Hotel review: The Heritage in Laois is ideal for a girls' getaway
A staircase with a plush purple carpet draws the eye upwards, and you can’t help but fully appreciate the soaring high ceilings. It’s like walking into a cruise ship.
A four-star hotel with a stand-out spa close to Kildare Village, this Laois resort makes an ideal spot for a girls’ getaway
Our verdict: 8/10
Location
Set in Killenard, Co Laois, The Heritage is a short 10-minute detour from the motorway, easily accessible from Cork or Dublin.
The golf club and state-of-the-art spa — more on that later — is the biggest draw card, but just as tempting for a weekend break with the girls is the hotel’s proximity to Kildare Village.
There are no shuttle buses, so you’ll need a car, but it’s just a short 20-minute journey.
9/10
Design spec
Signposts are effectively positioned on arrival to direct you to the golf club, health spa and hotel reception.
All housed in separate buildings, it shows the scale of this vast resort.
Immediately you realise that everything in this hotel will be larger than life and the foyer and reception meet every expectation.
A staircase with a plush purple carpet draws the eye upwards, and you can’t help but fully appreciate the soaring high ceilings.
It’s like walking into a cruise ship.
8/10
Service and facilities
Despite the vastness of the reception area, the check-in desk feels intimate and welcoming, and the receptionist friendly and thorough.
The health club, in a separate building next to the hotel, has a pool and gym, with a spa parallel to it. It is hands-down one of the best spa offerings in the country.
The pedicure/foot massage marble seating is the centrepiece, the hydro pool with its towering glass ceiling, a beautiful space.
There are shower experiences, a tepidarium and sauna rooms, but the new Moroccan treatment area takes it to the next level.
Beautifully decorated in keeping with the geographical theme — think dark woods and mosaic walls — I tried a Hamman experience for the first time.
And it was one of the best spa appointments of my life.
Lying on a heated plinth, there was a gentle massage for starters, then the whole body is brushed, exfoliated and moisturised. Forget back messages — this is the spa treatment that we need.
Two new therapy rooms offer this new menu of Moroccan bath treatments inspired by traditional bathing rituals. Rasul is another new treatment designed for two that starts with a self-application of mineral muds.
Once applied, you relax on heated mosaic ‘chairs’ in the Rasul suite whilst the room fills with herbal steam. As the room heats, the mud’s natural ingredients absorb the toxins from the body to help detoxify and exfoliate.
The 45-minute ritual closes with a tropical rain shower from the star-lit ceiling to wash away the mud. Just €90 for two people, it’s a very affordable treatment option. The changing rooms are spacious and luxurious too.
10/10
A suite at The Heritage
Rooms
The bedrooms offer everything you’d expect — but there are none of the extras the spa provides.
Ours is spacious, and while the decor is dark, the lamps and muted lighting create ambiance.
The bathroom has a stand-alone bath, which should be a selling point, but situated in a wall-to-floor beige tiled room, it loses impact.
The Espa toiletries feel luxurious and elevate this from four-star expectations.
7/10
In-room perks
Our room had a large, modern fridge and Nespresso coffee machine, always a welcome addition.
And cookies too, laden with chocolate chips. A nice touch.
7/10
On the menu
The restaurant looks beautiful on arrival, but inside the stark bright lighting takes its toll.
We chose the crab for starters, and cod for the main. It’s the chocolate and orange-infused dessert though that really stands out.
Back for breakfast the next morning, the lighting is no longer an issue. It’s a bright space, with a choice of newspapers, complete with Saturday magazines, on arrival.
There’s a continental buffet to choose from, and hot breakfasts are ordered and brought to your table. No soggy scrambled eggs here.
The night before the hotel bar was lively with a singer/guitarist on hand with live music. Table service was an added bonus.
7/10
Value for money
Visit this hotel for the spa alone. The golf course is another draw, making it an ideal couple’s escape.
It’s a strong four-star offering, with prices starting from €235.
8/10
Room to improve?
The rooms were comfortable, but very standard compared to the epic foyer. A little personalisation could go a long way. And the restaurant décor could do with a similar touch of identity.
Access for guests with disabilities?
Our room was set up three steps, but an adjoining wheelchair lift ensures there was accessibility.
Family-friendly?
The 15m swimming pool will go down a treat with kids, and the large fridge in each room will be a big plus for parents of small babies looking to store bottles.
