told me he would refund me the money back but I told him that’s still not good enough why was she in the room the first place and he told me the are aloud to enter the room in emergency I said that’s ok what was the emergency he could not tell me I told him ther was none and I paid for that room till 12 o’clock she had no right in the room so he asked me again what I would like to settle it after I told him I was speaking with a solicitor I told him I want the money back a free night and a voucher for even meal he told me ok I will get back to you about the voucher and after week and a half I hadn’t heard anything so I rang again only to be told no I have decided not to give you anything as I don’t think the hotel did anything wrong so my solicitor is now on to it as he does think the hotel is responsible for it and can’t believe a hotel manager would think that is ok… I was that embarrassed we went straight home I could even do what we had planned to do that day .

Date of stay: February 2024
  • Trip type: Travelled with friends
    • Value
    • Location
    • Sleep Quality
    • Rooms
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
2  Thank kevinaB7099NV
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.
Reviewed 26 March 2024

Staff were very helpful, Hotel is immaculately clean .the food is to the highest standard, bed I actually wanted to bring home with me im definitely coming back and recommending the shearwater to everyone, had a fantastic night at the johnny brady concert

Room tip: Can't recommend this hotel enough from the staff to the buffet breakfast totally 100 percent
Date of stay: March 2024
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Value
    • Location
    • Sleep Quality
    • Rooms
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
Thank Security G
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.
Reviewed 20 March 2024

I stayed with my daughter last November. Everything was going ok. We used the pool & that was grand, we enjoyed it. The bedroom was very nice.
We arrived at the bar around 7pm, we had made a booking earlier. The person in charge was fussing around & showed us to a tiny 2 person table, right inside the door - along the side of a busy walkway. The serving staff were rushing over & back past this little table & I didn't fancy this location at all. I saw another table which was in an area up a few steps, also a 2 seater. I asked the man in charge could we sit there instead. He said it would take him 30 minutes to get it set up. I said it's ok we can wait. He was really unimpressed at this & didn't make an answer, just waved his arm & walked away. So I walked up & sat down at this table.

Oh boy was I sorry. To say we were ignored is an understatement. I had to nearly grab a waiters arm to get to order our food. Then they brought the food & we had no cutlery. We had to wait again while our food was going cold in front of us. My daughter couldn't understand why they were picking on us. Every time the maitre D passed our table he scowled at us. It was unbelievable. I don't know what we did wrong.

I could not recommend this hotel.

Room tip: Watch our for maitre D in the bar. He will ruin your night if you get on the wrong side of him.
Date of stay: November 2023
  • Trip type: Travelled with family
    • Value
    • Location
    • Service
Thank Daydream23269520346
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.
Michael Janusz, General Manager at Shearwater Hotel & Spa, responded to this reviewResponded 21 March 2024

Dear Guest,

I do apologize for the situation. And thank you for your feedback.
I can assure you that lots of things changed since last November.
We are working hard to train our staff to be able provide best possible service.
If you please send me email on: GM@shearwaterhotel.com
and I will be more then happy to discuss it further.

Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Reviewed 17 March 2024 via mobile

Lots of safe, easily accessible underground parking, exceptional, comfortable public areas at reception level. Good size pool, nice changing facilities, strong jacuzzi, but low heat level in steam room.
Good menu choices, well organised, no fuss breakfast service. Nice function room.
Particular to this weekend dance workshop- unfortunately, there were no mirrors or viewing platforms for dance performance sessions so difficulty following lessons as a beginner, in this environment.
Allocated rooms were spacious and well appointed, and comfortable but one of our group needed to move to an alternative due to a very stale, lingering smell. Hotel accommodated this. Heating issues were very quickly solved by accomodating staff.
Nice lady singer and musician in main bar. Bit of work needed on the making of a good Irish coffee!
We had intended on staying an extra night but there were no offers at a reduced rate and decided to leave after 2 nights as pre-arranged.
Would have had a week's holiday in Spain for price of 2 nights in wet and windy Ballinasloe! No fault of organiers or hotel but nevertheless food for thought when respectable ( and very likely returning) clients ask for a discounted rate!

Room tip: Arrive early. Get a room with a balcony!
Date of stay: March 2024
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Thank Roznco
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.
Reviewed 14 March 2024

Stayed on 10 March 2024 Everything was fine, very busy.
No music in bar which was a disappointment as there was darts tournament in ballroom - no dancing. Only 2 square plug points in bedroom that I could find- none at bed head side. Breakfast very good

Date of stay: March 2024
  • Trip type: Travelled as a couple
    • Value
    • Location
    • Service
Thank okellyomgk
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.
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